"I think the 2007s will please many people
with their charm and classical characters."
-Allen Meadows, Burghound, on the wines
of Benoit Germain
Yes, Benoit Germain is definitely a top
player in Burgundy. His wines seem to get
better every year. This is very good news for
those of us who have been bitten by the
Burgundy Bug. There is simply no turning
back, and Benoit's wines deliver full-bore
Pinot Noir style for a price that is rational.
Benoit's Burgundies have that
pinpoint-focused Pinot Noir expression that
refracts into different flavors and aromas in
your mouth. And the balance of Benoit's
wines, with their rounded sweetness and dark
berries against that backdrop of firm, but
not dominant tannins will bring you back for
another case.
Clive Coates in his Encyclopedia of the
Wine and Domaines of France puts the
Germain wines
on his short list of favorites from
Chorey-les-Beaune:
"The wines of Francois Germain (son of
Jacques) and his son Benoit are finely
balanced,
expressive in their fruit and very
elegant."
Benoit Germain's Chorey-les-Beaune will fool
you every time. You'll think it's some
fancy-shmancy Premier Cru Burgundy and
boy,
will you be delighted when that label is
revealed. It'll mean you can pull a cork on
fine red Burgundy nearly every night instead
of just on your birthday.
Cynthia Hurley
