2010 BURGUNDY PRE-ARRIVAL

*CHANDON de BRIAILLES, Beaune 

*POUSSE D'OR, Volnay 

CHANDON de BRIAILLES, Cotes du Beaunes

Four km from Beaune, DOM. CHANDON de BRIAILLES is

Claude de Nicolay

a 13 ha estate in 3 villages: Savigny les Beaunes, Pernand-Vergelesses, and Aloxe- Corton. Run by brother and sister Francois and Claude de Nicolay, the estate has been in their family since 1834. The domaine maintains its commitment to the purest of Burgundian traditions; their wines fully express the soil and terroir of their origins.  

"While it's unfortunate that the quantities were low (yields were down 40-45%), it's frankly much better to have a little of something excellent, than a whole lot of unripe, lesser quality fruit. For me, 2010 produced classic burgundies that reflect their underlying terroir with laser-like fidelity." -- Francois de Nicolay, CHANDON de BRIAILLES

ALL 2010 CHANDON de BRIAILLES wines assort for the 12-bottle Case Price in red.

"Broad ranging nose reflects notes of white orchard fruit, citrus peel, spice, earth and hints of dried flowers. There is  a discreet touch of wood visible on the big-bodied, powerful and impressively concentrated flavors that possess outstanding drive and superb length. This is a big but not rustic wine and if you like powerful and age-worthy whites, this would be a good choice. 93 pts." --Burghound

2010 CHANDON de BRIAILLES "Pernand Ile des Vergelesses" Blanc 90 pts. $65; Case price $55.35

"An expressive and quite fresh nose combines notes of citrus, pear and soft floral notes that complement well the minerally, pure and racy flavors that possess plenty of verve and detail before culminating in a notably dry, balanced and linear finish. 90 pts." - Burghound

2010 CHANDON de BRIAILLES "Corton Marechaudes" 92 pts. $105; Case Price $87.97

"This is quite ripe with its earthy and distinctly sauvage nose of dark berry fruit, plum and violet aromas. There is excellent volume to the very rich and textured large-scaled flavors that possess an impressively persistent, complex, velvety and mouth coating finish. This is well-balanced and harmonious and frankly better than what I usually find with this wine. I would go so far as to say that 2010 is the best vintage for this wine that I have seen since the 1990. 92 pts." -Burghound

2010 CHANDON de BRIAILLES "Corton Bressandes" 94 pts. $124; Case Price $102

"Good verve to the relatively finely detailed but broad-shouldered flavors that ooze a noticeable minerality on the tension-filled finish. There appears to be excellent underlying material along with solid phenolic maturity of the structural components. Given the quality as well as the outstanding track record of this wine, my score offers the benefit of the doubt. Sweet spot! 94 pts." --Burghound

2010 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Savigny Villages 89 pts. $40; Case Price $34

"A deeply pitched nose of Savigny-style earth, floral notes and fresh dark berry fruit aromas precedes the clean, fresh and vibrant middle weight flavors that are shaped by rustic but ripe tannins that are well-integrated on the tension-filled finish. This isn't particularly refined but it's solidly complex and well-balanced. 89 pts."--Burghound

2010 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Savigny "Les Lavieres" 92 pts. $50; Case Price $42.50

"This steps up the aromatic refinement while keeping the complexity with its broad nose of red berry fruit that evidences nuances of underbrush, stone and warm earth. There is good richness but also good cut and plenty of underlying tension to the medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a linear, balanced and vibrant finish. Lovely. 92 pts. Outstanding!" -- Burghound

Patrick Landanger

With a wine history reaching back to 1100, the Pousse d'Or domaine at Volnay was established in 1954. Its 18 ha of vineyards consist mainly of 1er and grand crus in the villages of Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Corton, Pommard, Volnay, Puligny-Montrachet and Santenay. Since 1997, owner Patrick Landanger has invested considerable resources both in the vineyards and the winery. In pursuit of ever-higher quality, he is motivated by profound respect for his excellent terroir.

ALL POUSSE d'OR WINES assort for the case discount in red. 

2010 POUSSE d'OR Volnay 1er "En Caillerets" 91 pts.  $100; Case price $85 net 

"A lightly spiced nose evidences a hint of smoke as well as plenty of minerality on the ripe cassis, plum and violet infused nose. There is excellent richness and mid-palate concentration to the suave, round and mouth coating flavors that possess fine delineation before terminating in a mineral-inflected, dusty and impressively persistent finish. Lovely. 91 pts. "Outstanding." --Burghound

2010 POUSSE d'OR Volnay 1er "Clos d'Audignac" 92 pts. $115; Case price $95.20 net

"Here the nose is earthier and not as elegant with a somber if complex nose of dark berries and black fruit liqueur aromas. There is excellent richness to the sleekly muscular and powerful medium-bodied flavors that ooze a fine dry extract that imparts a velvety texture to the driving, long, balanced and impressively deep finish. This built to age effort is a robust and imposing Volnay. 92 pts. Outstanding."  -- Burghound

2010 POUSSE d'OR Volnay 1er Clos de la Bousse d'Or 92 pts. $115; Case price $95.20 net

"more complex if not more elegant with a more floral-infused nose that includes rose petal and violets on the plum and black cherry infused nose. There is excellent concentration to the detailed, intense and delicious flavors that possess that beguiling sense of underlying tension that carries over to the mouth coating and suave yet firm and enduring finish. 92 pts. Sweet spot Outstanding!" --Burghound

2010 POUSSE d'OR Volnay 1er "Clos des 60 Ouvrées" 93 pts.$120; Case price $100.30  

"This is more aromatically complex still with a beautifully floral nose of rose petal, violet and lavender as well as liqueur of red currant and black cherry. The hallmark minerality of this wine is very much in evidence on the palate staining flavors that possess a silky and highly sophisticated mouth feel while culminating in a dusty, explosive and gorgeously long finish. This does that wonderful slow build from the mid-palate to the finale and this should age exceptionally well. 93 pts. Sweet spot Outstanding!" --Burghound

2010 POUSSE d'OR "Corton Clos du Roi" grand cru 94 pts. $125; Case Price $106.25 net

"This is much more animale in character than the Bressandes with a somber if highly complex nose featuring dark berry fruit, stone, earth and underbrush nuances. There is an overt muscularity to the big-bodied, intense and robust flavors that possess a most admirable amount of structure-buffering dry extract that imparts a velvety texture to the borderline chewy and terrifically persistent finish. A classic Clos du Roi that is built for the long-term. 94 pts. Dont' miss!" --Burghound

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