Domaine Coste-Caumartin Pommard les Montjeus 2007

17.0 / 20

Producer: Domaine Coste-Caumartin

Region: Bourgogne

Country: France

A Burgundy from Côte de Beaune, this has the usual light red color found in Pinot Noirs.

Wonderful bouquet, where the usual acid red fruits mingle with some spices and a earthier feel.

Fresh and quite dry in the palate, with loads of wild red fruit. Quite light bodied, as expected, it nevertheless reveals some powerful tannins on the final part of the taste. Long and lasting, it leaves a discreet and pleasant leathery note in the aftertaste. Give it time to breathe, since it definitely grows in complexity and length.

This Pommard comes along as a very young wine, yet. Maybe a bit green or rough around the edges. I think a couple more years in the bottle will allow it to grow substantially.

Tasted on 2011-11-01

Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2008

16.0 / 20

Producer: Maison Chanson

Region: Bourgogne

Country: France

Pale yellow, it starts by pointing to tropical fruit in the nose. Intense but serious, it develops some mineral notes in the background. But overall, the main pointer of the bouquet is still tropical fruits.

In the mouth, it's a really dry, acid wine. Almost tannic in the feeling it leaves in the tongue and gums, it really takes the Chablis acidity seriously. Much more mineral in the mouth than in the nose, although the ending leaves some fruit aftertaste, it provides a balanced taste despite its high acidity. Very persistent and very, very interesting.

Tasted on 2010-12-07

Meursault Perrières 1er Cru 2007

17.0 / 20

Producer: Maison Chanson

Region: Bourgogne

Country: France

Another great white from Maison Chanson, this Meursault has a lovely light golden hue. The bouquet is mainly composed by tropical fruits, with some buttery and dried fruits notes given by the oak. While in the background some mineral impressions help compose a composed and elegant set.

As for the taste, the wine is beautifully structured, integrating the subtle oak with a clear, crisp minerality and an outstanding acidity. A long finale finishes up an enormous taste.

Tasted on 2010-11-26

Chassagne-Montrachet Clos St. Jean 1er Cru 2004

17.0 / 20

Producer: Maison Chanson

Region: Bourgogne

Country: France

Another amazing white Bourgogne I had the chance to taste at the Chanson tasting a couple of weeks ago, the nose is a bit subdued at first, with mineral and vegetable notes much to the foreground. Over time, it gains some momentum and intensity, while maintaing a severe, austere profile.

In the mouth, it reveals an amazing body, mouth-watering dryness and a fabulous acidity - still surprised at how these wines still have this level of acidity 6 years on. Loads of grassy, vegetable notes throughout the taste, finishing with an amazingly long aftertaste.

Tasted on 2010-11-23

Puligny-Montrachet Champs Gains 1ere Cru 2004

17.5 / 20

Producer: Maison Chanson

Region: Bourgogne

Country: France

Had the chance to attend a special tasting session with several Maison Chanson wines a couple of weeks ago and this was the standout wine for me (although the other ones were great as well - will add notes later).

The bouquet starts mineral, than turns grassy and vegetable, at the same time revealing some tropical sweet fruit and, further into the background, still shows some vanilla and almond. Perfectly balanced, changing with each swirl of the glass and showing an amazing depth and purity.

Taste follows through, revealing a brilliant wine, where the acidity and dryness are to the front, backed up by the creaminess and structure of the oak which gives the wine some roundness. Brilliant, long ending with vegetable notes coming up strong again.

Overall, I was really impressed by this wine, combining the high acidity and dryness with the oak in a masterly fashion. Also impressed by the freshness that a 6 year old white can reveal. I'm pretty sure it will still grow in the bottle for some years.

Fatter fishes (salmon or tuna) will probably pair with this wine brilliantly.

Tasted on 2010-11-16