Burghound.com: Les notes de Allen Meadows pour nos vins rouges 2011

This 5.5 hadomaine, of which 25% of its production is in red, is directed by 4th generation Michel Buisson, his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Patrick Essa. Among other things Essa noted that all wines will now have branded corks with the appellation, vintage and producer information. I will have more detailed vintage information in Issue 51 but for the reds I was told that the Bourgogne and Pommard were completely destemmed but 70% of the stems were retained for the Santenots. The domaine is quite rightly known for the quality of its excellent whites but don’t ignore the reds, in particular the Bourgogneand the Santenots as both are almost always unfailingly good. The 2011s were bottled without fining or filtration in December 2012. (Vintner Select, www.vintnerselect.com, Cincinnati, OH, Milton Road Trading Corp, LLC, www.miltonroadtrading.com, Napa CA, Scott Paul Wines, www.scottpaul.com, Portland, OR; Richards Walford, www.r-w.co.uk, HS Liquid Assets, www.hsliquid.com and Roberson Wine, www.roberson.co.uk, all UK).

2011 Bourgogne: An exuberant nose of picture perfect pinot fruit is cut with plenty of earth that is also reflected by the delicious, intense and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess excellent complexity for the appellation, all wrapped in a mildly rustic, long and balanced finish. This delivers fine quality and is worth your consideration if you’re looking for a Bourgogne that will repay some cellaring. 87/2016+

2011 Pommard “En Chiveau”: (En Chiveau sits at considerable altitude high above the village). There is a hint of crushed leaf to the otherwise very fresh red currant and dark berry fruit aromas that exhibit a hint of violets. There is a lilting and energetic quality to the lightly mineral-driven flavors that exhibit a touch of wood on the moderately austere and mildly rustic finish. This will require a few years of cellar time to round off the slightly edgy finish. 88/2017+

2011 Volnay “Santenots”: (from vines situated in the upper part of the vineyard that is distinctly rockier and actually more like a Caillerets than a classically rich and generous Santenots). A deft touch of wood sets off the ripe, pure and elegant aromas of spice and pepper inflected dried flowers and dark pinot fruit. There is excellent delineation and energy to the tension-filled, rich and complex medium-bodied flavors that possess a refined mouth feel before culminating in a balanced, understated and impressive persistent finish. Good stuff here. 91/2018+