2015 Marc Colin Library Releases
Wonderful White Burgundies to drink now
February 12, 2024
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"The domaine made wonderful 2014s, and it has followed that success with some wonderful 2015s, many of which are worth considering." Alan Meadows, Burghound
The demand for ready-to-drink top-level white burgundy has been so intense that our racks have virtually emptied. We were delighted to get these library releases from Marc Colin, one of the best growers in the Chassagne St. Aubin axis. His wines have been difficult for us to find. In any vintage
These 2015s are for excellent present and near-term drinking, but we have only twelve bottles of each
"Joseph Colin said his 2015s "surprised us with its freshness given the hot growing season and high fruit maturities. The season itself was relatively straightforward, with no major problems to speak of, and we brought in super-clean and ripe fruit that averaged around 13% of potential alcohols. To preserve as much freshness as possible, we avoided stirring the lees, limited new wood to a maximum of 25%, and, in many cases, employed foudres that hold up to 30 hl. The St. Aubins were particularly successful, probably because it was a bit cooler than Chassagne and Puligny."
All notes are by Alan Meadows' tastings of finished wines in 2017, at least one of which he bought for his cellar. He rated all these wines Outstanding
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Cailleret
The citrusy and highly elegant aromas exhibit notes of white orchard fruit, and in particular pear, along with a range of spice and floral characters. There is outstanding intensity along with really lovely delineation to the overtly stony flavors that are blessed with copious amounts of dry extract that buffers the moderately firm acid spine shaping the wonderfully long finish. This is really good stuff. $195
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse
(opened from personal storage). There are very subtle background hints of reduction and sulfur but with air they largely blow off to reveal ripe but not really exotic white fleshed fruit, floral and soft citrus nuances. The rich, powerful and concentrated flavors possess excellent size and weight along with ample muscle on the bold and intense finish. This does not offer the complexity I'm used to seeing, at least not yet, so while it could be enjoyed now, I would be inclined to hold it for another 3 to 5 years first. To be sure, this is a lovely wine but it could be even better with a few years of additional cellaring. $179
Saint -Aubin 1er Cru Combes
This is also quite floral with aromas of smoky white orchard fruit, citrus zest and a light touch of minerality. Once again there is fine volume to the rich and relatively full-bodied flavors yet the finish remains cool, clean and quite dry in the context of the vintage. This is really lovely juice and worth considering. $98
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sentier Du Clou
A top note of citrus is present on the notably ripe yet agreeably fresh and airy aromas of pear, apple and white flowers. There is first-rate intensity on the mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that display fine delineation on the clean, dry and well-balanced finish. This is really quite good and worth a look. $98
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Creot
A reserved nose requires determined swirling to reveal the notes of citrus zest, lavender and pear. There is excellent intensity to the well-defined and subtly mineral-driven flavors that possess solid depth and length on the appealingly dry finale. This should reward a few years of cellaring. $98
Wines are in stock now but not for long
- Len Rothenberg
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