The 2014s
For value: The
2014 St, Aubin B;anc, was lighter and cleaner than many another example. St. Aubin ihas long been the poor man’s Chassagne Montrachet, but the scarcity and publicity have caused prices to rise for the appellation. With apecial offetr from our importer were able to reduce our sale to $25. None other form the appellation can come close.
The 2014 Roche de Bellene Bourgogne Pinot Noir VV was closed a year ago but showed very well at our tasting. Somewhat lighter in style, it has classic burgundy complexity at a no others can not match.
The
2014 Domaine de Bellene Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves is extraordinary. The vineyard was hit by hail early in the growing season which reduced the yields to one quarter of what is typically allowed for grand cru, let alone 1er. The result; incredible concentrated wine from very ripe grapes. Although we double decanted it it was slow to open, but open it did to the delight of the tasters, and mine as I took the bottle home and drank it over the next three days with greater and greater pleasure.
I was bemused at Burghound’s concerns
about its tannin , which are present, but as in balance as many 2005s I
liked, and completely overlaid by rich fruit. Some will go in my
cellar.
2015 is a great vintage for red burgundy. The 2015 Roche de Bellene Corton Grand Cru is also extraordinary in a rather more feminine style for Corton. From one grower in Renardes, it is pure and delicate with the its corton ness delicately etched in in seamless whole.
White
2014 Maison Roche de Bellene Bourgogne Blanc; Aroma: flinty dry, apples green, firm very dense, ; Mouth: bright very apple & pear very ripe clean acidity, bright very dense, clean;
Very Good Plus 19.99; Mixed Case, 17.99; Case, 16.99
2014 Maison Roche de Bellene St. Aubin; Aroma: raher string oak, , fleshy, very dense, heady very densem reserved; Mouth: cleanly graceful, bright acid, fine aid fleshy bright clean rather long; Very Good Plus
Wine Advocate – “an attractive, quite peachy, nectarine-tinged bouquet with good definition. The palate is well balanced with crisp apple and pear notes, not a complex village Cru, but fresh and tensile, with a touch of salinity on the finish. Drink over the next 2-3 years”. $25 NET
Red
2014 Roche de Bellene Bourgogne Pinot Noir VV 18.99; Mixed Case, 17.09; Case, 16.14
2014 Roche de Bellene Volnay VV $45 Net
Aroma: very dense very heady, well
structured, ; Mouth: sweet raspberry, fine acidity, a touch odd; judgment
reserved
Jancis Robinson “Very appetising, comfortable nose. Lots of fruit and pleasure. Super charming. Long”
2014 Roche de Bellene Gevrey-Chambertin VV $47 Net
Aroma: floral very pretty, minty herbal , fresh, very clean, ; Mouth: clean and refined, pretty, finely delineated acidity, very ripe , elegant and pure Gevrey; Very Good – Excellent
Burghound “beautifully complex with its airy array of very pretty red berries, spice, earth and discreet violet and lilac wisps. The sleek and intense medium weight flavors possess a polished mouth feel while delivering solid length on the discreetly mineral-driven finale. This is an inviting Gevrey villages that should drink well early on if desired yet reward 5 to 8 years of cellaring too.”
2014 Domaine de Bellene Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Grèves’ $73 Net
Aroma: very heady very dense , richly oaked; Mouth: dense sweet acidity, fine oak tannins, surmature, very concentrated, old viney, long with fine gritty tannins on the finish, extraordinarily ample; Excellent - Outstanding
Burghound “a background whisper of wood sets off ripe and fresh aromas that include pungent earth, black cherry and plum scents. There is excellent volume and mid-palate density supporting the discreetly mineral-inflected flavors that exhibit a mildly dry but not bitter finish.”.
2015
2015 Roche de Bellene Vosne-Romanée VV $94 Net
Aroma: lifted, flowery, fragrant, very pretty, floral and heady; Mouth: clean, very minerally steely, clean, rather fine, pretty, very feminine, very Vosne ;
Excellent
2015 Roche de Bellene Corton Grand Cru $117 Net
Aroma: heady grand cru, rather dense, , very rich very full, deep and dark; Mouth: thick, rather firm, cleanly racy very linear, fine, very pure, clean, with subtle mineral Corton notes; Outstanding;
2015 Domaine de Bellene Beaune ‘Cuvée du Cinquantenaire’ $96 Net
Color: medium dark black hue; Aroma: very heady , lifted very sweet, lightly herbal ethereal, very deep, strong minerality, ; Mouth: mineral, rather dense , herbal fullish, , smooth, thickish, well integrated, plump darkly mineral fine ; Very Good - Excellent
