Sapid, rich and penetrating—“Borniques” blossoms on the tongue and lingers with rich red/black fruits and a floral elegance that doesn’t stop.
Finding 2007 Burgundy's place in history
12.10.2009
/ By David Hinkle
Vintage comparisons not only make for lively
arguments, but also help divine the future evolution of a young wine
before us. The 2007 vintage, being just released, was on
everyone's mind -- so we made a point during our tastings to open a
couple older bottles, with the intention of finding 2007's "historic"
place in the pantheon of Burgundy past.
The experience of tasting
again through a number of 2007s, however, was a revelation and almost
made me forget the topic at hand. It was as if the wines were just
bottled yesterday. I remembered sampling the same wines just after the
harvest, when the pure sensation of smelling and tasting fresh
raspberries was undeniable. The fresh-fruit, pure Pinot core of the
wines was still vibrant, but now a touch of spice was becoming evident,
too. They were, in a word, delicious.
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Filed under:
david's notebook
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Chambolle's ying and yang
9.25.2009
/ By David Hinkle
I was recently in Boise for the annual harvest party, hosted by Boise
Co-Op wine guru and good friend Divit Cardoza. There was lots of great
wine and amazing local food, prepared by Divit and the 50-plus friends
who gathered under a perfectly clear sky that evening.
Two
bottles that I enjoyed comparing that evening were village Chambolles
from the 2001 vintage -- Anne Gros' Chambolle "La Combe d'Orveau" and
Michel Magnien's Chambolle "Les Fremières". Since we were celebrating
the natural order of things and cycles of the seasons, it seemed to me,
in a brief moment of philosophical contemplation (great barbecue will do
that) how complementary yet how different -- how yin and yang? -- these
two Chambolles were.
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Filed under:
david's notebook
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2007 Fred Magnien red Burgundy
5.15.2009
Yet it’s almost a crime that the best of 2007, even from such an
outstanding producer like Frédéric Magnien, will be lost on the larger
population of wine lovers looking for punch rather than pleasure. But if
you are a savvy collector and are paying attention to what the leading
critics have said about Magnien’s 2007s, there is no question that you
will be amply rewarded.
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Filed under:
just arrived
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Frédéric Magnien Cremant de Bourgogne
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
Fresh, fruity and floral, with fine bubbles and a light mousse. The wine’s light color and light pearl is typical of ‘Blanc de Noirs’ Champagne! Structured (a nod to the spice and weight of Pinot Noir) but wonderfully balanced. Long in the mouth and playful—enjoy it throughout your meal!
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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Frédéric Magnien Bourgogne Rosé 2011
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
A glassful of early summer—fresh white and pink currants mix with crushed raspberries on the fresh nose. An ideal blend of freshness and pure fruit. So little Pinot Noir rosé is made in Burgundy, let alone gets shipped beyond France. A rare treat!
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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Frédéric Magnien Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2010
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
LIMITED. Extraordinary potential. A spiral-bound nose of alternating baking spices, minerals and licorice hovers over a richly endowed and supple mouth of black and red cherries in liquor. Pure silk. “A spicy, ripe and solidly complex nose of red berry fruit liqueur, plum and black cherry notes complements the supple, generous and concentrated medium-bodied flavors… the class and refinement of a grand cru.”—Burghound
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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Frédéric Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2010
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
LIMITED. Effortlessly beautiful and radiant, with a rich core of pure red/purple fruit. The wine’s texture and aroma all speaks to a ruddy glow of rich fruit and pure flavors, a Pinot Noir autumn sunset. “This is impressively refined with excellent breadth to the pure and elegant aromas that display a lovely range of spice elements along with a cool mélange of red and dark berry fruit and stone notes. The rich, supple and mouth-coating big-bodied flavors possess very good phenolic maturity as the firm tannins are pushed to the background…”—Burghound
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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Frédéric Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Borniques 2010
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
Another favorite and one in which Fred decided to add considerably less sulfur than usual—the resulting natural texture and velvety mouthfeel is overwhelmingly seductive. Pure red berry fruit and lots of power; Burgundian Pinot Noir doesn’t get more natural or pure than this. “The exceptionally fresh and energetic medium-bodied flavors are mineral-inflected and quite pure…This is lovely and actually very good…”—Burghound
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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Frédéric Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Charmes 2010
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
A sultry, saturated premier cru with darker fruits on the nose but a gorgeous mouthful of summer-ripe red berries and spice on the mouth. The classic Chambolle elegance and aroma is here in spades, with an added dose of spice and pure fruit on the finish. “This is more elegant still with really lovely aromas of rose petals and red currant that give way seamlessly to the lilting, pure and intense middle weight flavors that culminate in a linear and impressively persistent finish. Strongly recommended.”—Burghound
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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Frédéric Magnien Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2010
France
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Côte de Nuits-Burgundy
A lacy floral nose opens to a delicate and precise mouth of purple and red fruits. Fred’s selection of older vines here gives more profound, complex flavors than one would expect from a village wine. “A restrained but highly complex nose exhibits notes of wild red berries, cassis, plum and lovely floral hints…This is quite lacy and very Chambolle in character.”—Burghound
Call 1-800-266-6585 to inquire.
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“A gorgeous and seductive mix of red pinot, raspberry, cool minerality
and touches of earth and vegetal notes complement well the full, rich,
deep, serious and intense flavors that are concentrated yet supple and
delicious with near perfect balance. I really like the purity and
complexity here. Terrific.” — Burghound