Looking at the 1996 vintage; knowing when to say when
6.22.2010 / By David Hinkle
During my recent travels to France (as well as a couple pleasant, although rare, evenings at home) I’ve had a chance to explore some bottles from the 1996 vintage in Burgundy.  At the time many said that this was a vintage that would age well; it was a warm year with healthy, ripe fruit as well as high acids, one that could definitely hold great promise if handled correctly. continue reading >>

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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. continue reading >>

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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. continue reading >>

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2007 Raphet red Burgundy
12.10.2008
The 2007 vintage may be one of those benchmark years, in that what we’ve tasted again and again has reminded us of why red Burgundy has always been our touchstone for fine wine, and certainly why we first started importing exemplary Burgundy more than 20 years ago. If you are looking for Burgundy that looks black in the glass or flexes muscles usually reserved for Australian Syrah, you will not find it here. These wines drink effortlessly, truly deliciously today; and because of that balance, will surprise many with their ability to cellar. This is a situation we wish we could enjoy every vintage—basically a win-win year. In the near-term, you’re dazzled by wine that drinks as if it just came off the vine; in the medium to long-term, you can discover just how exponentially exciting Raphet Burgundy is with a few years or more in the bottle. continue reading >>

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