The 2011 growing season was a challenge for “les vignerons” with summer temperatures occurring in spring, fall arrived in summer and then summer weather returned in autumn. Despite this, 2011 is considered by many to be a good to very good Burgundy vintage, both for reds and whites. Toronto Vintners acquired 7 wines for our October 20th, 2015 tasting from the Côte de Beaune region and one from the Côte Chalonnaise sub-region of Burgundy, which lies south of the Côte de Beaune. From Beaune our wines were: 1 Savigny Les Beaune, 2 Meursaults, 2 Chassagne-Montrachets, 1 Puligny-Montrachet, and 1 Pernard-Vergelesses. The eighth wine was a Montagny from the Côte Chalonnaise. Most of the wines we tasted were Premier (1er) Cru wines which refers to the second highest classification of quality wines from Burgundy after Grand Cru, the highest. So superb quality!
HOW THE WINES RANKED
THE WINES
2011 Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot, Chassagne-Montrachet Les Baudines, 1er Cru $112 A background trace of reduction does not completely mask the cool, restrained and very pure aromas of freshly sliced lemon and floral aromas. There is a beautifully textured mouth feel to the racy, intense and vibrant flavors that exude a very fine minerality on the markedly dry, linear and wonderfully detailed finish. Outstanding. Drink: 2018+. 90-92+ pts, Allen Meadows, burghound.com, June 2013 2011 Domaine Louis Jadot (Duc de Magenta), Chassagne-Montrachet, Morgeot - Clos de la Chapelle, 1er Cru $99 The 2011 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru Clos de la Chapelle, has a fragrant, well-defined bouquet with honeysuckle and broom. It is very precise, but tightly wound. The palate is well-balanced with fine tannins, very pure and expressive with a lovely thread of acidity lending tension. This is a top-quality Chassagne. Drink 2012-2020. 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, August 2013
2011 Maison Vincent Girardin, Puligny Montrachet $54
Girardin's 2011 Chassagne village may be a little tight and sharp at this stage, but there's nevertheless a significant dose of wet chalky minerality and well-measured leesy-yeasty influence to go alongside green hazelnut, bright green apple and lively citrus/green orchard fruit. The long finish indicates a very positive future for this wine, best after 2015, and should drink well till its tenth birthday. 93 pts, John Szabo, winealign.com, Jan 2014 2011 Domaine Latour Giraud, Meursault Charmes 1er Cru $97 Discreet, complex aromas of stone and soft citrus fruits, flowers, vanilla and white truffle. Intensely flavored and nicely balanced, with bright, integrated acidity and penetrating minerality combining to give the wine terrific verve and grip. Finishes with noteworthy length. 92 pts, Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Sept 2013 2011 Domaine Bernard Millot, Meursault Les Petits Charrons $54 This is labeled as a single vineyard - Les Petits Charrons - but it is not a 1er cru site. It has the broader shoulders of Meursault - good power and complexity and weight, with lifted hazelnut, poached pear and wood spice on the nose. It’s medium-full bodied chardonnay, - firm, dry and quite stony with excellent length. Should cellar for five years. 92 pts, David Lawrason, winealign.com, Feb 2014
2011 Maison Champy, Pernand-Vergelesses, En Caradeux, 1er Cru $50 Ranked in the top 10 for number of awards won among wines from this region: the Concours General Agricole Paris awarded the 2008 vintage Silver and the Guide Hachette des Vins awarded 2 Stars. “Although En Caradeux may not be the most celebrated 1er cru in Pernand, Champy's bottlings in recent vintages have been outstanding, and this one follows in that same vein. The 2011 is a wine of superior depth and concentration, generous but balanced wood influence and marked-chalky minerality. All in all, an excellent success for the vintage, to be enjoyed after 2016 or held into the midtwenties.” 93 pts, David Lawrason, winealign.com, April 2014 2011 Domaine Dublere aux Vergelesses, Savigny Les Beaune, 1er Cru $59 This is a restrained, firm, tightly wound, briskly mineral Savigny from the excellent Aux Vergelesses cru, with stillmarked caramel-wood flavour on the finish. This has fine intensity and excellent length, though it will need 2-3 years for the wood to better integrate. This certainly has above average intensity for the otherwise usually light and delicate 2011s. Fine stuff. 92 pts, John Szabo, winealign.com, June 2014 2011 Maison Roche de Bellene, Montagny, 1er Cru $27
Montagny is the premier white wine village of the Chalonnais. This comes from a clay-limestone site with 20 to 30 year old vines. It was naturally fermented and barrel aged, showing considerable toasty, resin oak amid wild clover, mustard and dried fruit. It's medium weight, with great structure and minerality and a mouth-watering finish. The oak is a bit heavy; almost some tannin on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted April 2014. 90 pts, David Lawrason, winealign.com, April 2014