IMPORTATION PRIVÉE   Millésime 2018

NOTES DE DÉGUSTATION

Allen Meadows Burghound Issue # 79

« Le domaine le plus sous-estimé de Bourgogne!  

Vincent Prudhon succinctly described the 2018 growing season as "one that gave us both quality and quantity. While the summer was certainly very hot and dry, our vines largely avoided hydric stress and thus, we had pretty even maturities thanks to a uniform and unusually fast flowering. The fruit was super-clean so when we began picking on the 4th of September, we could harvest it rapidly. Yields were good in both pinot and chardonnay though more generous in the latter. However, the reds weren't especially easy to vinify as there were a few stoppages, so from a technical perspective, it was necessary to be very vigilant. As to the style of the 2018s, they're ripe but fresh and really quite attractive." Prudhon noted that some of the 2018 whites were bottled in August 2019.

St-Aubin 1er cru blanc “Sentier du Clou” 2018 (Burghound 90/100)

Tasting note: Super-fresh aromas include those of pear, apple, white flower and a touch of mineral reduction, all of which is trimmed in discreet citrus elements. There is slightly better volume to the rich, round and delicious medium-bodied flavors that exude a subtle minerality on the dry and lingering finish. This needs to add depth which it may well do if allowed a few years of bottle age first.

Puligny-Montrachet “Les Enseignières” 2018  (Burghound 91/100)

This is actually pretty similar to the Rue aux Vaches with a soupçon more floral influence but a bit less citrus character in evidence. The succulent, round and generously proportioned medium-bodied flavors possess a caressing and seductive palate impression, all wrapped in a sappy and sneaky long finish. This too is a quality Puligny villages that is worth your interest.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru “La Garenne” 2018 (Burghound 93/100 OUTSTANDING)

A broad-ranging array offers up cool and airy notes of acacia blossom, jasmine tea, pear and white peach that are trimmed in just enough wood influence to merit pointing out. There is noticeably more volume and mid-palate density to the more mineral-inflected to the attractively energetic middle weight flavors that exude a bracing salinity on the long, harmonious and balanced finale. This too could use a bit more depth, but more should develop if this is allowed 6 to 10 years of aging.

St-Aubin 1er cru blanc “En Remilly” 2018  Burghound 91/100 OUTSTANDING TOP VALUE)

Tasting note: The hallmark citrus and mildly exotic aromas of a classic En Remilly are present on the ripe nose that primarily offers up white-fleshed fruit aromas. The succulent, round and beguilingly textured medium weight flavors retain a lovely sense of underlying tension and detail on the lightly stony finish. This isn't as dry as some of the wines in the range but it's even more complex.

St-Aubin 1er cru blanc “Chatenière » 2018  Burghound 91/100 100 OUTSTANDING TOP VALUE)

Tasting note: This is the first wine to display appreciable reduction and it's enough to obscure the underlying fruit. The middle weight flavors are rich to the point of opulence as the plush and caressing mid-palate coats the palate with extract on the citrusy, dry and sneaky long finish. This too is really quite good.

St-Aubin 1er cru rouge “Sentier du Clou” Vieilles Vignes 2018  (Burghound 91/100)

Tasting note: A more deeply pitched nose offers up notes of plum, dark raspberry and pretty violet wisps. There is better volume and richness to the round and seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that also terminate in an ever-so-mildly raspy but not austere or rustic finish. I suspect that this will round out with a few years of bottle age.

Les vins arriveront dans les entrepôts de la SAQ et seront disponibles à partir du 28 janvier 2021.

Guillaume