Sunday Cellar Close-outs: 2005 Red Burgundy — Running Low on the “Vintage of a Generation”
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The Cote de Nuits Vineyards in Gevrey Chambertin,
one of the most successful appellations in 2005
Good Morning! I have said it before, the fabulous 2005 Pinot Noir based red Burgundies are indeed legendary in their quality. Now I am approaching the end of my supply. If you are interested, read on and do not miss getting some for the cellar. You will be rewarded for years to come.
The 2005s are being called the “vintage of a generation” and every grower I spoke with in Burgundy reaffirmed this over and over. Vintages like this only come along rarely. Don’t miss out, there are wonderful wines at all prices levels.
Wine Spectator says “Monumental year finds ripe, fleshy, reds that show “terroir” in spades.” The article starts, “The quality of the 2005 vintage for red Burgundy is stupendous. It is simply the best vintage I have ever tasted.”
Here is respected Burgundy critic Steven Tanzer:
“At the risk of throwing another log on an already raging fire, I’d have to say that 2005 is potentially the greatest red Burgundy vintage I’ve yet tasted from barrel” -Steve Tanzer International Wine Cellar
“Red Burgundy 2005: to be treasured” -Decanter Magazine
Burgundy always fills me with wonder. An engulfing feeling of tranquility settles over me when ogling the old slopes with their gnarly root stock, and snuffling in the perfume of wood fires coming from those venerable vintners’ stone cottages. There is this urge to flop down with a glass of wine somewhere between the vines and guzzle it all hungrily, but that is seldom possible when I am traveling the wiggly little roads from one tasting to the next from ten in the morning until that last glass of wine with dinner at eleven.
I’ve tasted the 2005 vintage from Rully in the Cote de Chalonnais to St Romain, Monthelie, Volnay, Pommard, and Beaune in the Cote de Beaune to Chambolle Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin, Fixin, and Marsannay in the Cote de Nuits. I’ve probably forgotten a dozen.
What sticks in my mind is that nearly every grower I spoke with said almost the same thing, “2005 is the vintage of my lifetime.”
And, it’s clear from the wine that they mean it. The weather in 2005 was perfect and nobody even had to use their table de tri which is the conveyor belt (sometimes vibrating) where every grape is scrutinized and the losers are tossed out. Every little grape had swelled to a tight little fruity orb of impeccable concentration with tannins that caressed the mouth and promised a long life. In short, it was a splendid time to be tasting in Burgundy.
Here is one more quote from Wine Spectator:
“The 2005 vintage in Burgundy is already poised to take its place among the stars of the past. Reminiscent of 1990 and 1985, the 2005 vintage features just about as much fruit as the 90′s, but also the grip and intensity of the 85′s without losing any balance. It is simply the best young Burgundy vintage I have tasted in my 27 years working in the wine business.” -Wine Spectator
The following is a list of the red Burgundies (including a couple never offered before) that I have available now. But many are now in very limited quantities:
From Eric de Suremain:
100% Bio/Organic since 1997,
Fresh, elegant and quite ready to drink
2005 Monthelie sur-la-Velle 1er cru $545 per case
From Domaine Ninot .
2005 Mercurey Les Crets 1er cru $360 per case 15 bottles available
From Paul Garaudet:
2005 Monthelie 1er cru les Duresses 1er cru $499 per case (6 bottles available)
2005 Volnay $485
2005 Pommard $585 per case (17 bottles available)
From Henri Boillot:
2005 Volnay les Fremiets 1er cru $990 per case (3 bottles available)
From Benoit Germain:
2005 Chorey les Beaune $360 per case (36 bottles available)
From Philippe Leclerc:
2005 Gevrey-Chambertin les Cazetiers 1e cru $1150 per case (55 bottles available)
2005 Gevrey-Chambertin Combe aux Moines 1e cru $1150 per case (12 bottles available)
From Bernard Bouvier (incredible wines): Called “one of the best winemakers of his generation” RVF
2005 Marsannay Longeroies $399 per case (30 bottles available)
If you love Burgundy or want to know what great Burgundy is about, do what am I am doing. Grab some of these wines while they are available.