Burgundy Wine Tasting at Café Maxx

"The First Duty of wine is to be Red...the second is to be a Burgundy"

- Harry Waugh

Is this deja vu or is it the same e-mail that went out yesterday??  Yes- these are the same wines that we are showing at the Edge Steak and Bar on the night before.  Usually I am a little more creative and come up with different wines for these two events but I am a short timer and am already getting ready for my vacation to Italy in two weeks. 

I have made one change to the e-mail from yesterday, after the tasting wines on this e-mail I have included a 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintage Burgundy offering on some GREAT small domaines at 30-50% off their regular price.  These three vintages are very good and are drinking very nicely at the moment whereas you will want to wait to drink the best wines from the newly released 2009 and 2010 vintage wines from Burgundy.

Burgundy is one of the world’s greatest wine producing regions and when it comes to the French concept of terroir, Burgundy is the greatest example of this concept of sense of place or where the wine comes from. Terroir is the place where the wine comes from and all of its special characteristics that the aspect of the vineyard site, type of soils that are present and weather conditions that exist where the vineyard resides.

When it comes to Burgundy there are only two grape varietals that are grown here, Chardonnay for the whites and Pinot Noir for the reds. This makes it rather simple to figure out the varietal composition of the wines and to focus on the terroir of each different cru or vineyard site. There are three levels of wines in Burgundy with Grand Cru making up the top 1% of the wines produced here. Many of the grand cru sites in Burgundy have been recognized as superior terroirs for close to 1000 years. Premier Cru is next down the quality ladder from Grand Cru and there are only 10% of the wines in Burgundy designated as Premier Cru vineyard sites. The next level down is village wine which the rest of the wines of Burgundy are considered to be village level.

There are 25 Grand Cru vineyard sites for reds and 5 Grand Cru sites for the white wines in the Cotes d’or. We have not yet considered Chablis, which has 8 grand cru vineyards of its own or Beaujolaise to the south which is considered traditionally to be a part of Burgundy but the red varietal here is not Pinot Noir but rather Beaujoliase Gamay, which grows better in the granite soils of this region. We have still not even mentioned the Macon or Cote Chalonnaise so there are always exceptions to the rule and Burgundy is a rather large wine producing region.

Burgundy Wine Tasting at Café Maxx
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 -
6:30 PM

Tonight we will just be focusing on the top area called the Cotes D’or which contains the Cotes de Beaune where the great whites (all five Grand Crus for white are located here) and the Cotes de Nuits (24 of the 25 grand Crus for red are located here).

This tasting takes place in the main part of the restaurant and we have a casual wine tasting atmosphere. As you arrive you are greeted and the wines will be introduced to each individual table. Chef Oliver Saucy will be sending out a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines but the pairings are not wine specific but rather a journey of discovery. You should taste each small course with as many different wines as possible to expand your palate and your wine and food tasting experiences. You can learn as much about a bad wine and food pairing as a good one.

The fee for this tasting event is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-782-0606.

Tasting line-up:

Bouchard Pere et Fils Pouilly Fuisse 2010
Price: $26.25       Sale $23.10          Case $268

Typical aromas, with fruit and floral notes. A very perfumed, silky and elegant wine. To be drunk preferably in its youth for its freshness.

Charles Audoin Marsannay Blanc "Au Champ Salomon " 2008
Price: $28.50       Sale $25.08          Case $291

A good bit of chalky mineral notes to the nose, hints fo vanilla crème and white peach, apple and lemon citrus fruit on the nose.  Nice creamy texture on the tongue with layers of minerality and nice firm acidity here to the end.  Finish 40+                Very Good +

Jean Marc Brocard Chablis " Fourchaume" 1er Cru 2008
Price: $30                             Sale $26.40          Case $306

Sea shell like minerality on the nose lemon citrus and ripe golden apple on the nose with a touch of hazelnut.  A fat style of Chablis with nice amount of that sea shell like minerality and a nice fresh finish but lots of fat fruit for a Chablis.  Finish 40+                Very Good +

Bouchard Pere et Fils Bourgogne Rouge 2009
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $202

An excellent entry level Bourgogne Rouge with the extensive vineyard holdings that the Bouchard Pere et Fils label has to draw from it is easy to believe the quality of this entry level bourgogne.  These 2009's are the most forward and seductive of all the wines that we have ever seen for such a great vintage.

Bouchard Beaune Clos de Mousse 2010
Price: $50                             Sale $44                Case $510

Fruit aromas combined with light toasty notes. Both fleshy and refined, Clos de la Mousse reveals its charms with delicacy. Good ageing potential

Charles Audoin Marsannay " Les Longeroies" 2008
Price: $30                             Sale $26.40          Case $306

A fairly earthy wine with mushroom and underbrush notes to the dark cherry fruit, a bit of barnyard here on the nose.  Fine tannins on the tongue with a silky smooth texture firm acidity holding things in place with that earth and funk lasting all the way to the end.  Finish 40+  Very Good

Charles Audoin Fixin" La Rozier" 2008
Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72          Case $321

A good bit of funk here on the nose with a good amount of rocky mineral like notes with pretty floral notes and some of that animal or barnyard also shining through the red cherry and cranberry like fruit.  A big and sturdy Pinot Noir with tart red cherry fruit and a nice hand of gravelly mineral and firm tannins on the finish for a Pinot Noir Classic Fixin.  Finish 35+                Very Good

Patrice Rion Vougeot "Les Cras" 1er Cru 2008
Price: $67.50       Sale $59.40          Case $689

A bit of funky earth notes coming out of the glass initially with some red cherry and wild strawberry like fruit, a pretty floral nuance coming through and some exotic spice after opening up for a bit.  Nice tart red cherry fruit on the tongue with hints of flowers and fresh earth barnyard notes from the nose and light spice on the finish.  Finish 40+              Excellent

The fee for this tasting event is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-782-0606.

We have just received a GREAT deal on some 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintage wines from small domaines and these wines have been reduced to sell. 

2006 Vintage wines

M Magnien Morey St. Denis Millandes 2006
Price: $49.50       Sale $43.56
(12 bottles available)

(90-92 Points) A positively gorgeous nose of black berry, cassis, subtle spice and plenty of iron-infused warm earth slides seamlessly into rich, full, sweet, powerful, focused and intense medium full flavors that possess ample dry extract that have the effect of smoothing over the otherwise firm tannins and conferring a suave, indeed even velvety mouth feel to the persistent finish. A first rate example of Millandes with just a hair of minerality.  Allen Meadows' Burghound (Jan 2008)

M Magnien Morey St. Denis Aux Charme 2006
Price: $45                             Sale $39.60
(49 bottles available)

The favors are rich, full and sweet in the mouth with ample volume and real punch to the sappy, delicious and beautifully mineral-infused finish. This is a really pretty effort built more along the lines of finesse than power but it makes a statement anyway. Allen Meadows - Burghound

Pousse D'Or Pommard Jarollieres 2006
Price: $60                             Sale $52.80
(24 bottles available)

Pousse D'Or Volnay Clos de Bousse D'or 2006
Price: $60                             Sale $52.80
(2 bottles Available)

(89 Points) Dark red. Deeper, brooding aromas of black cherry and stone. Broader and fuller than the Caillerets but light on its feet, with black cherry, licorice and menthol flavors. Still rather backward today but pliant on the finish, with suave tannins spreading out to dust the palate.  by Stephen Tanzer, Mar/Apr 09, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Leroy Pommard Les Vignots 2006
Price: $300                          Sale $264
(2 bottles available)

(89 Point) "An extract of dark berry fruit nose that is notably pure introduces rich and impressively constructed medium plus-bodied flavors that possess a sappy and textured mouth feel on the balanced and solidly persistent finish. This will be approachable young but should age well on its equilibrium." Allen Meadows, Burghound.com, Issue 30.

2007 Vintage Wines Available

F Magnien Clos De Vougeot 2007
Price: $110                          Sale $96.80
(12 bottles available)

(90-92 points) This too displays a slightly unusual nose for a young Clos de Vougeot with a bright, expressive and almost airy nose of red berry fruit that also offers up notes of cranberry that lead to moderately earthy middle weight flavors that possess fine mid-palate concentration, vibrancy and punch on the mildly chewy, linear and austere finish that is more classic in character.  Allen Meadows' Burghound (Jan 2009)

F Magnien Gevrey Chambertin Cazetiers 2007
Price: $60                             Sale $52.80
(15 bottles available)

(90-92 points) This is completely different as the expressive nose displays a black cherry liqueur nose replete with obvious minerality and underbrush notes that give way to very fresh, delicious and exceptionally rich and textured full-bodied flavors that culminate in a supple, round and deep finish where the minerality resurfaces. This is also a consistent performer for Magnien and it is again in 2007.  Allen Meadows' Burghound (Jan 2009)

F Magnien Vosne Romanee Les Suchots 2007
Price: $75                             Sale $66
(13 bottles available)

(90-92 Points) A deft touch of wood frames highly spiced red and blue pinot fruit laced with anise, hoisin and soy notes that are picked up by the rich, full and classy flavors that possess a truly lovely mouth feel on the beguiling, balanced and long finish as the level of dry extract is such that it confers a velvety texture to the finale. This should benefit from 6 to 8 years in the cellar. , Allen Meadows' Burghound, Issue#33

Leroy Pommard Les Vignots 2007
Price: $337.50    Sale $297            
(6 bottles available)

(89 points) This is quite ripe with plum and violet aromas nuanced by warm earth hints that can also be found on the very round and relatively approachable middle weight flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel on the lightly mineral suffused finish. Solid if not exceptional quality for its level.   Allen Meadows' Burghound (Apr 2009)

2008 Vintage wine

Meo Camuzet Vosne Romanee Chaumes 2008
Price: $112.50    Sale $99
(11 bottles avialable)

Winery Notes:  There is much finesse and elegance in this wine, very typical of the Vosne-Romanée appellation. Fullness and charm coexist here in a wine which is not as awe-inspiring as the superb 'crus', 'les Brûlées' and 'Cros Parantoux', but which is easy to drink and will quickly seduce you.