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The Short Version
While some legendary Burgundies stumble into underwhelming notes of canned corn and unripe melon, Prieure Roch remains untouchable by leaning into its polarizing, tomato-sauce savory eccentricity. It’s a masterclass in why singular identity beats template precision every time.
Consider this your tasting briefing: recent pours have proven that even legendary names can miss the mark while others maintain an almost unsettling consistency. From Meursault to Vosne-Romanée, the spectrum ranged from underwhelming precision to the kind of singular identity that defines a domaine. While some bottles felt trapped by their own youth, others arrived fully realized and ready to command the room.
Man, if this was more powerful and more precise, it would be awesome.
The nuance of Bonin and Ramonet
The 2019 Domaine Bernard-Bonin Meursault Vieilles Vignes offered a reductive, textured experience characterized by burnt sesame and sweet sap. As the glass warmed, the profile shifted toward savory notes of thick apple jam and lemonade, though it lacked a certain brightness. Similarly, the 2015 Claude Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Ruchottes showed promise through its diverse nose of green apples and spiced vanilla glaze. However, the palate struggled with precision, leaning heavily into flavors of canned corn and unripe melon. Man, if this was more powerful and more precise, it would be awesome. It feels like a wine still waiting for its moment to truly exert influence.
Consistency in the face of volatility
In contrast to the lighter expressions of terroir found in Chassagne, the 2015 Sylvain Cathiard Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers delivered an intense aromatic profile of red fruit popsicles and tropical spices. Yet, the structural dryness was distracting, leaving one to wonder if the wine is simply too young to shed its tannic grip. This makes the performance of the 2013 Domaine Prieure Roch Vosne-Romanée even more striking. Eschewing traditional tropes, the PR style remains distinctly idiosyncratic, moving from strawberry jam on toast to a strange, savory mid-palate reminiscent of bread dipped in tomato sauce. The sheer reliability of that specific, almost polarizing character proves why certain producers remain untouchable. While other bottles felt template or uninspired, the Prieure Roch reminded us that true greatness often lies in being unapologetically oneself. Which of these Burgundy styles do you find more compelling: the pursuit of perfect precision or the embrace of a singular, eccentric identity?
Questions & Answers
What are the tasting notes for the 2019 Domaine Bernard-Bonin Meursault Vieilles Vignes?
The 2019 Domaine Bernard-Bonin Meursault Vieilles Vignes features a reductive and textured profile characterized by burnt sesame and sweet sap. As the wine warms in the glass, these initial notes shift toward savory flavors of lemonade and thick apple jam. While the experience is complex and textured, it lacks a certain level of brightness that many enthusiasts seek in high-end Meursault. This specific pour highlights how temperature changes can significantly alter the aromatic evolution of a Burgundy wine.
How does the flavor profile of Domaine Prieure Roch Vosne-Romanée differ from traditional styles?
Domaine Prieure Roch Vosne-Romanée maintains a distinctly idiosyncratic and polarizing style that eschews traditional winemaking tropes. The tasting experience moves from notes of strawberry jam on toast to a strange, savory mid-palate reminiscent of bread dipped in tomato sauce. Rather than following a standard template, this producer embraces a singular identity that remains consistent despite its unconventional nature. This unapologetic approach to winemaking is what defines the domaine's reputation for greatness and reliability among collectors.
Why might certain Burgundy wines like the 2015 Claude Ramonet struggle with precision?
Certain Burgundy wines may struggle with precision due to imbalances in their flavor profiles or a lack of structural maturity. For example, the 2015 Claude Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Ruchottes possesses a diverse nose of green apples and spiced vanilla glaze but lacks palate clarity. Instead of refined nuances, the flavors lean heavily into unripe melon and canned corn. Such wines often feel as though they are still waiting for their moment to truly exert influence and reach their full potential.
What characteristics define the 2015 Sylvain Cathiard Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers?
The 2015 Sylvain Cathiard Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers is defined by an intense aromatic profile consisting of tropical spices and red fruit popsicles. While the aromatics are highly expressive, the wine exhibits a distracting structural dryness that may affect the overall drinking experience. This heavy tannic grip suggests that the vintage might simply be too young to reach its ideal state. The tension between its vibrant fruit notes and its rigid structure makes it a complex example of the region.
Originally reported by Reddit Wine.
