Domaine Jean Grivot
2011 Nuits St. Georges “Les Boudots” 1er ♥1er Cru Red barrel
Score: 90-93
Tasted: Jan 14, 2013
Drink: 2021+
Issue: 49
Outstanding
Note: from 70+ year old vines
Producer note: Etienne Grivot describes 2011 as a vintage that had a “very early start in the same fashion as 2003 and 2007. The growing season was very much up and down and you really had to be in your vineyards constantly. Because we control yields carefully and have a lot of old vines I was actually more concerned about over ripeness than under ripeness and thus I elected to begin the harvest on the 31st of August. The fruit was definitely phenolically ripe, particularly the tannins, and there came a point where there was not only nothing further to gain but we faced the very real risk of having rapidly falling acidities. While I don’t use whole clusters, I do use whole berries to ferment with. I do one initial punch down to release at least some juice so that the fermentations can slowly begin and in 2011 the total cuvaison lasted around 17 days give or take 2 days. As to the style of the 2011 vintage, it didn’t produce particularly big wines but they are suave and seductive plus they display their respective terroirs quite clear. This isn’t always the case with vintages that are very seductive because the aromas are generally a bit too ripe for the terroir to come through without distortion. The other aspect that I really like about them is that they are very saline in character, which I believe contributes greatly to how refreshing they are to drink. In fact, even though they should age very well, the wines can already be enjoyed for their freshness and energy.” I agree with Grivot in that his 2011s are indeed quite seductive and utterly delicious though they should absolutely age well. I would suggest to you that Grivot outperformed the vintage in 2011. As pretty as the ’11s are though, I don’t think they will quite match his terrific 2010s though the qualitative differences are less than you might imagine. Among the 2010s, if you can find the Richebourg don’t pass it up as it’s genuinely brilliant and the Clos de Vougeot is not far behind. (Diageo Château and Estate Wines, www.diageowines.com, NY, NY; Ballantynes of Cowbridge, www.ballantynes.co.uk, UK, Seckford Wines, www.seckfordwines.co.uk, UK, Flint Wines, www.flintwines.com, UK, Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, UK, Bibendum Wine Ltd., www.bibendum-wine.co.uk, UK, Goedhuis & Co., www.goedhuis.com, UK, Howard Ripley, www.howardripley.com, UK, Uncorked Ltd, www.uncorked.co.uk, UK and Lay & Wheeler, www.laywheeler.com, UK).
Tasting note: An expressive nose combines both wood and natural spice elements that add considerable interest to the notably ripe nose cassis, plum and violets. There is excellent richness, size and weight to the very round and suave medium-bodied flavors that possess beautiful depth on the mouth coating finish where the abundant dry extract renders the supporting structure more pliant than it really is. Lovely potential here.
Domaine Jean Grivot, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, Aux Boudots
US$1,550 / 每箱價格
Domaine Jean Grivot
2011 Nuits St. Georges “Les Boudots” 1er ♥1er Cru Red barrel
Score: 90-93
Tasted: Jan 14, 2013
Drink: 2021+
Issue: 49
Outstanding
Note: from 70+ year old vines
Producer note: Etienne Grivot describes 2011 as a vintage that had a “very early start in the same fashion as 2003 and 2007. The growing season was very much up and down and you really had to be in your vineyards constantly. Because we control yields carefully and have a lot of old vines I was actually more concerned about over ripeness than under ripeness and thus I elected to begin the harvest on the 31st of August. The fruit was definitely phenolically ripe, particularly the tannins, and there came a point where there was not only nothing further to gain but we faced the very real risk of having rapidly falling acidities. While I don’t use whole clusters, I do use whole berries to ferment with. I do one initial punch down to release at least some juice so that the fermentations can slowly begin and in 2011 the total cuvaison lasted around 17 days give or take 2 days. As to the style of the 2011 vintage, it didn’t produce particularly big wines but they are suave and seductive plus they display their respective terroirs quite clear. This isn’t always the case with vintages that are very seductive because the aromas are generally a bit too ripe for the terroir to come through without distortion. The other aspect that I really like about them is that they are very saline in character, which I believe contributes greatly to how refreshing they are to drink. In fact, even though they should age very well, the wines can already be enjoyed for their freshness and energy.” I agree with Grivot in that his 2011s are indeed quite seductive and utterly delicious though they should absolutely age well. I would suggest to you that Grivot outperformed the vintage in 2011. As pretty as the ’11s are though, I don’t think they will quite match his terrific 2010s though the qualitative differences are less than you might imagine. Among the 2010s, if you can find the Richebourg don’t pass it up as it’s genuinely brilliant and the Clos de Vougeot is not far behind. (Diageo Château and Estate Wines, www.diageowines.com, NY, NY; Ballantynes of Cowbridge, www.ballantynes.co.uk, UK, Seckford Wines, www.seckfordwines.co.uk, UK, Flint Wines, www.flintwines.com, UK, Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, UK, Bibendum Wine Ltd., www.bibendum-wine.co.uk, UK, Goedhuis & Co., www.goedhuis.com, UK, Howard Ripley, www.howardripley.com, UK, Uncorked Ltd, www.uncorked.co.uk, UK and Lay & Wheeler, www.laywheeler.com, UK).
Tasting note: An expressive nose combines both wood and natural spice elements that add considerable interest to the notably ripe nose cassis, plum and violets. There is excellent richness, size and weight to the very round and suave medium-bodied flavors that possess beautiful depth on the mouth coating finish where the abundant dry extract renders the supporting structure more pliant than it really is. Lovely potential here.
