by Mike Supple
This is very common in France, as their whites are often made to showcase bold acidity, and they have a great way of reinvigorating the palate after bogging it down with tannic young reds.
When asked about the vintage, Luc was hesitant to make a comparison to other recent vintages, but after some thought decided that 2006 was in many ways somewhat of a cross between the fruit of 2001 and the balance of 2000.
As a whole, I found the reds to be very impressively delicate and expressive. Rather a contrast to the other wines I spoke about in the previous blog entry. While those were bolder, more powerful, and somewhat more typically "masculine", the Bouchard wines displayed very impressive elegance and style. Most of this is likely to do with the fact that Bouchard's vineyards are largely in the Cote de Beaune, and as one travels south in Burgundy the Pinots tend to become lighter and more perfumed.
And now for the wines (a reminder that these wines are very young and mostly showing their primary fruit aromas and flavors; these notes are just preliminary impressions):
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Aloxe-Corton
Light to medium clear ruby in the core with a pink rim. Sweet strawberry aromas with a toch of cranberry, a hint of tar and some dark earthy notes. Acidic red fruits on the front palate. Light-to-medium bodied. Cranberry and strawberry with some earthy and slate. Medium tannins. Very fresh and bright.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Monthelie “Les Duresses” 1er Cru
Ruby with violet hints in the core, surrounded by a light pink rim. Floral notes of violets over darker blackberry and raspberry aromas with a touch of wet earth. Good acid in the mouth with strawberry and raspberry. Well balanced fruit, acid and soft ripe tannins. There is a touch of jasmine on the lingering finish.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune “Clos de la Mousse” 1er Cru
Light ruby and purple in the glass with a very pale pink rim. Hints of caramel waft over light bacon and earth, with darker blackberry fruit underneath. Sweet on the front of the palate, with fresh dark herbs following. Fairly fierce in tannin and acid with a bold mineral quality to it.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Volnay Caillerets “Ancienne Cuvee Carnot” 1er Cru
Pale ruby and purple with a bright pink rim. Very floral aromas over wet blue slate, blackberry and a touch of dark chocolate. Fresh, vibrant strawberry on the front of the palate with a very bold mineral streak. Medium bodied with nice firm tannins.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Pommard 1er Cru
Very light ruby in the glass with a pink rim. Ripe raspberry aromas are joined by a touch of clay, gaminess, and wild green herbs. Good entry in the mouth; sweet on the front palate and building in strength in the middle. Lingering finish of strawberry and blackberry.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Le Corton Grand Cru
Ruby core with a lighter rim (with almost a hint of garnet color to it). Dark aromas with rich fruit, earth and slate, under an uplifted violet scent. Well balanced in the mouth. Ripe and full with dark blackberry fruits and a nice tannic grip. Very long finish that turns lithe and floral.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Vosne-Romanee
Darker, vibrant ruby core with a pink rim. Violet and slate aromas over black cherry, dark cool earth and a touch of citrus. Lush entry on the palate with nice red fruits. Gets a little bitter and hollow on the mid-palate, leading to a sour cherry finish.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges “Les Cailles” 1er Cru
Nice dark ruby in the glass, but a little less intense than the Vosne Romanee. Sweet herbed blackberry aromas surrounded by caramel notes. Lush and sweet entry onto the palate. Spicy herbs up front and some nice floral notes. Ripe blackberry and raspberry fruits. Very nice balance of acid and tannins. Medium bodied with a long finish. This is destined to be a very good wine.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune Greves Vigne de l’Enfant Jesus 1er Cru
Vibrant ruby core surrounded by a thin pink rim. Concentrated and full aromas. Bright, dark fruits with big slate undertones. Very dark in the mouth. Impressively full, rich and powerful for this vintage. Very young with medium+ body and tannins. Sweet fruits and bold minerality. This wine is hinting at greatness.