Burgundy Heavy Hitters in Chablis and Côte d’Or

By / Wine + Drinks / July 29th, 2009 / 1

91 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Le Corton Grand Cru 2006, Côte d’Or, Burgundy ($128)

This grand cru is somewhat closed on the palate right now, but it is full of potential, as there is a long finish and good weight. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers a fragrance of raspberry, plum, cocoa, herbs and flowers. Hold until 2010 and drink over the subsequent 8 years.

90 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Cailles Premier Cru 2006, Côte d’Or, Burgundy ($126)

This dark-coloured Pinot is very refined, seducing with plum, cocoa, spice, dark-cherry and smoke flavours. It is nicely concentrated with great balance and length. Definitely a wine made for some duck breast. Drink over the next 5 to 7 years. 88 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Pommard Premier Cru 2006, Côte d’Or, Burgundy ($75) Deep ruby colour; this wine delivers a sexy nose of black cherry, plum and spice. Medium-bodied, very good length and some grip on the finish. Drink from 2009 to 2015.

93 Domaine William Fèvre Les Clos Grand Cru 2006, Chablis, Burgundy ($78)

Built for the long haul, this impressive Chablis is very youthful and somewhat restrained.  It is cleanly made, with wet stone, honey, apple, spice and white flowers. Full-bodied and suave, the palate matches the nose with lots of acid giving structure on the mineral-laden finish. From 2009 to 2019.  

93 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2006, Côte d’Or, Burgundy ($394)

With a little over 2.5 hectares (out of a possible 7.15), Bouchard is the largest land owner of this famed grand-cru vineyard. Still tight, this wine is only offering a glimpse of things to come. Full-bodied and very much elegant, with flowers, peach, spice, baked apple and citrus. A decade of life ahead of it. 

92 Domaine William Fèvre Bougros Côte Bouguerots Grand Cru 2006, Chablis, Burgundy ($73)

Côte Bouguerots is a 2-hectare parcel at the bottom of the famed Bougros vineyard. With a 30-degree slope, complete southern exposure and pure chalk soils, it is a privileged location that produces elegant wines that are powerful with an intense minerality. Add green apple, citrus and spice, and you have one hell of a great Chablis. Superb length and 8 to 10 years of aging ahead of it. 

92 Domaine William Fèvre Les Preuses Grand Cru 2006, Chablis, Burgundy ($78)

This superb Chablis starts with green apple, grapefruit, mineral and vanilla on the nose. When it hits the tongue, it kicks into high gear; concentrated but not heavy, with banana, minerals, grapefruit and some tropical tones. Excellent length. Drink over the next 6 years. (ES)

91 Domaine William Fèvre Bougros Grand Cru 2006, Chablis, Burgundy ($58)

Pale colour with a green edge; this wine delivers a perfume of mint, pear, mineral, spice and a light toast. Rather plump (for a Chablis), the green-apple, peach, mint and spice flavours are all supported by the fresh acid. Now to 2013. 

90 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault Les Gouttes D’Or Premier Cru 2006, Côte d’Or, Burgundy ($114)

Les Gouttes d’Or translates as “The Golden Drops” — a testament to the deliciousness of this wine. The lovely aromas of sweet stone fruit, flowers, spice and vanilla flow out of the glass and onto the palate where they combine with baked apple and minerals on the long finish. Drink over the next 5 years. 

88 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Domaine 2006, Chablis, Burgundy ($30)

Every time I teach a wine course, this is the bottle I reach for as a primer on the wines of Chablis. Pale water colour with a green hue, there are flavours of minerals, green apple and citrus built on top of fresh acid. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born into a Greek household in Montreal, Evan Saviolidis has over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, beginning with his family's restaurant when he was very young. His significant knowledge base, and his passion for food and wine, served him well when he was tasked to open a number of restaurants in the eighties and nineties. After graduating at the top of his Sommelier class, and third across Canada, he accrued 'a gazillion' frequent flyer miles as a 'Flying Sommelier', a select group of globally certified instructors who travel across North America, teaching the art of Sommelier. Locations included Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, St.Louis, Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte. Today, he wears many vinous hats, including lead Instructor for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, Niagara and Ontario Correspondent for Canada's largest wine publication, Tidings, wine judge, as well as speaker and presenter for the Wines of Ontario, Jura Wines, Wines of Portugal and Sopexa. He is also the owner of WineSavvy, a Niagara based Wine School, catering to both consumers and industry professionals. Evan's philosophy in teaching is to provide a friendly, relaxed and fun filled atmosphere, while at the same time maintaining the professional standards he is noted for. Winesavvy also provides consultation for restaurants and consumers. Evan is 'WSET Certified' and speaks English, French and Greek.

Comments are closed.

North America’s Longest Running Food & Wine Magazine

Get Quench-ed!!!

Champion storytellers & proudly independent for over 50 years. Free Weekly newsletter & full digital access