Burgundy Heavy Hitters in Chablis and Côte d’Or
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.