Burgundy 2010 En Primeur - Armit

Domaine Grivot
Etienne Grivot has produced exceptional wines in 2010 which show real depth and
refinement.
The style has evolved over the last few years and is increasingly detailed and elegant,
a quality which clearly expresses itself in the 2010s which have great depth of pure
fruit with impressive restraint. Etienne clearly enjoyed showing off his achievements in
2010, the only negative point being the incredibly low yields with production down by
as much as 40% on the 2009 vintage which will result in a very strict allocation of his
wines this year.
Red price per case in bond
Vosne Romanée 6 bottles £175.00
A classic Vosne with bright, red berry fruit characters and a note of sweet cedar smoke. The
tannins are quite firm and tightly structured but invigorating and fresh, and there is a lovely pure,
red berry fruit character with subtle hints of rose petal and violets in the foreground. Delineated
and detailed, this is an attractive and refined wine. Drink from 2014.
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Ronciere 6 bottles £385.00
This showed exceptionally well tasted at the cellar with deep, dark fruits on the nose,
intermingled with lighter cassis and exotic spice notes and a sweet lifted character at the end.
The palate is full of energy and freshness with perfumed fruit characters which rise playfully
over the forest fruits on the mid palate. Attractive, peppery tannins on the finish add to the
complexity. Drink from 2015.
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Boudots 6 bottles £420.00
This is one of Etienne’s stand-out cuvées from a magnificent terroir close to Vosne. The wine
manages to combine power with the supreme elegance of a Vosne. Ripe and exotic on the nose
with pure cassis and red berry fruit aromas, the palate is vigorous and dark with racy, fine tannins
and great freshness. Be patient and drink this wine in a few years time. Drink from 2016.
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 6 bottles £520.00
An exceptionally refined wine with an expansive bouquet of ripe, strawberry, raspberry and
forest fruit notes. The palate is rich and enveloping, balanced by an invigorating acidity and a
firm, mineral edge. The tannins are broad shouldered, rippling and vigorous and the finish is long
and complex. This is a very grand and harmonious wine. Drink from 2017.
Domaine Michel Lafarge
This is a Domaine that is deeply rooted in all that is special about Burgundy.
To a Burgundy fan, a visit to the Lafarge family is like a trip to Graceland for followers
of the King. This is a Domaine that is deeply rooted in all that is special about Burgundy.
It remains reassuringly consistent, year upon year producing profound wines that rarely
shout the loudest on first encounter yet quietly go about the business and almost
invariably win through over time. It is always worth remembering that the rules of
ageing are slightly different here; these are never wines to be rushed, as Frédéric amply
demonstrated by showing us a glorious 1979 Clos des Chênes that was still fresh as a
daisy, even from an uncelebrated vintage.
As we descended into the atmospheric, mould-clad cellars, there was a bit of racket
from behind the barrels. Emerging from the shadows at 6pm on a cold November
evening was Michel Lafarge himself, eighty years young (and the rest!) pushing a
heavily-laden trolley with the same energy and vigour of a newly recruited cellar rat.
Hard work and attention to detail are no doubt part of the secret here. A quick mop of
the brow and a shake of the hands and we launched into the wines. Both father and
son concurred that 2010 showed “great terroir definition” across the appellations and
were particularly proud of their Beaune wines, of which the Aigrots, one of the most
recent additions to the Domaine, seemed to show extra definition and complexity this
year in the red while the white version was notable for its minerality and tension. Very
much worth seeking out while it remains under the radar.
The Lafarges are still against the idea of showing unfinished wines outside of their
Volnay cellar and therefore do not participate in the London tastings in January.
Patience is not something that Michel and Frédéric have a problem asking for and
when their wines reward it as much as they do, that seems totally apt.
White price per case in bond
Meursault £225.00
Charming and elegant on the nose, without being flamboyant, with lovely stone fruit aromas and
an attractive floral character. Graceful and gliding on the palate with soft white fruit flavours and
a refreshing acidity. This is a completely harmonious wine which will be delicious for drinking
young. Drink from release.
Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots Blanc £395.00
A more energetic style than the Meursault, the aromas are vibrant and floral with a hint of white
truffles, overlaying a stone fruit character. On the palate, apple and white peach fruits combine
with a refreshing lime, citrus character which gives vigour and persistence. Drink from 2013.
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