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Crystal Clear: White Burgundy 2004 & 2007
Capturing a white Burgundy at the perfect moment in evolution is an unrivaled experience. Fruit and salinity have melded together, while texture has unfolded and edges softened. Vintages that favor freshness over power have showed the greatest promise in aging slowly.
Today we take a close look at two vintages that have given me the most personal pleasure from their era. Highlighted are producers whose wines are built for the cellar. From Vincent Dauvissat in Chablis to Vincent Dancer in Chassagne-Montrachet this collection varies in appellations, but stylistically each producer is after shimmering clarity in their wines.
2004 had been a cool and cloudy vintage throughout the start of the growing season, but in mid July temperatures warmed with August and early September delivering dry and sunny weather. Chardonnay benefitted really well from the conditions that proved to be extremely challenging for Pinot Noir. The whites here have been crisp and mineral-driven from the start. Angular qualities to the wines have dissipated each year and at this point everything has fallen into place perfectly. A vintage that classicists have praised from the start and with time our fondness has only grown.
2007 was a rare case where Chardonnay flowered after Pinot Noir. Like 2004, this was a vintage where whites strived. August winds were a welcomed assist after very damp conditions in June and July. Growers who pushed harvest dates back were rewarded, as sugars needed more time to accumulate, and unlike Pinot Noir rot was not a threat for whites. Harvest took place for Chardonnay throughout cool, dry September days. A vintage that emphasizes purity of fruit, with clarity and site-specificity really pronounced. At 10 years of age this list is full of wines that are now showing their full spectrum of potential, with many years left for the cellar.
2004
2004 Chandon de Briailles Corton Le Charlemagne
$127 per bottle.
2004 Colin-Deléger Chevalier Montrachet
$229 per bottle.
2004 Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$421 per bottle.
2004 Dauvissat, Vincent Chablis
$78 per bottle.
2004 Etienne Sauzet Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes
$149 per bottle.
2004 Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 1.5L
$499 per bottle.
2004 Matrot Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$97 per bottle.
2004 Pierre Morey Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$148 per bottle.
2004 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Chevalier Montrachet
$669
2004 Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux
$249 per bottle.
2004 Roulot Meursault Les Meix Chavaux
$257 per bottle.
2004 Roulot Meursault Les Tillets
$271 per bottle.
2004 Vincent Dancer Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Tête du Clos
$149 per bottle.
2004 Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Les Preuses
$269 per bottle.
2004 Vogüé Bourgogne Blanc
$399 per bottle.
2007
2007 Coche-Dury Bourgogne Blanc
$279 per bottle.
2007 Hubert Lamy Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly
$99 per bottle
2007 Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 1.5L
$499 per bottle.
2007 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Chevalier Montrachet
$699 per bottle.
2007 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne 1.5L
$674 per bottle.
2007 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Meursault 1er Cru Goutte d'Or
$159 per bottle.
2007 Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet
$388 per bottle.
2007 Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune Blanc 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses
$86 per bottle.
2007 Vincent Dancer Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$229 per bottle.
Today we take a close look at two vintages that have given me the most personal pleasure from their era. Highlighted are producers whose wines are built for the cellar. From Vincent Dauvissat in Chablis to Vincent Dancer in Chassagne-Montrachet this collection varies in appellations, but stylistically each producer is after shimmering clarity in their wines.
2004 had been a cool and cloudy vintage throughout the start of the growing season, but in mid July temperatures warmed with August and early September delivering dry and sunny weather. Chardonnay benefitted really well from the conditions that proved to be extremely challenging for Pinot Noir. The whites here have been crisp and mineral-driven from the start. Angular qualities to the wines have dissipated each year and at this point everything has fallen into place perfectly. A vintage that classicists have praised from the start and with time our fondness has only grown.
2007 was a rare case where Chardonnay flowered after Pinot Noir. Like 2004, this was a vintage where whites strived. August winds were a welcomed assist after very damp conditions in June and July. Growers who pushed harvest dates back were rewarded, as sugars needed more time to accumulate, and unlike Pinot Noir rot was not a threat for whites. Harvest took place for Chardonnay throughout cool, dry September days. A vintage that emphasizes purity of fruit, with clarity and site-specificity really pronounced. At 10 years of age this list is full of wines that are now showing their full spectrum of potential, with many years left for the cellar.
2004
2004 Chandon de Briailles Corton Le Charlemagne
$127 per bottle.
2004 Colin-Deléger Chevalier Montrachet
$229 per bottle.
2004 Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$421 per bottle.
2004 Dauvissat, Vincent Chablis
$78 per bottle.
2004 Etienne Sauzet Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes
$149 per bottle.
2004 Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 1.5L
$499 per bottle.
2004 Matrot Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$97 per bottle.
2004 Pierre Morey Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$148 per bottle.
2004 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Chevalier Montrachet
$669
2004 Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux
$249 per bottle.
2004 Roulot Meursault Les Meix Chavaux
$257 per bottle.
2004 Roulot Meursault Les Tillets
$271 per bottle.
2004 Vincent Dancer Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Tête du Clos
$149 per bottle.
2004 Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Les Preuses
$269 per bottle.
2004 Vogüé Bourgogne Blanc
$399 per bottle.
2007
2007 Coche-Dury Bourgogne Blanc
$279 per bottle.
2007 Hubert Lamy Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly
$99 per bottle
2007 Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 1.5L
$499 per bottle.
2007 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Chevalier Montrachet
$699 per bottle.
2007 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne 1.5L
$674 per bottle.
2007 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Meursault 1er Cru Goutte d'Or
$159 per bottle.
2007 Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet
$388 per bottle.
2007 Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune Blanc 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses
$86 per bottle.
2007 Vincent Dancer Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
$229 per bottle.