2008 Savigny-Les-Beaune Premier Cru
Over the last couple of decades I have written numerous articles on 'Burgundy you can afford' or some similar title. It doesn't appear to have made a great deal of difference. Volnay premier cru at twice or more seems easier to sell; Chambolle-Musigny premier cru at four or five times even easier. Nevertheless I have persevered, and extolled the virtues of the good addresses in the Côte Chalonnaise, in Santenay, Auxey and Monthelie, and, of course in Savigny-lès-Beaune. Here in 2008 we have a classic vintage, one where the wines have good underlying grip, ripe, clean fruit and plenty of promise for the future. And they are inexpensive. Don't pass them up!
The following wines were sampled in Savigny, chez the Domaine Chandon de Briailles, in May 2011. My thanks to the de Nicolay family for playing host and to all the growers who attended with their samples.
Champ-Chevry, Domaine Tollot-BeautFrom 2014Good colour. Round, Ripe, fresh nose. Medium body. Attractive fruit. Just a little tannin. Finishes positively. Good.
Clous, Domaine ChenuFrom 2014Medium to medium-full colour. Not a lot of concentration on the nose. Light to medium body. Quite fresh. Good follow through, and it finishes better than it starts. Quite good plus.
Dominodes, Domaine Bruno ClairFrom 2015Fullish colour. The nose is a bit unforthcoming at first. Meaty on the attack. Some tannin. Not exactly rich. But medium-full bodied and with good grip. There is depth here. Good plus.
Dominodes, Domaine ChansonFrom 2014Medium to medium-full colour. Aromatic nose. Medium weight. Good ripe fruit. Fresh and attractive. Long and succulent. Good finish. Good plus.
Dominodes, Domaine Louis JadotFrom 2016Medium-full colour. Rich, succulent nose. Plenty of depth here. Fullish body. Good tannins. Very good grip. This has style, dimension and the capacity to last in bottle. Very good indeed.
Dominodes, Domaine Jean-Marc et Hugues PavelotFrom 2016Good colour. Quite a firm nose. Some tannin. Fullish body. Ripe. Good energy. Quite structured. Very good grip. A keeper. Very good plus.
Fourneaux, Domaine Chandon de BriaillesDrink soonLightish, almost orange colour. Rather weak and attenuated on the nose. Light on the palate. A little sweet. Better on the palate than on the nose but essentially too feeble a wine. Disappointing.
Fourneaux, Domaine Simon BizeFrom 2014Medium colour. Quite forward on the nose. But fresh. Medium weight. No great depth or dimension but crisp and fruity and attractive. Even elegant. Quite good plus.
Guettes, Domaine Simon BizeFrom 2016Medium-full colour. Quite a rich nose; still a little closed in. Fullish body. Very good grip. Round, ample, succulent and vigorous. Lots of depth here. Very good indeed.
Guettes, Domaine DoudetFrom 2015Medium-full colour. Firm, rich, concentrated nose. Very good fruit. Medium-full body. What it lacks is a but freshness and grip. There is a touch of astringency on the palate. The follow-through is better but the wine lacks a little succulence. Merely good.
Guettes, Domaine Louis JadotFrom 2014Medium colour. Fresh, fruity, forward nose. Medium body. A little weak on the attack. Better on the finish but only quite good. Not enough personality. Forward.
Gravins, Domaine Jean-Michel GiboulotFrom 2014Light-medium colour. Ripe nose. Quite succulent. Good grip. Medium body. Good energy. Good style. Round and even rich. Finishes well. Good plus.
Haut Jarrons, Domaine ChenuDrink soonMedium colour. Nothing much on the nose. A bit simple on the palate. Only fair.
Lavières, Domaine Camus-BrochonFrom 2016Medium-full colour. Rich, ripe, quite profound nose. Good backbone. Fullish body. Good grip. Good energy and depth. The finish is rich and succulent, long and very stylish. Very good plus.
Lavières, Domaine ChenuFrom 2014Medium colour. Fresh, fruity, forward nose. Medium body. Decent grip. But not a great deal of personality or succulence. Quite good.
Lavières, Domaine Jean-Jacques GirardFrom 2016Medium to medium-full colour. Good ripe nose. Good depth here. Fullish body. Very good fruit. Good tannins. Ripe and succulent. Most attractive. Fragrant and full of character and class. Very good plus.
Marconnets, Domaine Simon BizeFrom 2017Full colour. Full, rich, backward nose. Plenty of depth here. Full body. Ripe and rich and well-balanced. Lots of dimension. This is a wine of real concentration and high quality. Very good indeed.
Narbantons, Domaine Camus-BrochonFrom 2017Full colour. Very good substance and depth here. Quite backward. But full and rich. Full bodied. Very good tannins. Lots of depth and concentration. Very good grip. Very good indeed.
Peuillets, Maison Albert BichotFrom 2015Good colour. Ample, plump, fullish nose. Good style and depth. Medium-full body. Ripe on the platae if without a great deal of energy or vigour. But good fresh fruit. Good plus.
Peuillets, Domaine Michel EcardFrom 2018Very good colour. Full, backward nose. Some tannin here. Full bodied. Rich. Concentrated. Very good energy and depth. Lots of dimension and lots of potential. Very good indeed. Even classy.
Peuillets, Domaine Lucien JacobFrom 2014Medium to medium-full colour. Not a lot of energy on the nose. Medium weight. Attactive and fruity on the palate. Fresh, if with a slight lack of dimension. Yet the finish is positive. Good.
Peuillets, Domaine Jean-Jacques GirardFrom 2014Medium to medium-full colour. Quite a spicy nose. Pretty without being serious. Quite forward. Medium body. Lacks a bit of drive. Quite good plus.
Serpentières, Domaine Simon BizeFrom 2014Medium-full colour. Pleasant fruity nose without a lot of weight behind it. Similar on the palate. Quite fresh, and positive at the end. Good but forward.
Serpentières, Domaine Michel EcardFrom 2016Good colour. Plump, attractive, fruity nose. Fullish, quite rich, balanced and stylish. Plenty of wine here. Very good indeed.
Serpentières, Domaine Jean-Michel GiboulotDrink soonMedium to medium-full colour. Ripe nose. But light, without a lot of energy. Pretty but a bit attenuated. Short. Only fair.
Serpentières, Domaine Jean-Jacques GirardFrom 2015Medium colour. Soft nose. Not much energy here, it seems. Better on the palate. Medium to medium-full colour. Good grip. Ripe. No lack of depth or personality. Finishes well. Even elegant. Good plus.
Serpentières, Domaine Pierre GuillemotFrom 2016Good colour. Ample, ripe nose. Fresh on the palate. Rich. Good grip. Very good vigour. Medium-full body. Long and stylish. Very good plus.
Talmettes, Domaine Simon BizeFrom 2016Medium-full colour. Round, ripe, succulent nose. Medium to medium-full weight. Good grip. Attractive fresh fruit. Good positive follow-through. Fragrant and elegant. Very good.
Vergelesses, Domaine Simon BizeFrom 2016Medium-full colour. Ample, ripe, attractive nose. Medium to medium-full body. Fresh. Stylish. Ripe. Good vigour and a good follow through. Very good plus.
Vergelesses, Domaine Dubreuil-FontaineFrom 2016Good colour. Still a little hidden on the nose. Medium-full body. Ripe and succulent. Slightly adolescent, and currently it seems to lack a little class. But good energy and the fruit is attractive. Good plus.
Vergelesses, Domaine Lucien JacobFrom 2016Good colour. Youthful nose. Fresh, ripe, still unformed. Medium to medium-full body. Good grip. Good energy. Finishes well. This is at least good plus. May turn out even better.
As you will see, I gave equal highest points to the Guettes and the Marconnets by Patrick Bize, the Narbantons by Camus-Brochon, and the Peuillets and the Serpentières by Michel Ecard.
The group as a whole – a dozen or more of the local growers – additionally singled out Jadot's Dominodes and Bichot's Peuillets.