Premier Cru de Bourgogne: Tasting and Dinner

A BIVB tasting and dinner of 20 2013 Burgundy Premiers Crus from Chablis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Meursault and Rully

It's never a bad tasting when you start with a magnum of Chablis.

Like English common law, Burgundy classifications are arcane and confusing - which is presumably another reason for lawyers to like Burgundy.

But back in the real world, the only thing that really matters is whether the wines are consistently good with enough variation to provide interest rather than disappointment.

On the basis of this tasting, the answer is a resounding yes.

Some general observations:

- the Chablis were really lovely and showing surprisingly well despite their relative youth; all scored a Good

- The Rullys showed more florality, honey and richness; again, all Good

- The Meursaults were more substantial again with greater complexity; all Very Good

I struggled, as I so often do with the reds; my head said the Pinots were technically very good - fruited, supple and elegant - but they did not make my heart beat faster.

Fortunately, a Pinotphile MW was on hand to highlight and explain a personal favourite, the Fonteny Givrey-Chambertin. A re-tasting revealed it to be delicate, adept and assured beyond the measure of the others.

But the wine of the night was a magnum of Dom Nathalie et Gilles Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent 2010 served over dinner.

Other related articles
Domaine Ellevin, Chablis 
Bourgogne Week - Chablis Tasting