Beaujolais 2008

I

Ian Fitzsimmons

Ian Fitzsimmons
I haven't seen a thread on this topic yet (yes, Jeff: I did a search this time).

I tasted a casual pour of Burgaud's 08 Morgon at the C'ville Wine Warehouse the other evening and was much taken with it. No grapiness, but pretty, high-tone acid paired with a fairly meaty extract base made a good combo. As a Morgon, I expected it to be reticent, and I'm not swept away by Burgaud as a general thing, but this wine was a good tipple without being 'fruit forward,' (whatever the hell that means). I'd've bought some, but this was a distributor's bottle and they hadn't received their order yet. About $20 in these parts.
 
I had one of the 07 Burguads and found it much too structured for my Morgon liking. I prefer the 'fruit forward' style of Foillard, Lapierre, and Thevenet. Although not all fruit forwardness is the same.

Perhaps I'll have to re-think Burgaud.
 
First impression was that the wine was too laissez-faire/ who needs SO2? oriented for its own good, but a couple of breaths later it seemed, in fact quite deep, mineral, and serious, and one of those nice reminders that one does not take it all in in one quick glance with wine, despite the routine efforts of the legions of "important" wine critics. 24 hours plus later it has only gotten more convincing. This is serious, good shit, and not to be denied. I'm in awe.
 
Perhaps I'll have to re-think Burgaud.
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I don't drink their Morgons young. The Rgni, sometimes, and always the B-V. But not the Morgons.

There are some Morgon magnums in the Thorcave that I don't intend to touch until they're good and dusty.
 
I drink my cases of Morgons and MaVs mainly from 4-10+ years although those drunk at the far end are a much smaller number than those drunk earlier. I keep the burgundy styled Jadot 'Clos' wines the longest.

IMO the rather concentrated/dense Burgaud Cote du Py Morgons probably need some age to be at their best and I have slowed my drinking of the 05s. I have enjoyed those I've had but there might be a more rounded and smoother balance of fruit and structure with a few more years on them.

Lapierre and Burgaud Morgons seem to me about as different as two Beaujolais from the same cru can be and I enjoy the different experiences. IMO Foillard, Thevenet and Lapierre are also quite distinct [from each other] despite their common 'Gang of 5 roots' and I have enjoyed them all although I have had many more Lapierre wines than the other two.

I must reacquaint myself with Guy Breton's wine and try my first Joseph Chamonard [made by his daughter since his death] but the wines of these two members of the Gang as well as those of J-P Thevenet seem to be unavailable here [although they are in the USA] so it will have to wait until we are back in Burgundy.
 
Really enjoyable for such a young Morgon.
Deep red fruited nose, with some earth and spice, but not dirty at all.
Languid, almost satin texture.
Nom nom nom.
 
originally posted by Thor:
Perhaps I'll have to re-think Burgaud.
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I don't drink their Morgons young. The Rgni, sometimes, and always the B-V. But not the Morgons.
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I'm not usually a fan of young Morgon, but I like this. Maybe it's a 'baby-fat' thing (go easy on me, Joe). Perhaps I was too open-minded and my brain fell out.

Anyway, try one if you get a chance.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
I'm not usually a fan of young Morgon, but I like this..
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Do you mean from Burgaud or in general?

Foillard and Lapierre are just so damned sexy I often wonder why I drink anything else.
 
In my limited experience, young Morgon is an unrewarding drink. Like MSR riesling, you have to wait to get your money's worth, but then you really do get it.

I've not loved the Lapierre I've tried. Re: Foillard, I have some difficulty splashing out $30+ for Beaujolais. So much for open-mindedness.
 
just tasted the entire range at JP Brun in Charnay; they were lovely, and potentialy quite disorderly.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons: Like MSR riesling, you have to wait to get your money's worth, but you really do get it..
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This also doesn't compute for my palate! Sure, aged MSR riesling is great. And some of the young wines can be awkward. But I wouldn't call the whole category tough to drink young. If anything, young MSR riesling is generally so easy to drink and enjoy, sweet, fresh, lively.

Different strokes...
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons: Like MSR riesling, you have to wait to get your money's worth, but you really do get it..
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This also doesn't compute for my palate! Sure, aged MSR riesling is great. And some of the young wines can be awkward. But I wouldn't call the whole category tough to drink young. If anything, young MSR riesling is generally so easy to drink and enjoy, sweet, fresh, lively.

Different strokes...
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I'll go with Rahsaan here. Generally, German Rieslings are wonderful for a couple of years +/-, then they frequently close up, only to come out somewhat different later on.
 
Reasonable people can disagree. Except for the occasional calibrating bottle, I positively won't open my MSR young any more: it's icky, whereas mature MSR is sublime. There is no comparison.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

I've not loved the Lapierre I've tried. Re: Foillard, I have some difficulty splashing out $30+ for Beaujolais. So much for open-mindedness.
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Seriously.

2007 Foillard tonight was universally preferred to our bottle of '93 d'Angerville Taillepieds.

I didn't purchase the latter, but I bet it would cost more than $30 lately.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

I've not loved the Lapierre I've tried. Re: Foillard, I have some difficulty splashing out $30+ for Beaujolais. So much for open-mindedness.
Click to expand...
Seriously.

2007 Foillard tonight was universally preferred to our bottle of '93 d'Angerville Taillepieds.

I didn't purchase the latter, but I bet it would cost more than $30 lately.
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I'd expect the d'Angerville to still be seriously closed up. Was that the case?
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

I've not loved the Lapierre I've tried. Re: Foillard, I have some difficulty splashing out $30+ for Beaujolais. So much for open-mindedness.
Click to expand...
Seriously.

2007 Foillard tonight was universally preferred to our bottle of '93 d'Angerville Taillepieds.

I didn't purchase the latter, but I bet it would cost more than $30 lately.
Click to expand...
I'd expect the d'Angerville to still be seriously closed up. Was that the case?
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That would be the optimistic view, yes.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

I've not loved the Lapierre I've tried. Re: Foillard, I have some difficulty splashing out $30+ for Beaujolais. So much for open-mindedness.
Click to expand...
Seriously.

2007 Foillard tonight was universally preferred to our bottle of '93 d'Angerville Taillepieds.

I didn't purchase the latter, but I bet it would cost more than $30 lately.
Click to expand...

I did manage to score some '01 d'Angerville Taillepieds for $30 recently. Worthwhile purchase, you think? I haven't had the Foillard, but would that be better, right now, than the Taillepieds, or is the '01 open for business right now?
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

I've not loved the Lapierre I've tried. Re: Foillard, I have some difficulty splashing out $30+ for Beaujolais. So much for open-mindedness.
Click to expand...
Seriously.

2007 Foillard tonight was universally preferred to our bottle of '93 d'Angerville Taillepieds.

I didn't purchase the latter, but I bet it would cost more than $30 lately.
Click to expand...

There you go again.
 
the Foillard is still going strong. It's leaned up a little, but the nose is more precise than the first couple of nights. No sign of fatigue, to speak of. The question arises, because each day the wine is different, how to apprehend the true nature of this wine? I believe this is a germinal question for wine geeks, and one worthy of considerable rumination. (Cows welcome to participate!)
 
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