Domaine Taupenot-Merme — Morey-St. Denis

70% Pinot Noir and 30% Gamay from parcels just below Morey-St. Denis. This is a superb example of Passetoutgrain – rich, aromatic and full of fruit. Yum! SPW

2009 is a great vintage to buy at the “lower” levels, as the fruit ripeness of the year gives these wines a depth and richness that is often missing. This is from the domaine’s older vines beneath Morey – great stuff! SPW

This is quite floral with dark berry fruit, humus and plenty of Gevrey style earth that also characterizes the detailed, pure and generous medium-bodied flavors that possess a dusty and sappy mouth feel on the serious, focused and lingering finish. This too is a good villages. (87-89)/2015+

Mild reduction renders the nose difficult to read but the suave, round and delicious middle weight flavors are quite supple and agreeable, all wrapped in a seductive mocha-infused finish as the supporting tannins are completely buried. This is a balanced and very ripe effort. (87-90)/2015+

2008 Gevrey-Chambertin:  Here the nose is quite different and very Gevrey as there is an ample amount of the pungent Gevrey-style earth to the bright red currant and underbrush suffused nose that merges into round, supple and solidly detailed medium-bodied flavors that are forward and accessible and while the finish is less complex than its Morey counterpart, there is fine balance and length.  (87-89)/2014+

2008 Morey St.-Denis:  A more complex nose features floral and herbal notes on the red and blue berry fruit aromas that introduce textured, precise and broader-scaled flavors that also possess more power and intensity on the lingering finish.  This
is a potentially excellent villages and is worth considering.  (87-90)/2014+

2008 Gevrey-Chambertin Bel-Air 1er Cru:  (a little known 1er that sits directly above Chambertin-Clos de Bèze made from vines planted in 1973).  This is very Gevrey with overt animale undertones to the humus-infused dark and red berry fruit aromas that
are also nuanced by a crushed herb character that is also reflected by the supple but precise flavors that possess good detail and a hint of minerality and culminate in a tangy but slightly dry finish that my range assumes will round out.  (88-91)/2015+

2008 Chambolle-Musigny, La Combe d’Orveau 1er:  (from 35+ year old vines).  Not surprisingly, this is much more elegant and refined with a beautifully pure and layered nose of red and blue pinot fruit that is cut with notes of stone and violets that
complement well the equally minerally and pure flavors that are also quite supple but retain a fine sense of underlying detail and tension on the persistent finish where a touch of wood is in evidence.  This is very Chambolle in character.  (89-91)/2015+

2008 Charmes-Chambertin:  A slightly riper and more complex nose of very earthy and slightly sauvage dark berry fruit aromas leads to dense and attractively textured medium full flavors that possess a seductive mouth feel and I like the subtle sense of harmony as this is balanced, long and delicious while remaining altogether serious.  (90-92)/2017+

2008 Mazoyères-Chambertin:  A gentle touch of wood frames subtly spiced red and dark berry fruit aromas that possess game, humus and hints of underbrush that blend into fresh, naturally sweet and full-bodied flavors blessed with ample dry extract on the mouth coating and driving finish.  This is balanced, textured and while the tannins are not as refined, this possesses more overall depth.  (90-93)/2018+

“Since this vineyard was purchased by the domaine several years ago, it has established itself as the consistent outperformer among their 1ers with its enveloping nose of spicy and earthy dark berry fruit liberally laced with Nuits animale notes where the latter is picked up by the rich, full, sweet and mouth coating flavors that are ripe and blessed with ample dry extract on the admirably lengthy finish. Recommended. (90-92)/2013+”

A little known 1er that sits directly above Chambertin-Clos de Bèze made from vines planted in 1973. A very discreet touch of wood spice sets off equally high-toned but cooler red berry fruit aromas that possess only a dash of Gevrey earth that merge into pure, balanced and slightly more complex middle weight flavors that possess real finishing punch as this does a slow build from the sappy mid-palate to the long finale. This is definitely worth a look and recommended. (89-92)/2013+

“This is a clear step up in aromatic purity and elegance, which is saying something. A pure and complex nose that is both seductive and complete while dissolving into serious yet extremely pretty medium-bodied flavors that also coat the mouth with extract, which confers a real sense of volume and focused muscle. Lovely and very long. (90-93)/2014+”