When the Stars of Burgundy Came Together
By Patrick Qureshi,
Wines from Burgundy enjoy immense popularity on ShareWine, which is exactly why we had long desired to put together a tasting featuring some of the region's absolute biggest names. It is safe to say the concept hit the mark—tickets sold out in less than 24 hours.
It is a rare privilege to enjoy an evening of world-class gastronomy accompanied by extraordinary wines from top producers such as Colin-Morey, Ramonet, Pillot, Chartron, Rouget, Cathiard, Bruno Clair, and Rousseau. But this was exactly what awaited the expectant ShareWine users who had secured a seat at the table.
We have gathered our impressions from the evening's servings. Here, you can delve into the details behind the unique wines we enjoyed together. Apart from the Champagne, all wines were served in flights and semi-blind. This meant we knew which two wines were being poured, but not which one was in each glass. It added an exciting, playful element to the tasting, and it is always fascinating when there are a few surprises along the way.
Restaurant Palægade Set the Stage
The evening's tasting was held at one of the ShareWine team's absolute favorite restaurants in Copenhagen: Palægade. The restaurant's beautiful and inviting rooms provided the perfect stage for the heavy-hitting Burgundies we brought along. The menu complemented the wines beautifully, with seasonal fresh asparagus making an appearance in several dishes to great acclaim.
Welcome
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2012
The flagship cuvée from Taittinger was the first wine in the glass, immediately commanding attention with its fine, persistent bubbles and a bouquet that practically pulsed from the glass. Although this Champagne is still young, it appeared incredibly fresh and crisp. It served as the perfect starting gun for the impressive barrage of Burgundy fireworks that awaited us.
First flight
The evening's first set offered an exciting duel of style and terroir: the meeting between the classic and the modern, between Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet.
Jean Chartron Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru "Clos de la Pucelle" 2020
Here we found a very distinct Puligny character from one of the domaine's absolute signature vineyards. The wine was elegant, mineral-driven, and vibrant with an engaging texture. The nose offered notes of citrus, pear, butter, hazelnut, popcorn, and white flowers. The use of oak was apparent but quite restrained and well-integrated, giving the wine a lovely sense of authority.
Domaine Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru "Clos Saint Jean" 2020
Paul Pillot is a true favorite among many wine enthusiasts on ShareWine who appreciate his pure and energetic white wines. The wine presented itself with a beautiful golden color, slowly and beautifully unfolding in the glass. The expression was refined and elegant, yet at the same time possessed an enormous intensity with notes of ripe lemon, yellow apples, chalk, and white flowers.
It was a fascinating flight where many at the table—myself included—felt confident they could point out the Pillot wine, only to end up mixing the two up.
Second flight
The next set was an internal clash between two of the most sought-after white wine producers on the market. Ramonet against Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey in the 2015 vintage - a formidable matchup.
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Meursault Premier Cru "Poruzots" 2015
What an opening! This wine presented a distinct and enormously charming bouquet that instantly captured and held everyone's attention. The palate offered notes of toasted nuts, citrus, pear, and toasted bread, while the characteristic Meursault richness came clearly to the fore. The wine possessed a high, upright acidity and impressive balance. It seemed significantly younger than expected and is still in the early stages of its life. Despite the great intensity and long finish it shows right now, this is a minor masterpiece that undoubtedly hides even wilder experiences as it matures further.
J.C. Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru "Clos du Cailleret" 2015
The wine from Ramonet started off a bit cautiously but slowly grew larger, deeper, and more complex in the glass. We found inviting notes of citrus, lime, yellow fruit, chalk, salted butter, and white flowers. The wine delivered plenty of finesse, multiple layers, and great aromatic intensity. A fantastic experience that showcased Ramonet at the estate's very best.
Third flight
After this, we switched over to the red drops. The first set featured two classic institutions in Burgundy: Emmanuel Rouget, carrying on the legendary legacy of his uncle Henri Jayer, set against the elegant style of Sylvain Cathiard.
Emmanuel Rouget Vosne-Romanée 2017
The wine started slightly closed and required a little time and oxygen to open up, after which it underwent a truly captivating evolution. The expression was bright, elegant, and almost feminine, with notes of fine pale berries and delicate spices. It possessed a classic Vosne-Romanée structure with an outstanding balance between fruit and oak. For many around the table, this was the winner of the flight.
Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée 2017
Here we met a different, darker color profile. The wine was far more immediate and generous, with a large, complex bouquet, an intense palate, and massive concentration. It was a glass where something new was constantly happening, continuously revealing nuances of licorice, cherries, roses, forest floor, and Asian spices.
An educational flight that beautifully demonstrated two vastly different—yet both outstanding—expressions of Vosne-Romanée.
Final flight
For the evening's final set, we took another step up the ladder. Here we tasted Bruno Clair against the legendary Armand Rousseau. These are two producers we have matched up before, but this time it was a much more even playing field, as both wines came from highly acclaimed premier cru vineyards.
Domaine Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru "Clos Saint Jacques" 2017
A beautiful, engaging color met the eye in what was a generally very energetic, alluring, and masterfully crafted wine. It offered medium-to-high intensity and an incredibly long finish. It was a grand wine that continuously evolved, revealing new layers of red and dark cherries, redcurrants, black tea, and flowers. Here we found the classic juice, power, and grand complexity that characterizes Gevrey-Chambertin.
Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru "Lavaux Saint-Jacques" 2017
This wine was ready from the very first second. It was incredibly generous on the nose, where cherries and forest floor stood out beautifully. There was an almost sensual quality to the wine, making it enormously seductive. The palate was archetypal Gevrey-Chambertin, rich in licorice, spices, and crisp red fruit.
It was a perfect finale featuring two superior wines. One could clearly sense that there was even more stature and weight in the glass than in the preceding sets. Most at the table crowned Rousseau the victor, while others—myself included—were deeply mesmerized by the wine from Bruno Clair.
Until Next Time
A massive thank you goes out to everyone who participated and helped create a memorable evening in the company of Burgundy's top producers. At ShareWine, we love bringing wine enthusiasts together around great experiences, and we are already working on a series of new tastings. We look forward to revealing more about them very soon!