What's Pressoir Drinking? (Club Member BYO Edition...)
Our first in-person event since March needed to be rewarded with some special bottles. The limited number of people who attended rose to the occasion and brought a magnificent selection that expressed their joy of gathering again and the underlying generosity that goes to the core of La Paulée.
Of the many special bottles shared, one that resonated strongly with me (if I have to choose one) was a Domaine de la Pousse d'Or, Volnay Caillerets 1990.
Not only was the bottle in perfect condition but it was in a perfect place in its development. Still youthful but with a suggestion of the dark force of the ‘90 vintage, the earth and game that comes with age, intermingled with floral and dark fruit notes. Mouth filling on the palate yet not heavy. Classic Burgundy made by the man who was one of the true geniuses of Burgundy and who is no longer with us, Gerard Potel. Having known Gerard made this tasting experience even more special.
Edouard and Raj put together a list of all the wines we got to taste Monday, and also shared their favorites below, be sure to check them out.
I can't wait until we do it again!
-Daniel
Dauvissat Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2015
Dauvissat Chablis Grand Cru Preuses 2012
Gouges Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets Blanc 2017
Roulot Meursault Tesson Clos de Mon Plaisir 2011
Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots 2015
Girardin Meursault 1er Cru Perrières 2014 en Magnum
Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Clos des Bouchéres 2018
Sauzet Bienvenue-Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2012
D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Fremiets 2012
D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos de Ducs 1996
Pousse d’Or Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets 1990
De Montille Pommard 1er Cru Pezerolles 1999
Bize Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Serpentiers 1997
Chevillon Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Roncières 1996
Chevillon Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Perrières 1996
Gouges Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets Rouges 2017
Michel Noëllat Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014
Mugneret Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Feusselottes 1997
Roumier Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Cras 1996
Pierre Amiot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2015
Magnien Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2009
Trapet Gevrey Chambertin 1961
Mugneret Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru 2007
Roumier Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru 1999
Such a great night at Popina! The wines were as good as the company.
I was particularly impressed with 2 bottles from the one and only Christophe Roumier.
The first one, a grand Cru Ruchottes Chambertin 1999 was, not surprisingly, quite powerful, even though, in the hands of Christophe, even a concentrated vintage like 1999 expressed a great deal of elegant material. The second bottle was a 1996 Chambolle-Musigny from the beautiful climat "Les Cras". The vineyard is located high on the slope and planted on a very poor soil composed of somewhat unusual chalk that is screaming minerality. I was in fact even more impressed by this 1er cru than with the excellent grand Cru Ruchottes. 1996 is known for having produced red wines stamped with the signature high acidity of the vintage. Yet, in Roumier's 1996, the wines are instead lifted by this acidity, so elegantly laced with a solid core of minerals and pristine red currant.
-Edouard
My personal pick was from our cellar at Pressoir, the Roulot Tesson 2011. I had planned (pre-covid) to work the harvest this year in Meursault with Jean-Marc, though of course because travel to Europe is not possible had to defer the opportunity to next year. This was a pretty good consolation prize! Super fresh, precise and lean with tremendous salinity, classic Roulot. I absolutely love his 2011’s, and this wine has always seemed to me to be superlative despite its village level status. No wonder Tessons tends to be priced at premier cru level.
-Raj
