2005 Burgundy (Part 1) - April 23, 2025

Vintage Report. The 2005 for Burgundy was simply superb. Universally praised by every wine critic. It produced an average size crop with excellent structure with very ripe tannins. The winter was moderate, spring was late, and the summer was dry with moderate heat. Some early September rains followed by warm dry Fall resulting in very ripe fruit with excellent acidity.

The 2005 vintage was considered the best vintage since 1990, but then closed down and created doubt about how the vintage would develop. The wines stayed shutdown until the past 5 years, with the premier crus starting to show excellence.

The Vineyards. Corton is the largest grand cru in Burgundy and only one of two grand crus that has both red and white wines. The largest landholder is Louis Latour. The grand cru of Corton is subdivided into several "climats" which are really subsections of the grand cru. This is unlike Chambertin, where each section is designated as its own Grand Cru status, e.g., Charmes, Ruchottes, Latricieres. Corton Greves is a small climat in Corton Grand Cru. It is mostly owned by Jadot. (Some of this wine goes into Latour Corton Graney). Corton Rognet is one of the larger and most regarded climats of the Grand Cru. Pommard is south of the city of Beaune with quality second only to Corton. Les Croix Noires is a small and well regarded Premier Cru but the best property in Pommard is Clos Epenots (Epeneaux). Gevrey Chambertin is the northernmost Grand Cru village of the Cote Nu its. It is the largest commune within the Grand Crus and dozens of Premier Crus. La Combe Au Moine is a fairly large premier cru with average quality. Les Cazetiers is considered an outstanding premier cru. The best wines are made by Rousseau & Faiveley. Cuvee Champs-Chenys is village wine by Roty-a blend of two parcels that lay south of Charmes-Chambertin.

2005 Tasting. Chambolle Misigny has 24 premier crus. Les Fuees is a fairly large, very well regarded premier cru second only to Les Amoureuses. Clos Vougeot is the largest grand cru in the Cote Nuits with about 80 different producers resulting in variable quality. Generally considered the lowest quality grand cru, although there are some excellent producers, e.g., Leroy. Clos Vougeot does produce one white wine "Le Clos Blanc", a monopole of Domaine de la Vougeraie. Clos de la Roche is a fairly large Grand Cru of excellent quality with outstanding producers like Dujac & Arlaud. Charmes Chambertin is the largest of the Chambertin grand crus with multiple owners and variable quality. Ruchotte Chambertin is a very small Grand Cru with only six producers. The best of which are Rousseau and Mugneret-Gibourg.

Producers. Dom Courcel owned by same family for over 400 years. Located in Pommard with extensive holding of 4 premier cru wines. Wines are known for their elegance and minerality with strong tannins. The House of Jabot was founded in 1859. The family started with vineyards in 1826 and expanded into a large major necogiant business that itself owns 528 acres of vineyards. Today it is the largest necogiant of quality Burgundy. Taupenot-Merme is a 9th Generaton famly wine domaine located in Morey St. Denis. The current lineage reflects the marriage of Denise Merme and Jean Taupenot in 1963. They now own several vineyards in both the Cote Nuits and Cote de Beaune which includes several Grand Crus and a small portion (1/2 acre) of Clos des Lambrays. Philippe Leclerc splits the estate with his brother Rene. They own Premier Cru property in Chambolle Musigny and Gevrey Chambertin. They tend to make big, spicy, oaky & tannic wines. Joseph and Philippe Roty, the son and winemaker, produce high quality, very intense perfumed wines that are very expensive. They have considerable holdings in Gevrey Chambertin. Herve Roumier is a small "old school" producer with holdings in Chambolle Musigny and Clos Vougeot. Maison Potel was sold after the death of the father, Gerard, in 1997. His son, Nicolas, started Domaine Nicholas Potel as a negociant business in 2005. Bouchard is a very large, high quality negociant with considerable red and white Burgundy production. The business was acquired by Henriot Champagne in 1995 which resulted in increasing quality. They has vast holdings and contracts in Cote de Beaune and Cote Nuits.

Starter

2019 Jean-Marc Brocard, Chablis 1er, "Vau de Vey"

Red

Philippe Leclerc 1er Cru, "La Combe aux Moines"
Philippe Leclerc 1er Cru, "Les Cazetiers"
Domaine Joseph Roty, "Cuvée Champ Chenys"
Hervé Roumier 1er Cru "Les Fuées"
Domaine de Courcel 1er Cru, "Les Croix Noires"
Domaine de Courcel 1er Cru, "Grand Clos des Épenots"
Domaine Louis Jadot, Grand Cru Clos de la Roche
Domaine Louis Jadot, Corton Grand Cru Gréves
Maison Nicolas Potel, Grand Cru Ruchottes-Chambertin
Maison Nicolas Potel, Grand Cru Charmes-Chambertin
Domaine Taupenot-Merme, Grand Cru Corton Rognet
Domaine Hervé Roumier, Grand Cru Clos-Vougeot
Bouchard Père et Fils, Grand Cru Clos Vougeot

Dessert

no dessert wine

Images of Sampled Wines:

Page last updated: May 1, 2025 (EB)

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