Welcome to our comprehensive guide to the tastings of 2007 Burgundy. We bring you Decanter's top whites, best value whites and top reds from the vintage. You can also post your comments on the wines. See Beverley Blanning MW's Clos de Tart tasting notes (from a recent vertical tasting in London), the Decanter tasting team's favourite 2007 Burgundy wines and our Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2006 tasting notes .
‘It’s a vintage that defines the Chardonnay grape, its exact positioning in Burgundy and its superiority over every other Chardonnay made in the world,’ says Matthew Jukes. ‘Thanks to hard graft after a terrible summer, the top producers have crafted fragrant, classic 2007 reds to enjoy while your other Burgundies are maturing,’ says Sarah Marsh MW. Both bring you their top wines from a difficult Burgundy vintage.
# See the full report, with further appraisals of the vintage, tasting notes, and drinking windows in the February issue of Decanter, OUT NOW
# To check stockist codes (in italics following the tasting note) please see our stockist page.
Jukes’ top whites
Comtes Lafon, Perrières, Meursault (20/20) This was the only perfect score I gave in 2008 and it came as a total surprise. My tasting note is ridiculously superlative-drenched so I won’t repeat it, suffice to say that every molecule of this wine is perfect. I was literally struck dumb when I tasted this – and that never happens! DDi
Etienne Sauzet, Montrachet (19.5) One of the most closed and concentrated of wines, but it already shows impeccable balance and an amazing acid line which points to a very long life. DDi
Jean-Marc Boillot, Truffière, Puligny-Montrachet (19) A tight, introverted wine showing the energy and minerality of this vineyard. Boillot has made amazing village wines, but when you step up to his unbelievable premier cru, there’s no looking back. Gdh
Jean-Marc Roulot, Perrières, Meursault (19) Roulot cranked up the volume of his Tessons but with this, its big brother, comes more structure, minerality and focus. One of the most incredible wines this Domaine has made in a decade. DDi
Leflaive, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet (19) All of Leflaive’s grand crus score 19s this year but Bienvenues is the most beautiful and gentle. Its grace masks a steely core of fruit and acidity which will propel this wine forwards for 20 years. C&B
Leflaive, Pucelles, Puligny-Montrachet (19) Eric Remy has engineered some superb ’07s. Pucelles is my pick of the premiers crus on account of its stony minerality and socking acidity, which keeps the awesome fruit in check. A wine that expands relentlessly on the palate. C&B
Marc Colin, Bâtard-Montrachet (19) Colin’s Bâtard is the antithesis of many, with its spice, density and power sitting back, letting the soul of the wine come through. A relief after many blockbusters, showing a domaine heading towards a new era of finer, more beautiful wines. Gdh
Bonneau du Martray, Corton-Charlemagne (18.5) Incredible aromatics and extraordinary minerality. The control is gripping and this marshals the exuberant, evocative, floral, brioche and citrus notes beautifully. A classic, ‘collectors’-only’ wine. C&B
Bruno Colin, La Boudriotte, Chassagne-Montrachet (18.5) Pear, apple, pineapple and beeswax crowd the nose and then the fruit power and white-knuckle acidity rush in. A dramatic wine that leaves you exhausted. Grand cru-like tension and depth. Gns, Gun, L&W
Colin-Morey, Folatières, Puligny-Montrachet (18.5) Pear, apple, toast and melon aromas and palate, this is an exuberant and racy wine that shows more succulence and texture than many. The immediacy of the fruit hides a steely core of minerality which will give this balance for a decade. VTr
Marsh’s top value whites
A&P de Villaine, Aligoté de Bouzeron Simple, bright and breezy, light and lively with fresh citrus fruit. C&B
Charles and Remi Jobard, Bourgogne Blanc Crystalline purity, citrus fresh, direct and well defined. L&S
Christian Moreau Père et Fils, Les Clos, Chablis Svelte and textural with a wet stone minerality beneath the ripe, citrus fruit. Fine finish. HHC, Gun, ThH
Daniel Dampt, Côte De Lechet, Chablis Glassy, smooth and lucid with a pure citrus and mineral core. HHC
Domaine des Malandes, Côte De Lechet, Chablis Lively, pure, linear, mineral wine with a whiff of gun-smoke on the finish. Haw
Domaine Drouhin, Vaudesir, Chablis Lithe and steely with white flowers and peach; a graceful line and a long, chalky, citrus finish. Ben, F&R, Ply
Domaine Dujac, Morey-St-Denis Full and broad with a polished stone character. Richness is countered by fresh acidity and a citrus finish. Loe
Domaine Lignier-Michelot, Axelle Citrus aroma, lightly ample middle palate with white stone fruit, a hint of butter-mint and mineral finish. CDW
Henri Gouges, Bourgogne Blanc Energetic, orange and spice. Round, with a smooth stone minerality. Loe
Louis Michel, Vaudésir, Chablis Elegant and shimmering, it dances on the palate with minerality and electric tension on the finish. DrA
Marsh’s top reds
Armand Rousseau, Clos St-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin (19.5/20) Wonderful vitality and intensity with a clear core of minerality. Complex, deliciously fresh with succulent juicy fruit, beautiful balance and great persistence. BBR, Gdh, L&W, Loe
Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanée (19.5) Sensual wine; elegant with marvellous depth and intensity. Complex and layered, with a wonderful rose scent. BBR, J&B
Henri Gouges, Les St-Georges, Nuits-St-Georges (19.5) Fragrant and exotic wine with great clarity, depth and intensity to the fruit. Presence and precision. ASa, Ave, CTW, Fln, Gns, HBJ, H&H, HoR, Loe, Mnt, Rae
Comte Georges De Vogüé, Les Amoureuses, Chambolle-Musigny (19) Joyous, lithe and silky. Laden with rose petal and red cherry aromas. Finishes on a tight vein of chalky minerality. C&B
Nicolas Rossignol-Jeanniard, Caillerets, Volnay (19) Fragrant Volnay with fine minerality and taut tannins. It is straight and pure and quivers to the finish. L&S
Pierre Damoy, Clos de Bèze Vieilles Vignes, Chambertin (19) Richly scented, floral nose. The palate is intense, richly precise and vigourous. Stylish with great presence. H&H, Lay, Loe
Domaine Joseph Voillot, Rugiens, Pommard (18.5) White flower perfume, streamlined and harmonious. Neatly-woven, silky-textured, elegant palate with a long, fragrant finish. Adn, Bls, DDJ, Gdh, Har, JHa, Lay
Comte Lafon, Clos de Chenes (18) Juicy cherry fruit, satin tannins and a fine, elegant texture. Glides effortlessly across the palate. Adn, DDi, FMV, J&B, L&W, Tan
Denis Bachelet, Les Corbeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin (18) Dark fruit and very pure. It has contained energy, direct and precise and channelled to a long focused finish. BBR, WSo
Humbert Frères, Les Poissenots, Gevrey-Chambertin (18) High-toned with bright perfume. It has fine tight tannins and vibrates on a mineral, taut line. L&W, Lay
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