On Wednesday 10th January, we were delighted to showcase a beautiful array of wines at our Burgundy 2016 En Primeur tasting. Though the challenges that the vintage experienced have been well-documented, we are pleased to report that, through the skill and perseverance of the winemakers, the wines of 2016 have risen above any setbacks and declared themselves to be exceptional. The reds were classic, pure and nuanced while the whites showed a great energy to them.
We asked our Private Client team to select a few highlights – which, given the overall excellence of the wines – was no easy feat!
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume,
Domaine Sebastien Dampt
£101.50 per 6 Bottles In Bond
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Sebastien always has an impressive array of wines so it is difficult to pick just the one, however the Fourchaume stood out due to its pure Chablis elements, a flinty, floral bouquet combined with great intensity of flavour and texture in the mouth. All too tempting to drink now, but will be even better in a year! Great value for money.
Peter Valiunas, Head of Private Clients
Francois Parent,
Morey Saint Denis
£210 per 6 Bottles In Bond
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What grabbed me about this wine was its intense bouquet of forest fruit. On the palate there is a hit of sweet red fruit, balanced with acidity, that fills the mouth and then shows great length. There is great purity to this fine Morey and it will age very well.
Peter Valiunas, Head of Private Clients
Chambolle Musigny Les Cras,
Domaine Antonin Guyon
£215 per 6 Bottles In Bond
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Discovery in Burgundy is a rarity, but this year we have added a producer that had long been under our radar; Antonin Guyon is a traditional producer that has been a stalwart of the region. Their wine that stood out for me last night was the Chambolle Musigny Les Cras. This is a refined wine showing the best characteristics of the appellation, with red fruits and violets combining on the nose. On the palate this Chambolle has a lovely mouthfeel with very soft tannins backed up by crunchy fruit, with great elegance to the long finish.
Peter Valiunas, Head of Private Clients
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de Murées, Domaine Fontaine Gagnard
£440 per 12 Bottles In Bond
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I loved this wine. Incredibly intense and concentrated with apple, citrus and peach fruit flavours. Very fresh with lots of energy and a finish of subtle sweet oak spice. So much going on, with real depth and layers of complexity. It was my favourite white wine at the tasting.
Vincent Clarke, Account Manager
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos des Issarts, Domaine Faiveley
£295 per 6 Bottles In Bond
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I enjoyed all the Faiveley wines on show, but I thought this one stood out. A very elegant and charming wine; well balanced with lovely fruit of cherries, raspberries and plums. It has an attractive, silky texture and a delightful freshness to it. This Gevrey will age nicely and I can’t wait to open another bottle in 5 years’ time. This is an exclusive to Armit Wines and what a coup it is.
Vincent Clarke, Account Manager
Gevrey-Chambertin,
Domain Taupenot Merme
£200 per 6 Bottles In Bond
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This is an absolutely stunning Gevrey; my immediate thought was, ‘I could drink this all day long…’ Everything about this is perfectly in place, from the harmonious balance of structure against a velvety richness, to the intriguing combination of savoury and fruity notes that come together to create a flavour profile that is, quite simply put, delicious. As with all of Romain Taupenot’s wines, this is elegant, understated and expressive – a classic Burgundy of the highest calibre. I would suggest getting a case or two of this for when you want to enjoy a truly top-notch Burgundy without a Grand Cru price tag – I know I will be!
Jess Fernandez, Sales Support
Peter Valiunas
Head of Private Clients