Les Bressandes Beaune 1er Cru Pinot Noir

Leaf litter nose, earth, mushrooms and stone dominate the nose. Palate is sweet cherry fruit but a little heavy and then a bitterness on the finish.

Tart red and black cherry, cranberry, and blueberry. Plenty of dried leaves and earth. Well integrated new oak (20%). Good acidity with supple tannins. Moderate alcohol.

Wow! Extremely concentrated, with intense tart cherry and raspberry. Tobacco and earth follows up the fruit. One of the best pinots I’ve ever had. Seems like it would be even better with a little more age on it, since the acidity was pretty high (too high for my girlfriend)

2009 vintage - enjoyed this wine - spice & some barnyard on the nose with oodles of dark fruit on the palate - worked well with French/Thai fusion

Ultra ripe, extroverted and a little too much for me.

Raspberry jam, pomegranate juice, wet rocks, earth, slight violet, clove. Rounded acidity, juicy-satin texture, medium bodied, firm smooth velvet tannins, long fruity-earthy-slightly spicy finish. Took a few hours to open up, decanting strongly recommended. Rustic, old school Burgundy.

Real pretty and earthy, plenty of tannin and acid left to integrate

Great Burgundy, nose deep in dirt, funk and dead flowers, body is tart, lean and mean, more mineral than fruit. Doesn't sing but has the ambition of a great song.

2011 Jean-Claude Rateau Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes easy, luscious and pure

Riccardo had this 10 years ago