James Suckling (93)

This shows lots of sweet tobacco and blueberry character. Full and silky with fine tannins. Keeps fresh. Long. Well done.

Vinous (94+)

The 2011 Clos de La Roche is one of the more intensely mineral of the Dujac Grand Crus. Tobacco, herbs, fried flowers, rosewater, blood orange and crushed rocks are some of the many aromas and flavors that are alive in the glass. Intense, chalky tannins round out the expressive, perfumed finish. There is a lot to look forward to here. The Clos de La Roche has really come together over the last year. It was a much rawer wine from barrel.

Vinous (91+)

Captivating aromas of pristine red fruits, minerals and underbrush, plus a whiff of porcini. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, with terrific high-pitched precision to the red raspberry and cherry flavors. Lovely cut here, as well as a tannic spine that calls for four or five years of aging. Jeremy Seysses noted that with the estate's clonal material, their grapes are riper. We start pulling leaves on the north side of the vines not long after the flowering, and we get thicker skins, he told me, adding that the estate's 2011s are tannic wines.

Vinous (91)

Dujac's 2011 Morey St. Denis 1er Cru blossoms beautifully in the glass. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke and mint open up nicely in a supple, layered Burgundy with considerable near and medium-term appeal. This is a representative example of the vintage.

Vinous (94)

The 2011 Brut Millésime Grand Cru is a very pretty wine, especially within the context of the year. Bright floral notes meld into hints of lemon confit, tangerine oil, dried flowers, sage and pastry. There is terrific freshness to the 2011, although not quite the dimension of the very best years. Even so, this is very clearly one of the finest 2011s readers will come across. I would not push my luck on aging, but there is so much to like and admire here. Francis Egly and his team clearly got the very best out of the year. Disgorged: July, 2020.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-95)

(25% vendange entier): Good bright red with ruby tones. Precise aromas of black cherry, licorice and herbs. Spicy and penetrating on the palate; a bit strict but offers a great combination of sweetness and minerality. At once classy and powerful, finishing with a lingering element of saline minerality and firm, noble tannins that saturate the entire mouth.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-93)

Ruby-red. Perfumed, inviting aromas of bitter chocolate, blood orange and Moroccan spices. Round, concentrated and ripe, with sappy density to the flavors of dark fruits and spices. This is much easier to taste today than the Brulees. Finishes with sweet, ripe, even tannins and excellent length. Should be superb.

Vinous (95-97)

(from vines facing southeast, whereas the regular Clos de Beze is from south-facing vines; these vines are also a bit older: 55 years vs. 45): Good deep red. A coulis of red fruits sharpened by blood orange on the nose. Less reduced and more vibrant than the cuvee classique and utterly primary in the mouth, with pure fruit flavors framed and lifted by underlying minerality and perfectly integrated acidity. The explosive, highly perfumed finish features outstanding grip and punch and unflagging perfume. There will be just 4 barrels of this juice in 2011 (the cuvee was originally introduced in 2009), vs. 15 of the basic bottling. Hervet believes the two versions are of roughly equal quality, but today the Ouvrees Rodin is singing.

Vinous (91-94)

(25% vendange entier): Bright red. Highly perfumed nose offers dried rose, orange zest, ginger and dusty stone. Powerful and penetrating but with a light touch and superb precision to its red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Lovely energy and tensile strength here: I like the stem influence. (Unfortunately, Faiveley's Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses was too reduced to assess in November.)

Vinous (95)

Faiveley’s 2011 Corton Clos des Corton is a fitting conclusion to this great night of wine and food. Intensely saline and pointed, the 2011 impresses for its pure energy and tension. The flavors are vibrant and impeccably delineated in a Burgundy that is all about finesse. This is a great showing from the Clos des Corton.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

Good bright, medium red. Red cherry, redcurrant, smoke and white pepper on the nose, complemented by mellow oak tones. Rich, dense and silky, with a dominant flavor of sweet raspberry. Really opens out on the back half, then grips the palate on the very long finish, which features a note of bitter orange zest. This wine began with the lowest potential alcohol of all of Faiveley's grand cru holdings in 2011 (it was 11.8%, chaptalized to 12.6%), and will rely as much on its acidity as on its tannins for aging.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-96)

Bright, deep red. Very deep aromas and flavors of raspberry, redcurrant, smoke and crushed rock. At once penetrating and utterly fine-grained; explosive sappy perfume fills the mouth without leaving any impression of weight. Pinot just doesn't pull off this trick anywhere but in Burgundy's top sites. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding palate-staining length.

James Suckling (93-94)

A like the quality of the tannins in this with plenty of subtle berry and chocolate character. Full body, with a lovely acidity. Wonderful length to it. This is really pretty.

James Suckling (93-94)

A like the quality of the tannins in this with plenty of subtle berry and chocolate character. Full body, with a lovely acidity. Wonderful length to it. This is really pretty.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

(a blend of 63% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon,10% petit verdot and 7% carmenère): Fully saturated inky purple. Coffee, cocoa and cassis on the nose, along with a musky note that I attribute to the carmenère. Then ample and sweet in the mouth, with syrupy blackberry and vanilla flavors that linger on the tangy, rather light finish.

Immerse yourself in the luxury of vineyard heritage with the Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2011. Originating from the reputable Établissements Nicolas Perrin estate situated in the northern Rhône region of France, this wine exudes the unmistakable aura of meticulously handpicked Syrah and Grenache grapes. The favourable Mediterranean climate, coupled with the estate's deep routed traditions in biodynamic grape cultivation, results in an exquisite full-bodied blend.

Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2011 plays host to a symphony of harmonious notes, teeming with deep black fruit flavours, mingling with hints of olives, earth and smoky undertones. Its distinctive, robust structure, combined with a dash of the Rhône’s characteristic earthiness, conjures an entrancing savoriness.

Regarded as a benchmark of the Côtes du Rhône appellation, Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2011--aged to perfection--offers you the quintessence of what a decade-old vintage should embody. An indulgence in every sip, this wine truly captures your senses in timeless French allure.

The Fosse Seche Tris Chapelle 2011 is an expertly crafted French biodynamic wine from the esteemed Loire Valley. Produced by the beloved Arnaud family, who utilise traditional processes, the resulting wine exhibits depth, complexity, and balance. The grape composition of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet allows for a unique flavour profile with a finish as distinctive as its terroir. frameborder>

This bottling expresses a profound minerality and a delightful balance of ripened fruit flavours, buoyed by a rigorous acidity. Matured on the lees for 18 months, the Fosse Seche Tris Chapelle 2011 displays a tinge of honeyed richness, underpinned by smoky undertones - a mélange indicative of an elusive, yet captivating, exotic fruit character.

With each sip, savour the embodied dedication, sophistication, and artisanal integrity, hallmarking the wine as a quintessential Fosse Seche Tris Chapelle. Capture the experience of this famed bottle and let it elevate your wine indulgence.

Vinous (91)

Medium red. Captivating aromas of cherry, raspberry, blueberry and minerals, lifted by a floral topnote. The palate offers excellent cut and precision to the almost Chambolle-like red berry flavors. At once juicy and filled in, this nicely balanced village wine finishes with noteworthy length.

Proudly presenting the formidable Franck Pascal Harmonie Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2011, a pinnacle of elegance and technique from the renowned Champagne region of France. This sophisticated vintage was expertly crafted by vintner Franck Pascal himself, a fervent bio-dynamic practitioner. Being an extra brut, it's intensely dry, yet maintains a compelling energy and vibrancy.

Originating from a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the low-yielding vines on chalky soils impart intense fruit and mineral complexity. The careful handling of the grapes lends a purity and transparency to this wine. Pascal's exceptional skills, combined with meticulous attention to detail, result in richly nuanced flavours with a delicate, silky mousse.

With the Franck Pascal Harmonie Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2011, savour the perfect balance of depth and lightness, assured to captivate even the most discerning of palates. Truly a sip reflective of Franck Pascal's unwavering commitment to crafting exceptional biodynamic wines.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Nervy and dramatic with lovely balance between fruit and structure. Long and rich and the flavours just yo-yo over the palate. Lovely stuff but look at the price! Clean and long.

Wine Advocate (88)

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots 2011 is more reserved on the nose than their Chaumées, but there is a touch more complexity, the brambly red and black fruit infused with fine minerality and tension. The palate is smooth and rounded on the entry with a lot of extraction so that it feels plump around the middle. Juicy and pure, what it lacks in complexity is compensated by its saturated tannins and opulent blueberry-tinged finish that is just missing some persistence, cutting away before you have had an opportunity to show your gratitude.

Wine Advocate (95)

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. Despite some reduction, there is clearly plenty of attractive ripe red berry fruit on the nose of Mugneret-Gibourg’s Ruchottes-Chambertin 2011: cranberry, wild strawberry and touches of blueberry. The palate is less masculine and reserved compared to when I tasted it at the domaine at the end of 2013. Here it feels more velvety on the entry. It has a cashmere texture with well-judged acidity and superb structure. The fruit is darker than Christophe Roumier's Ruchottes, but there is very good weight and persistence on the finish that bodes well for the future.

Jancis Robinson (19.5)

More youthful colour than many – mid garnet. Intriguing complexity with some violet notes. Really gorgeous breadth and balance with fruit and freshness. Still obviously gaining in interest and very long. Really smooth and with wonderful depth and persistence. The best 2011 so far in this tasting of top wines from that vintage. The sort of wine every burgundy drinker wants to find. Went on for a good minute…

Vinous (92)

The Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras shows the more sensual, caressing side of the vintage in its layered contours and soft, tender personality. Today, the is voluptuous and expressive, with no hard edges and fabulous overall balance. The Cras isn't super complex, but it is incredibly delicious, even at this early stage.

Vinous (92)

The Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras shows the more sensual, caressing side of the vintage in its layered contours and soft, tender personality. Today, the is voluptuous and expressive, with no hard edges and fabulous overall balance. The Cras isn't super complex, but it is incredibly delicious, even at this early stage.

Vinous (92+)

Roumier's 2011 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de La Bussière is terrific. Dark plum and cherry notes meld into cloves, menthol and spices in a layered wine dripping with class. Veins of underlying minerality give the 2011 much of its energy and tension. Although Christophe Roumier's wines have become objects of desire for Burgundy lovers all over the world, the Clos de La Bussière remains the most under-appreciated of his wines, mostly because it is often much less charming young than the Chambolles. Readers who can cellar the 2011 are in for a real treat.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (94-97)

Good deep, bright red. Pungent aromas of small wild berries, mint, rose petal and orange peel, plus a whiff of jammy blackberry. Marvelously silky and sweet, offering an uncanny combination of sheer concentration and inner-mouth perfume and vinosity. This struck me as almost more powerful than its 2010 sibling, with more of an impression of weight. Finishes with palate-staining persistence, a hint of violet and great snap.

Wine Advocate (96)

Shockingly good given that it’s 100% Grenache (which struggled in the vintage), the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre comes all from sandy soils in La Crau and Pignan. Aged all in concrete, it’s more focused and concentrated than the Gallimardes, with beautiful minerality, dark fruit, roasted garrigue and assorted Provencal nuances. Serious stuff, with full-bodied richness and chewy tannin, it will have a broad drink window. Count me a fan. Drink 2015-2027.

Wine Advocate (90)

This experimental, concentrated, 100% Merlot from a vineyard planted with 10,000 vines per hectare, is treated like a pampered child in its viticulture, fermentation and upbringing in barrel. Made by the Despagne family, this luxury cuvee has been a brilliant success in just about every vintage they have released to date. The 2011 is a big, robust effort whose exuberant tannins, which are not fully integrated, suggest caution may be needed. Loaded with sweet, rich, chocolaty berry fruit intermixed with graphite and vanilla notes, it still reveals some new oak, so some additional time in the bottle is warranted. It is hard to believe that a wine that carries a Bordeaux appellation exhibits the courage and visionary zeal needed to produce something like this. This offering should drink well for a decade, but the tannins need to be better integrated for it to fully merit an outstanding score.