Page 1 of 2

TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:14 pm
by Dale Williams
Mark invited me to fill in with a wine tasting group with a long history as he hosted this month. Nice group, we tasted blind (but not for long)

First flight:
I was pretty sure #1 and #2 were Pinot Noir, but #3 threw me for a bit.

Wine #1
Red fruit, good acids, floral, nice length.
2010 Pavelot “ Narbantons” Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
B+/A-

Wine #2
Lightest, red currant and cherry fruit, quite pleasant.
2009 Pavelot Savigny-les-Beaune
B

Wine #3
Easily the funkiest of the bunch. Ripe, big, meat, leather and a bit o’ barnyard. Perplexing, I was thinking more Rhonish, but as it got some air Burgundy became a better bet. Really developed nicely in glass.
2009 Pavelot “Serpentieres “ Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
B+/A-

After flight, Mark revealed that entire tasting would be Savigny (he wanted to point out the value)

Flight 2
Bottles still covered, thought we knew now was Savigny, I thought #5 was from a much riper vintage than other 2, but apparently Mark had already said all 2009 while I was daydreaming.

Wine #4
Delicate, lacy, the most feminine wine of the night.
2009 Drouhin “Clos des Godeaux” Savigny-les-Beaune
A-/B+

Wine #5
A touch bretty, some oak notes, quite soft and flat compared to other wines of the evening, needs acids;
2009 Bouchard “Lavieres” Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
B-/C+

Wine # 6
Full, ripe, a bit tannic, clearly needs time.
2009 Jadot “Dominode” Savigny-les-Beaune 1er B+

Last flight was fully revealed
1995 Ecard “ Narbantons” Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
Just a touch of brett, meaty, lots of floral notes, I liked more than the table. A-/B+

1995 Ecard “Serpentieres “ Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
Served a little cold as it was a replacement for a corked bottle. Nice balance, pretty fruit, good length. A-/B+

1990 Ecard “Serpentieres “ Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
Wow, this was beautiful. Round and ripe but with no hint of roasted notes, earth and mushroom, an unusual little iodine note that was faint enough to add complexity but not detract at all. Mark said best Savigny he’s ever had, who am I to argue? A/A-

Fun night. Mark finished by passing a 2008 Niepoort single quinta port, which I neglected to note details on but thought quite good.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a
party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of
objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:30 pm
by David Lole
Thanks for your notes, Dale.

I like Savigny's as a rule and my favourite producer's are J-M Pavelot, particularly Simon Bize and Maurice Ecard with the odd offering that has occasionally taken my breath away from Leroy (Narbantons) with some good efforts also from Jadot and Bruno Clair (both Dominodes). Apart from the extortionist-like pricing of Madame's wine, this appellation still produces some bang for your buck.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:50 pm
by Mark Lipton
David Lole wrote:Thanks for your notes, Dale.

I like Savigny's as a rule and my favourite producer's are J-M Pavelot, particularly Simon Bize and Maurice Ecard with the odd offering that has occasionally taken my breath away from Leroy (Narbantons) with some good efforts also from Jadot and Bruno Clair (both Dominodes). Apart from the extortionist-like pricing of Madame's wine, this appellation still produces some bang for your buck.


David,
In addition to the producers you've named, have you tried the Savignys (or Pernands) from Rollin or Chandon de Briailles? And have you had recent Savignys from Écard? I've heard that the generational change there has produced stylistic changes.

Mark Lipton

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:54 pm
by David M. Bueker
Tres Beaune!

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:22 pm
by Hoke
Quite fond of Savigny. (Almost) always presents a great value and usually an extremely approachable wine.

One wine I have to ask about:

Wine #4
Delicate, lacy, the most feminine wine of the night.
2009 Drouhin “Clos des Godeaux” Savigny-les-Beaune
A-/B+


Was this ready when you opened and served it, or did you have to wait for it?

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:29 pm
by Dale Williams
Mark Lipton wrote: And have you had recent Savignys from Écard? I've heard that the generational change there has produced stylistic changes.

More than generational changes I believe. Maurice retired, and due to retirement/estate rules leased his vineyards and sold his domaine name to a negociant. So the "Domaine Maurice Ecard" wines starting either 2004 or 2005 are not made by any Ecard. Meanwhile, his son Michel (who had been #2 at Maurice Ecard for years) bought some vineyards and sells under Michel and Joanne (I think) Ecard. So similar winemaking, but not same vineyards.

Hoke wrote:2009 Drouhin “Clos des Godeaux” Savigny-les-Beaune
Was this ready when you opened and served it, or did you have to wait for it?

I think that this had been open a bit while we arrived, and then was in 2nd flight. It improved in glass. But from beginning (of my pour) I thought lovely. I generally haven't thought the '09s have been closed down (though I haven't had many lately)

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:47 pm
by Mark Lipton
Dale Williams wrote:
Mark Lipton wrote: And have you had recent Savignys from Écard? I've heard that the generational change there has produced stylistic changes.

More than generational changes I believe. Maurice retired, and due to retirement/estate rules leased his vineyards and sold his domaine name to a negociant. So the "Domaine Maurice Ecard" wines starting either 2004 or 2005 are not made by any Ecard. Meanwhile, his son Michel (who had been #2 at Maurice Ecard for years) bought some vineyards and sells under Michel and Joanne (I think) Ecard. So similar winemaking, but not same vineyards.


Yes, Dale, you gave the more detailed version: I was just giving the Cliff Notes version :wink:

Mark Lipton

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:45 pm
by David Lole
Mark Lipton wrote:
David Lole wrote:Thanks for your notes, Dale.

I like Savigny's as a rule and my favourite producer's are J-M Pavelot, particularly Simon Bize and Maurice Ecard with the odd offering that has occasionally taken my breath away from Leroy (Narbantons) with some good efforts also from Jadot and Bruno Clair (both Dominodes). Apart from the extortionist-like pricing of Madame's wine, this appellation still produces some bang for your buck.


David,
In addition to the producers you've named, have you tried the Savignys (or Pernands) from Rollin or Chandon de Briailles? And have you had recent Savignys from Écard? I've heard that the generational change there has produced stylistic changes.

Mark Lipton


I bought Chandon in the nineties and was underwhelmed. Their 1995's totally lacked fruit and were awful, and the 1996ers not much better and cursed with too much acid, although they may have come around with time in the bottle - I got rid of all of mine.

Rollin - have no experience with this producer.

Nothing from Ecard since 2002 vintage. Liked his older style - rustic stuff generally but built for the longer haul. 90, 93, 96, 99, 02 1ers were all very good - I liked the Serpentieres the best, followed by Narbantons. I noted the change of ownership.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:09 pm
by David M. Bueker
Had a new generation Ecard S-L-B a couple of weeks ago. Made Loring seem restrained. Yuck.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:16 pm
by Dale Williams
Mark, figured you knew, but was just typing because I like to (and other people might not know). One thing I learned more recently was (hope I have this right) that Maurice SOLD his domaine name but LEASED the vineyards (for 15 or 20 years). So sometime in next 7-12 years those prime holdings will return to Michel. Whose style seems to be similar to his dad, but who has been hampered by lesser sources.

I have only had one Rollin - a PV actually (I think courtesy of the good Jay M)- but quite enjoyed.

I like some 90s CdB, but think they picked up their game about '99.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:16 pm
by Dale Williams
David M. Bueker wrote:Had a new generation Ecard S-L-B a couple of weeks ago. Made Loring seem restrained. Yuck.


David, Maurice or Michel and J?

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:27 pm
by Rahsaan
Dale Williams wrote:I like some 90s CdB, but think they picked up their game about '99.


That's what I hear, although I forget all the gory details. I had some 98s and 96s and wasn't too enamored with them, but have been more or less positive about everything since 99.

Speaking of 99, I recently had a 99 Rapet Île des Vergelesses which showed too mature/generic for my tastes. Not at all like the 99 CdB IdV which is much more youthful and unevolved, at least last time I checked, which was maybe sometime in 2012?

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:43 pm
by David M. Bueker
Maurice

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:25 am
by Salil
Nice tasting Dale. Savigny's awesome, and it's one of the few areas I can turn to for real QPR in Burgundy (along with Pernand Vergelesses.)

Sounds like I should be trying more Pavelot.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:57 am
by Dale Williams
David, that's what I guessed (I don't love Michel's wines, but not Cali-ish). "Domaine Maurice Ecard" now has no Ecards, owned by the negoce firm Bejot.

Salil, I'd add Auxey to PV and Savigny. Of course, producer producer producer.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:15 am
by Salil
Liked the couple of Auxeys I've had from Lafouge - the La Chapelle in particular is fantastic. Though Lafouge is the only producer there that I'm familiar with - who else there do you suggest exploring?

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:33 am
by Rahsaan
Salil wrote:Liked the couple of Auxeys I've had from Lafouge - the La Chapelle in particular is fantastic. Though Lafouge is the only producer there that I'm familiar with - who else there do you suggest exploring?


I really liked the Comte Armand Auxey 1er cru bottling in the early 2000s vintages, although haven't tasted recent efforts. The recent vintages I tasted of Lafouge were indeed very delicious, but almost suspiciously so! Young Cote de Beaune is not supposed to be that much fun, is it? :D

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 12:00 pm
by Dale Williams
It was actually Lafouge I was mainly thinking of, but I've had surprisingly good wines from Bouree. Of course, the Coche Auxey is really good, but then we're not in QPR land anymore.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:20 pm
by Hoke
Like the Nicholas Potel Savigny wines too. Also, they age rather nicely, although long aging of Savigny is not generally what I'm looking for there.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:36 pm
by Dale Williams
Which vintages of Nicolas Potel? Because Nicolas Potel is no longer at Nicolas Potel, he has a new business -Maison Roche de Bellene. Maison Nicolas Potel is some other guy. :)

I don't think I have had many of his Savignys, but liked the 05 VV, but in general I've liked his style and he had some great sources (his dad being a legend and all).

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:39 pm
by Hoke
Dale Williams wrote:Which vintages of Nicolas Potel? Because Nicolas Potel is no longer at Nicolas Potel, he has a new business -Maison Roche de Bellene. Maison Nicolas Potel is some other guy. :)


2004, Dale.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:39 pm
by Dale Williams
yes, that was definitely when NP was NP. :)

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:45 pm
by Hoke
Doing some confessin' here.

Hoke wrote:
2009 Drouhin “Clos des Godeaux” Savigny-les-Beaune
Was this ready when you opened and served it, or did you have to wait for it?

I think that this had been open a bit while we arrived, and then was in 2nd flight. It improved in glass. But from beginning (of my pour) I thought lovely. I generally haven't thought the '09s have been closed down (though I haven't had many lately)


I yielded to my baser nature. Couldn't resist the hidden pun here, Dale. Sorry.

I really wanted to know if you were left...um, waiting for Godeaux.

Sorry.

Re: TN: Slew of Savignys

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:34 pm
by Dale Williams
Doh!
Totally went over my head (I confess I thought of it as the "Drouhin", so not even close to getting the pun)