2008 Bourgogne Rouge

The 2008 Bourgogne offers knockout aromatics and taut, vibrant fruit. The density of the house style is nicely balanced by the coolness of the year. A final burst of hard candy lingers on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. Claude Dugat farms 16 hectares, of which only 3 are owned. Dugat waited until September 20 to start harvesting. The fruit was 100% destemmed and spent 15 days on the skins with two punchdowns a day and no pumpovers. The wine was pressed, left 48 hours to decant and moved into barrel. The wines were racked the following April and were bottled with no fining or filtration. The Bourgogne were aged in neutral oak, the Villages and 1ers saw 50% new oak and the Grand Crus saw 100% new oak. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

Mild reduction blocks the nose but the fresh and racy middle weight flavors are supple yet precise with good persistence and punch. A delicious and easy-to-like effort.Allen Meadows, Burghound, Jan, 2010

The 2008 Bourgogne offers knockout aromatics and taut, vibrant fruit. The density of the house style is nicely balanced by the coolness of the year. A final burst of hard candy lingers on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. May 2011, www.robertparker.com