Rating:
92
Allen Meadows - Burghound
"Outstanding Top Value. From a parcel just under Talmettes. Discreet wood and menthol notes frame the very ripe aromas of cassis, violet, earth and spice. There is once again excellent richness, volume and sappy dry extract to the middle weight plus flavors that exude a subtle minerality on the refined and impressively long finish. This is certainly quite ripe but there is good tension and this should amply repay extended cellaring."
Product Description:
"Mid-slope and predominantly limestone (Lavières comes from the word "lave" which here has nothing volcanic about it but was the term used in the past to describe the flat limestone slabs used to cover the roofs). In fact, these famous stones are found here in the sub-soil. The vines are more than 50 years old and are situated in the finest part of the appellation.
This historic estate was established in 1834. Claude de Nicolay took over from her mother as winemaker in 1988 and crafts traditionally styled wines from one of the Côte d'Or's great terroirs, the hill of Corton and its surrounding villages. Corton is just north of Beaune and it's easy to spot, as it's a big hill with a forest on top. It's a limestone outcropping that is set apart from the main "cote" of the Cote de Beaune or Côte de Nuits. It is a bit of an anomaly in the Côte d'Or as the Grand Cru are named after the hill, rather than attached to a specific village. Three villages have vineyards that are a part of Corton: Aloxe, Ladoix, and Pernand-Vergelesses. Corton is the only place with red Grand Cru in the Côte de Beaune.
At Chandon de Briailles, the vineyard management has been fully biodynamic since 2005 and organic since 1998. Claude's brother, Francois de Nicolay joined the domaine in 2001.
John Gilman (View From the Cellar) wrote: “This domaine is quickly becoming one of the very finest to be found anywhere in the Côte D’Or...these are great, classically styled, terroir-driven red and white Burgundies that age brilliantly, and are among the treasures to be found in the Côte de Beaune for those adventurous enough to try a few bottles.”-Importer