2009 - Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Combe aux Moines Vieille Vigne, Fourrier

Bright, dark red. Very pure aromas of dark berries, stony minerality and wild herbs are lifted by a floral topnote and complicated by a whiff of white truffle. Dense, layered and sweet but also sharply delineated, displaying superb acidity for the vintage. Finishes with ripe tannins and outstanding persistence. Fourrier picked later than most of his neighbors in 2009 but says that his fruit retained freshness because he did no leaf-pulling.

The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Le Combe Aux Moines is a dazzling wine loaded with superb richness and depth in its dark red fruit. This shows marvelous power and a seamless quality to the fruit that is head spinning in its beauty. The finish turns positively explosive. This is gorgeous juice! Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034. Count me among the Burgundy fans who are thrilled Jean-Marie Fourrier chose not to pursue the career as a commercial airline pilot for which he studied. Fourrier began picking on September 17. The fruit was destemmed. Cuvaison lasted around 14 days but Fourrier commented that he had an unusually high (50%) amount of shot berries, which had the effect of extending the fermentations for another week or so. The malos started and ended early, hence Fourrier decided to bottle early as well. Per his usual practice, Fourrier left the wines on the lees with no racking until the wines were prepared for bottling. On average the wines saw 20% new oak. I tasted all of the 2009s from bottle. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990

Quite deep cherry red. Round and fruity and fresh and friendly – very easy. A little teensy bit chewy on the end. Very fresh. (JR)