The Today Programme (never wrong of course) said this morning that psychologists have determined that this is Happy Monday (coming a mere two weeks after miserable Monday when the Christmas festivities are over). Why not celebrate with some cracking Burgundy? In keeping with the slightly austere feel of the beginning of the year, these too are bargains even if not in the Sale.
Our New Star is Domaine de la Douaix, a recent discovery whose 2010s excited Neal Martin sufficiently for him to write this in his initial blog post (Neal Martin’s Wine Journal, on erobertparker.com) on the 2010 Burgundy vintage:
“I would also point you to the unpronounceable Domaine de la Douaix, owned the Moustie family from Belgium, whose regular vacations in Burgundy since 1991 led them down the slippery slope of winemaking. All three of their 2010s were impressive and fantastic value for money. It was difficult to believe this was just their third vintage? I’ll pick out their superb Cote de Nuits Villages Terres Nobles 2010 sourced from 25-40 year old vines in Corgoloin that is adorned in silky smooth tannins and perfectly judged acidity. They will be bottled in April and you would be a fool not to put your name down for a case. It is growers like these that make Burgundy such a dynamic place, disorientating in terms of its byzantine complexity, a region that continues to offer life-affirming pleasure and inconsolable disappointment in every nook and cranny.
2010 Domaine de la Douaix Cotes de Nuits Villages Terres Nobles 90-92
Keep a look out for this name. Owned by a Belgian Moustie family whose annual vacations in Burgundy led to them taking the next step as winemakers, their 2010s have the panache of a winemaker with 30 years under his belt instead of three. The Terres Nobles has rounded ripe cranberry, strawberry and citrus lemon on the lively, vivacious bouquet. The palate is very smooth with fine, quite firm tannins married with great cohesion and beautifully integrated oak. Very caressing in the mouth with fine persistency on the tense finish. Outstanding with or without the price that will put a smile on your face.”
You will find the primeur offer pricing on the 2010s listed here, which will be bottled in March and delivered later in the year – see our 2010 offer. You can click on each wine to see other critcs’ comments on this exceptional new discovery.
For those who cannot wait, you can also buy the 2009 wines right now and get on with drinking them. Patrick and I have both been drinking little else this January, as these wines are both refreshing and also beefy enough to fend of the cold of the season.
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