Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune “Grèves - Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus” 1er cru 2002 Sunday, Aug 27 2006
Tasting Notes and France and Burgundy and Variety and Red and pinot noir
Bouchard is the sole owner of almost 4 hectares of this Premier Cru from Beaune. Their website tells the story that in the 17th century, this vineyard was given to the Carmelite nuns who worked there until the confiscation of the clergy’s possessions during the French Revolution in 1789. Legend has it that the name “Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus” refers to the tale of Marguerite du Saint Sacrement, the Carmelite founder of the “Domestiques de la famille du Saint Enfant Jésus”, who predicted the birth of Louis XIV - Le Roi Soleil - the King of France, when his mother Anne of Austria was sterile. Ever since, this piece of land, in the heart of the “Les Grèves” appellation has borne the name ” l’Enfant Jésus”. In 1791, during the auction of national property, Bouchard Père & Fils acquired the land and still farms this vineyard, which by the way, it is situated on a particularly steep and sandy slope.
Straight out of the blocks, explosive and punchy aromas, minerals and raspberries, jubey cherries, gunsmoke, linear and focused. A gorgeous nose – if it were sufficent to only smell a wine, then this would be in the front row. The palate is dense and minerally, red and black fruits, tannic, but perhaps not as luscious at the nose would suggest. It is very primary at the moment, with a finger of oak poking out, deeply satisfying, with a sappy finish. Now I know lots of Pinot-o-philes will ignore wines from the Côtes de Beaune, but this is certainly a class act, and when it comes to bang-for-your-buck, it is a winner too.
Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : Aug06
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $110
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010 - 2022
Source : Cellar
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5 Responses to “Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune “Grèves - Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus” 1er cru 2002”
August 27th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
…leave them in the cellar, Linc…
August 28th, 2006 at 9:46 am
I have a pallet to get through - I need to drink 2 every month…
August 29th, 2006 at 9:15 am
It’s a good wine. As you say, a little oaky now but it will come together with time. I agree that the CdB is too often over looked. Delicious wine and the 2004 looks even better .
September 3rd, 2006 at 2:55 pm
You haven’t opened one of your 04s already have you?! I have gone from no Bouchards in the cellar to quite a few on the back of that evil Dr Jenkins in London filling me up with the 1995 and 2000, and then he enjoyed a 1976 magnum in my absence… I agree Linc, it is a very feminine, highly perfumed nose. I might anoint a woman with some to see if she becomes more attractive
September 3rd, 2006 at 3:31 pm
No, not opened an 04 yet, but I will be trying it before the end of the month.