There is a lot of fuss about the 2005 vintage in Burgundy. You may have seen the various En Primeur offers flying around over the last few weeks. It is a truly serious vintage for red wine particularly, but what should you drink while these wines slumber for a few more months in barrels and then snooze for a few more years in the bottle before you dare open them? How about this spectacular Pinot Noir from the impressive 2003 vintage?
2003 Santenay Rouge, 1er Cru Grand Clos Rousseau, Domaine Bernard Morey, Burgundy, France (£250.27 per case including VAT – £20.85 equivalent per bottle, Domaine Direct of London, 020-7837 1142).
Morey is a brilliant winemaker and Grand Clos Rousseau is the famous vineyard in the village of Santenay. For less than a bottle of Mickey Mouse Champagne, you could revel in one of the most hedonistic Pinots I’ve tasted in ages – it is packed with wild cherry, damson and black plum fruit and there is power here, too. This is a blood and guts wine designed for hearty game dishes. Give it some air and you’ll see the nose emerge blinking into the daylight and the fruit stretching its legs – an hour should do it and you’re confronted by an athletic, yet lithe creature, ready for action. While you are ordering this wine, ask Domaine Direct for a copy of their 2005 offer – they have some first class wines in their stable.