Cheers Mel, Thanks for that. Judge John Deed was great wasn't it ?

Shezza,
On the seared and half blue steak, A fairly tannic and ripe * Santenay 2005 would be top doggy for me. (or Grand Clos Rousseau 1er Santenay '03 for £12 would be amazing) Unfortunately * fairly cheap in France but just not available here

Did you score that Mary le Bow 2005 - Shiraz / Merlot / Cab mix (less sweet than Ozzy stuff) I recon that could work.

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Duncan

No I didn't pick up any of the Mary Le Bow. (speaking of which, wizzy's gone quiet recently)
They had run out at the Vinopolis Maj near work but did see it at the one local to home.


hmmm...Another PN & steak promoter.
maybe TF Yarra PN is calling to be opened here.... Mel ?

While talking PN....
Dunc, my brother bought our dad a bottle of Comte Armand Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2001 back in xmas of 2007 (which I fear may be spoilt having been kept in the winerack in a south facing dining room despite my telling him to relocate it to somewhere darker and more constant temp:()
In your vast experience of everything Beaune should this be consumed soon (prob a yes coz of storage conditions).
Have you come across any Commte Armand offerings before ?

I wouldnt hesitate to drink a robust Chilean Pinot with steak, what it lacks in Tannin it makes up for with power and concentration.

I would have doubts about opening a subtle Burgundy though.

[quote="Shezza/]
While talking PN....
Dunc, my brother bought our dad a bottle of Comte Armand Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2001 back in xmas of 2007 (which I fear may be spoilt having been kept in the winerack in a south facing dining room despite my telling him to relocate it to somewhere darker and more constant temp:()
In your vast experience of everything Beaune should this be consumed soon (prob a yes coz of storage conditions).
Have you come across any Commte Armand offerings before ?[/quote]

Tasting note nicked from the Web for the 2001, tasted in October 2004:
Vines averaging 50 years. Blend of two premier crus: Bas des Duresses adds richness and les Breterins offers structure to the wine. The nose is extremely closed today. There is some brambly fruit, smoke and spice. A light-bodied but extremely concentrated palate reveals densely concentrated black raspberry fruits. The palate is has quite a bit of grip provided by both acidity and ripe tannins. The finish is very good and shows ripe dark fruits. Drink 2006 - 2012?

OK - Auxey rouge can be more fragile in a lesser vintage. In a hot or mega successful vintage, Auxey represents exceptional value. 2003 village Auxey is just great, and not too heavy money. For 2005, the price is hiked, but it is good and much fuller from a good producer.

Comte Armand are Pommard growers and makers with plots in Auxey -small, but respected domaine, their Auxey will be above normal standard I recon.

Hmmnn 2001, I've never shelled out for a 2001 premier cru from the cote d'or. The press and the purported season put me off. Auxey is north of the important Beaune kidney, so things aren't so lush and full.
Drink now, the guy above says up 2012 - I dont think so. My view is that it was best at 4 - 7 years, may be a bit more cos premier cru.
This will be a nice wine, but as I say, the wrong year for out performing the Cru. If it has dried a little or a little lacey....would be good with Steak.

This is my interpolated opinion - I know Auxey rouge '02,'03',05, but not 2001. Have yet to taste the early maturing AD '06 and would probably avoid shelling out for '07 unless buying in France of course.

Enjoy, and please report back Enquiring minds want to know.

Another opinion that believes that the 2004 will last 11 years:
The Comte Armand domaine is also known as Domaine des Epeneaux which is the Pommard monopole owned by the family. The domaine has a total of 7.5 hectares in Pommard, Volnay and Auxey. I have tasted three vintages of the Clos des Epeneaux and found them tremendously elegant and worthy of long aging. Auxey is typically a lighter wine and 2004 a light-bodied vintage. Somehow the domaine has crafted a wine which is crammed with refreshing berry fruit and has the concentration to evolve until 2015. This Auxey is an elegant wine -- think the younger, slimmer and more pretty daughter at the Viennese ball -- with a joie de vivre. Enticing now but best left until at least 2010 to enjoy more

You may need to see how the 2001 season compares to 2004 before cracking the bottle. A bit of learning

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Duncan

Agreed - Hence the '03 or '05 robust Santenay

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Duncan

as mentioned it isn't mine to drink unless I don my ninja uniform and sneak into my folks house tonight.

The TF yarra PN 06 looking like its gonna get an airing tonight instead...

Shezza - I had to look that up



Enjoy the Yarra Valley Pinot Noir. I don't know it. So say something about it you have a mo. Also who is the producer for TF ? Cheers

I looked it up last night. Shezza if you give us a real tatsing notes rather than a Tesco marketing thingy - that would be good.

Also tried the JE2008 this morning down at my local. I agree with your accessment and your notes - very accurate. The tiny oak note you alluded too is skin and a bit of stalk or pip (I believe) IMHO, and will dissipate as the wine matures. JE have made an understated and more sophisticated wine than most producers out of the 2008 fruit. At the mo, it walks all over other MSB in a similar price range for finesse and balance.

Also tried the 2004 Rully by Antonin Rodet, it would seem, looking around the new Rodet's on offer, that Majestic have taken over Rodet's supply chain now that Tesco have given up on any half decent Cote de Challonaise or Burgundy for that matter. Although expensive, this Rodet version was very very nice and creamy, very light, pale and interesting and ethereal, a tiny bit of oak in there, which had it been of higher quality, would have made the wine quite stunning.

The best slow grown Limouxin / (I think, spelling) new oak barrels for flavouring white burgundy are rather expensive.

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Duncan