WINE enthusiasts love to wax lyrical about top-shelf Burgundy and precious pinot noir.
To help you discover the joys of pinot noir (vintage matters – pinot can’t be blended like in Bordeaux where merlot and cabernet can shine together) here are some suggestions that will pull on the purse-strings without breaking the bank.
Pinotphiles on the hunt for a bargain Burgundy should try Louis Jadot Cote de Beaune Villages 2008 (£11.29, Sainsbury’s) from this excellent Beaune producer in the heart of the Cote D’Or.
While the fruit-driven wines from the 2007 harvest are pretty much ready to drink, 2008 is just hitting the shelves. Young and berry-delicious, this bright, food-friendly pinot has soft tannins and a gentle freshness.
An international star, family-owned Louis Latour boasts some of the best vineyards in Burgundy. Try Louis Latour Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru Les Chaillots 2006 (£27.99, Waitrose) – a seductive pinot from the family’s home town that ticks all the right boxes. Silky and well rounded with fine tannins and a glint of minerality, it’s ready to be uncorked.
For a rhapsody of fruit and exotic spice, try Beaune, Les Teurons, Premier Cru, Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 2007 (£33.40, www.bbr.com). Not quite ready to grace the table yet, this superbly scented purple fruit will taste even better with another year in a cool, dark corner.
Further south, a stone’s throw from the celebrated village of Chassagne-Montrachet (home to world-famous whites), pretty Santenay produces little gems such as Lupe Cholet Santenay Tastevine 2007 (£14.49, www.laithwaites.co.uk).
A ripe, ruby red with delicious depth of fruitiness, a blossomy finish and hint of spice, this bottle is good to go.
A Burgundian grape escape wouldn’t be complete without passing through the Cote de Nuits in the north, and the celebrated village of Gevrey-Chambertin.
Supermarket giant Tesco has an exciting offering with its Laboure-Roi Gevrey-Chambertin 2008 (£16.99, Tesco). Partly due to the spicy character and higher acidity, the 2008 harvest needs a little more time to evolve. This robust, and yet elegant, pinot with a lovely intensity will bring pleasure to the palate for up to eight years.
For an easy-drinking, supper-party wine, try Cotes de Nuits Villages Domaine Gilles Jourdan 2008 (£18.49, www.corneyandbarrow.com). With summer berry compote flavours, a hint of violet and a fragrant finish, it’s a smooth, morello cherry charmer your friends will love.
Sainsbury’s is another keen contender with its Antonin Rodet Gevrey-Chambertin 2008 (£25.99, Sainsbury’s). Weighty with dense black cherries, a hint of tobacco and subtle tannins, it’s a perfect partner with roast chicken.
