Fine wine imports; Raeburn Fine Wines UK SOUTHERN / NORTHERN RHONE AND INCLUDING SOME LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON (FROM SELECTED ESTATES, INCLUDING OTHER RECENT FINE VINTAGES)

MEO-CAMUZET, VOSNE-ROMANEE As with 2001, Jean Nicolas’ wines are full of elegance and complexity. The style is refined, pure, and linear, with assertive, yet beautifully enveloped top-grade tannins. A great vintage with depth and purity. All wines offered below on allocation and very limited quantities are available.
Bourgogne Rouge		SOLD OUT
Hautes Cotes De Nuits Clos Philibert BLANC		£123.00
Marsannay Rouge		£132.00
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Meurgers		SOLD OUT
Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Brulees		SOLD OUT
EMMANUEL ROUGET, GILLY-LES-CITEAUX Emmanuel comes across as a gruff, difficult, emotionally troubled man, yet every year something magical takes place within his cellar. It may be the quality of the vines, inherited from his uncle, the great Henri Jayer; it may be his continuing presence at all stages of the wine-making cycle, or it may be down to his own hard work and passion. I believe it is a combination of all three. 2001 is a truly successful vintage, with a charming, fruity Passetoutgrains, a red fruit-driven delicious, very Vosne-style straight Bourgogne and a particularly charming Vosne-Romanée. The Cros Parantoux and Echezeaux are wines where the magic really works. In 2001 these are highly complex, multi-dimensional, contemplative wines. Now that the Cros Parantoux vines are getting that much older, the expression of terroir is really coming through strongly. Surrounded by Richebourg, the solid, well framed structure, firm tannins and potential for aging come as no surprise. A noble wine, yet not to be drunk for at least 8 years, unlike the Echezeaux, which will be approachable much sooner thanks to its graceful, silken tannins and seductive, floral and red-fruit characteristics. Two remarkable, and quite different wines
Bourgogne Passetoutgrains		£79.80
Bourgogne Rouge		SOLD OUT
Vosne-Romanee		SOLD OUT
Echezeaux Grand Cru		SOLD OUT
Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Cros Parantoux		SOLD OUT
GEORGES ET HENRI JAYER, VOSNE-ROMANEE This is a terrific, aristocratic and age-worthy wine from Henri Jayer. This could be his penultimate vintage
Echezeaux Grand Cru		SOLD OUT
GHISLAINE BARTHOD, CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY I am not alone in believing that Ghislaine’s wines are always one step above other wines in the same category. The straight Bourgogne, for example, easily merits Villages status, with its pure, vibrant, raspberry fruit, while the Chambolle Villages is certainly comparable to a good Premier Cru. Each wine this year is amazingly true to its own particular style, from the soft, complex sensuality of the Beaux-Bruns, to the more masculine, tightly knit tannins and dark-fruited flavours of les Cras. These are wines that age beautifully, so get started on the Bourgogne, and allow the others some time to improve: Villages first, followed by Beaux-Bruns, Fuées and Chatelots. Charmes (POA) will be ready next, which leaves the noble Cras until last. Enjoy.
Bourgogne Rouge		SOLD OUT
Chambolle-Musigny		SOLD OUT
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Beaux Bruns		SOLD OUT
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras		SOLD OUT
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots		£321.00
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuees		SOLD OUT
DOMAINE DIGIOIA-ROYER, CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 2001 confirms that this is a welcome addition to my range, and bolsters my representation of Chambolle-Musigny which remains one of my favourite villages in the whole of Burgundy. It is as good, if not better than last year, because the vitality of fruit and floral aromas accentuated by the elegance of the vintage. The old vine Chambolle is superb, with its aroma of raspberry, red currant, and its mouthwatering fruit and fresh acidity on the palate. The Gruenchers – 17 year old vines – is a more serious wine, with tighter tannins which will, with a few years bottle age turn this into a classy, elegant wine. Groseilles, coming from vines that are approaching 50, is already fat and creamy, and has a richness of fruit and silkiness of texture that is very appealing. Plenty of depth here, and all in finesse.
Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes		SOLD OUT
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru les Gruenchers		SOLD OUT
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru les Groseilles		SOLD OUT
DENIS MORTET, GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN Denis continues to move in the right direction in terms of extraction and use of new wood – less of both – and is producing wines of more elegance and charm than at a certain period of his wine-making career. 2001, for him, has been a great success, one in which the quality of his work in the vines really shines through. I know a few vignerons, one of his neighbours among them, who maintain that in the care of his vines he is the biggest perfectionist in the Côtes de Nuits. His yields are ridicuously small, and his wines are concentrated and powerful. His Aligoté, for example, packs a punch rarely seen in this grape variety, with its juicy, fruit-filled palate and its exciting edge of minerality. Equally, the Bourgogne Blanc is quite a stunner in its own category, with its clean, citrus fruit, spicy undertones and racy acidity. The Gevrey Chambertin Villages is a very spicy, rich expression of Pinot Noir and will repay a good 3-4 years bottle age by further incorporating the influence of new wood. Between Champeaux and Lavaux, the former will be ready more quickly, and the Lavaux is rather a sulking beast at the moment, its latent power and complexity simmering away in the background. The Champeaux is softer, and has more red fruits on the nose, and silken top-quality tannins on the palate. The old vine Premier Cru is a remarkable wine, with a startling intensity of fruit and a real sensation of terroir on the palate. The finish is very long. Between the Clos Vougeot and the Chambertin, the Vougeot is the more flattering wine for the time being with pure floral and raspberry aromas, a tremendous depth of flavour on the palate and hints of spice and tobacco. The Chambertin, noble, masculine and reserved, will require more patience, but its black fruits, rich texture and firm tannic structure suggest that this patience will be well rewarded. They are wines which effortlessly earn their Grand Cru status. All wines on allocation.
Bourgogne Aligote (BLANC)		£78.60
Bourgogne (BLANC)		£117.00
Gevrey-Chambertin		SOLD OUT
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes		SOLD OUT
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux		SOLD OUT
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques		SOLD OUT
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru		SOLD OUT
Le Chambertin Grand Cru		SOLD OUT
BERNARD et BERTRAND MAUME, GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN Bertrand, son of Bernard is a wild, unconventional man who flouts convention – and indeed appointments – and continually refuses to make wines ‘taster friendly’. For this reason his wines are very difficult to taste in their early stages of development, and defy any assured criticism until safetly in bottle. Yet these wines are particular favourites of mine, and prove time and time again that initial doubts at rather ‘wacky’ aromas and flavours are soon dissolved once the wines have settled into bottled life. With time, they become pure, expressive, noble wines with a great sense of terroir and authenticity, but will not be hurried. 2001 looks set to be another such vintage, playing on an exciting nervous tension bewteen ripe fruit and balancing acidity, yet containing depth and concentration which is just itching to perform. The Etelois, as always, is the most forgiving at the moment, with it wild, brambly fruit and vibrant palate. The Champeaux has suave tannins, good length, while the Lavaux St Jacques is rather more backward and adolescent in style for the time being. The Charmes-Chambertin and the Mazis-Chambertin – both Grand Cru – are still unknit, but both have all the elements to make fantastic wines; the Charmes in a more voluptuous sensual, pure-fruited way, and the Mazis in a spicy, dark, wild and sultry one. As Kermit Lynch (Maume’s famous and influential longtime American importer) often says: these are some of the most essential and indispensable wines in all of Burgundy.
Gevrey-Chambertin “Etelois” Villages		£180.00
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux		£240.00
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes		£255.00
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques		£330.00
Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru		£450.00
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru		£462.00
DOMAINE FOURRIER, GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN A quite amazing range of ethereal and superbly balanced wines. Jean-Marie Fourrier is making wines of exceptional finesse and complexity. He is in the top league of wine producers and the 2001 wines show wonderfully lacy fruit and the character of each unique terroir. All the fruit emanates from very old vines (generally between 60 and 90 years old). There is minimal handling of the wines and very little new oak used here. The search for balance and typicity are the important factors here. These are great wines and in this vintage Jean-Marie and his family have produced superb wines which will need cellaring. We also have tiny quantities of the very fine and voluptuous 2000 wines still available: please ask about these.
Gevrey-Chambertin		SOLD OUT
From vines planted in 1928 and from a single parcel (Champs Perrieres on the north side). Deep, spicy and quite structured. This has a superb ripely tannic texture and very fine balance. Long and very complex
Gevrey-Chambertin “Aux Echezeaux”		SOLD OUT
Also from vines planted in 1928, this “lieu-dit” is nearer Morey St Denis. Red fruits on the nose and palate. Lovely purity and restraint and very well balanced. Delicious and long
Chambolle-Musigny		SOLD OUT
From three parcels. Deep ruby, denser, concentrated, very aromatic with real finesse. This really shows Chambolle silkiness and class with excellent length. Very fine. Drink from 2005/6 onwards.
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Gruenchers		SOLD OUT
Again, very old vines and one of my favourite terroirs in Chambolle (unique for Chambolle in that it is quite chalky and stony). Very perfumed, very complex and stylish with intense mineral overtones. This is stunning. Deep and very silky with wonderful balance and a subtle, ripely tannic finish. Structured and with great length. This needs time.
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes		SOLD OUT
Cherbaudes is near Clos de Beze. Superb finesse as is normally found in that great vineyard. Quite tight on this tasting with tannins quite present. Again, a lovely freshness and purity with great finesse and flavours of ripe cherries.
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru les Goulots		SOLD OUT
This vineyard is near the Brochon side of Gevrey (not far from 1er Cru Champeaux). Deep colour, concentrated, lots of rich fruit and with a tightly woven structure. This has great definition with ripe red fruits and a long, ripely tannic, refined finish. Very complex and immensely stylish with lovely balance. A fine showing for this superb wine.
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux		SOLD OUT
This comes from vines planted in 1936. Dense, dark in colour and quite sauvage. Rich, densely fruity with grainy tannins. This is firm and structured with great depth and style. It has excellent balance and length but needs time.
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Combe aux Moines		SOLD OUT
This great vineyard lies next to les Goulots (see above) and is quite elevated. Deeper in colour, high-toned, angular and very concentrated. This is quite backward and unknit with a terrific kernel of pure, ripe fruit and a complex finish. Plenty in reserve and should make a great older bottle.
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques		SOLD OUT
From 90 year old vines and from one of Burgundy’s greatest vineyards. This is, as usual, a complete wine. Very deep with lovely, natural concentration and fabulous silky, pure red fruits combining supreme elegance and power. This is a great wine with real depth, complexity and intensity. (A bottle of 1972 of this wine, drunk in December 2002, was quite sensational!).