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This vendor is located at 578 Gateway Drive, Napa, CA 94558
Cuvee Rousseau-Deslandes 2009 Beaune Premier Cru, Hospices de Beaune
Product: BUR565
Availability: In Stock
Wine Specs
Vintage
2009
Varietal
Meritage
Appellation
Burgundy
Redcurrant, raspberry, a garrigue-like medley of fresh herbs, and exotic spices mark a few of the high points in the aria this wine sings as it moves down the tongue. Its finish is a ninety-second, soprano-belted high-note that seems like it SHOULD break the glass, it is so clear and pure.
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Light, blood-red in the glass. How is it that a wine can smell this good? An amazing perfume wafts from the glass with a gorgeous, vanilla-caramel aspect that befits its age, and an altogether astonishing red, tropical fruit character of youth that ends up more floral (don't ask me what kind of flowers) than fruity in my final assessment. In the mouth it has (unbelievably) incredible acid balance, perfect poise, and a texture that reinforces the earlier decision to get buck naked with this wine just based on its aroma.
Winemaker Notes
Beaune Premier Cru wines are those which are made under the strictest conditions of the Beaune appellation in Burgundy, and which come from grapes grown exclusively in the commune's Premier Cru classified vineyards.
Beaune has forty-two Premier Cru climats, more than any other commune in Burgundy, and also tops the chart for total surface area under vine. In terms of the percentage of vineyard land classified as Premier Cru, Beaune reaches the figure of seventy-seven percent, second only to the tiny commune of Vougeot. This last statistic is most likely the result of the previous two, combined with the fact that the commune's least valuable vine-growing land has been taken up by the streets and buildings of the town.
For the reasons above, Beaune's name is widely recognized, and associated with reliable quality rather than a particular excellence or defining style. It was once held in higher regard, in the days when the name was an umbrella title for local wines, including those which are now recognized as Grand Cru.
The expanse of Premier Cru land which Beaune has at its disposal stretches right across the commune from the boundaries with Savigny-les-Beaune in the north and Pommard in the south. The soils here have a higher proportion of sand than is found in the rest of the Cote d'Or, meaning that the wines tend to lack the body and structure of neighboring Pommard and Corton, and yet also fail to achieve the elegance of Volnay reds. There is a recognized correlation between the clay content of vineyard soils and the body of the wines they create. The difference in wine styles across the 2.5 miles (4.1km) which separate Beaune from Volnay and Volnay from Pommard is testament to this, and is a key to the mysteries of Burgundy wines.
Food Pairing Notes
With a wine this good, the food pairing shouldn't be geared to match the wine, it should be engineered to showcase it. It's all about the wine, which is why a simple leg of duck confit -- no fancy dressing, sauce or anything of the sort might be the perfect match. Savory, a little salty, and a little fatty -- a perfect foil for the wine.
Other Notes
It is often said that love and all wine lovers come to Burgundy in the end. The belief being is that they have eventually tired of Bordeaux, a region that for them becomes nothing more than a phase in their wine education, rather than the lifelong obsession into which Burgundy might evolve. We are not sure if this statement is true for all we do know romantic nights in discrete cafe's away from the hustle of Paris with the smells of the country only add to the romance and taste profiles of these great wines. Both regions produce excellent red wines which are capable of maturing and improving, in some cases for many decades; why not have both? There are a number of thoughts or hypotheses we suggest. Of course, there is the style of the people of the region and of course the wine itself; from Bordeaux, which can sometimes be as much about texture and power as anything else, we move to Burgundy where there might be more elegance, style and culture, more perfume, more intrigue. Bordeaux might please the palate and the mind, but some wine drinkers will maintain that only Burgundy provides the most haunting bottles and memories of romance which may last a lifetime.
This difference can be traced like a thin vein from the wine through into the vines and vineyards, the people and the domaines. Bordeaux increasingly gives the impression of big business, with its grand chateaux and expansive vineyards, whereas Burgundy is more about the soil, a sense of place and the men and women that work it. The hand that you shake in Bordeaux will be clean, whereas the nails are less manicured in Burgundy, the hands more concerned with pruning and picking, or driving the tractor - tasks the Bordeaux proprietor will leave to his staff. Are Burgundy people just a little more connected with the land and an appreciation for family, friends and romance. You be the judge with this great romantic yet rustic selection.
