Review of 2009 Beaune vs Volnary

The 2009 Burgundys were drinking quite well.  Beaune wines presented noticeably different from the Volnays so it was a very educational comparison.  In general the Beaunes seemed lighter and more floral and the Volnays seemed firmer and more earthy.

The reception wine was Domaine Lucien Jacob Cremant de Bourgogne supplied by our guest speaker Cyndi Grossman from Mellecey Wine Group. The cremant is available as a special order at  $36.95/bt and it comes in a case of 12.  It can ordered directly from Cyndi cyndi@melleceywinegroup.com or online www.melleceywinegroup.com

Here's how our group and guest speaker ranked the wines.  The group and guest speaker were polar opposites for the #1 and #7 ranked wines and ranked two of the wines similarly. Both ranked the most expensive wine, the $75 Latour-Giraud (poured last in the line-up) as their 2nd favourite and the Albert Morot, Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons as their fourth place wine. 

Order Poured	Wine	Group Ranking	Speaker Ranking
1	2009 Jadot, Beaune 1er Cru Clos Des Couchereaux $50	5	8
2	2009 Albert Morot, Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons $50	4	4
3	2009 Albert Morot, Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes $59	6	3
4	2009 Prieur, Beaune-Grèves 1er Crus $73	1	7
5	2009 Guyon, Volnay 1er Cru Des Chènes $65	7	1
6	2009 Dublère, Volnay 1er Cru Les Pitures $59	8	6
7	2009 Jadot, Volnay 1er Cru Clos De LaBarre $78	3	5
8	2009 Latour-Giraud, Volnay 1er Cru Clos Des Chênes $75	2	2

2009 Beaune vs Volnay, Jan 17_17

2009 Beaune vs Volnay

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2017 
Time: Reception Wine: 6:00 PM, Formal Tasting: 6:20 PM 
Where: Faculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto 
Fee: Members’ Fee: $78; Guests’/Non-Members’ Fee: $98 
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NOTE: All ticket sales are final and we are not able to offer any refunds unless we are sold out and have a waiting list.

The wines you will taste come from Beaune and Volnay, which are but a few miles apart, but because of the geology produce wines of different character. You may expect the vineyards bordering Volnay to give the most Volnay-like, fragrant and ethereal wines.  But, the commune boundary marks a soil change, to one which is darker, with more iron, and that makes for an entirely different style – dark, heady and tannic.  The finest and most elegant red wines of the Côte de Beaune are grown in Volnay, a village which might be twinned with Chambolle-Musigny in the Côte de Nuits, for the high active chalk content in the soil and comparatively low clay content.  Whereas in earlier times Volnay was made in a particularly light, early drinking style, these days there are many producers making wines which age extremely well.  

Beaune reds are characterized by a smoother roundness and more “immediate” organoleptic qualities. They convey softness and finesse.  Will you be able to taste the differences?  Which region will you prefer?


Our speaker for the evening is Cyndi Grossman, owner of Mellecey Wine Group which specializes in Burgundy; she has spent a lot of time there while living in Europe.