The Vinfolio “Wine Team” had a nice dinner together Monday night at a restaurant called NOPA, here in San Francisco. We welcomed a new wine buyer and toasted our East Coast-based representative who is in town this week. The food, service (nice glass-service too for 8 wines) and the company was delightful—and I’m not just saying that because Vinfolio picked up the tab!
My most lasting impression of the evening though was of the two Jayer-Gilles Burgundies we consumed: 1995 Echezeaux and 1997 Nuits St Georges
Les Damodes. They raised their game above the other six or so wines that circled the table and I was struck by their “completeness” at this point. 1997 was always a fairly ‘easy,’ soft vintage so even a mineral-laden NSG would usually show pretty well at this point after a few years. I’ll certainly recommend that someone pick up the last bottle of
1997 Nuits St. Georges Les Poirets ($75)—another of Jayer-Gilles’ 1er Cru. The silky
1997 Echezeaux is a fantastic bargain and most highly recommended if I’m allowed to extrapolate via these five associations:
- Quality of the 1995 Echezeaux from Monday night meets the friendly 1997 vintage we tested via the Nuits St Georges.
- I have similar notes on several other J-G Echezeaux vintages.
- 85 for a Grand Cru from an excellent producer!
- 9 Bottles remaining in inventory—so you can try it and buy it again!
- Highly rated by not just me, but four other critical resources!
Here are some notes on the 1995 Echezeaux (it’s the 1997 we still have for sale). Call me in a few days for the 1997-specific review which shouldn’t differ much!
Slight cedar and fig on the nose, as well as quite a bit of celery-seed. That follows on the palate with the first sip and develops into ripe dark-cherry, Mediterranean spices and roots—anise, licorice, coriander. Slightly tar-y and cola through a fairly persistent finish.
And for other velvety 1997s you can use this link:
1997 Red Burgundy at Vinfolio (10-3-07)
