2007 Echezeaux
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Tasting notes
On paper, you could argue that the 2007 Echézeaux Grand Cru from Domaine Faiveley was out of its depth given such company. I would not say that, though it was a couple of paces behind the competition… at first. Ripe and opulent on the nose, offering scents of strawberry and pomegranate mixed with briary and earthy scents, it does not convey the natural “flow” of the Rousseau or Cathiard. The palate is actually much more impressive, featuring almost crystalline red fruit, a velvety-smooth texture and moderate length. It turns increasingly ferrous with time and feels just a little labored on the finish. This was certainly a credible showing by a wine worth looking out for, not least because it is much cheaper than the other wines present at this dinner.
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Medium red. Highly nuanced, perfumed nose melds redcurrant, musky iron, smoked meat, dried flowers and spices. Densely packed, sappy and vibrant, with terrific energy for the year. The fruit character seemed to grow darker in the glass, with the wine's brooding black cherry, currant, tobacco and mineral flavors well supported by a stony underpinning. Very long on the aftertaste.
Good deep red. Very expressive aromas of redcurrant, smoke, tobacco and sexy oak. Fat, supple and sweet but with plenty of energy to its redcurrant and spice flavors. Bigger than the Clos-Vougeot but more open-knit and less filigree. Finishes with broad, fine-grained tannins and sweet lingering perfume of redcurrant and tobacco. "The first Echezeaux that I really like," notes Hervet, who pointed out that these south-facing vines on thin soil in the Combe d'Orveau area of the cru typically suffer from hydric stress, which yields hard tannins, and that the team put down some mulch in the vineyard in 2007 to maintain an adequate level of humidity.
Showed much better on second tasting – though I'm not sure I would pick it as grand cru! Tastes like a good premier cru with fine length. Bitter cherry flavours. (JR)
About the producer
Domaine Faiveley is one of Burgundy’s most important wine producers. The family-owned estate, now in the hands of the seventh generation, is one of the largest in the region, with significant holdings in both the Côte d’Or and the Côte Chalonnaise.