2012 St Aubin Blanc La Chatenieres
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2012 St. Aubin 1er Cru Chateniere has a more expressive bouquet compared to the Champlots, with hints of apricot blossom and orange zest behind the stony facade. The palate is very well-balanced with a lively opening. There is still a strictness and linearity here, what Pierre-Yves feels is the leitmotif of the vintage, but it is already showing more depth and breadth on the saline finish when compared to the Champlots and it should reward three of four years in barrel. Readers should check out my video taken with Pierre-Yves onwww.erobertparker.com, where he discusses his impression of the 2012 vintage. He is the prime example of a vigneron that might not possess his own vines, yet creates wines that surpass many of those who do. The bottom line is that volume was approximately 40% to 50% down compared to 2011 (apart from St. Aubin that was only 20% to 25% down.) Pierre-Yves explained that his 2012s displayed much higher acid levels compared to 2011 and opined that they will be shy at the beginning. He expressed the importance of not wishing to “push” the wines, so that he could stay true to what he feels is a more classic vintage in the mold of 2007 and 2010. Tasting through the complete set of 2012s, Pierre-Yves clearly had a firm grasp on the vintage and his wines were (again) a cut above the rest, from his generic white Burgundy to his clutch of grand crus. Importer: A Daniel Johnnes Selection, imported by Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300; also imported by Bertin Henri Selections, 10900 N.W. 21st Street, Unit 180, Doral, Florida 33172 tel: (305) 343-4054
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Some nervous tension on the nose and whistle-clean. And then great weight underneath. A little mealiness and a slightly floral top note. Quite a fan of flavours on the finish. (JR)
An elegant and airy nose of ripe citrus, white flowers and apple aromas leads to vibrant, mineral-inflected and well-delineated medium weight flavors that coat the mouth with dry extract that also buffers the moderately firm acid spine on the balanced and lingering finish. This is not as refined as the Champlots but it's a bit more complex. A qualitative choice though the respective characters of the two wines are markedly different. Tasted: Jun 15, 2014. Drink: 2018+
About the producer
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey (known by many as PYCM) is a négociant and domaine that has become one of the most popular white wine producers in Burgundy – with a prolific number of cuvées from the top Grands and Premiers Crus vineyards in the Côte de Beaune.