RED 2011 - Lucien Le Moine

2011 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Lucien Le Moine (93-96)
2011 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Lucien Le Moine (93-95)
2011 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru Lucien Le Moine (93-95)
2011 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru Lucien Le Moine (92-95)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Gaudichots” 1er Lucien Le Moine (93-95)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Malconsorts” 1er Lucien Le Moine (92-95)
2011 Beaune “Clos des Mouches” 1er red (89-91)
2011 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru red (93-95)
2011 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru red (93-96)
2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Les Amoure uses” 1er red (92-94)
2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Charmes” 1er red (90-92)
2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Les Feusselottes” 1er red (90-92)
2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Haut Doix” 1er red (90-93)
2011 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru red (91-94)
2011 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru red (92-94)
2011 Clos St. Denis Grand Cru red (91-94)
2011 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru red (91-94)
2011 Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru red (91-93)
2011 Corton-Renardes Grand Cru red (91-94)
2011 Echézeaux Grand Cru red (91-93)
2011 Gevrey-Chambertin “Cazetiers” 1er red (91-93)
2011 Gevrey-Chambertin “Estournelles St. Jacques” 1er red (90-92)
2011 Gevrey-Chambertin “Lavaut St. Jacques” 1er red (90-93?)
2011 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru red (93-95)
2011 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru red (92-94)
2011 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru red (92-95)
2011 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru red (91-94)
2011 Morey St. Denis “Clos des Ormes” 1er red (86-89)
2011 Morey St. Denis “Les Genavrières” 1er red (91-94)
2011 Nuits St. Georges “Les Cailles” 1er red NR
2011 Nuits St. Georges “Clos des Argillières” 1er red (89-92)
2011 Nuits St. Georges “Les St. Georges” 1er red (90-93)
2011 Nuits St. Georges “Vaucrains” 1er red (91-93)
2011 Pommard “Les Epenots” 1er red (89-92)
2011 Pommard “Les Grands Epenots” 1er red (90-93)
2011 Pommard “Les Rugiens” 1er red (91-93)
2011 Richebourg Grand Cru red (92-94?)
2011 Volnay “Les Caillerets” 1er red (90-93?)
2011 Volnay “Carelle Sous La Chapelle” 1er red (89-91)
2011 Volnay “Clos des Chênes” 1er red (90-92)
2011 Volnay “Santenots” 1er red (90-93)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Au Dessus de Malconsorts” 1er red (91-93)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Gaudichots” 1er red (93-95)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Malconsorts” 1er red (92-95)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Petits Monts” 1er red (90-93)
2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Suchots” 1er red (89-92)

Mounir and Rotem Saouma established their two-person micro-négoce in 1999 that focuses exclusively on the very best 1ers and grands crus. They describe the 2011 as “another tiny but completely classic vintage that on paper at least closely resembles 2010. The growing seasons though were completely different and it’s interesting how you can have what were basically an early harvest and a late harvest and yet wind up with comparable technical parameters. Another interesting aspect is that early on many of the wines resembled one another, in fact it was hard to tell many of them apart from one another yet as the élevage progressed they began to individualize. Another point of comparison is that both vintages enjoy plenty of dry extract levels and while 2010 produced slightly more concentrated wines, the terroir expression of 2011 is, if anything, even clearer. Lastly, I doubt that 2011 will ever close up as I believe that 2010 will after a year or two in bottle.” While there were a few question marks in the range due mostly to very heavy reduction that sometimes extended to the palate, the quality is largely consistent and impressive. To that end Saouma indicated that nothing had yet been racked and thus there would naturally be reduction in some wines. In terms of enjoying the Le Moine wines, one point that bears mentioning is that the wines always have noticeable residual CO2 in them and thus they should absolutely be decanted.

2011 Beaune “Clos des Mouches”: A ripe and relatively deeply pitched nose of dark berry, earth and a hint of underbrush leads to complex, fresh and seductively rich medium-bodied flavors that possess a lovely touch of minerality on the balanced and vibrant finish. This should reward 6 to 8 years of cellar time. (89-91)/2018+

2011 Volnay “Carelle Sous La Chapelle”: A pretty and appealingly perfumed nose features a mix of both red and dark pinot fruit that gives way to silky and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a luscious mouth feel, all wrapped in an ever-so-mildly austere finish. This mouth coating and balanced effort should also reward 6 to 8 years of cellar time. (89-91)/2018+

2011 Volnay “Clos des Chênes”: Strong reduction buries the fruit from view but there is good energy and a lovely sense of detail and tension to the sleekly muscular and mineral-inflected flavors. There is excellent mid-palate volume and I like the integration of the structure on the moderately austere but persistent finish. Worth considering. (90-92)/2019+

2011 Volnay “Les Caillerets”: Here too strong reduction masks the underlying fruit and it extends to the palate where there is good concentration to the medium-bodied flavors that are underpinned by tannins that are clearly ripe. This is quite difficult to judge but the underlying material appears to be present and thus my range offers the benefit of the doubt. (90-93?)/2019+

2011 Volnay “Santenots”: A brooding and somber nose of plum, dark currant and plenty of earth. There is good volume and power to the well-delineated, vibrant and solidly complex middle weight flavors that terminate in a finish that is every bit as long and deep if not quite as refined. This should be special if allowed to reach its full maturity. (90-93)/2021+

2011 Pommard “Les Rugiens”: There is mild reduction present though not enough to prevent an appreciation of the complexity of the nose. There is excellent intensity to the cool, pure and mineral-driven flavors that display a sleek muscularity before culminating in a textured and round yet very serious finish that delivers outstanding persistence. This powerful effort will need plenty of cellar time. (91-93)/2023+

2011 Pommard “Les Epenots”: (from Petits Epenots). Strong reduction renders the nose impossible to evaluate. There is a hint of mocha on the concentrated, suave and serious medium weight flavors that terminate in an austere and very firm but balanced finish. This too will require a moderately long-term sojourn in the cellar to arrive at its full peak. (89-92)/2023+

2011 Pommard “Les Grands Epenots”: A beautifully complex and spicy nose of earthy dark berries, earth and smoked game scents. There is excellent richness to the round and supple medium-bodied flavors that possess a ripe core of firm tannins on the impressively long finish. This is less austere than the Les Epenots but still quite serious. (90-93)/2021+

2011 Corton-Bressandes: Strong reduction blocks an evaluation of the nose. There is a relatively sophisticated mouth feel to the detailed and attractively energetic large-scaled flavors that exhibit plenty of minerality on the firm but not austere finish that offers outstanding persistence. While Bressandes is in general one of the more refined examples in the universe of Corton grands crus, this is more refined than is typical. (91-93)/2023+

2011 Corton-Renardes: A gamey and distinctly animale nose of ripe plum and dark berry fruit aromas gives way to rich, intense and muscular broad-shouldered flavors that possess excellent maturity to the underlying tannic structure. There is a velvety mouth feel to the gorgeously complex finish that is less refined compared to the Bressandes but even more persistent. (91-94)/2023+

2011 Morey St. Denis “Clos des Ormes”: Strong reduction. There is a hint of vegetal on the detailed and energetic middle weight flavors that are supported by relatively fine-grained tannins where an herbal nuance shows up again on the finish. This is pretty enough and solidly complex but the slight greenness is a potential issue. (86-89)/2018+

2011 Morey St. Denis “Les Genavrières”: A pure, cool and notably elegant, airy and attractively well-layered aromas of floral, spice, earth and a pretty mix of red berries leads to strikingly fine and equally pure medium weight flavors that possess a lacy, even silky mouth feel. There is a fine sense of energy and first-rate depth on the balanced, focused, detailed and wonderfully long finish. In short, this is knockout. (91-94)/2018+

2011 Nuits St. Georges “Clos des Argillières”: Strong reduction. There is good richness and plenty of verve to the beautifully well-detailed flavors that exhibit both soil and mineral tones before culminating in a delicious yet entirely serious finish that is both well-balanced and impressively persistent. This should benefit from up to a decade of bottle age yet be approachable before that if desired. (89-92)/2019+

2011 Nuits St. Georges “Les St. Georges”: This is also reduced yet it’s still possible in this case to detect the complexity, if not the composition of the underlying components. There is equally good depth to the stylish and classy medium-bodied flavors that ooze a palate coating dry extract that buffers the otherwise moderately firm tannins on the lingering and impeccably well-balanced finish. Lovely potential here. (90-93)/2019+

2011 Nuits St. Georges “Vaucrains”: A classic and highly complex Vaucrains nose with plenty of sauvage character also displays ample amounts of earth, humus and underbrush on the ripe dark berry fruit suffused nose. There is excellent intensity and drive to the sleekly muscular broad-shouldered flavors that are shaped by robust but not hard tannins and outstanding length. This too will require ample cellaring before it’s completely ready for prime time. (91-93)/2021+

2011 Nuits St. Georges “Les Cailles”: A very curious nose of menthol and herbaceous aromas leads to compact and disjointed flavors that bear no resemblance to any other wine in the range. This may turn out just fine but today it’s impossible to assess and I prefer to wait. Not Rated.

2011 Gevrey-Chambertin “Estournelles St. Jacques”: An airy, restrained and cool array of dark berries, wet stone and smoky hints gives way to beautifully vibrant and tension-filled middle weight flavors that possess plenty of mouth coating extract that does a fine job of buffering the moderately firm, ripe and well-integrated tannins. There is fine length on the ever-so-mildly austere finish that is largely defined by the almost pungent minerality. (90-92)/2019+

2011 Gevrey-Chambertin “Lavaut St. Jacques”: A perfumed nose features notes of wild red and dark currant and spiced green tea aromas that precede the stony, intense and well-detailed medium-bodied flavors. There is a distinct restraint to the vibrant, intense and focused finish that displays an odd touch of reduction on the finish, which is unlikely to present a longer-term problem but again, I prefer to note its presence with a question mark. (90-93?)/2021+

2011 Gevrey-Chambertin “Cazetiers”: Reduction again blocks an evaluation of the nose. By contrast there is good punch and plenty of personality to the solidly well-concentrated middle weight flavors that exhibit an attractive streak of minerality on the firm but extract-rich finish that is both quite firm and very well-balanced. This is most promising. (91-93)/2023+

2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Les Feusselottes”: This is markedly different from the series of Gevrey 1ers as here the nose is intensely floral, which adds a sense of elegance to the pretty mix of both red and dark pinot fruit scents. The ultra-refined, pure and intense flavors possess firm yet fine-grained tannins, all wrapped in a moderately austere, balanced and impressively long finish. This doesn’t have the sheer depth of the best in the range but this is very Chambolle. (90-92)/2019+

2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Charmes”: This also displays some floral character though not quite to the same extent while also offering up notes of spice, earth and red currant aromas. There is a silky mouth feel to the energetic and well-detailed flavors that exhibit a bit less minerality than the Haut Doix before terminating in a seductively textured, firm and persistent finish. (90-92)/2021+

2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Haut Doix”: A pungent nose of reduction and plenty of wood introduces silky, pure and wonderfully vibrant and tension-filled medium weight flavors that exude a fine minerality before culminating in a balanced, intense and highly persistent finish. This is not quite as seductively textured as the Charmes but this is a more complete effort based on the quality of the underlying material. (90-93)/2021+

2011 Chambolle-Musigny “Les Amoureuses”: This is also quite floral but with the addition of a wonderful array of spice elements, both of which add breadth and elegance to the cool but ripe dark berry fruit aromas. There is a gorgeously textured mouth feel to the seductive middle weight flavors that also exude a fine minerality on the classy, austere and brilliantly persistent finish. This is a striking wine with plenty of upside aging potential. (92-94)/2023+

2011 Vosne-Romanée “Petits Monts”: A spicy nose of dried rose petal, sandalwood, wet stone and red currants leads to stylish and intense mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that possess fine delineation on the focused, energetic and wonderfully precise finish that delivers outstanding length. There is noticeable austerity that should dissipate with bottle age. A classic Petits Monts. (90-93)/2023+

2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Suchots”: (from the upper portion of the vineyard). This is also quite floral with plenty of spice character to the lightly smoky cassis, plum and soft earth aromas. There is a textured, even velvety mouth feel to the medium-bodied flavors that brim with plenty of palate coating dry extract before culminating in a delicious, well-balanced and notably firm finish. This will require a decade or so of cellaring to arrive at its full majority. (89-92)/2021+

2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Malconsorts”: A strikingly complex if brooding nose blends together various ripe wild dark berries that include plenty of spice, earth and game influence. There is outstanding power to the broad-shouldered, intense and muscular flavors that also enjoy an abundance of palate soaking dry extract that pushes the firm tannic spine to the background on the explosively long finish. This is a seriously impressive Malconsorts that should amply repay longer-term cellaring. (92-95)/2023+

2011 Vosne-Romanée “Au Dessus de Malconsorts”: Reduction dominates the nose at present though there is good freshness to the finer and more obviously mineral-driven flavors that by contrast do not have the power, size, weight or muscle. Still, this is not without its own appeal as this is really quite refined and pure in addition to being well-balanced and solidly persistent. (91-93)/2019+

2011 Vosne-Romanée “Les Gaudichots”: An intensely floral and highly spiced nose of a beautiful range of both red and blue pinot fruit, cherry liqueur and sandalwood scents. There is superb intensity and tension on the precise and delineated mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel as well as a harmonious and explosively long finish. This is class in a glass and the balance is Zen-like. In a word, terrific. (93-95)/2023+

2011 Clos de la Roche: A beautifully well-layered nose features notes of spice, earth and smoke on the ripe and cool red pinot, dark currant and plum suffused aromas. There is fine detail and a palpable sense of energy to the robust, muscular and firm medium weight plus flavors that avoid any sense of rusticity on the balanced and impressively persistent finish where a touch of wood surfaces. This should be excellent in due time. (92-94)/2023+

2011 Clos St. Denis: (from 90+ year old vines). There is enough reduction present to block everything but evanescent whiffs of floral scents. There is really lovely intensity and focus to the solidly well-concentrated medium weight flavors that are also firm but markedly less powerful and robust than those of the Clos de la Roche, all wrapped in an elegant, pure and well-balanced finish. This is also very promising and while the tannins are fine they’re also dense. (91-94)/2023+

2011 Clos de Vougeot: Here too there is enough reduction present to prevent a thorough examination of the nose but the same floral elements are evident. There is outstanding volume and phenolic maturity to the round, velvety and overtly powerful middle weight plus flavors that possess a firm core of tannins on the mouth coating, dusty and impressively persistent finish. This displays excellent mid to long-term aging potential. (91-94)/2023+

2011 Bonnes Mares: (from both Chambolle and Morey). This is also impressively complex and refined aromatically as strikingly pure, complex and cool red and dark berry fruit aromas slide into detailed and intensely mineral-driven broad-shouldered flavors that coat the palate with dry extract. This is still very tight yet focused and driving on the persistent and impeccably well-balanced finish. I quite like this powerful effort that is clearly built for the long-term. (93-95)/2026+

2011 Charmes-Chambertin: (from both Charmes and Mazoyères). Reduction masks the nose though there is a really lovely mouth feel to the medium-bodied flavors courtesy of the unusually fine-grained tannins. There is even a lacy quality that is enhanced by the plentiful amounts of palate coating dry extract that also serves to buffer the tannins. So while this will certainly be capable of amply rewarding longer-term aging, this is one of the few among these grands crus that should be approachable young. (91-94)/2023+

2011 Latricières-Chambertin: Noticeable but not prominent oak frames restrained, cool and stony red pinot fruit scents that complement perfectly the textured, mineral-inflected and notably taut medium full-bodied flavors brimming with dry extract on the explosive and energetic finish that is finer than that of the Charmes. There is plenty of underlying tension and I very much admire the balance and obvious class though note that patience will be required. (92-95)/2023+

2011 Griotte-Chambertin: Visible wood mixes with elegant, pure and restrained aromas of perfumed red pinot fruit that displays added depth in the form of Gevrey style earth and spice notes. There is a lightly smoky character to the mineral and soil-driven medium-bodied flavors that retain a fine sense of detail and verve on the long, complex and palate staining finish. This doesn’t quite have the sheer depth of material compared to the Bonnes Mares but it’s not far off. A classic Griotte that should merit at least a decade of cellar time. (92-94)/2021+

2011 Mazis-Chambertin: (from Mazis-Haut). A magnificently complex nose that is layered, dense and broad with a mix of dark berry fruits, plum, earth, spice and smoked meat with a distinct animale character. The wonderfully rich, full and powerful big-bodied flavors possess excellent phenolic ripeness before culminating in a spectacular finish as this really fans out on the palate. This too will require patience. (91-94)/2023+

2011 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze: This is at once reserved but intensely spicy with cool aromas of black pinot fruit, cassis, earth and underbrush. There is a discernible touch of wood on the delicious, vibrant and beautifully well-detailed big-bodied flavors that brim with seemingly endless reserves of dry extract, all wrapped in a balanced and seductively textured finish where the wood resurfaces. This is also terrific as the depth of material is remarkable. (93-96)/2023+

2011 Echézeaux: (from En Orveaux). Reduction presently dominates the nose. There is a marvelously seductive texture to the velvety, complex and attractively mineral-inflected medium weight plus flavors that possess a fine sense of balance and deliver excellent finishing persistence if only very good depth. (91-93)/2021+

2011 Grands Echézeaux: A very fresh, cool and admirably pure nose features notes of dark pinot fruit, anise, clove, sandalwood and warm earth. There is outstanding complexity to the extract-rich, textured, intense and mouth coating broad-shouldered flavors that culminate in a firm, highly persistent and energetic finish. This riveting effort is both classy and very stylish. (93-95)/2023+

2011 Richebourg: This is aromatically quite similar to the Grands Echézeaux though there is perhaps even better depth. There is admirable punch, size, weight and concentration to the mid-palate though there is a mildly odd character to the finish that I find difficult to describe other than to say that it is definitely atypical. It’s impossible to say whether it will dissipate once the wine is racked and cleaned up but if you can taste first I would do so before committing to quantity. On the plus side this displays superb underlying material so if it does clean up, this should be excellent. (92-94?)/2023+