The Majors of Tastevinage – the symbol of Burgundy wine excellence
Author: Oleksandra Hryhorieva
The 7th Majors of Tastevinage ceremony took place on November 16, 2023, in the Château du Clos de Vougeot (WTA nominee) and revealed 13 wines that were honored the Major title, the Excellence of Tastevinage. Oleksandra Hryhorieva, Drinks+ correspondent, joined the event as part of the jury and is glad to share the results with our readers.
The doors of the Grand Cellier open and it is time to taste the “jury’s favorites”, 13 Majors of Tastevinage wines. Out of 785 Burgundy wines presented at the spring and autumn Tastevinage editions, 254 received the label recognition in 2023 and only 13 were honored the Majors award, a symbol of excellence.
Organized in the form of a tasting, this event allowed professionals from the wine industry, restaurateurs, sommeliers, buyers, and specialized journalists to discover the Crémant de Bourgogne, 2 white wines and 10 red wines, Majors du Tastevinage rigorously selected from the wines presented at the tasting this year. The two annual editions of Tastevinage took place on Friday March 24, 2023, and on Friday September 8, 2023.
The atmosphere was vivid, reminding the synergy between different professions, Burgundy terroirs and climats, all striving for excellence. The concept of Majors appears with the aim of highlighting the Excellence of a wine which fully represents its appellation and its vintage by standing out for its indisputable quality.
Tasting notes:
Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Tasteviné, Veuve Ambal
- Visual: bright gold color, fine bubbles.
- Nose: notes of citrus and fresh fruit (mango, peach) are supported by a beautiful minerality; toasted and grilled nuances bring complexity and elegance.
- Mouth: a beautiful minerality and a lovely freshness are brought by the Chardonnay; delicacy and persistence are the work of Pinot Noir.
Rully Château de Rully 2020 white Tasteviné, Domaine de la Bressande
- Visual: golden yellow.
- Nose: rather floral expression with noticeable notes of honeysuckle; woody touch and toasted notes are present and well-integrated into the texture of the wine.
- Mouth: leaky on the palate with a nice balance and a pleasant persistence.
Saint-Romain 2020 white Tasteviné, Maison Joseph Drouhin
- Visual: pretty white gold tint with green reflection.
- Nose: white flowers (honeysuckle) and ripe fruits (mirabelle plums), evolving towards notes of honey and gingerbread.
- Mouth: the attack is lively and fresh, then comes roundness. The “pebble” mineral tone gives the marked character of Saint-Romain.
Bourgogne 2022 Pinot Noir Origines Tasteviné, Maison Albert Bichot
- Visual: beautiful deep ruby color.
- Nose: fresh, predominantly red fruits such as sweet cherry, blackberry, and crunchy grapes.
- Mouth: tannic structure present, harmonious and structured palate.
Irancy Paradis 2020 Tasteviné, Maison Simonnet-Febvre
- Visual: intense purple reflections.
- Nose: red fruits and wild fruits such as redcurrant and wooden strawberry.
- Mouth: the present tannins offer good power with good length. Perfect balance mixing roundness and firmness.
Santenay Les Charmes 2020 red Tasteviné, Domaine Ponsard-Chevalier
- Visual: beautiful deep ruby red color.
- Nose: notes of red fruits, violet and touch of vanilla.
- Mouth: pulp, roundness and length with well-enveloping, almost velvety tannins vibrating on the tongue.
Monthélie 1er Cru Les Barbières 2020 red Tasteviné, Maison Patriarche Père & Fils
- Visual: ruby red of good intensity with a beautiful shine (vintage effect).
- Nose: aromas of strawberry, cherry, blueberry (red fruits and black berries), finely wooded.
- Mouth: lots of volume, tannic structure, silky and suave, well-blended wood with red and black fruits.
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Grands Champs 2020 red Tasteviné, Maison Patriarche Père & Fils
- Visual: deep ruby.
- Nose: red fruits (strawberry, red cherry, redcurrant) with mineral notes (graphite). A nice welcoming bouquet.
- Mouth: velvety attack, dense and delicious structure, nice persistence, nice tension on the finish.
Marsannay 2021 Bio red Tasteviné, Maison Moillard
- Visual: deep, sustained red color.
- Nose: reveals a bouquet of fresh fruits (raspberry, blackberry) and wooden hints.
- Mouth: balanced wine with melted tannins, the mid-palate is delicious with crunchy fruit. The slightly marked woodiness is very elegant. The finish persists in length.
Mercurey 2021 red Tasteviné, Maison Moillard
- Visual: red color with purple reflections.
- Nose: pleasant and harmonious range of scents with notes of small red fruits and cinnamon.
- Mouth: presents a beautiful fullness on the attack and a progressive structure which marks the finish and ensures typicity and character.
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Cailles 2021 Tasteviné, Domaine Manuel Olivier
- Visual: shiny ruby red.
- Nose: intense and complex of sweet black fruits, game and forest floor scents.
- Mouth: powerful and full-bodied, intense, and long.
Vougeot 1er Cru Clos de la Perrière Monopole 2021 Tasteviné, Domaine Bertagna
- Visual: sparkling and luminous color.
- Nose: evokes aromas of black fruits, truffle, and spices.
- Mouth: intense with nuances of toasted almonds and forest floor, with a beautiful minerality. Elegant and fine, delicate, and accompanied by fine and silky tannins.
Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 2019 Tasteviné, Maison Patriarche Père & Fils
- Visual: dark and deep ruby.
- Nose: great aromatic complexity combining candied cherry and spices.
- Mouth: notes of blackberries, very nice concentration, fleshy with pleasant, well-integrated tannins. Powerful and long finish.
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Photos: tastevinage.fr