Bottle Aged. Most wine in the US is opened too young. Blame it on retailers moving inventory or on our age of impatience, but it’s increasingly rare to enjoy a bottle that has been been properly cellared. Which is why we’re always excited to find older vintages still available at French domaines.
We tasted today’s wine last year during a visit to the Domaine Amiot, and brought in a few cases this spring. Amiot’s Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Millandes” from 07 is not a wine to keep for decades more. But it’s proof of what proper conditions and a bit of patience can achieve — a smoky, woodsy red Burgundy with beautifully softened red fruit.
Premier Cru. Amiot’s small plot in Millandes (just over an acre) yields only 200 cases a year. But its location (adjoining the Grand Cru Clos St-Denis) and older vines (planted in the 1950s and 60s) make it a gem. Millandes always requires some cellaring to reach its peak, but today we’re in luck: the Amiots have done it for us.
The Millandes 07 shows raspberry and wild cherry fruit in the nose — now eight years after the harvest, it has begun to show toasty “sous bois” elements like mushrooms and forest floor. The tannins have softened, but retain enough structure to match with foods; the Amiots suggest red meats and affinéed cheeses.
We think a wintery stew would match this wine perfectly, particularly served in an old stone chateau with a roaring fire. If you’re light on castles, the stew will probably suffice.
________________________
AMIOT Morey-St-Denis 1er “Millandes” 07
Ansonia Retail: $70
case, half-case: $62/bot
_
AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
_
_
_
_____________________________
Sign up to receive these posts in your inbox:
_
_
_____________________________
_
–
_