In a fast-paced world, cellaring wine has become a rarity. Not all wines are meant to age, and indeed the wine world’s style continues to shift toward early maturity. But for wine that rewards patience, the transformation of bottle aging is nothing short of magic.
Today we’re suggesting 2011 Morey-St-Denis 1er cru “Millandes” from Jean-Louis Amiot — it’s proof that ageworthy wine doesn’t have to cost hundreds of dollars. Located about ten yards from the famous Grand Cru Clos de la Roche, Millandes is a premier cru that always punches above its weight, but that also needs a few years to reach its potential.
Patience may be a virtue, but in this case someone else has done the work for you.
This lot of 2011 Millandes comes with impeccable provenance — it just arrived this week from Morey-St-Denis, having spent the last eight years resting peacefully in the cellar where it was bottled. Burghound awarded 90 points, finding it “delicious, balanced and solidly persistent,” and suggesting it would be perfectly mature beginning in 2019.
We think his timing prediction is spot on. Opened last night this wine is just delicious. It’s bursting with dry fruit and secondary flavors — think woodsy notes like tobacco, leather, plums, morel mushrooms, and well worn leather. It’s in an excellent drinking window today — carafe for fifteen minutes after opening (not longer).
Serve this with pan seared duck breasts and potatoes in duck fat. Some things are worth waiting for, and with this one the wait is already over.
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Amiot MSD 1er “Millandes” 2011
bottle price: $75
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES