2010 Musigny

The 2010 Musigny is breathtaking. It is at once weightless yet full of flavor and dynamism. There is marvelous tension and sheer energy in the fruit, while certain elements of virility – especially in the tannin – seem to develop as the wine sits in the glass. Like all of the Mugnier wines, the Musigny is really a wine built on textural finesse and a certain elusiveness that asks more of the taster than it offers. It represents the height of sensuality and unknowable beauty in Burgundy. In many ways Mugnier’s Musigny resembles Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s Romanee-Conti. No matter how much time I spend with the wine there is always more to discover. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045. ||Leave it to Frederic Mugnier to take a contrarian view of the 2010 vintage. Mugnier is quite clear in espousing his opinion that not only is 2009 a better vintage than 2010, but that the 2009s will be longer-lived as well. His advice to me was to drink the 2010s now and cellar the 2009s. Mugnier’s highly personal take is also reflected in the unconventional order in which these wines were tasted. I have to say, it was quite eye-opening to taste the wines in a different sequence than is the norm, as it keeps the palate and intellect sharp. The harvest started on September 22. As has been the case for a while, the focus is on doing as little as possible to the wines once they are in cellar, which among other things means that new oak is now practically non-existent here. Readers who want to learn more might want to take a look at my interview with Frederic Mugnier posted on our website.||A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet, various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808; Veritas Imports, Beverly Hills, CA; tel. (310) 205-3803; Toepfer Imports LLC, CO; tel. (303) 818-7640 Wine Advocate.February, 2012