2005 Beaune Clos des Ursules
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Tasting notes
The Jadot family’s flagship Beaune from the south of the appellation on alluvial clay-loam fans in the Vignes Franches zone. More than half the vines were planted mid 1950s while the rest were planted mid 1970s. All destemmed and aged in one-third new oak. Mid rust colour. Pale rim. Quite fade , as the French would say, on the nose. Sort of faded and lacking freshness. Certainly very mellow… but as though some of the flavour had been boiled out. A bit of astringency on the finish. Sweetness but not quite enough purity and energy. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Good deep, bright red. Very ripe but vibrant aromas of dark raspberry, brown spices and mocha, complemented by an earthy element. Sweet and lush but with the firm minerality, juicy acidity and tannic spine for a slow evolution in bottle. For all its ripeness and palate presence, this communicates an almost magically light touch.
A hint of decay on the nose (I heard these samples were taken quite a time before the tasting) but lots of substance and still a little oak influence. Grating texture and the firm suggestion that this is a very ambitious wine. Dry finish and some true, juicy fruit. (JR)
Jadot’s flagship 2005 Beaune Vignes Franches Clos des Ursules leads with high-toned cherry, tarragon, and brown spice aromas, displays a juicy, ripe, fresh fruit palate impression, and finishes with subtle herbal and spicy inflections as well as a hint of roughness. The overall impression is of considerable density, energy, and tannin, and I think this has been caught at a less than optimal moment as regards its tannins and for translating its concentration and ripeness into flavor personality. Jacques Lardiere has once again presided over a collection for the most part not intended to flatter in its youth, but rather to achieve an eventual balance of fruit acidity with (in this instance frequently quite prominent) tannin. Prolonged post-fermentative extraction promoted a formidably-structured group of wines, which Lardiere expressed no hurry about bottling. Certain of these – particularly from the Cote de Beaune – displayed a slightly drying finishing astringency or simply an austere lack of charm to match their concentration, traits Lardiere suggested might be traceable to drought stress in those sites. A brief July rain that reached the Cote de Nuits but not the Cote de Beaune was critical, he asserts, and all of Jadot’s vines in the northern Cote were picked before the harvest in the south commenced. (Wines from the Domaine Louis Jadot, Domaine Heritiers Louis Jadot, or Domaine Gagey, have been identified with a letter “D” in their listings.) Also recommended: 2005 Cote de Nuits-Villages Le Vaucrain ($25.00;86+?), 2005 Santenay Clos de Malte ($27.00; 85-87), 2005 Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Guettes (84-86+?), 2005 Nuits-St.-Georges ($37.00; 85-87+?), 2005 Chambolle-Musigny ($50.00; 85-87+?). Importer: Kobrand, Inc., New York, NY; tel.(212) 490 9300
About the producer
Louis Jadot is arguably the most consistent négociant house in Burgundy. It has managed to straddle both the entry-level and fine wine market, while retaining respect in both.