2010 Morey St Denis Clos des Ormes

The 2010 Morey St. Denis Clos des Ormes shows the more feminine side of Morey in its ripe red berries, mint, sweet herbs and wild flowers. Layers of sweet perfumed fruit seem to float on the finish, while silky, polished tannins give the wine its sense of proportion. This is a very delicate and pretty Morey. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. It is always fascinating to settle in for a tasting with proprietor Mounir Saouma. With the exception of Jadot, I can't think of a single maison that draws across such a broad range of top vineyards. When taken together, the whites and reds provide insight to the performance of dozens of the finest sites in the region. Saouma is not much for comparisons when discussing 2010, saying quite simply, -2010 is 2010.- The vintage was not without some disappointments. Because of the miniscule yields, there is no 2010 Romanee St. Vivant or Richebourg. As always, these are some of the most unmanipulated wines being made in Burgundy. When I tasted the 2010s in November 2011, the wines had never been sulphured or racked. Saouma had just finished bottling his 2009s (a vintage many bottled on the early side) in October 2011! Importers: Vintus LLC, Pleasantville, NY; tel. (914) 769-3000, Atherton Imports, Menlo Park, CA; tel. (650) 328-6639

Medium red, with a hint of amber at the rim. Smoky, slightly funky aromas and flavors of strawberry, brown spices and fresh blood. Shows a saline quality and a Clos-Saint-Denis-like spiciness; more about sucrosite than grip and thrust. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins.

The 2010 Morey St. Denis Clos des Ormes shows the more feminine side of Morey in its ripe red berries, mint, sweet herbs and wild flowers. Layers of sweet perfumed fruit seem to float on the finish, while silky, polished tannins give the wine its sense of proportion. This is a very delicate and pretty Morey. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. ||It is always fascinating to settle in for a tasting with proprietor Mounir Saouma. With the exception of Jadot, I can't think of a single maison that draws across such a broad range of top vineyards. When taken together, the whites and reds provide insight to the performance of dozens of the finest sites in the region. Saouma is not much for comparisons when discussing 2010, saying quite simply, -2010 is 2010.- The vintage was not without some disappointments. Because of the miniscule yields, there is no 2010 Romanee St. Vivant or Richebourg. As always, these are some of the most unmanipulated wines being made in Burgundy. When I tasted the 2010s in November 2011, the wines had never been sulphured or racked. Saouma had just finished bottling his 2009s (a vintage many bottled on the early side) in October 2011! Wine Advocate.February, 2012