2008 Domaine Roulot

"One of the superstars of the commune"

 

Now increasingly biodynamic, this domaine, run by Jean-Marc Roulot and his sister Michele, has long been one of the superstars of the commune and was a pioneer of separately bottling what I term the 'deuxiemes crus' of Meursault. For a time in the mid-1990s, Jean-Marc also made the Puligny-Montrachet Les Caillerets of the Domaine de Montille. He is married to Hubert de Montille's daughter Alix.

Jean-Marc has great talent. There is no exaggerated use of wood here, and over the last decade he has moved from bottling after 12 months to 18 months. The wines are even more terrior expressive as a result, and are very pure and elegant. Clive Coates MW, The Wines of Burgundy

Jean-Marc Roulot noted that 2008 was "not an easy vintage. It was stressful, the weather was basically horrid from the beginning of summer to the middle of September and it was very wet, making the vineyards difficult to manage. We began the harvest on the 22nd of September and while there was a lot of sorting work required, it was primarily for under ripe berries as the chardonnay was actually pretty clean. However, my parcel of Bourgogne got hit by hail and not only did I lose 40% of the crop but there you really had to sort carefully. It seems like almost a double punishment to work twice as hard for half as much crop. The wines were very hard to judge before the malos were completed but afterwards, I was most agreeably surprised by the quality. For me, the '08s remind me of the 2001s as they have racy acidity but also often a touch of botrytis that adds aromatic complexity. They are also more open at the same stage of development than were the '07s and happily, without the heaviness of the '06s". I also had the chance to taste a few examples of Roulot's '07s and both were brilliant for villages level wines. Allen Meadows' Burghound

2008 Roulot Meursault 1er Cru ‘Perrieres’

Retail Price $418 | Offer Price $345

Unfortunately, strong reduction made the nose all but impossible to read but the delicious, gorgeously elegant and pure flavors were very much on form, offering a silky palate impression on the concentrated, explosive and stunningly lengthy finish that seemed to be composed of liquid rock. This classy example has that 'wow' factor and should age beautifully. Don’t miss.  Outstanding. 92-94 points. Allen Meadows’ Burghound

 

2008 Roulot Meursault 1er Cru ‘Charmes’

Retail Price $381 | Offer Price $315

An impressively pure and high-toned nose features wonderfully stylish aromas of white flower, hazelnut, wet stone and ripe lemon-lime nuances where the minerality also adds punch and lift to the mineral-infused, racy and punchy medium-bodied flavors that possess real finishing verve and seriously impressive persistence. The old vine sap is very much in evidence as it confers a seductive texture onto the mid-palate yet does not compromise the precise and chiseled quality of the backend. In a word, terrific. Sweet spot.  Outstanding. 91-94 points. Allen Meadows’ Burghound

 

2008 Roulot Meursault ‘Clos de Mon Plaisir’

Retail Price $249 | Offer Price $206

The nose is completely dominated by reduction and impossible to read though the funk. Otherwise though, the rich, full and focused medium-full flavors are complex and possess excellent volume on the textured, intense and beautifully long finish. As it often does, this easily delivers 1er quality. Outstanding. 90-92 points. Allen Meadows’ Burghound

 

2008 Roulot Meursault ‘Les Meix Chavaux’

Retail Price $191 | Offer Price $157

A very pretty and attractively nuanced nose of citrus, stone and floral elements complements the minerally, supple and nicely textured flavors that possess good mid-palate flesh, all wrapped in a racy and well-delineated finish. 88-91 points. Allen Meadows’ Burghound

 

2008 Roulot Meursault ‘Les Tillets'

Retail Price $191 | Offer Price $157

An ultra elegant but restrained nose of citrus and acacia blossom aromas merges into linear, precise and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess that lovely quality of underlying tension on the stony, detailed and cuts-like-a-knife finish. Again, this offers really lovely quality at this level. Outstanding. 89-92 points. Allen Meadows’ Burghound

 

2008 Roulot Bourgogne Blanc

Retail Price $67 | Offer Price $56

A pretty nose of lemon peel, floral notes and a hint of wood gives way to textured, round and very supple flavors that are delicious and already enjoyable. 84-87 points. Allen Meadows’ Burghound