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MacArthur Beverage Exclusive...
2009 Vintage
Hospices de Beaune
pre-arrival* offer
We are thrilled to announce that we were once again successful bidders at the famed Hospices de Beaune auction in Burgundy. With 2009 shaping up to be an excellent vintage, this is a unique opportunity to purchase some phenomenal age-worthy reds. We are the only source in Washington, DC for these wines and one of the few in the United States. Even more exciting is the news that Jerome Faure-Brac of Maison Joseph Drouhin and Jean Nicolas Meo of Meo-Camuzet will be doing the elevage on these wines for us! These wines were decided upon after extensive tasting by the Maison Drouhin team, Jean Nicolas Meo and Jeanne-Marie De Champs of Domaine et Saveurs.
What is the Hospices de Beaune?
The Hospices was founded in 1443 as a charitable organization for the poor. The original building is now a famous museum in Beaune, but the Hospices continues on as a non-profit organization providing patient services in a modern hospital building.
What about the auction?
 The organization owns and vinifies 61 hecatares of mostly Premier and Grand cru vineyards donated to them by various families in the area. Wine making is overseen by Roland Masse. In 1851 they started auctioning off 44 barrels of wine produced from these vineyards to raise funds. The auction has since grown into an international event run by Christies (799 barrels in 2009). The wines are sold by the Hospices in barrel on the third Sunday of November following the vendage. The Hospices is one of the most meticulous wine growers in the appellation, practicing such dedicated techniques as no use of herbicides, green harvesting and very low yields (30 hl/ha). All the wine is sold in “low toast” new barrels, and by law the wine must be finished in the Burgundy region by a Burgundy producer. For more information about the auction please visit this site: http://www.christies.com/Features/2009-november-hospices-de-beaune-expert-notes-273-1.aspx
Some thoughts on the 2009 Burgundy vintage
 In 2009, Mother Nature smiled on France—every major region enjoyed a beautiful growing season. In Burgundy, August was hot, dry and sunny. The good weather continued right up through harvest, though rain around the middle of October forced those with any fruit still hanging to pick quickly. The dry weather at the end of the season contributed to healthy fruit at harvest and very little sorting. "The vintage I heard mentioned the most in comparison with 2009 was 1999. Some also cited 2002. It looks like Burgundy lovers will be blessed with charming and fruity reds and whites. - Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator.
 As fermentations ended, Roland Masse, the Hospices wine maker, remarked: “The Pinot Noir grapes had such striking, individual aromas and fruitiness this year – which we are finding now, in the freshly-run wines in barrel. There has been excellent potential for making richly tannic, fully ripened wines. 2009 looks on stream to be a GREAT vintage.”
Tasting notes from Anthony Hanson, Master of Wine
#45251
$69.00 btl
Beaune Grèves 1er Cru Cuvée P. Floquet - Joseph Drouhin 
In colour, bright purple-ruby of medium depth, with fragrant, ripe, very complex aromas. The palate shows dense, creamily textured fruitiness of great charm, with gentle tannins and beautiful, harmonious aftertaste. This is not a powerfully structured Beaune, but a classic expression of the elegance, sweetness and harmony which this famous hillside can give, when vineyard-tending and wine-making are at the highest level. - Anthony Hanson (MW)
#45253
$69.00 btl
Pommard Cuvée Billardet – Meo Camuzet
This has impressive depth of colour, the nose showing an intense, kirsch-like character, with bright, clean fruitiness. On the palate, it is richly built, with splendid middle, showing a harmonious blend of roasted fruits and creamy texture, fine and long. - Anthony Hanson (MW)
#45252
$99.00 btl
Volnay Santenots 1er Cru Cuvée Jéhan Massol - Meo Camuzet
This is the most perfect Volnay-Santenots made by the Hospices de Beaune since the 2005 vintage. The colour is very deep, impressive purple, the aromas being openly fruity, ripe and rich. Magnificent on the palate, this shows superb harmony, sweet fruitiness, succulent texture and astonishing length. The Pinot bunches from which this wine was made are amongst the smallest, with the thickest skins and lowest yields, which can be found. For concentration, harmony and silkiness, this has to be tasted to be believed. - Anthony Hanson (MW)
*wines will arrive late 2011
How to Order:
Photos courtesy Panos Kakaviatos for MacArthur Beverages |
