2012 Domaine des Beaumont - Top Vineyards and Top Wines

As many of you know 2012 Burgundy is in short supply, sometimes I have to act so quick that I will

miss it and thus you will miss it. I knew that I had to offer the 2012's from Beaumont after offering the 2008's last year and also tasting how great the 2012's were when I was on my last Burgundy trip. They have wonderful vineyards and have started to realize their potential now, after starting up in 1991 and marketing their first vintage in 1999. I bought the 1999 Clos de la Roche for a wine shop I worked in Boston and was enamored by the wine. It also was the first Burgundy I bought as a wine buyer in my career, so I will always have a soft spot for them. Back in 1999 they were considered below up and coming and not on anyone's radar, but that Clos de la Roche was damn good. Fast forward to the 2012 vintage and they are some of the most compelling wines in Burgundy you have not heard of. 2010 put them on the map and 2012 makes them stay there. What a vintage by Thierry Beaumont!

I am offering 4 wines today. Two GC's and two 1er Cru's. Out of all that I tasted I found these wines particularly compelling. The 2012 Morey St. Denis 1er Cru "Les Ruchots", which can be had for $77.99 a bottle (NET) is always the most concentrated 1er Cru in MSD and add that extra turbo charge from 2012 and you have one sappy, dense, concentrated compelling bottle of Burgundy. It is located just opposite of Clos de Tart so not to shabby a neighbor, but don't worry theyt don't make Bordeaux like Clos de Tart does, they make Burgundy, and what pretty Burgundy it is. For a wine this massive, the finesse is absurd. It pumps fruit on the finish like nobody's business and has velvety tannins that coat your mouth. One of those wines where each sip is an experience. This will keep for 17+ years.

The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru "Les Cherbaudes" which can be had for $75.99 (NET) is another winner in the large 2012 stable of Beaumont. It was very hard to select 4 wines as they make so many and they are all great, so my selection today is the best of the best and their Cherbaudes I thought was better than their Gevrey 1er Cru "Combottes", which is considered a better vineyard, but hey, sometimes certain vineyards you would not expect to excel to certain heights do in certain vintages. Cherbaudes is nestled between Mazis-Chambertin and Clos de Beze, so not too shabby there. The wine is just gorgeous in 2012 with tons of spicey, rich and complex aromas. It is a bit bigger and more dense than Fourrier's version and has ample volume in the mouth. The finish like most 2012's is long, sinewy, chewy, elegant and just coats the mouth. It is a truly beautiful Cherbaudes and is much cheaper than Fourrier's 2012 which is being pre-offered at $150 a bottle. The Cherbaudes is showing a touch of wood (30% new) back in winter but the material was so massive that I am sure it will be sucked into the wine by now and surely by the time these are shipped in the Fall. But new oak is neccessary in great Burgundy. DRC, Rousseau. Need I say more? This will keep for 15+ years.

Now the two big boys and the wines that got me hooked on Beaumont back in the day. The 2012 Clos de la Roche is breathtaking, make you speechless type of wine. It can be had for $129.99 (NET) a bottle today and this is, seriously one of the great GC value plays in 2012 for savvy buyers. The wine is a freak show. 2012 was very kind to Morey and this is the epitome of that. Just a cursory glance at wine-searcher showed me that there is a 2012 Jadot CDLR on pre-arrival for $130 then they range from $150 to $1,150. I am not one for blanket statements but this wine requires one. It kicks the Jadot onto the curb. The attack is all minerals, blackberries and licorice and oodles and oodles of them. This wine does not quit. The nose has that classic dusty CDLR character and an amazing array of aromas that do not quit. Air is this wine's friend. It kept getting more and more complex. It is racy due to wonderful crisp and framing acidity and the finish lasts and lasts like most 2012's. The energy and volume in 2012 at the top of the food chain are just stunning and once you taste a GC 2012 you will wish you bought more. I have very little of this of course, as this is 2012, but put in your requests and we will see what happens. Balanced orders certainly get priority. This will keep for 20+ years.

The 2nd big boy is the 2012 Clos St. Denis and can be had for $124.99 (NET). This one is the sexier of the two GC's. It does also have a mineral, blackberry based attack on the front-palate but then the magic happens. The tannins in this wine are insane. Melted and silky is the best way to describe them. The elegance is top of the class and the moire it aerates the more truffley it gets. The truffle aromas and flavors on this wine are insane. All wrapped up in these silky, suave and melted tannnins. A thrill a minute. The finish melts on your palate like a fine piece of o-toro. It lasts like you will not believe. A stunning CSD.

2012 Domaine des Beaumont Morey St. Denis 1er Cru "Les Ruchots" - $77.99 (NET -  VERY LIMITED)

2012 Domaine des Beaumont Gevrey-Chambertin 

1er Cu "Les Cherbaudes"  - $75.99 (NET - LIMITED)

2012 Domaine des Beaumont Grand Cru Clos de la Roche - $129.99 (NET - VERY LIMITED)

2012 Domaine des Beaumont Grand Cru Clos St. Denis - $124.99 

(NET - VERY LIMITED)