There has been a total reversal of the winemaking philosophy at Bouchard Pere et Fils. This is one of the wealthiest firms in France, as well as the largest landowner of premier and grand crus in Burgundy. For years their wines, while commercially acceptable, were uninspiring. Yields were not limited, excessive amounts of SO2 were employed, the wines were processed and racked excessively, and, most damaging, they were aggressively filtered, often with sterile micropore filters. Inspired by the exceptional success enjoyed by such negociant firms as Faiveley and Louis Jadot (they had stopped filtering all of their premier and grand crus by 1988, opting for a minimal interventionist process in their winemaking), Paul Bouchard and his son Jean-Francois have begun to turn out their finest wines since the forties and fifties. The wines are deeper-colored and noticeably more concentrated. All the premier crus and grand crus are bottled with minimal additions of SO2, and are not filtered. Consequently, as the notes and scores reveal, there has been a significant leap in quality.
The 1990 Volnay-Caillerets-Ancienne Cuvee Carnot is made in a different style. From its huge bouquet of sweet black fruits, spices, and herbs, to its excellent medium to full-bodied richness, layers of fruit, and deeply etched flavors, this rich, powerful, concentrated wine begs for attention. The amount of fruit hides lofty tannin levels. This wine can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years.
Kudos to Bouchard Pere et Fils for recognizing that improvements had to be made, and for having the courage to implement them. Various importers.
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