Endeavouring to clear a backlog of video material that has accumulated since going to Australia in December. Here are two films featuring eight red Burgundies I tasted late in 2010….

PART 1

Henri Prudhon St Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes 2006 (£18.50 Adnams, Yorkshire Vintners)
There’s a toffee-like note to the charming cherry and raspberry fruit, and as it opens up, there are also hints of fig and Xmas cake spices, but behind it all there’s a slightly scrawny/stalky edge that slight gets in the way. B+

Louis Latour Aloxe Corton 1er Cru Les Chaillots 2006 (£27.99 Waitrose)
A firm chunky beast, with fleshy blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry flavours, quite grippy with an earthy undergrowth character too, just prevented from being very good by a finish that is slightly hard & metallic. S-

Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru 2007 (£22-24 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Peake Wine Associates, Thomas Panton)
The friendliest and most ready to drink of this quintet has velvety strawberry fruit with a touch of swagger, smoky bacon oak and an exotic, earthy wildness (along with something I described as ‘a nice paint character’ – was I overcome with emulsion…?) Nice now, but has the structure to go on for a few years yet. S(+)

Jean-Claude Boisset Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode 2008 (£27.99 Noel Young Wines, Liberty Wines)
Classy wine with something of the same smoky bacon oak character of the Bouchard Beaune, framing plush cherry (black & red) and raspberry flavours, including a touch of kirsch. Desperately young, but its sappy freshness, vivacity, wildness and supple juicy fruit hints at a very promising future. S+

Antonin Rodet Pommard 2008 (£23.99 Sainsbury’s)
Correct rather than exciting, with slightly confected cherry and red berry flesh, and a refreshing finish. Quite full & fleshy but ultimately too simple. B

PART 2

Antonin Rodet Gevrey-Chambertin 2008 (£23.99 Sainsbury’s)
Quite refreshing raspberry pastille fruit, touches of undergrowth but there’s also a dusty dryness and no sign of the allure and extra mile good Burgundy should have. B(+)

Domaine Mouton Givry 1er cru Clos Jus 2008 (£17.35 Tanners)
Starts off a little stolid, with smoky bacon rather swamping the gentle forest floor fruit flavours, but over time opens up to reveal more charm and depth, still young and oaky but has the matière to justify waiting another couple of years for it to fully knit together. S(-)

Danjean-Berthoux Givry 1er Cru Clos du Cras Long 2007 (£15.50 The Colchester Wine Company, Ellis Wharton Wines, Red & White, R S Wines, South Downs Cellars, Vicarage Wine Cellars)
Gentle honest softness, already showing development (was looking a little tired by Day 2) but still has soft blueberry and blackcurrant flavours plus  a kirsch-like cherry. S-