2014 Taupenot-Merme Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru La Riotte

Taupenot Merme

France / Burgundy / Taupenot Merme

From one of Morey's leading premiers crus, with mostly very old vines and the same geology as Mazoyères, with calcareous soil rich in clay. Taupenot-Merme has a 2.5ha parcel and the estate's vines are about 55 years old.

Tim Atkin

www.timatkin.com

94 points

Located in the middle of the Morey appellation, La Riotte makes comparatively muscular wines. There's a touch of reduction here, but the wine opens in the glass: savoury, mineral and complex with plum and black cherry fruit and good texture and volume.

November, 2015

Jancis Robinson

jancisrobinson.com

17.5/20

Pungent. Sweet and spicy with real structure. Exciting!

March, 2017

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous Media

92 points

Good bright red. Pretty, floral nose combines raspberry, rose petal and saline minerality. A silky, savoury midweight given definition and lift by tart red berry, violet and spice flavors. The wine's sweetness is nicely countered by its penetrating character. A classically dry 2014 with terrific energy, this has turned out very well. Romain Taupenot considers La Riotte to be an underrated premier cru.

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About Taupenot Merme

Brother-and-sister team Virginie and Romain are at the helm at this domaine. It has 13 hectares on the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, with grands crus including Clos des Lambrays, Charmes-Chambertin, Corton-Rognet and Mazoyères-Chambertin. These seventh generation winegrowers are typical of the new crop of young Burgundian vignerons who are realising the full potential of priceless family vineyard parcels through sensitive viticulture and thoughtful winemaking. All grapes are de-stemmed, with 25% new oak used for the village wines and 40% for grand and premier cru. Virginie looks after sales while Romain works the cellar, producing structured, self-assured Burgundy that expresses the vineyards well. The wines are getting better and better.

About

Seventh-generation Romain Taupenot is in charge of winemaking at Domaine Taupenot-Merme, aided by his sister Virginie. It's widely and correctly acknowledged that the estate, which has been working along organic principles since 2001, is on the up and up in terms of quality. Its results from the 2006 and 2007 vintages are drinking beautifully, and Romain has triumphed against all odds in the difficult vintages of 2012 and 2013.