2011 Burgundy tastings – some photos from the marathon

 Ghislaine Barthod pouring her Chambolle-Musigny

A few photos from the stream of 2011 Burgundy tasting underway in London over the next few days. Pics of a few of the producers plus some of the press. 

At the five Burgundy tastings I attended I concentrated mainly on the 2011 reds finding a number of charming, attractive wines. Whether they have the complexity and depth to justify some of the prices is another matter. The 2011 Grand Crus Chablis, with the exception of Le Clos which tended to be closed up, were often already very approachable, flattering and open with considerable concentration without the great austerity of 2010.    

Pierre Vincent and Sylvie Poillot, Domaine de la Vougeraie

Bruno Pepin, commercial director for Louis Latour

Lorraine Carrigan: PR for L'Union des Grands Crus de Chablis 

Mark Bingley MW, md of Maisons Marques & Domaines 

 Michael Schuster@Berry Bros – an almost monastic existence as he tastes, contemplates and writes up another three wines – how many of the 27 tasting events to go?

 

 The loneliness of the long distance Burgundian taster: 

Michael Schuster@Corney & Barrow – another day, more wines 

 The Wall Street Journal's distinguished columnist Will Lyons, comfortably seated, 

takes a different more sybaritic approach

 The lesser spotted Bettane: Michel Bettane – one of France's most eminent wine critics and journalists over in London for a couple of days to assess the 2011 Burgundies (above and below)

Taster silhouetted: 

Greg Love