Alain Meunier (pic. Euan McKay)

Jean-Jacques Confuron
Burgundy, Premeaux-Prissey
http://www.jjconfuron.com
Wine Maker: Alain Meunier

The eight hectare Domaine JJ Confuron was established in 1926 and some its vines precede this. Daughter of Jean-Jacques Confuron, Sophie Meunier-Confuron and husband Alain Meunier assumed control of the Domaine in 1983. They are representative of the new generation of Burgundian young guns turning their philosophy since 1989 to ‘la lutte biologique’ meaning organic viticulture and vinification, they plough by horse and use the bio-dynamic lunar calendar for the vines and winery cycle.

Their vineyard holdings are a chorus line of superb appellations which include the delightful Côte de Nuits ‘Les Vignottes’, the very pretty ‘Les Fleurières’ in Nuits-St-Georges, two first class Nuits-St-Georges Premier Cru’s ‘Les Chaboeufs’ and ‘Aux Boudots’, a precise and seriously classy Chambolle Musigny Premier Cru and the prestigious Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru ‘Les Beaux-Monts’.  Then there is the Grand Cru Clos Vougeot where the Domaine boasts 40+ year old vines in the very best part of the Clos and the crowning glory in the treasure chest is undoubtedly the truly majestic Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru.

“Elegant, expressive fruit, hedonistic rather than intellectual, with fine drinking balance.” Andrew Jefford

“The quality of the wines is classy, poised and very fine. Alain Meunier’s wine deserves greater recognition.” Clive Coates, MW

Wine Available
Cotes de Nuits-Villages ‘Les Vignottes’
Good ripeness, cherry and raspberry juicy and clean. Lovely fresh and pinosity, some present tannin providing backbone, lovely.
‘(35% new wood and the rest in one-year old wood). Here the nose is even earthier with similar red pinot fruit, underbrush and the same jerky hint that transfers over to the rich, round and supple flavors that are unusually forward on the mid-palate but tightem up on the balanced and persistent finish. This too delivers better than average if not truly outstanding quality for its level. (86-89)/2011+’ Burghound

Nuits-St-Georges ‘Les Fleurières’
A little subdued today, hinting at florals (this vineayard used to be a garden – hence the name) all the elements are there – ripe strawberry fruit flavors combine with a fine elegant structure, well balanced.
‘(from a parcel that sits right below the Nuits 1er Les Pruliers). Light wood spice doesn’t detract from earthy and expressive red berry fruit aromas that introduce round, supple and vibrant middle weight flavors that are easy but not simple and culminate in a delicious, punchy and persistent finish. While not an elegant wine, it certainly is more refined than one typically finds for a Nuits villages. Lovely and worth a look. (87-89)/2012+’ Burghound

Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru ‘Les Chaboeufs’
“Strong reduction overwhelms the nose though the big and broad-scaled flavors are rich, powerful and concentrated and while this offers a seductive palate feel, the impressively long finish is on the rustic side. This actually has better underlying material than the Boudots but unlike the Boudots which is half Nuits and half Vosne, this is clearly very Nuits in character. 90-92/2016+” Burghound

Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru ‘Les Chaboeufs’
” As it should be, this is much more obviously Nuits in character as there is a distinct gaminess to the earthy red and blue fruit nose where this sauvage quality can also be found on the rich, full and quite serious flavors that possess more prominent supporting tannins on the intense and mildly rustic finish. This is a bit fresher and worth considering. 92. Outstanding.” Burghound

Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru
“Here the reduction is more noticeable though not dominant – decant. By contrast, there is good freshness to the concentrated, textured and mouth coating flavors that are blessed with ample amounts of dry extract that do a good job of buffering the underlying structural elements.  89/2014+” Burghound

Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru
“Discreet wood frames brooding and ripe earthy dark berry fruit aromas, in particular cassis that complement the pure, supple and round medium-bodied flavors that possess a subtle mineral-streak on the delicious, balanced and lingering finish where the wood resurfaces. Like several of these ’09s, this is at the limit of ripeness yet avoids falling to a level where the freshness is unduly compromised though there is a trace of backend warmth. 90.” Burghound

Clos Vougeot, Grand Cru sold out
“(from 40+ year old vines situated at the very top of the hill hard by the Château). A deft application of wood allows the pure and densely fruited nose of conspicuously ripe red pinot and violet aromas to shine through. The big-bodied and admirably concentrated flavors are underpinned by relatively fine tannins and notably less austerity than usual on the strikingly long finish. This should amply reward a decade or so in the cellar. 93/2015+” Burghound

Romanée St Vivant, Grand Cru
“There is a background touch of reduction to the otherwise elegant nose of spicy and earthy red and black pinot fruit that is nuanced by subtle traces of soy and anise that are picked up on the rich, deep, round, sappy and mouth coating flavors that display a discreet but attractive mineral streak on the hugely long finish. This is terrific and the old vine character is very much in evidence – be sure to decant it if you’re going to try a bottle young. 93/2018+” Burghound

JJ Confuron’s elegant label. (pic. Euan McKay)