The Wines of Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette

5/14/2011 (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.)
I've enjoyed the beaujolais wines from this producer many times in the past. And I was excited to try the 2009s, some of which I'd had before, some of which I was tasting for the first time. A lot of these wines showed well, but I do think a lot of these 09s would improve with a few more years in the bottle.

2009 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais
what a great way to start the tasting. vibrant nose of smoke and licorice. the palate is fresh, medium-bodied, with sharp acid. complex flavors of cherry, coffee grinds and cocoa powder. (90 pts.)

2009 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes Cuvée Traditionnelle - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais
spice cake on the nose. red currants and a hint of white pepper. fresh red fruit on the palate. sweet cherries. i liked this, but for some reason the tannins seemed a bit bitter on this wine. it's still a solid 89-pt wine that is great for the price, but it may need a bit more time to balance out. (89 pts.)

2009 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Coeur du Vendange - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais
dark cherries on the nose. cassis. cherry liquer. the palate is straight-up black cherries, sweet red fruit and plum pits. defiitely some weight on this, and some alcohol, but i thought it was solid. (88 pts.)

2009 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Brouilly Pierreux - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Brouilly
plums, black tar and anise on the nose. palate is really sappy with fruit. dark fruit, spiced tea, cherry pie fillings, but enough minerals to keep it fresh. (91 pts.)

2010 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Brouilly Pierreux - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Brouilly
nose is so different from the 09s i tasted. bacon, smoke and dark berries. plump, softer tannins and silkier than the 09s. long finish. (90 pts.)

2009 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Moulin-à-Vent
nose of spiced cherries. it smells just like one of those "autumn" candles they sell at bed bath and beyond or some place like that. gorgeous. the palate is a silky stream of fruit. gorgeous mouthfeel. tannins are grippy and there's a slice of minerality through the whole thing. showing very well right now, but will improve for years. (91 pts.)