Rollin Pere & Fils

Sept./Oct. 2004

2002 Aloxe-Corton red 88
2002 Bourgogne-Hautes Cotes de Beaune red 82
2002 Pernand-Vergelesses red 84
2002 Pernand-Vergelesses "Les Fichots" 1er red 89
2002 Pernand-Vergelesses "Ile de Vergelesses" 1er red 90
2002 Pernand-Vergelesses "Les Vergelesses" 1er red 87

The usually reserved and modest RÈmi Rollin called the 2002 vintage "tres grand with fat, power, balancing acidity and impressive intensity and ripeness. We already had good ripeness here in Pernand before the north wind began to blow but after it did, sugars skyrocketed yet the cool evenings preserved the acidity and concentrated the grapes. Everything came in between 12 and 13.6%, which in this relatively cool sector of the Cote is very ripe indeed. We had a bit less yield than in 2001 but it was still a relatively generous vintage from the standpoint of production". The reds were bottled without fining and filtration and with the exception of the two lower level wines, this is a really fine set of '02s. (Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Shekomeko, NY; Richards Walford, UK)

2002 Bourgogne - Hautes Cotes de Beaune:

Light ruby. Bright raspberry and strawberry fruit aromas lead to round, simple and sweet flavors that are pretty and pleasant with adequate intensity. This would be a perfectly good choice for a picnic or light fare. 82/now

2002 Pernand-Vergelesses:

(no new oak and 25% one year old oak). Quite light though a bit deeper than the Bourgogne. Very high-toned red fruit notes complement light, simple and fruity light weight flavors that offer more complexity and fine finishing precision. The backend is sneaky long and this too would go well with light fare. 84/now

2002 Pernand-Vergelesses "Les Vergelesses:

(from 40 to 45 year old vine fruit aged 20% new oak). Classic ruby color. Very high-toned pinot fruit nuanced with a touch of earth and a hint of minerality gives way to round, rich, punchy and naturally sweet flavors possessing firm but light structure and a dry if persistent finish. Solid quality here. 87/2007-11

2002 Pernand-Vergelesses "Les Fichots":

(a mix of 35 and 65 year old vines and 25% new oak). A nose featuring lively and vibrant notes of strawberry and red raspberry combines with exuberant, fresh and utterly delicious middle weight flavors that offer surprisingly good power and plenty of punch plus a finish that completely coats the mouth with abundant old vine sap. An outstanding effort for what this is and highly recommended. 89/2008-12

2002 Pernand-Vergelesses "Ile de Vergelesses":

(two-thirds of this is from 65 year old vines and the other third is from 10 year old vines, aged in 25% new oak). This too possesses bright raspberry and strawberry aromas but it's a good deal less high-toned with round, supple, complex and moderately structured flavors that exude an almost pungent minerality. This is very classy and pure juice that is presently linear but will undoubtedly fill out and deepen with time. 90/2008-12

2002 Aloxe-Corton:

(25% new oak and 50% is from the 1er Les GuÈrets). Decidedly bigger and richer but not finer with lovely balance between the extract, the buried and very ripe tannins and the racy acidity. Interestingly, this is not particularly elegant yet there is a lovely purity of expression here plus fine finishing richness and persistence. 88/2007-12