So it's Bastille Day, and I had to open a bottle of burgundy for that - like I really needed that excuse. Well I'm happy to report that the bottle was showing very well tonight.

Dom. La Pousse d'Or 2002 Volnay 1er Clos de la Bousse d'Or (Volnay, $43 on futures)

This is a terrific Volnay. Silky and pure red fruit aromas with a bit of underbrush upon opening. Just waves and waves of pretty red fruits on a lithe yet athletic frame (I thought of Maria Sharapova ). With some airtime the wine fills out with more notes of coffee, underbrush, and developed a gamey/fleshy finish. I would suggest serving this wine with poultry and game - a dynamite bottle of wine. 92+ points tonight.

I haven't had this wine since the 1978 vintage when it was outstanding. I haven't seen it in stores in years.

JT - great note. How long are you going to hold your remaining bottles?

I'm happy to say that I have a mag of this wine but don't have too much input on how long to hold it. BG says 2009+.

Winetex, I have 5 more bottles so I'll probably try the next one in about 3 years. I'm confident this is a 10-15 year wine, given the estates good track record (though I've read the new ownership's style has been more modern and forward in style since the late 1990s).

Oh man...Maria Sharapova in a bottle! Now that really gives me something to look forward to.

3 years later...

• 2002 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d'Or - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru (9/1/2008)
  Opened (and not decanted) 2 hours before consumption - upon pouring the wine really popped me over the head with a blast of oak. Fortunately, it dissipated in the glass revealing a very silky Volnay. Pleasurable but still in need of further development. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Thanks for the notes. I have a few of these (plus some '05s) stashed away and have been wondering when I should take a peek.