Maison Louis Jadot, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru (Burgundy, France) 2011

The 2011 vintage for red Burgundies will always be overshadowed on a vintage by the rich 2009 and racy 2010.   But the chief advantage of the 2011s is that they are deliciously forward wines.  Indeed, they will give more pleasure for drinking now than either the 2009s or 2010s.  This Pernand-Vergelesses comes from a plot Jadot owns in the En Caradeux vineyard, which faces northeast and is a cooler site.  The site explains the wine’s delicacy and fragrance.  The emphasis here is on mineral-y notes with red fruit nuances in the background.  The flavors dance on the palate.  Those looking for robust New World Pinot Noir should look elsewhere.  This is textbook Burgundy — flavor without weight.