INSIDER'S PICK: 2014 AGNES PAQUET BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR $25.99

Time to start taking a look at some Red Burgundy from the 2014 vintage, billed to be a very approachable and youth-oriented vintage which, unless you are searching for items to cellar, is great for the everyday Bourgogne drinker. Several of the last vintages had been inconsistent for value wines because trickier conditions made quality inexpensive juice harder to come by, or they tended to be higher toned in character and a bit less accessible to many drinkers. While those that chase the upper tier of Burgundy may not be as passionate about it, the 2014 vintage looks to be very strong for easy enjoyment and relative value for a change.
This is a very recent addition to the Burgundy section, having just been 'discovered' by one of our fine local importers, so it is doubly exciting to break out a wine we have not ever featured before. The family vineyards are in the Cotes de Beaune, centered primarily around Auxey-Duresses, and the organic/biodynamic winemaking style is perfect for creating an early drinking wine like this. A nice ruby color and lots of cool dark cherry aromas that develop some dark spice as it opens up (slowly), juicy at first on the palate but quickly showing the Burgundian earthy underbelly, moving quickly into the tart red fruits as the acidity kicks in. Very polished in texture, there is a lot of 'potential' complexity hiding underneath the fruit that will only come with time; whatever time you come in to taste it today/tomorrow is just a brief snapshot of where this wine will be. It's a wine that still requires some patience, but not as much as Burgundy needs in many years. It deserves to be enjoyed over a long weekend.

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