What We're Drinking Now: 2009 Philippe LeClerc 'En Champs' Pinot Noir

‘That’s all we produce’, our host scoffed as I jokingly asked ‘May we taste your Pinot Noir?’. Despite his lack of humor, we tasted through their offerings of very good Pinot Noir. Sitting amongst dragon wall sconces and Medieval stone work, this was a tasting unlike any other we had ever had. Nonetheless, he didn’t forget to mention all the praise they had received from Robert Parker when he noticed we were from Etats-Unis. Not that it mattered, each wine spoke for themselves and of the vineyards they came from.

But this Premier Cru from Gevrey Chambertin stood out amongst the others for its purity of flavor from start to finish. Sure, it had all of those classic French earth-driven characteristics you expect of Burgundy but without all the barn-funk that can sometimes overcome the actual fruit elements. We left that day with a bottle of 'En Champs' for a special occasion on our journey...one that ended up being with good friends over a special meal at their château in Provence, a perfect accompaniment to a perfect night!