2018 is Joseph Colin’s second vintage and he is honestly in a league of his own in Saint Aubin. Incredible purity and tension in all his whites. A producer to look out for in the coming En Premier campaign.
Joseph Colin owns 6 hectare of vineyards in total, 21 whites and 1 red wine.
Winemaking Style
Joseph focuses on picking date, he started harvest on the 28th of August and picked grapes for the whole month depending on the ripeness and acidity. Aged in 500L oak for 12 months. No batonnage. In 2018, Joseph did not filter his wines for the first time. Less than 20mg/L of sulphur added. Most bottles are closed by DIAM 30, but DIAM 10 is also used in lower end wines.
Tasting Notes
Saint Aubin Compendium 2018
A blend of 7 parcels from cooler parts of Joseph’s vineyards. Focused and refreshing acidity that resembles 2017. Zingy citrus fruits with mild buttery note and touch of reduction. Light bodied yet attractive and juicy. Drinking well today. (83/100)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru Clos du Meix 2018
A 0.3ha vineyard. 10-15% new oak. Lots of energy and tension. Bright array of juicy citrus fruits and white pear fruits. Refreshing with crisp acidity and mild spices. (85/100)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru Sur le Sentier du Clou 2018
White clay soil. An energetic bouquet of ripe citrus fruits, glossy tree fruits and crystalline minerals. Medium bodied with good tension and acidity. Attractive purity and focus. (85-86/100)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes 2018
A cool climate bouquet of sleek tree fruits and stoney minerals. Fresh lemons and airy minerals. Light-bodied but nervy and intense. A very tidy Saint Aubin. (86-87/100)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru La Chateniere 2018
La Chateniere is a west-facing vineyard, cold and high up in the slope. A sleek array of smoky minerals, linear citrus fruits and touch of exotic spices. Great tension and potency. Good balance of acidity and fruit intensity. (87/100)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 2018
From 2 parcels, one very near the Chassagne side and the other near Les Cortons. A generous array of juicy and ripe citrus fruits, flinty tree fruits and mild spices. Smoky minerals with a fine body. (88/100)
Saint Aubin 1er Cru Les Combes 2018
North facing rocky vineyard. More phenolic on the nose with smoky citrus fruits. Good toast and leesy texture. Lovely tree fruits and juicy lemons. Latent energy. (86-87/100)
Chassagne Montrachet 2018
From a blend of 3 parcels, including Les Meix Goudard, more limestone soil than Chassagne Montrachet. Ripe white orchard fruits with a bigger boned structure than their Saint Aubin wines, but arguably less tension on the palate. (86/100)
Puligny Montrachet Le Trezin 2018
Located in Blagny, 400m above sea level. Joseph owns a 0.2ha vineyard in Trezin. An attractive array of pure white fruits, cool climate minerals with a lovely textured leesy tone on the palate. Lower alcohol with no botrytis, resulting in early ripening. Light bodied with good acidity. (87/100)
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne 2018
This La Garenne is one of the most energetic white wines I have tasted in 2018, bright array of fruits with lovely elegance. From 0.2ha vineyard, 4 normal sized barrels produced. Juicy white fruits with racy citrus. Mildly reductive with gentle spices. Light bodied but really well made. (87-88/100)
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2018
From 0.36ha vineyards with vines ranging from 40 to 100 years old. 6 barrels produced in 2018. Explosive minerals with superb fruit density. Ripe and juicy orchard fruits with bright acidity and vibrant texture. Superbly long and smoky finish. (90-91/100)
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse 2018
Vide Bourse is located right below Batard Montrachet. Joseph Colin is one of the 5 producers in this vineyard. Only 1 500L barrel and 1 normal sized barrel produced. Refined nose of ripe white orchard fruits and leesy nose. Voluminous and smoky with refreshing acidity. The big-boned structure resembles Batard Montrachet. Ripe and muscular. (90/100)
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2018
From purchased grapes, vineyard located next to Bienvenues Batard Montrachet. Only 1 228L barrel produced. Aged in 2 year old oak. The nose offers a powerful array of smoky ripe orchard fruits and refreshing lemons. Refined with lovely leesy texture. (91-92/100)
Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2018
From purchased juice. The Chevalier Montrachet is a different kettle of fish at Domaine Joseph Colin. Much riper and big boned compared to his other wines since Joseph only purchased the juice so couldn’t have influenced the picking date. Ripe and oily tropical fruits with succulent yellow orchard fruits. Full-bodied with fairly decent acidity (though not as high as his other wines). Slightly higher in alcohol. Great intensity and attack. (92-93/100)
