Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru La Riotte
Domaine Taupenot-Merme
2016
Burgundy
France
Domaine Taupenot-Merme is a Burgundy wine estate located in the heart of the Côte de Beaune at Morey-Saint-Denis. The Pinot Noir-based wines aim to represent various terroirs rather than an overwhelming house style.
The domaine owns around 13 hectares (32 acres) of vineyard, spread across 19 different appellations in both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. The domaine makes wine from several key grand and premier cru vineyards, including Charmes-Chambertin and Mazoyères-Chambertin, and the La Riotte Premier Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis. Taupenot-Merme also owns a small portion of the Clos des Lambrays vineyard, which is otherwise owned by the Domaine des Lambrays. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2001.
The domaine in its current form was founded in 1963, after the marriage of Denise Merme and Jean Taupenot. Their son Romain joined full-time in 1998, becoming the seventh generation of the Taupenot family to work as winemaker.
PRESS AND REVIEWS
91-93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru La Riotte has an expressive and engaging bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, pressed flowers and bergamot tea, complex and gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well-judged acidity, maybe a little conservative but very precise with a sense of energy and tension conveyed on the finish. Fortunately there is a good volume of this wine this vintage—try to buy some. (NM) (12/2017)
92 points Decanter
The La Riotte is one of the highlights of the Taupenot range, bursting from the glass with a classic bouquet of red cherry, strawberry and warm baking spice. It is vibrant and cool, with a nice core of fruit and a fine-grained chassis of taut, chalky tannins. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040. (WK) (10/2017)
90-92 points Allen Meadows - Burghound
Soft wood surrounds aromas of dark currant, newly turned earth and the sauvage. The nicely rich and generously proportioned medium weight flavors possess a sleek texture along with good precision that contrasts somewhat with the firm, dusty and slightly austere finale. Lovely and this should drink reasonably well young yet easily be capable of reward 10 to 12 years. (1/2018)
89-91 points Vinous
Bright ruby. An essence of crushed black fruits on the nose, accented by licorice and violet. A bit more relaxed in the early going than the Combe d'Orveau but without quite the density for its broad, dusty tannins. Distinctly darker than the 2015 version of this wine but without quite the same complexity. For his part, Taupenot finds these tannins more refined than usual for this cuvée. (ST) (1/2018)
K&L Notes
92 pts Jasper Morris, MW: "Excellent dense mid purple, slightly reserved, then a solid classy medium concentrated fruit on the palate, dark fruit with still some floral touches