On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:57:35 +0100, Fei Chen > wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I'm not familiar with Burgundies so I was wondering if anyone can give me
>some opinion on this one. Last week when I opened a Hospices de Beaune
>1993 Cuvee Maurice Drouhin just bought from a local wine shop I found the
>wine appearing with a brown tint and tasting a bit sour. So I brought the
>wine back to the shop asking the owner if the wine could be cooked or over
>its prime. He first asked me if I knew Burgundy wines, which I said I
>didnt, and then proceeded on telling me that the Burgundy wine is supposed
>to have a brown color, given its age, and the little bit of sour tast is
>normal, and that the wine actually was excellent with a lot of fruit.
>
>Since I don't know how true Burgundies are supposed to taste, I was
>wondering if someone on this group can corroborate his answers?
>
Others with much more Burgundy expertise than I have will jump in
shortly, I'm certain. But for now, let me note that a brownish tint is
quite common in Burgundies and more likely in older wines. You'll also
encounter what is often referred to as a "brick" tint on Bordeaux.

One person's "sour" is not always the same as another's. But,
Burgundies are often mentioned as showing "funk" or "barnyard" or
"earth". My experience with Pinot Noir is that a bit of sourness is
often present, particularly shortly after opening. With a bit of time
in the glass, it will lessen or disappear. I also experience sour
notes with mass market US Pinot Noir, i.e., the less than $20/btl
range. Not all, but some.

I would believe your wine merchant. And, anyone stocking '93 Hospices
de Beaune is probably a pretty knowledgeable shopkeeper with a pretty
up-scale clientele. Probably not a place to pick up a forty of malt
liquor.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com