No’easter? No Problem! An Evening with Martine Saunier at Brix on Broad

Businesses, city government, schools, and pretty much everybody heeded weather warnings that a major snowstorm was going to wreck havoc on Boston on February 10.  Closings and cancelations had shut down most of the city. Luckily, the bold Brix Chix and their guest, wine importer Martine Saunier were the exception. Storm or no storm, the wine tasting must go on!

I made my way to Brix Wine Shop on Broad Street from my Beacon Hill office on nearly empty streets and sidewalks, the wind literally stopping me at times. Arriving chilled and wet, I was quite ready to try some of Martine’s offerings. Martine circulated though the store with a bottle of Diebolt-Vallois Brut Champagne, filling and refilling glasses as guests mingled and checked out the Brix wine selection.

Once everyone had arrived, we sat down for the presentation and the tasting of the remaining wines. One of the first things that immediately comes across about Martine is that fabled French charm. A great story teller, she recounted how she got her start in the wine industry in the 1960s, a time when few women worked in the field, and shared stories of how she developed lasting relationships with the wineries in her portfolio.

Unlike most tastings, Martine started us with the reds, since white wines clean the palate. The full line-up was:

• NV Diebolt-Vallois Brut Champagne – A pleasant sparkling wine with lemon and fresh baked bread. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir.

• 2005 Domaine Michel Gay Savigny Les Beaune – Great acidity and tannins. Very lean. Someone described it as “pure and intense” and I’d have to agree.

• 2006 Domaine Denis Mortet Gevrey Chambertin ‘Mes Cinq Terroirs’ – My favorite wine of the tasting. In a word, it was luscious. Spicy, ripe, blackberries, and violet.

• 2007 Domaine Gilles Robin Crozes Hermitage – Juicy strawberry, cherry, lavender, and hints of roasted meat. Hot and more tannic than either of the previous reds.

• 2006 Bernard Burgaud Cote Rotie – 100% Syrah. Earthy and meaty, with a long finish and grippy tannins.

• 2007 Laporte Sancerre ‘Domaine du Rochoy’ – Bright and rather lush despite initially having the nose of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

• 2006 Domaine Jean Marc Brocard Chablis “Les Clos” – My favorite white wine of the evening. An excellent wine, very clean, but ripe with lots of minerality.

Despite the storm outside, it was a wonderful evening that will be remembered for not only the outstanding wines, but also for the stories behind them.

Tagged as: Chablis wine, Gevrey-Chambertin, Pinot noir, Wine tasting