This event put on by the Australian importer a couple of months ago was a great opportunity to try the range of wines from this producer.

It is evident that Bernstein has lofty ambitions, and the prices are extremely ambitious already to match. There are some excellent wines here and clearly some high quality vineyard holdings have been leased, I’ll be keeping an interested eye on this producer in the future but at the prices asked I am unlikely to be able to acquire any significant quantities.

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champ-Gain – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
    Lots of reductive characters initially, but opened up with time to show florals, chalk, sea spray and peaches. Quite a nutty oak element on the palate, with a rich streak throughout the medium length. Good, and should show better with time in the bottle. 88/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Meursault 1er Cru Charmes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
    Closed and shy on the nose, there is some lemon cream that comes through with vigorous swirling. The palate is better, showing poise and structure. Needs time. 90/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Corton-Charlemagne – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
    Creamy nose with hints of grapefruit, orange peel and lemon. The palate is rich but balanced, with great length. There is lots of potential here, I would like to see it in another 5 years. 91/100

  • 2007 Olivier Bernstein Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Lavrottes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
    Cloudy colour. Cherry, earth and tobacco on the nose. Acid stands out on the palate and there isn’t enough fruit, depth or structure to make up for it. 85/100

  • 2008 Olivier Bernstein Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Lavrottes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
    Meaty and peppery nose with some smoky aromas. Medium bodied on the palate, but not quite enough depth to be better than good. 87/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Lavrottes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
    A ripe nose with raspberry, graphite, red cherries and stems. Powerful on the palate but there is good structure to offset this. Will be better in a few years when it has had time to settle down. I preferred this to the 2007 and 2008 versions. 89/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Gevrey-Chambertin – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
    Black cherry and iron aromas. Quite generous with the black fruit on the palate but does have some structure and drive to go along with it. Solid wine and appealing to drink. 88/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
    Cherry and lots of liquorice on the nose. Has lots of fruit and some interesting texture but it could use a bit more depth on the palate. Quite good overall. 88/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
    Earthy, red cherry and fresh raspberry aromas. Palate has ample tannin with good fruit weight and excellent length. 89/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Bonnes Mares – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
    Stem driven nose, with some raspberry and violets. The palate is much more savoury, with the tannins standing out right now. Bonnes Mares is a vineyard that I love, but this didn’t have the depth on the palate I’d expect even at this early stage. 90/100

  • 2007 Olivier Bernstein Charmes-Chambertin – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
    Nicely perfumed with a bit of smoke, truffle and red cherry. The palate is very good, it has good length and has plenty of fruit intensity but it is well balanced by well proportioned structure. 91/100

  • 2008 Olivier Bernstein Charmes-Chambertin – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
    Cherries, some spice and floral elements. Palate isn’t as nice as the nose, it is a touch on the lean side and the acid sticks out slightly. 89/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Charmes-Chambertin – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
    Appealing nose of floral notes, earth, cherry and stem character. The palate is tasty and long, with excellent balance. Lots of potential but still great to drink now. My favourite of the Charmes from 07, 08 and 09. 91/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Clos Vougeot – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
    Great complexity to the nose with black pepper, floral, light earth and red cherries. Seriously impressive palate, the balance is superior and it has excellent structure and length. Delicate mouthfeel, but it still has impact. Superb. 92/100

  • 2008 Olivier Bernstein Clos Vougeot – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
    Threshold level cork taint, a shame. NR

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Clos de la Roche – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
    Red cherry, rocks, earth and floral notes. Palate has very attractive spice and texture to it. Good structure and length, this is an impressive wine. 92/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Mazis-Chambertin – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
    Black cherries, coffee and raspberry on the nose. The palate is bold, with good length, but it doesn’t have the depth expected. 90/100

  • 2009 Olivier Bernstein Chambertin-Clos de Bèze – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
    Redcurrant, white pepper, truffle and some forest floor aromas. The palate has incredible structure, there is brooding fruit, tannin and acid all working together. Young but it is already obviously a serious and brilliant wine. 93/100

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