Burgundy

Tonight I attended the last class of Arnie Millan's Burgundy here in Seattle. The first class we went over some history and tasted some really nice Grand Cru offerings. Tonight we had several nice white wines. The best white was Laboure-Roi, Puligny-Montrachet '02 (~$42). If that is village wine wow! The best Red was Comte Armand, Clos des Epeneaux, Pommard '03 (~$84). A monster wine huge body complex flowers/fruit (without any fruit forwardness) and great texture. I guess the 02 is an exceptional year after all.

Other side notes:
1) Volnay and Pommard the place to go for quality velvety pinots.
2) For white wine the place to go is Chassagna Montrachet.
3) Grand Cru white wine easily falls into $200-$400.
4) 2002 is being regarded as one of the best vintages in the last 10-15 years
5) Betty Wasserman as an importer is a good sign that there's some quality behind the label (Kermit Lynch is another)
6) Stay in Beaune for any traveling to Burgundy
7) Chardonnay grapes are a cross between the Pinot family and a very old and nearly extinct grape variety called Gouais Blanc
8) Jean-Marc Pavelot is a producer of good wines for not that much money.
9) Volnay producer Pousse d'Or is hard to find.
10) 3rd weekend in September Beaune has great festivities.