Jacques Robin

Founded in 1973 by Annie and Jacques Robin they planted their first vines (50 ares) in the vineyard which is now known as Sorbee.
It was not until 1985 that production began.
Origine Zero Dosage is 100% Pinot Noir. Quite potent Pinot notes hit you on the nose and a pleasant touch of toast. It is bracingly dry on the palate but has a nice bready note.
Cuvee Prestige, a 70/30 Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend, shows a marked increase in structure on the palate although lacks oomph on the mid to late.
As you head out north of Buxieres sur Arce you are greeted with the vineyard ‘Sorbee’ on your right side. It faces south/south-west. It is used by Bertrand Gautherot for one half of his Vouette et Sorbee. Cuvee Secret de Sorbee, produced from this vineyard; the first owned by his parents, is 100% Pinot Noir. This, sadly, is where the relationship with Bertrand’s wine ends. It shows far too high a sugar level on the nose and although the palate gives a pleasant feel with notes of redcurrant and blueberry it doesn’t offer much more. It is produced using 10% large oak barrels, 7g/ltr, and the wine tasted was from 2009/10/11.
Cuvee Kimmeridgienne 2007 is named after the soil in this area, laid down in the late or upper Jurassic epoch (on a side note, this Kimmeridge clay is the main source rock for oil fields in the North Sea!). The wine is only produced from certain years and always from this one plot at Sorbee. Fleshy and with a touch of oxidised fruit to it, it has good weight but lacks any direction and length.
Cuvee Rubis Brut is all violets and loads of promise. Sadly it doesn’t quite deliver. Dry and lacking.
I must confess a touch of disappointment on trying these wines, knowing the vineyard as I do. Perhaps, with the next generation they may clean up the act and take them forwards. Here is hoping.