A Toast to a Great Burgundian

I realize I am a claret monkey, but a glass must be raised nonetheless...

Famed Burgundy winemaker Henri Jayer died this past Friday at age 84 as reported in the NY Times. There is a little I can say that hasn't already been said in the article or on Mr. Parker's bulliten board.

So, here's a shout out to all the untrained vineyard workers (and wine writers) with a dream! Sotheby's has Jayer's 1978 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parentoux (the wine that put him on the map) estimated at $5,000 per bottle with only 3,500 bottles made per vintage.

Buyer's take note: In this winemonkey's humble opinion, while the 1978 is historically significant and would grace any cellar, the smart money is going to be on the 1997 1er Cru Cros Parentoux Reserve. This was the first vintage of the "reserve."

When Henri turned over the operation to his nephew-in-law Emmanuel Rouget in 1996, he kept 1/3rd of Cros Parantoux for himself . In 1997 he bottled 1400 bottles of Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux Reserve and only did this from 1997 until 2001.

Gary Danko has a 2000 on the wine list for $2,200 and to give you all some perspective on how important Henri was, they have the 2000 Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche for a mere $1,000.

Drink up and dream!