| | Was planning dinner with some of my great Burg friends. Virgile Lignier, of Lignier-Michelot, happened to be free for dinner, so he joined us as our 5th diner. - 1996 Dom Pérignon Champagne Oenothèque - France, Champagne
Starts as I expected from a 1996 Chardonnay-based Champagne, with intensity and lots of big fruit. Last time I had this, I preferred the 1996 regular DP cuvee tasting alongside. Interestingly, this picked up power, textures and complexity with more time in glass, and somehow actually started seeming more bright and fresh. (94 pts.)
- 1996 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Oxidizing. (FLAWED)
- 1996 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Lush and almost sappy Grand Cru Chablis. Ripe orchard fruit with lots of aromatic intensity. Palate is also showing the same sweet, ripe fruit, then turned a bit more classically lean toward middle. (93 pts.)
- 1999 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Slightly reserved nose, then more robust orchard fruit flavors coming through on palate. Very linear and direct from start-to-finish, giving it a classic Chablis character. (91 pts.)
- 2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Very oxidized. (FLAWED)
- 2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Great combination of white flowers with ripe orchard fruit. really intense apple and pear flavors followed by massive minerality in the middle. This is a very fat version of a classic Chablis that shows great intensity from middle to finish. (94 pts.)
- 2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Good but clearly starting to show oxidation. (FLAWED)
- 2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Valmur - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Starts with stone fruit on nose, which continues on to the palate, along with fairly intense acidity and minerality, followed by citrus elements at the very end. Really good now, probably still getting even better. (93 pts.)
- 2008 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée Bertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Black fruit nose, with meaty and powerful essence. Black cherry flavors with quite good balance for a villages level 2008, showing good balance and harmony, with none of the bitterness or simplicity I've seen in too much 2008 Villages. (89 pts.)
- 1991 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Had high expectations, but I found this more interesting than really good. All earth and secondary character, not nearly as interesting as bottles of top Lafarge I've had the past few years from either 1990 or 1991. Almost came across as slightly dirty. (87 pts.)
- 1976 Maison Leroy Volnay - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay
Wonderful nose shows earthy spice, hints of red fruit and leathery character. Palate not quite as interesting as the nose, but still retains some robust background spice behind the earthy flavors. (87 pts.)
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