| | - 2007 Domaine Perrot-Minot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fontenys Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Very light crimson; intense floral, ethereal, deep cherry, refined, some structure, balm, orange with slight riper almost blueberry; good.
- 2009 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Darker crimson core with pale rim, cloudy; olives, cedar, dusty, dried cherry, roses; easy on entry, cinnamon, approachable, earth, higher toned, decent structure, a bit sour on the finish; not a great vintage but ok.
- 2005 Domaine de Montille Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
See through deep ruby; reduced, smoky, raspberry, cherry, oak, some tannin, spice, orange peel, clove, good depth.
- 2002 Château La Mission Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Dark garnet core with garnet rim; classic Bordeaux nose, oak, luxurious, lots of green notes, chocolate, wet earth, a bit angular, nice flavors, currants, licorice, anise, still youthful tannin and structure; wait but good potential; was in Pauillac- called '03 Lynch.
- 2003 Morgenster - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Dark core; nose shows big dark fruit, smoky, ashy, tobacco, bitter chocolate; black currant, dark cherry, big but juicy, good drinkability; tasty.
- 1988 Château Phélan Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Cloudy crimson core, large bricking; blood, clay, musky cherry and currants, aged, green pepper, tobacco; resolved, earth, bay leaf, a sweetness to it, bigger, mouth filling, reminiscent of BBQ; delicious.
- 2004 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Maroon, clarity, pale rim; candy cane, peppermint, mouth filling, dried floral, strawberry and cherry, reminiscent of Nebbiolo, cedar, a pop of tannin, youngish, tasty and interesting though not showing classic Syrah character.
- 2005 Château d'Armailhac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Dark garnet, lighter rim; wet earth, black currants, chocolate, young on the nose; good depth and texture on the palate, caressing tannin, herbs, bay leaf, still young but accessible; good.
- 2009 E. Guigal St. Joseph Lieu-Dit St. Joseph Rouge - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Darker core with brighter rim; loads of creamy oak, graham cracker; intense cherry, plush but structured, good core of fruit and showing rather youthful.
- 2010 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
See through light crimson with orange rim; roses, licorice, strawberry and cherry, elegant, fine, cedary note; fine tannin, higher acid, refined, a bit shorter finish, not yet complete but this was very good.
- 1999 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Past peak.
- 2010 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
Pale crimson, orange rim; reduced, very smoky, some soft strawberry and cherry, juicy; still quite embryonic.
- 2014 Domaine Jean Grivot Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Pale maroon, light rim; reduced nose, smoky, graham cracker, oaky, soft floral, juicy, penetrating, delicate red fruit; young and delicious.
A night of big names, some lesser vintages, but nothing was extraordinary. Hard to pick a clear winner but the Phelan was towards the top along with the LMHB and Bruno Rocca. |
