| | WOTN is so far Margaux 1996, with certain strong contenders to watch out when they mature in years... Other honourable mentions include 82 Lalande, 86 Grange, 89 La Turque, 96 Clos St Hilaire, 96 Leflaive Chevalier, and the always delightful 97 Leroy. - 1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
Quite oaky, aged cheese, bright acidity. 93 (93 pts.)
- 1988 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
Fresh still, a bit plain but good layers. 93 (93 pts.)
- 2014 Arnaud Ente Meursault - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Lovely reduction, pointy and with weight. Nice complexity. 91-92 (91 pts.)
- 2007 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
On the bitter side, cool minerals, detailed spice on finish. 92 (92 pts.)
- 2011 Coche-Dury Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Quite tannic, vintage funky, dissipate into bitter floral notes. Good concentration above appellation. Very elegant. 91 (91 pts.)
- 2000 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Nice place to drink, still lots of freshness but showing secondary. Box of spiced florals, soil, touch of sweet, great silky palate. 93+ (93 pts.)
- 1996 Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Silky smooth tannin, super fresh, great balance, lagging finish. Just incredible harmony. 95+ (95 pts.)
- 1983 Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Developing quite nice, good show of peppery flavor. 93 (93 pts.)
- 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Balance is a bit off. Woods dominate. NR
- 1982 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Indeed very nice balance and harmony. 95 (95 pts.)
- 1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne
Very bright acidity, perhaps a bit too much, needs more time? 92? (92 pts.)
- 1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Unexpectedly soft and feminine, nothing of the roughness. Very good fruit package. 95 (95 pts.)
- N.V. Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Heritage (1921-2010) - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Half young wines and half old wines. Interesting combination of overall freshness and aged toasted nuances towards end of the palate. Great story behind too. 93 (93 pts.)
- 2012 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Montjolys - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Very Mesnil character, bright white fruit and driven acidity. Not super complex but very nice. 92 (92 pts.)
- 1991 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Slightly thin, cherry profile, not a specific style—perhaps in the awkward phase of choosing directions for the domaine? 92 (92 pts.)
- 1990 Coche-Dury Meursault Les Rougeots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Really smoky, good concentration and clarity. Weight is there, but did not observe the racy complexity. 92 (92 pts.)
- 1986 Penfolds Grange - Australia, South Australia
Pure blackberry jam, amazing array of a fruit-driven profile with everything in place, flaring with touches of earthiness. Very nice. 95 (95 pts.)
- 1997 Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
0410/878. Amazing depth as always, tannin almost fully resolved into great funkiness and spread florals. Precise, spicy and broad palate. 94 (94 pts.)
- 1989 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Just incredible harmony and balance... NR
- 2011 Domaine Ramonet Chevalier-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Disappointing weight, very thin and too much acidity. Condition is fine. 91 (91 pts.)
- 2002 Domaine d'Auvenay (Lalou Bize-Leroy) Meursault Les Narvaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
2322 Bottles Harvested. Above appellation weight and concentration, sesame profile, nice soft acidity. It is just not really coming together or that interesting; reduction seems in a weird place. One would have had higher hope for this vintage. 93? (93 pts.)
- 1988 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Nose strikes as a lot of tea secondary, perhaps even shadowing a little of the fruit. Power and weight are GC. 92 (92 pts.)
- 2005 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
This really just does not have either the richness of good Batard or the power of the vintage. It is fat, big and even well-made—just totally uninteresting. 92 (92 pts.)
- 1996 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Very fresh and energetic, there is direction in the wine. Not mind-blowing bottle. Maybe more time? 94 (94 pts.)
- 1996 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Le Clos Saint-Hilaire - France, Champagne
Really nice Champagne, crispy clean acidity, deep structure and great balance. Holds up after a night of great wines. 94 (94 pts.)
- 2006 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Showed better than last bottle; did not exhibit brewed fruit qualities. 93 (93 pts.)
- 2015 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Nice balance and weight, not quite expressive. 92 (92 pts.)
- 2000 Michel Bonnefond Ruchottes-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Light palate as is the vintage, but good profile of complete fruit quite like Rousseau. Slightly thin. 92 (92 pts.)
- 2001 Michel Bonnefond Ruchottes-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
More acidity, and even leaner towards a focus point. Toned dark fruit, The clarity and backward spices are nice, very deep at the back of the throat finish. Not quite generous as the vintage can be. 92-93 (92 pts.)
- 1999 Joseph Drouhin Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Magnum. Quite thin, lots of dark fruits, good vintage spice. 88 (88 pts.)
- 2007 Colgin Syrah IX Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
Some tomato-like green/blue fruit aromatics, which seems characteristics to their 07s, but overall very luscious, jammy and enjoyable. Generous showing. 94 (94 pts.)
- 1994 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
Silky smooth tannin, new world cabernet at its best. Graceful composure with a properly aged fruit bouquet. 94-95 (94 pts.)
- 1978 Louis Jadot Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Really well-aged, good weight and with dimensions. Cannot remember much… 93? (93 pts.)
- 1998 Domaine Robert Arnoux / Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Tasted, good for vintage, unexpected charm. 92 (92 pts.)
- 1976 Fourrier-Beaudot Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Tasted. Related to JM Fourrier? Nice sweetness.
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