Tasting Notes 574 found

Jancis Robinson and Brad Baker "The Champagne Warrior" have suggested that frugal fans of Champagne Bollinger buy their non-vintage "Special Cuvee" on release (particularly if you really like that cuvee) and cellar the bottles for 5 to 10 years before consuming. The theory is that with the extra time under cork the wine will come to resemble Bollinger's vintage Grande Annee but at a fraction of the cost. I've done this for years with very good results but stopped when the price of the Special Cuvee went up.

I cellared this case in December 2010. They are lot number L017505 (LYDDDBB). This wine was labelled June 24, 2010, 5th Batch of the day. It was most likely disgorged sometime in the three months prior and is therefor most likely based on the 2006 vintage. Enough said!

Bright but decidedly golden color with a very tight and persistent mousse. The nose is bright and fresh with notes of preserved lemon, dried citrus peel and exotic spices. It is amazingly young on the palate with bright citrus and stone fruit flavors. While it has lost some intensity, it is poised and balanced. Less oxidative than several more recent cuvees, this must have been unusually tight on release. 91pts. Drink as soon as is appropriately convenient. (10729 views)

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Clear, bright, medium yellow gold. The nose show all I hope for in a White Bordeaux styled wine--preserved lemons, honey, wool and some sweet spices. Dry, luscious but focused flavors echo the aromas with citrus, spice and lanolin wrapped in a richly textured and full-bodied impression. More than adequate acidity helps to carry and lift the long, satisfying finish. Drink now through 2021. (1811 views)

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Decanted about an hour. Medium dark color, thin clear rim. Gorgeous, complex aromas of sweet spices, red and black fruit. The initial palate impression is viscous, soft and gently sweet. Black fruit, licorice, cinnamon and baking spices lead the flavor parade with red fruit elements following. Perfectly balanced with ripe but apparent tannic structure, bright acidity and a long satisfying finish. This is rocking good and drinking well now. 93 points now through 2023. (1707 views)

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Stood up for 24 hours and carefully decanted. Thanks for the heads up from previous reviewers regarding sediment. Got a clean pour into the decanter where I left the wine for 2 hours. This wine is nearly opaque black to the very thin clear rim, but the color is bright. I was expecting a massive fruit bomb but that was not this bottle. The restrained nose features wild blackberry, dried herbs, licorice and pan roasted spices. The palate is fresh and bright without any jamminess or excess weight. Rich, seamless, and very polished flavors are almost weightless and uplifting. While wines like this are sometimes compared to Bordeaux, this is quintessentially Washington and about as good as it get up there--or anywhere. We wine geeks often speak of "finish" and "length", that lasting impression of the flavor and character of the wine after you swallow. This discrete wine lingers gently on the palate just begging you to take another sip. Although I've had quite a few great wines this year, this gets my nod as "Wine of the Year". I can only dream that I might taste something more memorable. 97 points. Drink now through 2019. (4492 views)

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Coravin'd into a Burgundy stem for 2 hours before tasting. Rather deeply colored with a wide, tapered rim. Enticing nose of dried spices, and dried red flowers with a lot of energy evident. Following those aromatics, the palate is surprisingly primary with tight flavors of cranberry first, followed by tart red cherries. All there with plenty on content but still quite youthful. Certainly not unpleasant at this stage, all the elements are in balance. I look forward to drinking my remaining 11 bottles starting in 2020. 92+. (5306 views)

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Disgorged May 2015. Medium color with fine carbonation.Typical Bolli nose with roasted nuts, exotic cirtrus, baked apple and orchard fruit notes. Rich but lively with meaty, Pinot-centric flavors. Long and persistent. Quite forward and precocious. The last few ounces, tasting at room temperature several hours later, were remarkable. Drink now through 2021. (3921 views)

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Bright yellow with gold accents. The nose is slowly showing preserved citrus, lanolin, spice and honey. Deep and powerful on the palate, the still primary flavors are showing citrus zest, spiced pear that are deep and concentrated but quite bright, young and juicy. The oak is nicely integrated with the fruit. While this continues to evolve at a glacial pace, it is a pleasure to drink now but will reward several more years in the cellar. (1551 views)

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Coravin'd for 2 hours. Purple/black, right to the rim. Opaque. Rather closely held with notes of smoked meat, lavender, pan-roasted spices. Firm, young but nicely balanced, the initial flavors feature mostly black fruit. This is very polished and complex yet still rather primary. An excellent Syrah that is a bit more "New World" that the 2010 (tasted side-by-side) but not all jammy or over ripe. Drink 2018-2021 (3090 views)

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Coravin'd into a glass for 2 hours before tasting. Opaque purple/black. Deep-as-a-mineshaft nose of black fruit, licorice, tar and roasted spices. Spectacularly rich but elegant on enty with expansive flavors of exotic black fruit, spice and baked compote. The texture is dense but weightless--as only the finest reds can be. The exemplary finish is long, bright and juicy. Certainly among the finest Zins I've tasted. Drink 2015-2025. (2230 views)

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Decanted for 2 hours. Medium crimson color. Initial aromas are bright and closely held. They include high-toned spicy red fruit. The flavors are also bright and lively with black and red fruit, baking spices and a bit of licorice. With a bit of time this wine becomes very pretty and lifted. There is bright acidity and the tannins are well integrated. This is quite precocious but should drink well for several years. 93pts. Drink now through 2025. (1752 views)

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Decanted 2 hours. Lots of gunky sediment. Very darkly colored with no signs of age. Sexy aromas of black fruit, incense, roasted spices and oak notes. Quite ripe but nicely balanced flavors feature licorice, currants, fruit liqueur and oak spice. The oak that dominated this wine in its youth is now just a nice element in this powerful but complex and elegant wine. Unfortunately, my last bottle. At its peak for sure, but should continue to please for several more years. (3740 views)

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Medium yellow with some gold. Fresh, lively and very complex, the nose offers a perfect blend of ripe citrus and crushed rock minerality. The broad palate includes preserved lemons, orchard fruit and sweet herbs. Viscous, medium bodied and quite persistent, this wine offers everything I could hope for in an everyday White Burgundy. Drink now through 2022. (998 views)

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Deep but brilliant yellow/gold. Crushed oyster shells, preserved Tunisian lemons, cold tidal pool on the nose. The aromas just explode with a little air. Complex and layered flavors include ripe lemon, quince, citrus zest and a touch of stone fruit. Power and persistence rule the finish. Yikes, this is very lovely Vaulorent! Drink now through 2020 if well stored. Screw cap. Last and best bottle from a glorious case. (1633 views)

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Pale color with a consistent mousse. Lovely aromas of cherries, strawberry and brioche. The flavors are profound, dry and memorable. The texture is creamy but firmly structured. An excellent example of this classic wine. (2765 views)

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Decanted for 2 hours. Light yellow. Lemon, seashells, quince and eucalyptus are just some of the youthful but complex aromatic landscape. Viscous on entry, the first flavors show preserved lemon, citrus zest, toasted nuts. There is still some youthful bitterness. The long and powerful finish is a bit warm. This wine is still in its adolescence and should really hit its stride in about 5 years. (1743 views)

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