France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted blind – this showed as it should and was therefore an easy correct guess for me. Mature grenache nose with sweet and funky red fruits with and hints of herbs. Resolved tannins and fairly delicate I think this is at peak and should be drunk over the next few years. Very good.
Tasted blind – darker colour with some sulfur on the nose that eventually blew off leaving Northern Rhone-like notes of poopy funk, barnyard, smoke, leather and darker syrah fruit. Smooth yet well structured (in a mature way) and drinking very well. Like the ‘90 Bernardine, this is at peak and should be drunk soon. Excellent.
Slightly sweeter and red pinot fruit nose with some spice and earthy hints as well. Light to medium weight with a pleasant and delicate mouthfeel and darker pinot fruit flavours. Resolved tannins and decent acidity. This isn’t going to get any better so drink up. Very good.
Tasted blind – Riper nose with white pepper and dark roasted fruits. Fairly extracted on the palate with more dark fruits and a little bit of heat creeping through on the finish. Tannins are firm and drying with average acidity. Drinking well now. Very good.
Orange/copper colour. Nice nose of apricot, mango and coconut. Mature and well balanced with solid acidity. This is drinking well and went perfectly with our seared foie gras. Very good.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Sweet fruit nose with pleasant funk that at first had my thinking Northern Rhone, but once it warmed up and opened up the Grenache fruit became more apparent. This showed some elegance and finesse and in my slightly intoxicated state thought this was quite good. Drink or hold. Very good.
1990 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted blind – this showed as it should and was therefore an easy correct guess for me. Mature grenache nose with sweet and funky red fruits with and hints of herbs. Resolved tannins and fairly delicate I think this is at peak and should be drunk over the next few years. Very good.
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1989 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Tasted blind – darker colour with some sulfur on the nose that eventually blew off leaving Northern Rhone-like notes of poopy funk, barnyard, smoke, leather and darker syrah fruit. Smooth yet well structured (in a mature way) and drinking very well. Like the ‘90 Bernardine, this is at peak and should be drunk soon. Excellent.
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1997 Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune
Slightly sweeter and red pinot fruit nose with some spice and earthy hints as well. Light to medium weight with a pleasant and delicate mouthfeel and darker pinot fruit flavours. Resolved tannins and decent acidity. This isn’t going to get any better so drink up. Very good.
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1995 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
Tasted blind – Riper nose with white pepper and dark roasted fruits. Fairly extracted on the palate with more dark fruits and a little bit of heat creeping through on the finish. Tannins are firm and drying with average acidity. Drinking well now. Very good.
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1988 Mayne des Carmes 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Orange/copper colour. Nice nose of apricot, mango and coconut. Mature and well balanced with solid acidity. This is drinking well and went perfectly with our seared foie gras. Very good.
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1998 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Sweet fruit nose with pleasant funk that at first had my thinking Northern Rhone, but once it warmed up and opened up the Grenache fruit became more apparent. This showed some elegance and finesse and in my slightly intoxicated state thought this was quite good. Drink or hold. Very good.
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