Pinot and Chardonnay gathering at Harth Restaurant - Clos de Tart, Vogue BM and Chave

When I checked my email at 2 pm, I realized that winos were dropping like flies. It was meant to be a dinner for eight but we ended up with only four. I opened the 00 Clos de Tart and the 95 BdM CC. One badly corked and the other premoxed. Oh well, ces’t la vie. The second bottle of Clos de Tart was correct and expressive. I also opened the 01 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay which showed fresh. I decided to add the 83 Chave Hermitage just in case we are short on wines. RJ, Justin B, Peter and I got together and Harth restaurant in Tysons, Va to drink mostly pinots and chadonnays. Luckily all the wines, except the 99 Jadot BM, really showed well and we had a blast. Towards the end of the night, Justin decided to share the wealth and there were some lucky dinners who got nice education and great wines.

The 08 Ygrec was a pleasant surprise, a great wine.

• 2008 Y de Yquem 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  The fruit impression starts cool with granny smith and lemon then noticeable tropical fruits emerge with pineapple and banana, also a hint of botrytis, limestone and lanoline. Excellent concentration, chewy palate, a hint of sweetness but mouth puckering acidity and strong mineral expression quickly mask it. This is a big scale wine with big expression that remains fresh due to bright acidity and minerality. The 08 Ygrec is not unlike a top Grave blanc in lanoline, minerality and acidity with a drop of D’Yquem banana, ground ginger and egg custard. This is an impressive wine that is drinking nicely but will improve at least for the next two decades. I really enjoyed the precision in this wine.

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• 2005 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  This is so darn fresh and precise. The first impression is all about minerality, limestone and sea breeze, also lemon zest, a slight hint of sesame/toasted oak that adds complexity and a hint of mint/dry herbs as well. Great mineral expression, oily yet airy, bright acidity lead to extremely long finish. As RJ said, acidity and minerality of les Clos but more generous fruits of 1er Puligny. Drinking beautifully but extremely youthful.

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• 2001 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This actually shows young. It has settled down. As Justin B said, smoke, lemon and light caramel. Pretty fat and a hint of alcohol. It is actually drinking well, pleasant surprise.

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• 2008 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  This is a classic Kistler also a big scale wine. Mostly yellow fruits, hard to pinpoint specific fruits other than lemon, toasted oak/sesame, limestone, butter popcorn and light caramel. The fruit expression is ripe and warm, noticeable acidity and a hint of mineral expression. I also noticed a hint of sugar and heat.

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• 2005 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne Quintessence 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  What happened here? Although the color was correct, the wine is way too advanced. Hopefully it was a storage issue. Just flat.

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• 2001 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  Medium intense nose displaying blackberries, deeply toned but subtle black fruits, lavender, earth, ink and spicy spices. It is a big and masculine Bonne Mares that is entering the beginning stage of drinking windows. With air, a hint of licorice and a bit more jammy fruits. Black fruits, spicy, excellent concentration, masculine and formidable structure.

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• 1999 Louis Jadot Bonnes Mares Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  Seems a bit muted, then a slight hint of TCA. Some thought just closed but became obvious with time. This is a big scale wine with jammy black fruits. I would imagine in the 93-95 range if clean.

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• 2000 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru

  Decanted for two hours, expressive nose of black cherries, blackberries, mushroom and tree bark. With air, espresso gives the exotic impression. Medium concentration and sweet. Clearly less material than the 01 but ready to go. Both wines nicely demonstrate the vintage characteristics. i.e. The 00 more evolved, less concentrated and jammy fruits where the 01, fresh red fruits, caramel like sweetness and bright acidity. This is mostly secondary with a hint of tertiary. Drinking beautifully but will improve.

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• 2001 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru

  Raspberry and red fruit impression, a hint of sesame/oak, light caramel, perfume and earth. Sweet but fresh fruits, bright acidity and nicely integrated tannins. More youthful and tighter than the 00 and also more material. Although enjoyable a few more years of cellaring will help and needs at least ten more years to fully matured. Beautiful and impressive big scale wine.

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• 2004 Marcassin Pinot Noir Blue-Slide Ridge Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Expressive nose of black cherries, black fruits, blackberry jam, licorice, tobacco and dark caramel. Excellent concentration and strong presence of acidity. A hint of Port as the end note. Nice wine. I am sure it will excite a lot of Cal pinot lovers.

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• 1983 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  The same source as the last. Ash, bright red fruits, charred steak, beef blood, white pepper and garrigue. The palate is so darn Burgundian. Some may find this a bit too acidic and lacking the fruit sweetness. Drinking beautifully. We drank this at the end, perhaps it would have shown better with a fatty rare steak. Lovely.

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Justin served Movia Pinot Nero blind, I guessed Burgundy but RJ was a lot more accurate, cooler impression than California and not quite Burgundy, Oregon pinot. We ended up staying until ten, four hours plus but it was a great fun hanging with the guys once again.