Predominantly a fruity-fresh nose of green apples, grapefruit, and a touch of almond. On the palate, this is an easy-going, drinkable blanc-de-blancs. Quite fruity and zesty, there is an intense malic acid vein that goes from beginning to end.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Pale colour. Classic Puligny nose. Gun flint, egg custard, and pineapple aromas. On the palate, this is clearly a big and cumbersome wine (reflecting the vintage, perhaps) but there is definitely enough acidity to prevent this from becoming a disaster. Very dominant oak -- this strikes me as astringent and cumbersome, as well as slightly hot as the alcohol feels disjointed.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
Next to the Puligny, the Meursault's nose isn't extremely distinctive; it's lacking the buttery caramel feel that you'd expect. On the palate, this is far more delicate than the Puligny though the texture is again lacking the rich texture that comes with the appellation. Not particularly brilliant nor distinctive, but a reasonably well-made white Burgundy.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Earthy and dusty, but featuring aromas of dark cherry, cough syrup, and licorice. While the nose is immensely alluring, the palate fails to live up to the promise, with a very strange chlorine note. Heavy oak. Truth be told, can't quite make heads or tails of this one.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Very classic Puligny nose with a very alluring lemon nose. I could believe it if you told me this was done in stainless steel -- very fruit-inflected without the vanilla or egg custard notes. However, there is a little bit of that oak peaking through on the palate. Very lithe and pretty.
Only some slight signs of bricking. Quite dusty on the nose and certainly not giving much up. Some slight aromas of red fruit, but this is mostly a very cerebral exercise. On the palate this is very restrained and this is a great example of a very old-school wine. Reminds me a bit of an aged St. Julien -- definitely feels dusty, and the tannins, while retaining this texture are very smooth.
Cloudy. Quite viscous in the glass, with the appearance of very thin honey. A nose of golden raisins, lemon peel, and honey. On the palate, this is very buttery with some flint characteristics. Very mineral, but at the same time, this is a very big chardonnay with some floral/honey spice notes. Well made, but not my style.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Purplish colour. Very bright, high-toned nose, with some burnt notes, as well as some mulchy undertones. Shrill red fruit aromas of red currants and sour cherries. The palate is just as shrill, loud, and piercing. There's a bizarre undertone of green mulch through it all. This is pretty terrifying red Burgundy. What did I just drink?
NV Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Champagne Blanc de Blancs 90 Points
France, Champagne
Predominantly a fruity-fresh nose of green apples, grapefruit, and a touch of almond. On the palate, this is an easy-going, drinkable blanc-de-blancs. Quite fruity and zesty, there is an intense malic acid vein that goes from beginning to end.
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2009 Les Climats du Coeur Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Pale colour. Classic Puligny nose. Gun flint, egg custard, and pineapple aromas. On the palate, this is clearly a big and cumbersome wine (reflecting the vintage, perhaps) but there is definitely enough acidity to prevent this from becoming a disaster. Very dominant oak -- this strikes me as astringent and cumbersome, as well as slightly hot as the alcohol feels disjointed.
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2009 Les Climats du Coeur Meursault 1er Cru 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
Next to the Puligny, the Meursault's nose isn't extremely distinctive; it's lacking the buttery caramel feel that you'd expect. On the palate, this is far more delicate than the Puligny though the texture is again lacking the rich texture that comes with the appellation. Not particularly brilliant nor distinctive, but a reasonably well-made white Burgundy.
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2009 Les Climats du Coeur Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Earthy and dusty, but featuring aromas of dark cherry, cough syrup, and licorice. While the nose is immensely alluring, the palate fails to live up to the promise, with a very strange chlorine note. Heavy oak. Truth be told, can't quite make heads or tails of this one.
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2010 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Very classic Puligny nose with a very alluring lemon nose. I could believe it if you told me this was done in stainless steel -- very fruit-inflected without the vanilla or egg custard notes. However, there is a little bit of that oak peaking through on the palate. Very lithe and pretty.
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1994 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva Pesquera 88 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Only some slight signs of bricking. Quite dusty on the nose and certainly not giving much up. Some slight aromas of red fruit, but this is mostly a very cerebral exercise. On the palate this is very restrained and this is a great example of a very old-school wine. Reminds me a bit of an aged St. Julien -- definitely feels dusty, and the tannins, while retaining this texture are very smooth.
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2002 Peter Michael Chardonnay Cuvée Indigene 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Cloudy. Quite viscous in the glass, with the appearance of very thin honey. A nose of golden raisins, lemon peel, and honey. On the palate, this is very buttery with some flint characteristics. Very mineral, but at the same time, this is a very big chardonnay with some floral/honey spice notes. Well made, but not my style.
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2009 Domaine Denis Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 70 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Purplish colour. Very bright, high-toned nose, with some burnt notes, as well as some mulchy undertones. Shrill red fruit aromas of red currants and sour cherries. The palate is just as shrill, loud, and piercing. There's a bizarre undertone of green mulch through it all. This is pretty terrifying red Burgundy. What did I just drink?
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