No idea as to which release this was. Textbook Krug nose with notes of brioche, hazelnut, and apple cider. The oxidative style shows through pretty prominently this showing. Flavours of baked green apple, bread, and a hint of licorice. Strong vein of acidity. Medium-long finish.
2010 disgorgement. Beautiful pale copper colour. This is a beast of a rose. Layers and layers of complexity, with initial notes of hazelnut and dried mushrooms, followed by undertones of ripe red fruit. The palate is overwhelmingly complex with layers and layers of nuttiness. Somehow very light and fine on its feet, but intense density and concentration. This is likely the most acidic champagne I've ever had, but I just can't get enough of it.
Tart peaches, matchstick, wet stone on the nose. Surprisingly light on the palate with lots of white fruit and stony minerality. Texture wasn't too greasy either, which is a huge plus, but as with most white Rhone, I find this a bit for want of acidity.
Very rich and aromatic on the palate. Extremely expressive, Chalky limestone on the palate with some hints of red raspberry. Creamy texture. Acidity is not over the top. This is exceedingly well-balanced and put-together.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Definitely a bit ripe on the nose, but lots of red fruit flavours. Very broad on the palate with lots of tannin and stuffing. The concentration displays the ripeness of the vintage but sweetness isn't there. Very heavy tannins. Medium-length finish.
Aromas of spicy black peppercorn on the nose, with some light red fruit character. The palate is in a really nice spot right now, with a good balance of red fruit and cooking cherry acidity. Definitely veers towards the ripe side, but this is reaching a really good drinking window right now. This can only improve over the next 5-10 years.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Very, very tight. Barely smells like anything right now. With some more air, that typical Leroy aroma comes out: earth, cherries, and a bit of brown baking spice. The palate is also very tight and isn't giving up very many of its secrets right now. There are notes of cherry and brown baking spice. Medium length, red-fruit-inflected finish.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Ruby colour. Dusty and stemmy on the nose, with some red cherry notes. Very restrained on the palate and a lot of stemmy and earthy flavours. Balanced by red fruit and great acidity. In the context of all the other '03s I've had, this is an incredibly well-made of bottle wine; in fact, this is an awesome wine altogether. Very light tannins but everything's in balance.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
It's the green meanies meets DRC! Bizarre orange peel and cinnamon aromas. The palate seems a bit off kilter with some muted fruit notes and a lot of strange plant matter flavours (not completely certain it's stems, but it's definitely not normal). A bit disjointed and hot. At this price point, this is a resounding no.
Loads of green pepper and leather on the nose here. A bit dusty and funky; this is a classic cabernet. There's also perhaps a slight hint of barnyard animal character. The palate is very refined and light on its feet; no heaviness detectable anywhere. An incredibly pretty (if a bit funky) bottle of Napa cab. Light tannins; it seems that everything has already loosened up. Showing very well right now; this is a pleasure to drink right now.
Nose of wet fur and matchstick (somewhat reminiscent of young Pruem). Initially, this was completely disgusting: vapid and tasteless. After half an hour in the glass, this has blossomed into something that isn't too sweet but held together by a racy golden apple acidity. A very fruity finish tinged with pineapple. Quite delicious, but I can't personally get past the somewhat weird nose.
Seems advanced. Honey, botrytis, and tart fruit on the nose. Very rich and sweet on the palate; plenty of concentrated honey notes with flavours of apricots. Not too thick on the palate texturally, but just downright delicious.
This one was a seeper. Dark amber. Initially, I was really taken aback by the maderized nose. However, the attack was definitely awry, but the midpalate and finish was classic d'Yquem. Definitely nowhere as fresh as the previous bottle I had at the Significant Cellar tasting, but with time this opened up to be very opulent. Classic d'Yquem flavours of marmalade. Lively acidity tempered with coconut notes and some rich caramel. Finishes very long.
NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 93 Points
France, Champagne
No idea as to which release this was. Textbook Krug nose with notes of brioche, hazelnut, and apple cider. The oxidative style shows through pretty prominently this showing. Flavours of baked green apple, bread, and a hint of licorice. Strong vein of acidity. Medium-long finish.
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NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Brut Rosé 95 Points
France, Champagne
2010 disgorgement. Beautiful pale copper colour. This is a beast of a rose. Layers and layers of complexity, with initial notes of hazelnut and dried mushrooms, followed by undertones of ripe red fruit. The palate is overwhelmingly complex with layers and layers of nuttiness. Somehow very light and fine on its feet, but intense density and concentration. This is likely the most acidic champagne I've ever had, but I just can't get enough of it.
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2002 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Tart peaches, matchstick, wet stone on the nose. Surprisingly light on the palate with lots of white fruit and stony minerality. Texture wasn't too greasy either, which is a huge plus, but as with most white Rhone, I find this a bit for want of acidity.
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2001 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Very rich and aromatic on the palate. Extremely expressive, Chalky limestone on the palate with some hints of red raspberry. Creamy texture. Acidity is not over the top. This is exceedingly well-balanced and put-together.
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2003 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Definitely a bit ripe on the nose, but lots of red fruit flavours. Very broad on the palate with lots of tannin and stuffing. The concentration displays the ripeness of the vintage but sweetness isn't there. Very heavy tannins. Medium-length finish.
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1999 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Aromas of spicy black peppercorn on the nose, with some light red fruit character. The palate is in a really nice spot right now, with a good balance of red fruit and cooking cherry acidity. Definitely veers towards the ripe side, but this is reaching a really good drinking window right now. This can only improve over the next 5-10 years.
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2005 The Winemakers' Collection Michel Rolland Cuvée No. 1 Château d'Arsac 75 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Alcohol, dark red fruit. No character; soulless and anonymous. Vanishing tannins.
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2000 Domaine Leroy Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Very, very tight. Barely smells like anything right now. With some more air, that typical Leroy aroma comes out: earth, cherries, and a bit of brown baking spice. The palate is also very tight and isn't giving up very many of its secrets right now. There are notes of cherry and brown baking spice. Medium length, red-fruit-inflected finish.
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2003 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Ruby colour. Dusty and stemmy on the nose, with some red cherry notes. Very restrained on the palate and a lot of stemmy and earthy flavours. Balanced by red fruit and great acidity. In the context of all the other '03s I've had, this is an incredibly well-made of bottle wine; in fact, this is an awesome wine altogether. Very light tannins but everything's in balance.
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2004 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 83 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
It's the green meanies meets DRC! Bizarre orange peel and cinnamon aromas. The palate seems a bit off kilter with some muted fruit notes and a lot of strange plant matter flavours (not completely certain it's stems, but it's definitely not normal). A bit disjointed and hot. At this price point, this is a resounding no.
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1985 Joseph Phelps Insignia 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Loads of green pepper and leather on the nose here. A bit dusty and funky; this is a classic cabernet. There's also perhaps a slight hint of barnyard animal character. The palate is very refined and light on its feet; no heaviness detectable anywhere. An incredibly pretty (if a bit funky) bottle of Napa cab. Light tannins; it seems that everything has already loosened up. Showing very well right now; this is a pleasure to drink right now.
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1986 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Nose of wet fur and matchstick (somewhat reminiscent of young Pruem). Initially, this was completely disgusting: vapid and tasteless. After half an hour in the glass, this has blossomed into something that isn't too sweet but held together by a racy golden apple acidity. A very fruity finish tinged with pineapple. Quite delicious, but I can't personally get past the somewhat weird nose.
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1997 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Réserve 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Seems advanced. Honey, botrytis, and tart fruit on the nose. Very rich and sweet on the palate; plenty of concentrated honey notes with flavours of apricots. Not too thick on the palate texturally, but just downright delicious.
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1948 Château d'Yquem 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
This one was a seeper. Dark amber. Initially, I was really taken aback by the maderized nose. However, the attack was definitely awry, but the midpalate and finish was classic d'Yquem. Definitely nowhere as fresh as the previous bottle I had at the Significant Cellar tasting, but with time this opened up to be very opulent. Classic d'Yquem flavours of marmalade. Lively acidity tempered with coconut notes and some rich caramel. Finishes very long.
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