April 2013 disgorgement. Chalk and graphite, lemon and orange notes. Good clarity and purity as is the hallmark of this producer. Nice acid drive. Shouldn't struggle to develop nicely over the next 5-10 years.
Rich nose of brioche, lime, ginger and apple. Really nice brightness to the palate that balances the richness of the fruit really well. Very good length. Impressive.
A splash of sulphur but intense aromatics sit alongside it, with florals, grapefruit and spice. The palate has lovely texture, the wine is composed and has great poise while also having rich fruit. Really good depth - to say I enjoyed this would be an understatement.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Blind. Recorked in 1989. Marshmallow, mint, musk, kerosene and orange. Palate shows off some sweet fruit but it taste quite dry and has good texture, with the acidity still prodding the sides of the palate. Medium length. Holding very nicely.
Plenty of herb and spice on the nose with orange and some soapy lemon coming through as well. Quite rich on the palate, there is a kick of residual sugar that is well balanced. Has good interest and texture. Pinot Gris isn't my most favored grape but I did find a good deal to like about this wine.
Asparagus and orange peel. Alcohol does stick out on the palate, and while the wine does show better with food, the length feels a little clipped. Despite the issues I did still enjoy it.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Cherry, plum, meat and some nice aromatic floral notes. Good freshness to the palate, with nice acidity and spice. Flows well, though the structure isn't really there for extended ageing - I'd drink this now and over the next 5 years.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Violets, smoke and red cherry. The acidity and fruit are quite tart on the palate - feels quite forceful but doesn't really have the balance to be better than decent. May show some more interest with age.
Black cherries, herb and stems, definitely dipping into green territory. Good poise on the palate, with the fruit showing off in a more flamboyant manner. I like the structure and if the stems don't end up dominating the wine this could be very nice.
Lifted nose of tar, cherry, roses and smoke. The palate is fruit forward and shows its new world origin. I do like the wine but the palate is on the simple side of things at this time - I did prefer a Pyramid Valley Earth Smoke from 2011 by its side.
Earth, rose, musk and some autumn leaves. The palate shows a good mix of savory and spicy fruit, with a stemmy background and fairly high acid. Enjoyed drinking this now but it should age reasonably well over the shorter term.
Licorice, spice, graphite and cedar. Refined tannins across the long length, excellent structure even with the core of dark fruit that gives it approachability now. Super balance and poise! Really great stuff.
Cedar, roses, graphite and tobacco. Good composure on the palate, with the tannins receding and leaving behind a lovely savoury fruit presence. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
Inky coloured. Iron, pepper, raspberry, blackcurrant and cedar. Big, rich and rather enjoyable with the structure from the oak and tannins holding steady. I feel like this has a lot of promise but I don't know if it'll hit the very highest level at its peak.
2006 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs La Parcelle Côte de Béchalin 91 Points
France, Champagne
April 2013 disgorgement. Chalk and graphite, lemon and orange notes. Good clarity and purity as is the hallmark of this producer. Nice acid drive. Shouldn't struggle to develop nicely over the next 5-10 years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs La Parcelle Côte de Béchalin 91 Points
France, Champagne
April 2013 disgorgement. A coincidental second bottle on the same night from a different attendee. Extremely consistent with the first bottle.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Pol Roger Champagne Blanc de Blancs 91 Points
France, Champagne
Rich nose of brioche, lime, ginger and apple. Really nice brightness to the palate that balances the richness of the fruit really well. Very good length. Impressive.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Arnaud Ente Meursault Clos des Ambres 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
A splash of sulphur but intense aromatics sit alongside it, with florals, grapefruit and spice. The palate has lovely texture, the wine is composed and has great poise while also having rich fruit. Really good depth - to say I enjoyed this would be an understatement.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1969 Leasingham Riesling Bin 7 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Blind. Recorked in 1989. Marshmallow, mint, musk, kerosene and orange. Palate shows off some sweet fruit but it taste quite dry and has good texture, with the acidity still prodding the sides of the palate. Medium length. Holding very nicely.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Albert Boxler Pinot Gris Sommerberg "W" 91 Points
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
Plenty of herb and spice on the nose with orange and some soapy lemon coming through as well. Quite rich on the palate, there is a kick of residual sugar that is well balanced. Has good interest and texture. Pinot Gris isn't my most favored grape but I did find a good deal to like about this wine.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette 87 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Asparagus and orange peel. Alcohol does stick out on the palate, and while the wine does show better with food, the length feels a little clipped. Despite the issues I did still enjoy it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts Vieilles Vignes 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Cherry, plum, meat and some nice aromatic floral notes. Good freshness to the palate, with nice acidity and spice. Flows well, though the structure isn't really there for extended ageing - I'd drink this now and over the next 5 years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Domaine Louis Boillot et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Violets, smoke and red cherry. The acidity and fruit are quite tart on the palate - feels quite forceful but doesn't really have the balance to be better than decent. May show some more interest with age.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos des 60 Ouvrées 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Black cherries, herb and stems, definitely dipping into green territory. Good poise on the palate, with the fruit showing off in a more flamboyant manner. I like the structure and if the stems don't end up dominating the wine this could be very nice.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Bell Hill Pinot Noir Old Weka Pass Road 89 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury
Lifted nose of tar, cherry, roses and smoke. The palate is fruit forward and shows its new world origin. I do like the wine but the palate is on the simple side of things at this time - I did prefer a Pyramid Valley Earth Smoke from 2011 by its side.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Pyramid Valley Pinot Noir Earth Smoke 90 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
Earth, rose, musk and some autumn leaves. The palate shows a good mix of savory and spicy fruit, with a stemmy background and fairly high acid. Enjoyed drinking this now but it should age reasonably well over the shorter term.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Costa Russi 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Licorice, spice, graphite and cedar. Refined tannins across the long length, excellent structure even with the core of dark fruit that gives it approachability now. Super balance and poise! Really great stuff.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1997 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Cedar, roses, graphite and tobacco. Good composure on the palate, with the tannins receding and leaving behind a lovely savoury fruit presence. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Château Palmer 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Inky coloured. Iron, pepper, raspberry, blackcurrant and cedar. Big, rich and rather enjoyable with the structure from the oak and tannins holding steady. I feel like this has a lot of promise but I don't know if it'll hit the very highest level at its peak.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue