A few friends were in Chicago for the Hart Davis Hart auction, so we decided to treat ourselves well and focus on a few of my favorite wines in the world.
Bottle in great condition with great fill. Rich apple with lots of power and concentration. Slightly more mature than the very best bottles I have enjoyed in the past few years, but the same weight and richness.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Served alongside the 2013 Chassagne 1er Cru Ruchottes, both opened 30 minutes before serving. This started out almost as backward and reserved as the Ruchottes was fun and forward. 30 minutes in glass helped a lot, and this was most alluring many hours later. Apple, pear and poached pear aromas with an increasing mint and spice note coming across with more air.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Served alongside the 2013 Bâtard-Montrachet, both opened 30 minutes before serving. Fully engaging aromatic start showing fresh summer flowers, savory spice and ripe apple along with peach hints. Perfectly balanced and wonderfully elegant with good weight and length. This clearly has upside from here. Glad I own a full case.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Served single blind in 97/98/00 vertical. Dense and very nuanced at the same time, showing red and black cherry aromas and flavors, with burly tannins that provide great power, but are simultaneously elegant. This was my favorite of the flight, and I thought it was the 1998. Another great 2000 Grand Cru that is drinking well now, but still showing upside from here.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Served single blind in 97/98/00 vertical. This was the most ripe of the flight, with the most black fruit and lots of spice. At first I thought it less complex than the other two wines in the flight, and thought it was the 1997, but once unveiled I realized this is still backward and would have benefited from more than 90 minutes of air and a quick double decant. Lots of upside.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Served single blind in 97/98/00 vertical. Red and black cherry and berry on nose and palate. Superbly harmonious with no hair out of place. Good weight, length and power. At its peak today, but no rush to consume. I thought this was from the 2000 vintage, so was surprised this was from 1997, even though this wine has never shown 1997's too frequent over-ripeness.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Double blind in 97/98/00 vertical. Showcases Amoureuses elegance at its best. All red fruit with moderate spice, very texturally charming. Good power, great length.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Double blind in 97/98/00 vertical. Broad cross-section of red cherries and berries throughout and lots of power and balance. Expanding from start-to-finish. Very long, ethereal finish. Best of the flight. This was my wine of the night...until the next flight.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Tasted single blind alongside 1999 Amoureuses. Open 3 hours before serving, one hour in decanter. Massive black and red cherry with so much concentration and power, without anything out of sync. Rich and layered, this kept unfolding with more time in glass. Clearly more powerful and less elegant vs the wine in the next glass, all 6 of us correctly identified this as the Bonnes Mares. I ever-so-slightly preferred Amoureuses tonight, while 2 of the 6 preferred this Bonnes Mares.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Tasted single blind alongside 1999 Bonnes Mares. Open 3 hours before serving, one hour in decanter. Lots of red cherry and berry throughout with faint black berry hints. great spice, simply exceptional textures and elegant structure. This kept expanding and subtlety drew your attention, even from the more forward and equally tasty wine in the next glass. All 6 of us were able to correctly identify which wine was which in the flight. 4 of 6 of us slightly preferred this Amoureuses, but it was not an easy decision.
1988 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 92 Points
France, Champagne
Bottle in great condition with great fill. Rich apple with lots of power and concentration. Slightly more mature than the very best bottles I have enjoyed in the past few years, but the same weight and richness.
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