Creamy nose with white acacia flowers and lemon meringue citrus. Interestingly the colour is darker than both '90 and '88. Really beautiful, pure. Palate has precise lemon citrus with tart orange in the core. This is striking with laser acid that drives a powerful finish. Maybe out of sync on palate...
Nice barley and smoked cereal grains on the nose here. Different than both '96 and '88 which both have more Chardonnay cream. Definitely a more developed palate than the '96 but still is a major strike of citrus fruit. Different than '88, which is is more brawny and powerful.
Somewhat oxidative nose, wet slate, lemon lime citrus, creamy. This is very subtle and elegant. More developed and ripe orchard fruit as opposed to intense citrus. Best of the three, '96, '90, '88. Beautifully fresh.
Beautiful and big nose that has wet slate and gravel, sulfur, tangerine, and lemon merengue. Expansive palate with a good dollop of green and yellow apple and big acid up front that fades away quicker than the others.
Nose is comparable to that on the Blanchot but amplified and with more reduction and sulfur. Big and bright and highly expressive. Nose is the best of the three (Blanchots, Valmur, and Clos). Big and striking on the palate with rich red and yellow apple juice. Powerful. Dynamite tonight, a gear ahead of Blanchot. Most complex and integrated. Distinctly Chablis still, not just like Puligny or Meursault.
Definitely the quietest nose of the three Raveneaus, ripe yellow orchard fruit, a snicker of oxidation, warm and ripe. Candied yellow citrus. This palate is flavorful but lacks the density and richness of both Blanchot and Valmur, unfortunately. Still fairly mouth coating.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Gorgeous nose of white flowers, lillies, honeysuckle, and peonies (flower, check spelling). Unbelievably expressive and showy bouquet. Palate is subtle up front and crescendos into a ripe and expansive mouthful of beautiful chardonnay fruit. Kapon said '01 is a bruiser '00 is a ballerina. Ripe and opulent.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
White acacia flowers, honeysuckle, and trace sulfur on a delicate and gorgeous nose. A true bouquet here, elegant, subtle, lingering, gorgeous. Kapon said '01 is a bruiser '00 is a ballerina. The nod probably goes to the '01, but this is one of the most beautiful things I've ever smelled and tasted.
Similar but bolder nose than that on the Lafite with more blue and blackberry fruit as opposed to rustic earth. This palate is bigger than the Lafite as well with more structure and stuffing. Showy for Latour, but also pretty true to forum. Deep, dark, and rich. A beauty but still a bruiser.
This is an all-time favorite of mine and unfortunately this nose is not on the same level the '82 Lafite and Latour served alongside. Reading closed with red cedar and spice but not too much else. Exotic. This is showing more with coaxing. Palate is more mature than it should be, soily and mushroom. Not totally sure what to make of this tonight.
Unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. Lead pencil, damp soil, and red cedar. The juice on this palate is amazing. This bottle blind could be mistaken for '82.
Like the Palmer, it is unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. Whereas the Mouton was the weakest of of the '82 flight, this Mouton is winning the '28 flight. Red cedar, lead pencil shavings, and horse hoof. Spectacular.
Unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. More age showing than on either the '28 Palmer or Mouton with leathers and dusty old cigar box. Sweet red cherry on the palate with touches of tertiary soil. Baking spice and cinnamon.
Nose has a lot of herbal spice. Palate has much more nuance and a variety of intriguing tertiary flavours. Decidedly superior to the '90, but not showing like the '78.
Fully tertiary nose, red and black licorice, fennel, dry dusty leathers, distinctly old Italian. Complex and intricate palate, savory with many distinct spicy flavors.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Nose is supremely elegant, clean, and pure. The '88 is the most expressive out of the flight and has some soily notes coming through. Fresh Strawberry and raspberry fruit. This is spectacular. This finish on each of these these Jayer Cros Ps is like a French kiss. With more time the '88 has serious vosne spice too.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Nose is supremely elegant, clean, and pure. Red cherry kiss. Huge lacquered black cherry. On the palate there is bigger with punchy bright red fruit. Delicate structure but red berry fruit has more pop than you might expect. Cola note. A magnificent bottle of wine...
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Like the '91 and '88, the nose here is supremely elegant, clean, and pure. While each of these wines is hard to describe, this is reminiscent of the '86 Murgers a few months ago. Beautiful, but out of all of these this definitely shows tannin a little more and is perhaps a touch dirtier.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Big unapologetically whole cluster nose with stalky cellulose in addition to soft cherry and cranberry fruit. The steaminess shows up on the palate too. Classic DRC and classic Echezeaux here. A particularly strong showing out of this bottle which is challenging both the RSV and Riche for pole position. Awesome, especially if you're into this style.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
Gorgeous nose that is highly floral with pure concentration. Showy and racy. Gorgeous on the palate as well, very silky but still has juice and spice. Give it more time and espresso notes emerge. Less striking and impressive than the Echz overall though.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
The nose here is bigger and cooler than that on the RSV. A lot of spice in here too though. Roasted and clumsy nose. Better on the palate. Much better actually.
First experience with any Chave Blanc, and really many blanc Northern Rhones at all. Stonefruit and cheese on the nose. Prickly pear. A kick of ginger and cayenne too. Oily and viscous. Curious but fun.
Some argument as to whether this bottle was heat damaged, but at least to this amateur taster the nose was spot on Chave with acrylics and ceramics, smoked meat, and charred embers. Yeah, it seems like there is a lot more red berry juice on this nose than the bottle last week. Rubbery note on the nose too... Hard to say, 92+/-
This was a Goldkapsel, and I believe also an Auction bottle, to close out an insane evening.
Oily diesel nose, focused apricot, overripe mango. Thick and super syrupy palate. This is thicker than any young Yquem that comes to mind. Haven't really experienced any Riesling close to this level.
1996 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 94 Points
France, Champagne
Creamy nose with white acacia flowers and lemon meringue citrus. Interestingly the colour is darker than both '90 and '88. Really beautiful, pure. Palate has precise lemon citrus with tart orange in the core. This is striking with laser acid that drives a powerful finish. Maybe out of sync on palate...
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1990 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 95 Points
France, Champagne
Nice barley and smoked cereal grains on the nose here. Different than both '96 and '88 which both have more Chardonnay cream. Definitely a more developed palate than the '96 but still is a major strike of citrus fruit. Different than '88, which is is more brawny and powerful.
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1988 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 96 Points
France, Champagne
Somewhat oxidative nose, wet slate, lemon lime citrus, creamy. This is very subtle and elegant. More developed and ripe orchard fruit as opposed to intense citrus. Best of the three, '96, '90, '88. Beautifully fresh.
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1986 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Beautiful and big nose that has wet slate and gravel, sulfur, tangerine, and lemon merengue. Expansive palate with a good dollop of green and yellow apple and big acid up front that fades away quicker than the others.
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1986 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Nose is comparable to that on the Blanchot but amplified and with more reduction and sulfur. Big and bright and highly expressive. Nose is the best of the three (Blanchots, Valmur, and Clos). Big and striking on the palate with rich red and yellow apple juice. Powerful. Dynamite tonight, a gear ahead of Blanchot. Most complex and integrated. Distinctly Chablis still, not just like Puligny or Meursault.
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1986 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Definitely the quietest nose of the three Raveneaus, ripe yellow orchard fruit, a snicker of oxidation, warm and ripe. Candied yellow citrus. This palate is flavorful but lacks the density and richness of both Blanchot and Valmur, unfortunately. Still fairly mouth coating.
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2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet 97 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Gorgeous nose of white flowers, lillies, honeysuckle, and peonies (flower, check spelling). Unbelievably expressive and showy bouquet. Palate is subtle up front and crescendos into a ripe and expansive mouthful of beautiful chardonnay fruit. Kapon said '01 is a bruiser '00 is a ballerina. Ripe and opulent.
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2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
White acacia flowers, honeysuckle, and trace sulfur on a delicate and gorgeous nose. A true bouquet here, elegant, subtle, lingering, gorgeous. Kapon said '01 is a bruiser '00 is a ballerina. The nod probably goes to the '01, but this is one of the most beautiful things I've ever smelled and tasted.
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1982 Château Lafite Rothschild 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Lead pencil, forest floor, horse hoof. Huge projection out of the glass. Palate is lush and juicy. Lots of mature blackberry and damp leathers.
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1982 Château Latour Grand Vin 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Similar but bolder nose than that on the Lafite with more blue and blackberry fruit as opposed to rustic earth. This palate is bigger than the Lafite as well with more structure and stuffing. Showy for Latour, but also pretty true to forum. Deep, dark, and rich. A beauty but still a bruiser.
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1982 Château Mouton Rothschild 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
This is an all-time favorite of mine and unfortunately this nose is not on the same level the '82 Lafite and Latour served alongside. Reading closed with red cedar and spice but not too much else. Exotic. This is showing more with coaxing. Palate is more mature than it should be, soily and mushroom. Not totally sure what to make of this tonight.
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1928 Château Palmer 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. Lead pencil, damp soil, and red cedar. The juice on this palate is amazing. This bottle blind could be mistaken for '82.
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1928 Château Mouton Rothschild 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Like the Palmer, it is unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. Whereas the Mouton was the weakest of of the '82 flight, this Mouton is winning the '28 flight. Red cedar, lead pencil shavings, and horse hoof. Spectacular.
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1928 Château Latour Grand Vin 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. More age showing than on either the '28 Palmer or Mouton with leathers and dusty old cigar box. Sweet red cherry on the palate with touches of tertiary soil. Baking spice and cinnamon.
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1990 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Mag] Tar, creosote, clove, and pine. Palate is a little more approachable but still pretty gritty and austere.
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1985 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Nose has a lot of herbal spice. Palate has much more nuance and a variety of intriguing tertiary flavours. Decidedly superior to the '90, but not showing like the '78.
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1978 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Speciale Santo Stefano 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Fully tertiary nose, red and black licorice, fennel, dry dusty leathers, distinctly old Italian. Complex and intricate palate, savory with many distinct spicy flavors.
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1988 Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Nose is supremely elegant, clean, and pure. The '88 is the most expressive out of the flight and has some soily notes coming through. Fresh Strawberry and raspberry fruit. This is spectacular. This finish on each of these these Jayer Cros Ps is like a French kiss. With more time the '88 has serious vosne spice too.
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1991 Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux 98 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Nose is supremely elegant, clean, and pure. Red cherry kiss. Huge lacquered black cherry. On the palate there is bigger with punchy bright red fruit. Delicate structure but red berry fruit has more pop than you might expect. Cola note. A magnificent bottle of wine...
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1986 Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Like the '91 and '88, the nose here is supremely elegant, clean, and pure. While each of these wines is hard to describe, this is reminiscent of the '86 Murgers a few months ago. Beautiful, but out of all of these this definitely shows tannin a little more and is perhaps a touch dirtier.
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1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Big unapologetically whole cluster nose with stalky cellulose in addition to soft cherry and cranberry fruit. The steaminess shows up on the palate too. Classic DRC and classic Echezeaux here. A particularly strong showing out of this bottle which is challenging both the RSV and Riche for pole position. Awesome, especially if you're into this style.
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1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
Gorgeous nose that is highly floral with pure concentration. Showy and racy. Gorgeous on the palate as well, very silky but still has juice and spice. Give it more time and espresso notes emerge. Less striking and impressive than the Echz overall though.
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1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
The nose here is bigger and cooler than that on the RSV. A lot of spice in here too though. Roasted and clumsy nose. Better on the palate. Much better actually.
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1990 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
First experience with any Chave Blanc, and really many blanc Northern Rhones at all. Stonefruit and cheese on the nose. Prickly pear. A kick of ginger and cayenne too. Oily and viscous. Curious but fun.
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1990 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin Flawed
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Musty nose... not looking good. Ahhh, heartbreaking. You can sort of see the juice that is underneath, but unfortunately this bottle is corked.
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1990 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Some argument as to whether this bottle was heat damaged, but at least to this amateur taster the nose was spot on Chave with acrylics and ceramics, smoked meat, and charred embers. Yeah, it seems like there is a lot more red berry juice on this nose than the bottle last week. Rubbery note on the nose too... Hard to say, 92+/-
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2005 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 96 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
This was a Goldkapsel, and I believe also an Auction bottle, to close out an insane evening.
Oily diesel nose, focused apricot, overripe mango. Thick and super syrupy palate. This is thicker than any young Yquem that comes to mind. Haven't really experienced any Riesling close to this level.
Quite something.
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2002 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Looks pretty brown in the glass... unfortunately this is toast. Thankfully '01 and '00 are on.
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