Lime, white florals, laundry powder and orange - quite fresh and lifted with quite a ripe undertone. Palate is fresh as well, with the very beginning of some rounding of the edges underway. Very good length and balance.
Likely base vintage between 02 and 04. Wild and funky nose, herbs, earth, violets and an oxidative note. Moderate body, nicely fresh acidity with the fruit feeling quite rounded out. Drink now.
Disgorged 06/01/2011. Graphite, slate, grapefruit, lemon and earth - quite expressive and open. The palate is dry, with tangy acidity and good texture. Quite intense flavour. Drinking well now, might take a bit more development but I wouldn't leave it an extended amount of time.
White florals, toast, orange peel, cherry, some herbs and nuts. Still has good fresh acidity with a little ripe and honeyed punch to the fruit. Probably not as much depth as I'd like, but still good.
Buter menthol, lemon, apricot, quince, nutty and spicy with a touch of caramel - still has fresh elements but really nice aged complexity here. Fruit sweetness still there on the palate, finishes dry and with good acidity present. Great length. Superb! A long way ahead of a bottle tried 7 years ago.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Licorice, wild herbs, floral, spice and earthy notes - the red fruit does still shine through, but this is savoury and complex at the same tim.e The palate is similar, with sweet red fruit up front but good structure and interest is contained within. Flows beautifully, approachable but plenty of potential to improve.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Toasty oak, graphite, plum, blackcurrant and cherry. Plenty of structure, with the tannins showing up through each part of the palate, the darker fruit style works well. This is a wine that certainly needs more time.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru
Meaty, red cherry, stalk, musk and violets on the nose. Sweet and sour fruit on the palate mingle well together, good tannins still present. Good mix here lending the wine interest. A different style but very good.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru
Stemmy, cherry, orange, graphite and pear. Good balance on the palate, the fruit is obviously youthful but the structure contains it well. An element of delicacy in among the vibrancy. Nice stuff!
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Meaty, cherry cola, some dirt - cleans up a bit with air. The palate is medium length, with some freshness still present. Holding up well but not quite the depth or complexity one would hope from this vineyard.
Coffee, earth, stem, plums and blackberry. The palate shows some sweet fruit, though the overall impression is that of a leaner wine. Not complex, but holding on well, it is drinkable but not all that exciting. No doubt that better bottles of this wine are around.
VA, toast, violets, redcurrant, menthol and raspberry on the nose. The palate is settled and shows great style with plenty of red fruit but also really good structure. Improved in the glass, showing more depth and composure, really digging this tonight. Drink now.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Menthol, blackcurrant, plum, bay leaf, licorice and chocolate on the nose. Good palate intensity, this has great balance between fruit and tannin with the two elements intertwined very nicely. Excellent length, this was quite delicious.
Raspberry, mulberry, dirt, roses and flint. Palate is mild, with delicate fruit and nicely resolved structure. Has some charm about it, and was much better than a bottle 10 years prior.
Blind. Swirling spices, violets, cranberry, blueberry and herbs with really lifted perfume - this is distintively Cabernet. Beautiful balance and composure, the fruit has ripeness but also a cool streak through it, with good acidity and tannin. Very impressive wine and I was surprised when its identity was revealed. Great to try and while the pricing is highly ambitious, the quality of this bottle isn't too far off that.
Raspberry, charcoal, spice, cherry and pretty floral notes. Red fruit comes through strongly on the palate, there is plenty of acidity and really good depth to it. Stands up very well in a flight of heavyweights.
Oak, blueberry, ash and cherry. Still shows heavy structure on the palate, the fruit is rich but gets hidden a bit at the moment. Intense across many elements and I feel like another 10 years would really help it settle and show its best.
Pretty nose of licorice, violet, spices and blackberry - perfumed and lifted. Lovely palate - this has great fruit and classy structure, really super drinking now and over the medium term future. Loved it.
Redcurrant, raspberry, iron, cherry and plum. Serious structure, there is fine but very persistent tannins across its length. Not showing its full potential tonight, it felt like it was in a quiet spot right now.
A little reticent on the nose - some earth and spice with strawberry and oak. Opens a little with time but didn't fully come out of its shell. Palate has great structure, but it hasn't quite all dropped into place just yet. Give it time.
Tawny coloured. Pomegranate, cherry, apple, molasses, caramel, cherry, lemon and some rancio notes. Sweet and luscious initially, with a blitzkrieg of acidity rushing through, providing stunning energy and extending this to an astounding length. Intense but still has finesse. A genuinely "wow" experience wine.
Blueberry, ash, cherry and some light herbs. Great balance, very well proportioned - great composure and control. Super length and depth. Excellent, despite it being so youthful. What an impressive wine.
Extremely youthful. Plum, wild herbs, raspberry, smoky notes and redcurrant. Good punchy fruit on the palate, with plenty of tannin providing a good backing. More restrained than some other Massetos that I've had, this probably needs some more time before it really has a chance to strut its stuff.
Blind. Golden colour. Wax/candlestick, cinnamon, orange, mandarin, apricot and pear. Moderate sweetness on the palate, finishes feeling quite dry but still has good flavour intensity and nice depth. In very good condition and would still develop further based on this bottle.
Toast, coffee, plum, blueberry and wooden notes with a little chocolate note as well. Intense on the palate, with sweetness and good drive and length. Showed a class above the 77 Grahams VP tonight.
Chocolate, sultana, sea spray and nutty notes. Spirit sticks out a little, though a sweet element helps to mask it a bit. Not all that deep, though it has good length. Not bad, but the 77 Fonseca VP was a level above.
Meaty, smoke and woody with caramel and VA. That same woody character shows through on the palate, with good sweetness helping to find balance. Nice acidity and length. A really nice way to close the night out.
1998 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2 92 Points
France, Champagne
Lime, white florals, laundry powder and orange - quite fresh and lifted with quite a ripe undertone. Palate is fresh as well, with the very beginning of some rounding of the edges underway. Very good length and balance.
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NV Fallet-Prévostat Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Likely base vintage between 02 and 04. Wild and funky nose, herbs, earth, violets and an oxidative note. Moderate body, nicely fresh acidity with the fruit feeling quite rounded out. Drink now.
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2005 Vouette et Sorbée Champagne Sobre Extra Brut 91 Points
France, Champagne
Disgorged 06/01/2011. Graphite, slate, grapefruit, lemon and earth - quite expressive and open. The palate is dry, with tangy acidity and good texture. Quite intense flavour. Drinking well now, might take a bit more development but I wouldn't leave it an extended amount of time.
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2006 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
White florals, toast, orange peel, cherry, some herbs and nuts. Still has good fresh acidity with a little ripe and honeyed punch to the fruit. Probably not as much depth as I'd like, but still good.
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1977 Lur-Saluces "Y" 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur
Buter menthol, lemon, apricot, quince, nutty and spicy with a touch of caramel - still has fresh elements but really nice aged complexity here. Fruit sweetness still there on the palate, finishes dry and with good acidity present. Great length. Superb! A long way ahead of a bottle tried 7 years ago.
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2009 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Licorice, wild herbs, floral, spice and earthy notes - the red fruit does still shine through, but this is savoury and complex at the same tim.e The palate is similar, with sweet red fruit up front but good structure and interest is contained within. Flows beautifully, approachable but plenty of potential to improve.
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2009 Bernard Dugat-Py Charmes-Chambertin 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Toasty oak, graphite, plum, blackcurrant and cherry. Plenty of structure, with the tannins showing up through each part of the palate, the darker fruit style works well. This is a wine that certainly needs more time.
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1996 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru
Meaty, red cherry, stalk, musk and violets on the nose. Sweet and sour fruit on the palate mingle well together, good tannins still present. Good mix here lending the wine interest. A different style but very good.
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2014 Domaine Dujac Clos St. Denis 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru
Stemmy, cherry, orange, graphite and pear. Good balance on the palate, the fruit is obviously youthful but the structure contains it well. An element of delicacy in among the vibrancy. Nice stuff!
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1976 Louis Latour Chambertin Cuvée Héritiers Latour 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Meaty, cherry cola, some dirt - cleans up a bit with air. The palate is medium length, with some freshness still present. Holding up well but not quite the depth or complexity one would hope from this vineyard.
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1985 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Coffee, earth, stem, plums and blackberry. The palate shows some sweet fruit, though the overall impression is that of a leaner wine. Not complex, but holding on well, it is drinkable but not all that exciting. No doubt that better bottles of this wine are around.
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1977 Penfolds Grange 92 Points
Australia, South Australia
VA, toast, violets, redcurrant, menthol and raspberry on the nose. The palate is settled and shows great style with plenty of red fruit but also really good structure. Improved in the glass, showing more depth and composure, really digging this tonight. Drink now.
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1977 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec Pressings 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Menthol, blackcurrant, plum, bay leaf, licorice and chocolate on the nose. Good palate intensity, this has great balance between fruit and tannin with the two elements intertwined very nicely. Excellent length, this was quite delicious.
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1977 Mount Mary Cabernets 89 Points
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Raspberry, mulberry, dirt, roses and flint. Palate is mild, with delicate fruit and nicely resolved structure. Has some charm about it, and was much better than a bottle 10 years prior.
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1977 Seppelt Moyston Shiraz-Cabernet Flawed
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
Probably a little corked but definitely too old either way.
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2013 Ao Yun 93 Points
China
Blind. Swirling spices, violets, cranberry, blueberry and herbs with really lifted perfume - this is distintively Cabernet. Beautiful balance and composure, the fruit has ripeness but also a cool streak through it, with good acidity and tannin. Very impressive wine and I was surprised when its identity was revealed. Great to try and while the pricing is highly ambitious, the quality of this bottle isn't too far off that.
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2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Raspberry, charcoal, spice, cherry and pretty floral notes. Red fruit comes through strongly on the palate, there is plenty of acidity and really good depth to it. Stands up very well in a flight of heavyweights.
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2001 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Oak, blueberry, ash and cherry. Still shows heavy structure on the palate, the fruit is rich but gets hidden a bit at the moment. Intense across many elements and I feel like another 10 years would really help it settle and show its best.
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2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss 95 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Pretty nose of licorice, violet, spices and blackberry - perfumed and lifted. Lovely palate - this has great fruit and classy structure, really super drinking now and over the medium term future. Loved it.
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2001 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Redcurrant, raspberry, iron, cherry and plum. Serious structure, there is fine but very persistent tannins across its length. Not showing its full potential tonight, it felt like it was in a quiet spot right now.
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2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì Tildìn 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
A little reticent on the nose - some earth and spice with strawberry and oak. Opens a little with time but didn't fully come out of its shell. Palate has great structure, but it hasn't quite all dropped into place just yet. Give it time.
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1981 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amabile del Cerè Veneto IGT 98 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
Tawny coloured. Pomegranate, cherry, apple, molasses, caramel, cherry, lemon and some rancio notes. Sweet and luscious initially, with a blitzkrieg of acidity rushing through, providing stunning energy and extending this to an astounding length. Intense but still has finesse. A genuinely "wow" experience wine.
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2005 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cabernet Alzero 93 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
Blueberry, ash, cherry and some light herbs. Great balance, very well proportioned - great composure and control. Super length and depth. Excellent, despite it being so youthful. What an impressive wine.
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2009 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Extremely youthful. Plum, wild herbs, raspberry, smoky notes and redcurrant. Good punchy fruit on the palate, with plenty of tannin providing a good backing. More restrained than some other Massetos that I've had, this probably needs some more time before it really has a chance to strut its stuff.
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1961 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Blind. Golden colour. Wax/candlestick, cinnamon, orange, mandarin, apricot and pear. Moderate sweetness on the palate, finishes feeling quite dry but still has good flavour intensity and nice depth. In very good condition and would still develop further based on this bottle.
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1977 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon Flawed
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
Colour was good, but the wines showed too much chemical character that didn't blow off.
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1977 Fonseca Porto Vintage 92 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Toast, coffee, plum, blueberry and wooden notes with a little chocolate note as well. Intense on the palate, with sweetness and good drive and length. Showed a class above the 77 Grahams VP tonight.
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1977 Graham Porto Vintage 88 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Chocolate, sultana, sea spray and nutty notes. Spirit sticks out a little, though a sweet element helps to mask it a bit. Not all that deep, though it has good length. Not bad, but the 77 Fonseca VP was a level above.
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NV Quinta do Noval Porto 40 Year Old Tawny 92 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Meaty, smoke and woody with caramel and VA. That same woody character shows through on the palate, with good sweetness helping to find balance. Nice acidity and length. A really nice way to close the night out.
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