Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore
92+/100
Stellar vitality at old age. While there is a pinch of dill symbolizing maturity, there’s also fruity and fresh black currant jam and raisins. A lighter side of Recioto, good one.
Opus One 2004 is bright, ripe, and absolutely charming.
Lacking the archtypical US Cab heaviness, it’s a weightless elegant gentlemen with a multitude of black berry and fruit flavors, all coupled with good tertiary depth.
One of these few times when, even if compared side by side with great Bordeaux, you don’t act snobby and praise its style and quality.
Starts as overly ripe and warm, like a hot berry pie, but gradually gains freshness in the glass, becomes juicy - this is where tannin comes forward, all the chewiness that hopefully will soften with age.
Maybe not the best vintage, 2004 - I’d say it misses the verve, the raw energy that the best of HB is famous for - but it’s still a baby, so my score here may not reflect its true potential.
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
93+/100
My friends couldn’t guess blind this iconic Bordeaux blend from the late Languedoc legend Aimé Guibert, a bottle that yours truly picked from Tornano’s outstanding and enviable cellar.
Oldest Daumas de Gassac I’ve had so far, and from a stellar vintage. Mature wine, full of tertiary aromas - fallen leaves and yellow fading grass, earthy, a bit of water from a deep underground well - but the Can Sauvignon is definitely there, slyly smiling.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
94+/100
I tried to end the night with a white Burgundy, but naw, more was ordered. Still, I was overwhelmed by this fat Puligny 1er Cru by Morey’s Domaine des Lambrays.
Doesn’t feel very acidic first - rather plump, with yellow fruit sweetness and lollipop candies, rich, luscious, full of paraffin and wax.
But as it lingers in the glass - my oh my, balance comes in order, there’s depth, acidity and aftertaste that stays on even after an hour long cigar. What a treat!
1986 Bertani Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Amarone 92 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore
92+/100
Stellar vitality at old age. While there is a pinch of dill symbolizing maturity, there’s also fruity and fresh black currant jam and raisins. A lighter side of Recioto, good one.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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1995 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 89 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
89/100
Bottle in a weaker state. Murky, pale brown. All the prune you want, but nothing much else.
Remnants of freshness long gone.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2000 Château Cos d'Estournel 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
97/100
What an outstanding magnum of young Cos d’Estournel from a great vintage.
Bold and firm, with lots of black pepper and blackberry, chewy tannin with a hell of potential. My blind guess was 1995.
Превосходный
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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1998 Château Ausone 98 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
98/100. FINEST SILK
A brilliant, utterly harmonious and gentle Ausone from a bulletproof vintage, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Sweet licorice and caramel, with neat balance and silky, caressing palate. Every sip was amazing. Totally at peak.
Струящийся шёлк. Hooray to St.-Èmilion!
WS 92, RP 91 - again, these scores matter zilch! Switching to Vinous, as ST 95+ much more relevant.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2005 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 93 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
93/100
Toffee and caramel, it immediately boasts its region’s sweetness and blazing heat. Sweet licorice and berry pie.
In a blind set all I could say - can it be Spain? Well, it can.
Good value for money, though I now prefer wines of higher finesse and less boldness.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2004 Opus One 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
95/100
Opus One 2004 is bright, ripe, and absolutely charming.
Lacking the archtypical US Cab heaviness, it’s a weightless elegant gentlemen with a multitude of black berry and fruit flavors, all coupled with good tertiary depth.
One of these few times when, even if compared side by side with great Bordeaux, you don’t act snobby and praise its style and quality.
A sound Californian legend.
WS 93, RP 96
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2004 Château Haut-Brion 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
93/100
A young HB, well ahead of its prime.
Starts as overly ripe and warm, like a hot berry pie, but gradually gains freshness in the glass, becomes juicy - this is where tannin comes forward, all the chewiness that hopefully will soften with age.
Maybe not the best vintage, 2004 - I’d say it misses the verve, the raw energy that the best of HB is famous for - but it’s still a baby, so my score here may not reflect its true potential.
WS 95, RP 93, ST 91+, JR 17.5
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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1982 Mas de Daumas Gassac 93 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
93+/100
My friends couldn’t guess blind this iconic Bordeaux blend from the late Languedoc legend Aimé Guibert, a bottle that yours truly picked from Tornano’s outstanding and enviable cellar.
Oldest Daumas de Gassac I’ve had so far, and from a stellar vintage. Mature wine, full of tertiary aromas - fallen leaves and yellow fading grass, earthy, a bit of water from a deep underground well - but the Can Sauvignon is definitely there, slyly smiling.
Amazing longevity.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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1982 Union des Proprietaries Hermitage 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
91/100
Misha M’s blind offering was a co-op Hermitage 1982 - alive, but I guess a step beyond peak.
Dark brownish color. Bouquet is a mix of dill, pharmacy store, and spices.
An old man still kicking.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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1982 Château Troplong Mondot 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
93/100
My first blind guess was Saint-Julien and a younger one. Second thought was St.-Èmilion, but I opted for my original one. Wrong.
With a yellow rim. Dusty, with mushrooms, earth, limestone, still surprisingly fresh.
I wish it weren’t twelfth wine in the set, that way I would’ve probably loved it more.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2007 Domaine des Lambrays Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos du Cailleret 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
94+/100
I tried to end the night with a white Burgundy, but naw, more was ordered. Still, I was overwhelmed by this fat Puligny 1er Cru by Morey’s Domaine des Lambrays.
Doesn’t feel very acidic first - rather plump, with yellow fruit sweetness and lollipop candies, rich, luscious, full of paraffin and wax.
But as it lingers in the glass - my oh my, balance comes in order, there’s depth, acidity and aftertaste that stays on even after an hour long cigar. What a treat!
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2003 Philipponnat Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée 1522 Rosé Brut 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
93/100
A good vintage rose with all that you typically expect of it - lingonberry and red currant, juicy and mellow, wit good weight on the palate. Sparkly.
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2005 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Rosé Brut 93 Points
France, Champagne
93/100
Formal notes lost, so all I could say - I need to have it again ;-)
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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