Labor Day Burgundy Insanity at Paulee du Hersh 9/1-2/18

Ten years ago, Mitch Hersh hosted Paulee du Hersh-1, which I was fortunate enough to attend. However successful that was, the one on Labor Day weekend 2018 was another dimension. Chef Pete Dykstra, who was flown in from Seattle, planned four meals and executed them flawlessly. Attendees brought wines for each meal they chose to attend. Mitch vetted all the wines in advance. Saturday and Sunday lunches were themed around White Burgundy while the dinners revolved around Red Burgs. My tasting notes are brief, a necessity for me while tasting so many great wines. Quick observations would be that most preferred the Saturday whites to Sundays and vice versa on the reds. I'll leave it to someone else to post the fabulous meals if they wish but the pairing was superb and each meal consisted of 5-6 courses.

• 1971 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon Oenothèque commande especiale 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  Disgorged 2006 Beautiful and mature but years of life ahead. Great acidity and length. Amazing how fresh a 45+ year old champagne can be.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Crisp and fresh. Wonderful acidity. Lemon and apple notes.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1976 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Dark honey color with nice nose but faded quickly. Basically over the hill but interesting.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1969 Maison Leroy Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Gorgeous minerality and light color. Served blind I would guess this was much younger. I did notice that it faded after about 30 min, suggesting it might be time to drink up.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Medium color, buttery, apples, nice acidity. Beautiful length. Drinking quite well but not getting any better. The said, I wouldn'tt be in a hurry to drink it if I was lucky enough to have any.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine Ramonet Chevalier-Montrachet 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Medium color. Slight mint notes on the nose. Light on the palate with great length. Many liked the Leflaive in this flight better but I thought this improved with time in the glass and eventually blossomed.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Light color. Slightly acidic but lots of fruit and a sublime mouth feel.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Lovely bbm from Ramonet. Hints of mint and butter on the nose. Much better than a bottle tasted earlier this year.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Slight petrol on the nose. High acidity and ever so slightly out of balance. Drunk alone with dinner I’d love this but unfortunately every flight has a loser.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Again that slight hint of mint on the nose. Lovely length and acidity.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Fresher than the age would indicate, in fact drinking younger than the 06 served first. Crisp acidity and gorgeous.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Powerful yet elegant. I'm saving mine for a few years.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1955 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  Bricked and fading but still alive. Drink up. Glad I was born in a great year!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1985 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

  Slightly stemmy. Acidity possibly outliving the fruit. In all fairness, this was decanted for a few hours and probably did not need it.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

  Off putting green component on nose. My least favorite of the flight.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru

  Beautiful nose. Slightly tight but opened up with double decant. Great now with future potential.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Georges Noellat Echezeaux 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

  Beautiful Echezeaux built in a classic style.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine Truchot-Martin Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Odd bottle with what I thought was secondary fermentation. I liked it better than most but will decline to rate it.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 97 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Sexy and powerful. 4 hr decant and drinking perfectly. Incredibly well balanced. Young.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Tightly wound and youthful I’d wait five years before pulling the cork. While great, it suffered next to the Chambertin.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Stunning example of Beze in the classic style. Drinking well now with years ahead.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Bonnes Mares 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  Not ready to play but tons of potential down the road say, in ten or so years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche Cuvée Auguste 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  Attractive nose of red fruit. Slightly stemmy but not offensive. Good length and wonderful mouth feel.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1976 Château d'Yquem 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Awesome, powerful bottle with everything you could ask for. Moderate acidity, apricots and gorgeously sweet.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Wonderful wine from this vintage. Liked this a touch better than the 1990.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1997 Bollinger Champagne Vieilles Vignes Françaises 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  First VVF I have tasted. Bolly style for sure, but with extra layers of complexity, power and length. Very classy.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Domaine Jacques Carillon Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Light color slightly young and acidic. Quite powerful with years of evolution ahead.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Lovely. Mineral driven with a soaring nose.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Etienne Sauzet Chevalier-Montrachet Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Slight pox. Drinkable but advanced beyond its years. Probably great if sound.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Etienne Sauzet Montrachet 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

  Stunning and powerful Still slightly young. I'd love to taste again in five years or so.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1992 Bouchard Père et Fils Montrachet 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

  Beautiful but headed downhill. Caramel and marzipan notes.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Bouchard Père et Fils Montrachet 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

  Light color. Slightly lacking something but I can’t put my finger on it. Left me wanting.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1985 Château Haut-Brion Blanc 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Who brought HBB to a white Burgundy lunch? Not sure but I would like to thank you. Having had this in quantity when young it was great to taste this again. Still reasonably young with many years of life ahead. A beautiful example of this rare elixir.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Corked.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Lemon custard. Acidic backbone may outlive the fruit. If I had it, I would start drinking it - no hurry though.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  Maybe better than my rating but outclassed in this flight. Petrol overtones.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  Lovely example of Corton Charlie. Incredibly well balanced with a silky mouth feel.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Classic Cristal but not as good as it should be yet. Five years down the road might be a different story.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Still quite young. Muted at first, improves in the glass.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1998 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  Classy and powerful. Years and years of life ahead.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Served blind in this flight. I correctly guessed Amoureuses, but said producer was Groffier. Lots of funk at first which blew off quickly. Great texture and length but getting a little tired. A pleasure to taste.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Also served blind in this flight, but easy enough to guess the varietal and producer. Classic CDP from a great producer. What's not to like?

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1986 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

  Amazing wine for the vintage. Balanced with a long finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Romanée St. Vivant 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

  Fabulous in all respects. A touch longer finish and I’d add a point.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 98 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  Wow. Everything you could want in a burg. WOTN if not wine of the weekend. Hope Mitch has more of this......

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Domaine Jean Grivot Clos Vougeot 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Gorgeous and structured. Very nicely made wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Bernard Dugat-Py Charmes-Chambertin 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Gorgeous but not quite as good as the last bottle I had. Perhaps it was just palate fatigue at the end of this extravaganza.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Domaine Joseph Roty Charmes-Chambertin Très Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Luscious red fruit beautiful nose. A little oaky for my taste.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

As Mitch said, probably THE Burgundy event of my life. So happy to be a part of it.

Thank to Mitch and Karen for hosting, Pete for the delicious meals and to everyone who attended and brought these wines.