Decanted off 2oz of sediment despite months of standing. Medium ruby, age-appropriate bricking; aromatic, high intensity, red bell pepper, red currant, wild cherry, some tobacco; palate is medium-plus bodied, low 12.5% alcohol, medium-plus acidity, lovely leafy mature notes, clean but with savory character, fully mature fruits; finish is medium-plus length and complex. Honestly probably my favorite vintage from this producer that I've tried so far. 93
Cork came out cleanly with the Ah-so, small crystals on the bottom. Superb golden-orange color, much lighter than expected for its age; high intensity aromatics, orange blossom, white flowers, intoxicating aromas; palate is full bodied, medium-plus vibrant acidity throughout, the lightest most elegant orange marmalade, sweetness still present but well integrated, perfectly balanced alcohol, exceptional persistence through the midpalate, perfect balance of fruit, floral, honey, candy, complexity; long finish. Similar to my last bottles, and honestly one of the best vintages of Rieussec and exactly what I look for in superlative sauternes... complexity, elegance, vibrant acidity, length. 95-96 Day 3: Still holding up very well. Lovely wine.
Light golden; aromatic, apple, brioche; lovely mousse, balanced, medium acidity, balanced alcohol, excellent fruit and bready balance; finish is medium-long. Stellar for the vintage, nice champagne. 92-93
Light golden; aromatic, lemon curd, white fruit; palate is elegant, nice mousse, excellent acidity, persistence through the finish, slight herbal, nice lemon; finish is medium length. Nice champagne, but I may actually prefer the Ulysse Collin tonight! 91
Yellow-green; aromatic, intensity but also with elegance; richly textured, medium-plus acidity, fresh lemon-lime; medium finish. Very lovely, at the Bourgogne level. 90
Aromatic, lots of mature notes, tobacco, forest floor, darker and more concentrated than the 1998; palate is rich, Integrated structure, faded fruit, not much depth or complexity through the midpalate; medium length finish. The 1998 has more elegance, depth, complexity, and interest for me. 90
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Purple, purple, purple; black currant, some minerals, some plums; palate is full bodied, rich, high tannins that have a bit of softness to it, black fruit, balanced 14.5% alcohol; medium finish. Honestly not as over the top as expected from its reputation, but lacking a bit of depth of more traditional producers. 90
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny
Light ruby, clean; aromatic, red fruited; elegant, lights-medium bodied, integrated tannin, medium alcohol; lovely finish. Really nice but short of exceptional. 90-91
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny
Light ruby, youthful color; aromatic, dark fruited, minerality; youthful tannin, medium bodied, rich but youthful; medium finish. Lovely but darker than expected for chambolle. 90
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Aromatic, mature fruit, a bit earthy; palate is fully mature, medium bodied, medium acidity, medium-plus to high alcohol, smooth low tannin; medium length finish. Mature chateauneuf, lacking a bit of complexity. 89
1998 Château Bel Air-Marquis d'Aligre 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Decanted off 2oz of sediment despite months of standing. Medium ruby, age-appropriate bricking; aromatic, high intensity, red bell pepper, red currant, wild cherry, some tobacco; palate is medium-plus bodied, low 12.5% alcohol, medium-plus acidity, lovely leafy mature notes, clean but with savory character, fully mature fruits; finish is medium-plus length and complex. Honestly probably my favorite vintage from this producer that I've tried so far. 93
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1983 Château Rieussec 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Cork came out cleanly with the Ah-so, small crystals on the bottom. Superb golden-orange color, much lighter than expected for its age; high intensity aromatics, orange blossom, white flowers, intoxicating aromas; palate is full bodied, medium-plus vibrant acidity throughout, the lightest most elegant orange marmalade, sweetness still present but well integrated, perfectly balanced alcohol, exceptional persistence through the midpalate, perfect balance of fruit, floral, honey, candy, complexity; long finish. Similar to my last bottles, and honestly one of the best vintages of Rieussec and exactly what I look for in superlative sauternes... complexity, elegance, vibrant acidity, length. 95-96
Day 3: Still holding up very well. Lovely wine.
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NV Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (2011) Les Pierrières 93 Points
France, Champagne
Light golden; aromatic, apple, brioche; lovely mousse, balanced, medium acidity, balanced alcohol, excellent fruit and bready balance; finish is medium-long. Stellar for the vintage, nice champagne. 92-93
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2018 Jérôme Prévost Champagne La Closerie Extra Brut Les Beguines 91 Points
France, Champagne
Light golden; aromatic, lemon curd, white fruit; palate is elegant, nice mousse, excellent acidity, persistence through the finish, slight herbal, nice lemon; finish is medium length. Nice champagne, but I may actually prefer the Ulysse Collin tonight! 91
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2019 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Blanc 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc
Yellow-green; aromatic, intensity but also with elegance; richly textured, medium-plus acidity, fresh lemon-lime; medium finish. Very lovely, at the Bourgogne level. 90
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2016 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Blanc 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc
Yellow gold; slight oxidation, a bit less concentration than the 2019, less elegance. Decent wine. 87
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1995 Château Bel Air-Marquis d'Aligre 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Aromatic, lots of mature notes, tobacco, forest floor, darker and more concentrated than the 1998; palate is rich, Integrated structure, faded fruit, not much depth or complexity through the midpalate; medium length finish. The 1998 has more elegance, depth, complexity, and interest for me. 90
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2008 Château Pavie 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Purple, purple, purple; black currant, some minerals, some plums; palate is full bodied, rich, high tannins that have a bit of softness to it, black fruit, balanced 14.5% alcohol; medium finish. Honestly not as over the top as expected from its reputation, but lacking a bit of depth of more traditional producers. 90
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1999 Domaine Fourrier Chambolle-Musigny Vieille Vigne 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny
Light ruby, clean; aromatic, red fruited; elegant, lights-medium bodied, integrated tannin, medium alcohol; lovely finish. Really nice but short of exceptional. 90-91
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2005 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Chambolle-Musigny 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny
Light ruby, youthful color; aromatic, dark fruited, minerality; youthful tannin, medium bodied, rich but youthful; medium finish. Lovely but darker than expected for chambolle. 90
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1999 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Aromatic, mature fruit, a bit earthy; palate is fully mature, medium bodied, medium acidity, medium-plus to high alcohol, smooth low tannin; medium length finish. Mature chateauneuf, lacking a bit of complexity. 89
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2019 Domaine Faury St. Joseph La Gloriette Vieilles Vignes 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Minerals, fruit, plums, smoke and bacon fat; medium bodied, medium-plus tannin, medium-plus acidity, medium alcohol; medium-long finish. Exceptional young Syrah. 93
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2004 Massolino Barolo Parafada 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Aromatic, tar and smoke, palate is medium bodied, medium-high tannin, medium-plus alcohol, mature fruit; medium finish. Nice but not spectacular. 91
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1997 Casisano-Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Aromatic, funky nose, tea leaves, tomatoes, mature; palate is medium bodied, integrated acid and alcohol; medium finish. 90
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