Feels a little restrained on pouring, not much mousse. Later a little mandarin twist appears on the nose. Palate has a little crystalised ginger character. Around the table some say tastes sweeter than the 9g/l dosage would suggest others say chewy.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Great stand-in for a missing in action 1990. This has great power with white flowers and a little pineapple stalk to the nose. Elevage is well judged. Palate has great line and there is plenty of time ahead here. One of three cracking wines in our white flight.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
Fascinating fully mature white Burg. On the eye this is relatively dark but as soon as you pick up the glass and smell / taste any concerns vanish as it draws one in. There is an oily lime juice and wet stone minerality to this, later some sourdough breadcrumbs. Palate is cracking too with great length, there's a little hazelnut on the mid-palate and beautiful acidity. Chapeau Mr Beatty.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
This is a cracking wine that in time will be wonderful one suspects. Nose has a lemon posset character to it on pouring, soon some freshly zested lime emerges. So bright and young. Improves with every sip. Last sip has a faint suggestion of blood orange.
Served with a Caillerets Clos des 60 Ouvrées from 1993. This is a delightful surprise given the supposed superiority of the 1993 vintage in Burgundy. Some meatiness and oolong tea on the nose here, the tiniest hint of planed white chocolate too. Palate is taught and lovely; the tertiary forest floor and resolved red fruits are complemented with a charming grapefruit juice lift.
Served with a 1992 straight Caillerets from the same producer. This is well made and has a polished red fruited character. Palate has good persistence and well judged acidity. It does feel a little modern and worked compared with the 1992.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
A rare treat to try one of these. The deep red fruits are complimented by a little citrus lift, some peony and a hint of blood. Palate is powerful with some tart cherry interest and some smoke. Producer does well here with the difficult 1995 vintage.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
A little petillant on pouring (the wine had been breathing for an hour in an open bottle at this point) which soon vanishes with some swirling. There is a blackcurrant quality to the nose with a little ground white pepper. Palate has more of the same but if being picky finishes with a little bitterness.
Another super bottle from this case. Fully mature, savoury with dark fruits and cedar. Some charming greenness and a little giant caper. Palate has more of the same and lovely texture.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
A tale of two halves here: - the nose has real interest with some hung venison, cloves, polish and fruit cake. The palate? Not so much; a little sour and short.
From magnum. Deep, rich, candied apricot nose here. Lovely texture and a great foil for the cheese. Later there is a little Parma ham sweetness / savouriness I wasn't expected.
From magnum after 3 hours in a decanter. Lime juice and white currant puree here. So balanced, so long. Not a vintage of this wine I'd had before but it's cracking. See why this did so well in the blind new world vs Burg tasting a few years ago.
A generous end of the evening donation, accepted with knowledge that the bottom of the bottle and little cludgy. Nose has blue fruits and crushed rock minerality there is a the tiniest hint of bacon fat sweetness. Some incense and a little rosehip too. Some charming greenness to this. So young. Wow.
2004 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 89 Points
France, Champagne
Feels a little restrained on pouring, not much mousse. Later a little mandarin twist appears on the nose. Palate has a little crystalised ginger character. Around the table some say tastes sweeter than the 9g/l dosage would suggest others say chewy.
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