The nose was good but on the palate this was spectacular combining complexity, precision, beautiful maturity and softness with lots of freshness. My first RD and it delivered my best Bollinger experience.
TN: Beautiful vinous nose with subtle nutty notes, some brioche and a tiny hint of good oxidative notes. On the palate this shows wonderful with fine brioche and butter notes, nutty notes, citrus and herbs, beautiful minerality. Fine mousse, lots of acidity but very round and integrated. Beautiful balance.
A Sylvaner… on a top notch GG level. Wow. Blind I would have guessed Riesling. A bit more complexity needed for an even higher score.
TN: Intriguing but slightly muted nose. On the palate quite impactful, intense and dense, yet light and airy with a high but round and perfectly integrated acidity. Medium+ complexity with quince, apple, citrus and minerality at the core. Quite precise. Very good balance.
Very beautiful and complex on the palate with elegance and cut. Quite particular style, but not I like that much. If you like the style, you would score it higher. At least this bottle was not premoxed like other white Chaves I had.
TN: Nose a bit meh. On the palate more beautiful, floral aromas, quince, smoke, minerality. Lots of cut and freshness for the grape. Fine and airy, not at all too dense or especially oily like Marsannes can be. Quite good.
This showed great. Very complex, fully mature and with a beautiful structure and texture. It was not perfectly clean and as precise as HB can be but still great.
TN: Intense, but not perfectly clean nose. Slightly lactic and then lots of smoky notes wrapped around a dark fruit core. On the palate this is impressive with lots of fresh dark fruit, cassis, tobacco, smokey notes and herbs. Layered but not as perfectly armoatically balanced as the best years. The structural frame is impeccable with fine tannins, a satin-like texture and lots of tension and cute. Very good balance. Very interesting but not perfectly clean.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
Amazing wine, much better than a bottle a few months ago. Loads of complexity, super elegant, perfectly balanced. If the nose would have been as good as the palate, this could have been a 100pts wine. So it is 97+ pts.
TN: Fine, dark fruited, somkey, fresh herbal and minerality driven nose. Some faint earthy and tobacco notes too. On the palate…. Wow. Intense, deep aromatics with fine fresh pure strawberry, darker cassis notes, herbs and minerality, malty notes, some coffee notes. So soft and round, so elegant, yet full of tension. Perfect balance. Long and superb finish.
Wow, a stunning bottle of wine with mind-blowing complexity and purity, ever changing , highly elegant, long and just the complete package. Together with the 1974 magnum a year ago the best Martha’s I had to date.
TN: Medium+ intense fresh strawberry nose, herbs and crushed rocks. Not hyper minty. Some hints of coffee. Shines with its purity. On the palate this is fantastic, so pure, airy and light yet with an aromatic density that impresses. Minerality, herbs, some minty notes, and then the fresh fruit, almost pure red fresh fruit. With time more minty. Coffee notes, minerality. Ever changing, constantly evolving and all packed in an almost perfect structural frame. Full of finesse , light and airy, superbly fresh. Out of this world balance.
One of the best 1995s I had to date (not a big fan of the vintage). Not overly complex but fairly fine frame - something not many 1995s have. 93+pts.
TN: Beautiful mature notes of tobacco, herbs, dark fruit, earthy notes on the nose. On the palate more red fruit mixed with dark fruit. Very fresh fruit, tobacco, herbs. Fine, round, herbs, fresh. Very balanced. A bit malty even.
A mediocre vintage but a strong showing for Margaux. It has not the complexity of great years but drinks quite nicely today (had even a better bottle of this blind some time ago - 95pts).
TN: Medium expressive nose with dark fruit and coffee. Luxurious. On the palate superb, with sweet dark fruit, some coffee notes, herbs, earthy notes, minerality. Medium aromatic intensity. Overall quite nice but without any exceptionalism.
From magnum. I was surprised that from the big bottle it showed so open and ready - especially as LLC usually needs lots of time. But this is probably decades away from its peak and has no tertiary development yet.
TN: On the nose dark ripe fruit, a bit sweet. Dark brooding. On the palate round and open for business. Sweet dark fruit and lots of minerality at the core. No tertiary development, or almost none. Quite good.
Decanting: I would decant it for at least 3-4 hours.
This was good but without any exceptionalism. It misses depth and weight. Still, drinking wuite nicely today.
TN: Slightly lactic nose. Some tobacco. On the palate fresher and round, fine tannins, highly elegant. Quite floral and light. Classic but without the density and aromatic depth to truly excite.
Two Granges side by side. The 1983 (97pts) again showed highly complex, almost perfect precision and superb purity. If we could have followed the wine longer, it could have been even better (had a 99pts bottle last year). The 1993 (95pts) was not far behind with the same complexity and purity but 10 years younger, still with a bit more muscular structure and feel and some chemical/anis notes which you have to like.
TN: Some herbs, super high/toned red berries. On the palate. So intriguing and inviting. On the palate so sweet, so high toned red fruit, herbs, minerality, minty and spicy notes but it’s all about this beautiful, pure red fruit. Very fine, elegant structure, lots of freshness and tension and a light and airy texture. Quite complete, especially towards the end of the glass when it got more air.
Decanting: I would decant for 5-6 hours. These Granges need a lot of air.
Two Granges side by side. The 1983 (97pts) again showed highly complex, almost perfect precision and superb purity. If we could have followed the wine longer, it could have been even better (had a 99pts bottle last year). The 1993 (95pts) was not far behind with the same complexity and purity but 10 years younger, still with a bit more muscular structure and feel and some chemical/anis notes which you have to like.
TN: Slightly chemical nose, then herbs, anis. With time better and purerx On the palate much better, high toned red fruit, lots of ripe dark fruit, minerality, herbs, minty notes, again anis and spices. Very complex and layered. Highly precise. No faulty notes. Round but still very powerful but so round and sexy.
Decanting: I would decant for 5-6 hours. These Granges need a lot of air.
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
This needed a bit of air but then it was firing on all cylinders. Highly complex, highly elegant and with a superb balance. A wow wine!
TN: Dark and dusty, herbal and with crushed rocks. With time better, purer and more precise. Very young on the nose and intriguing. On the palate very fresh, super precise dark red and dark fruit, licorice, some coffee notes, herbs. On the long finish there is a superb fine, fresh red fruit. Superb. Balanced, round, harmonious, fine tannins, superb tension. Very complete.
Decanting: I would go for 2 hours in the decanter.
Badly corked. On the palate there is an intriguing red fruit, superb purity, herbs, earthy, some tobacco. Seems very complex, round, melted together, good tension. If I ignore the cork, this would be the best Batonnage i’ve had to date.
My oldest SQN to date and while it showed fantastic due to the high complexity and precision, it will need more time to become lighter and airier. Still, great to drink today.
TN: Superb Syrah nose with lots of BBQ, bacon fat, herbs and earthy notes. Smells very luxurious, round and delicate. On the palate more intense and young. Superb red fruit. High-toned red fruit, herbs, spices, earthy notes and then all the Syrah spiciness, herbs. Then some malty notes. Wow! So elegant and full of finesse, lots of tension and freshness but still quite dense and packed but with a very good balance.
2004 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 95 Points
France, Champagne
The nose was good but on the palate this was spectacular combining complexity, precision, beautiful maturity and softness with lots of freshness. My first RD and it delivered my best Bollinger experience.
TN: Beautiful vinous nose with subtle nutty notes, some brioche and a tiny hint of good oxidative notes. On the palate this shows wonderful with fine brioche and butter notes, nutty notes, citrus and herbs, beautiful minerality. Fine mousse, lots of acidity but very round and integrated. Beautiful balance.
Decanting: No decanting needed.
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2018 Weingut Zehnthof Theo Luckert Silvaner »Creutz« *** (Ur-Silvaner) 94 Points
Germany, Franken
A Sylvaner… on a top notch GG level. Wow. Blind I would have guessed Riesling. A bit more complexity needed for an even higher score.
TN: Intriguing but slightly muted nose. On the palate quite impactful, intense and dense, yet light and airy with a high but round and perfectly integrated acidity. Medium+ complexity with quince, apple, citrus and minerality at the core. Quite precise. Very good balance.
Decanting: A short decant should do the job.
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2002 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Very beautiful and complex on the palate with elegance and cut. Quite particular style, but not I like that much. If you like the style, you would score it higher. At least this bottle was not premoxed like other white Chaves I had.
TN: Nose a bit meh. On the palate more beautiful, floral aromas, quince, smoke, minerality. Lots of cut and freshness for the grape. Fine and airy, not at all too dense or especially oily like Marsannes can be. Quite good.
Decanting: No extensive decanting needed.
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1956 Château Haut-Brion 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
This showed great. Very complex, fully mature and with a beautiful structure and texture. It was not perfectly clean and as precise as HB can be but still great.
TN: Intense, but not perfectly clean nose. Slightly lactic and then lots of smoky notes wrapped around a dark fruit core. On the palate this is impressive with lots of fresh dark fruit, cassis, tobacco, smokey notes and herbs. Layered but not as perfectly armoatically balanced as the best years. The structural frame is impeccable with fine tannins, a satin-like texture and lots of tension and cute. Very good balance. Very interesting but not perfectly clean.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed.
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1978 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Amazing wine, much better than a bottle a few months ago. Loads of complexity, super elegant, perfectly balanced. If the nose would have been as good as the palate, this could have been a 100pts wine. So it is 97+ pts.
TN: Fine, dark fruited, somkey, fresh herbal and minerality driven nose. Some faint earthy and tobacco notes too. On the palate…. Wow. Intense, deep aromatics with fine fresh pure strawberry, darker cassis notes, herbs and minerality, malty notes, some coffee notes. So soft and round, so elegant, yet full of tension. Perfect balance. Long and superb finish.
Decanting: 1-2 hours should be sufficient.
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1978 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 99 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Wow, a stunning bottle of wine with mind-blowing complexity and purity, ever changing , highly elegant, long and just the complete package. Together with the 1974 magnum a year ago the best Martha’s I had to date.
TN: Medium+ intense fresh strawberry nose, herbs and crushed rocks. Not hyper minty. Some hints of coffee. Shines with its purity. On the palate this is fantastic, so pure, airy and light yet with an aromatic density that impresses. Minerality, herbs, some minty notes, and then the fresh fruit, almost pure red fresh fruit. With time more minty. Coffee notes, minerality. Ever changing, constantly evolving and all packed in an almost perfect structural frame. Full of finesse , light and airy, superbly fresh. Out of this world balance.
Decanting: 1-2 hours should work.
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1995 Château Montrose 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
One of the best 1995s I had to date (not a big fan of the vintage). Not overly complex but fairly fine frame - something not many 1995s have. 93+pts.
TN: Beautiful mature notes of tobacco, herbs, dark fruit, earthy notes on the nose. On the palate more red fruit mixed with dark fruit. Very fresh fruit, tobacco, herbs. Fine, round, herbs, fresh. Very balanced. A bit malty even.
Decanting: A short decant should do the job.
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2006 Château Margaux 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
A mediocre vintage but a strong showing for Margaux. It has not the complexity of great years but drinks quite nicely today (had even a better bottle of this blind some time ago - 95pts).
TN: Medium expressive nose with dark fruit and coffee. Luxurious. On the palate superb, with sweet dark fruit, some coffee notes, herbs, earthy notes, minerality. Medium aromatic intensity. Overall quite nice but without any exceptionalism.
Decanting: No extensive decanting needed.
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2000 Château Léoville Las Cases 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
From magnum. I was surprised that from the big bottle it showed so open and ready - especially as LLC usually needs lots of time. But this is probably decades away from its peak and has no tertiary development yet.
TN: On the nose dark ripe fruit, a bit sweet. Dark brooding. On the palate round and open for business. Sweet dark fruit and lots of minerality at the core. No tertiary development, or almost none. Quite good.
Decanting: I would decant it for at least 3-4 hours.
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1999 Château Latour Grand Vin 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
This was good but without any exceptionalism. It misses depth and weight. Still, drinking wuite nicely today.
TN: Slightly lactic nose. Some tobacco. On the palate fresher and round, fine tannins, highly elegant. Quite floral and light. Classic but without the density and aromatic depth to truly excite.
Decanting: A short decant should be sufficient.
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1983 Penfolds Grange 97 Points
Australia, South Australia
Two Granges side by side. The 1983 (97pts) again showed highly complex, almost perfect precision and superb purity. If we could have followed the wine longer, it could have been even better (had a 99pts bottle last year). The 1993 (95pts) was not far behind with the same complexity and purity but 10 years younger, still with a bit more muscular structure and feel and some chemical/anis notes which you have to like.
TN: Some herbs, super high/toned red berries. On the palate. So intriguing and inviting. On the palate so sweet, so high toned red fruit, herbs, minerality, minty and spicy notes but it’s all about this beautiful, pure red fruit. Very fine, elegant structure, lots of freshness and tension and a light and airy texture. Quite complete, especially towards the end of the glass when it got more air.
Decanting: I would decant for 5-6 hours. These Granges need a lot of air.
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1993 Penfolds Grange 95 Points
Australia, South Australia
Two Granges side by side. The 1983 (97pts) again showed highly complex, almost perfect precision and superb purity. If we could have followed the wine longer, it could have been even better (had a 99pts bottle last year). The 1993 (95pts) was not far behind with the same complexity and purity but 10 years younger, still with a bit more muscular structure and feel and some chemical/anis notes which you have to like.
TN: Slightly chemical nose, then herbs, anis. With time better and purerx On the palate much better, high toned red fruit, lots of ripe dark fruit, minerality, herbs, minty notes, again anis and spices. Very complex and layered. Highly precise. No faulty notes. Round but still very powerful but so round and sexy.
Decanting: I would decant for 5-6 hours. These Granges need a lot of air.
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1991 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
This needed a bit of air but then it was firing on all cylinders. Highly complex, highly elegant and with a superb balance. A wow wine!
TN: Dark and dusty, herbal and with crushed rocks. With time better, purer and more precise. Very young on the nose and intriguing. On the palate very fresh, super precise dark red and dark fruit, licorice, some coffee notes, herbs. On the long finish there is a superb fine, fresh red fruit. Superb. Balanced, round, harmonious, fine tannins, superb tension. Very complete.
Decanting: I would go for 2 hours in the decanter.
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2004 The Wild Boys of Club Batonnage Flawed
Austria, Burgenland
Badly corked. On the palate there is an intriguing red fruit, superb purity, herbs, earthy, some tobacco. Seems very complex, round, melted together, good tension. If I ignore the cork, this would be the best Batonnage i’ve had to date.
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1995 Sine Qua Non The Other Hand 97 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
My oldest SQN to date and while it showed fantastic due to the high complexity and precision, it will need more time to become lighter and airier. Still, great to drink today.
TN: Superb Syrah nose with lots of BBQ, bacon fat, herbs and earthy notes. Smells very luxurious, round and delicate. On the palate more intense and young. Superb red fruit. High-toned red fruit, herbs, spices, earthy notes and then all the Syrah spiciness, herbs. Then some malty notes. Wow! So elegant and full of finesse, lots of tension and freshness but still quite dense and packed but with a very good balance.
Decanting: I would go for 2 hours.
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