France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
Could only be Rougeard - had such an elegant and silky texture that only the top producers have. Tannins were very fine with no rough edges, clearly from a cooler vintage without any blowsiness. A little greenness emerged with air but overall the vibrant, pure red fruit still dominated. Absolutely everything in place for this wine and my favourite of the night.
My contribution. Ripe and slightly sweet for the vintage. Some plum, olives and black pepper-dominant spice and smoky notes. Surprisingly for a Clape this was missing a little structure - the fruit was still very youthful but the tannins seemed rather resolved.
Brought for a friend. A powerful and very youthful Bordeaux. Some pyrazines on the nose and palate. Quite rich with mocha notes, slightly dusty tannins. Good but would have preferred more refinement, think the others liked this more than I did.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Agree with every word in acyso’s note on 6/4/2023. Incredibly youthful colour but a slightly distracting port-like nose. Palate was very vibrant and slightly sweet with some dark spice, chocolate notes. Grateful to have tried this but think I admired rather than enjoyed this wine.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Slightly cloudy with some toffee and roasted fruit notes. Seemed a little advanced at first but became purer and silkier with air. The last glass attained a superb balance, but didn’t have the oomph of the ‘95 CDLR last year. Another very generous share.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Fourrier is one producer that has such a strong imprint that it’s possible to call blind - said that this was a ‘06 or ‘08 Fourrier Gevrey. A little of the ‘08 screechy acid but with the lifted fruit signature and spice of Fourrier. A little astringent, didn’t have the energy and delineation of the best vintages, but still very enjoyable.
Brought for a friend. Some secondary development but still quite firm and structured. Slight cola note and stemminess, not fully giving and rather coiled up at the moment.
Rather oxidised with coffee notes at the start but surprisingly became more alive with air. A regal, stately wine with tertiary notes and not much fruit to speak of, but loved the harmonious elegance on this. A real treat.
Another round of Giacosa roulette, not the best this time around but could have been worse. Distracting cough syrup note on the nose, slightly too ripe on the palate with some prune and plum notes. The seamless character was a redeeming factor that made me like the wine more than others. Unfortunately it developed an unpleasant menthol note in the decanter.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Rather shrill at first with its acidity sticking out, so thought this was a Nebbiolo. Much improved with air as it got more expressive - gained a velvety texture, delicate and sappy dark cherry fruit. In a good spot now.
2004 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux 95 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
Could only be Rougeard - had such an elegant and silky texture that only the top producers have. Tannins were very fine with no rough edges, clearly from a cooler vintage without any blowsiness. A little greenness emerged with air but overall the vibrant, pure red fruit still dominated. Absolutely everything in place for this wine and my favourite of the night.
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1989 Pierre-Jacques Druet Bourgueil Vaumoreau 87 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
Brought as an extra. Surprisingly vibrant fruit and structured at this age but had an overt green, stalky note. Definitely unripe.
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2004 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
My contribution. Ripe and slightly sweet for the vintage. Some plum, olives and black pepper-dominant spice and smoky notes. Surprisingly for a Clape this was missing a little structure - the fruit was still very youthful but the tannins seemed rather resolved.
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1998 Vieux Château Certan 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Brought for a friend. A powerful and very youthful Bordeaux. Some pyrazines on the nose and palate. Quite rich with mocha notes, slightly dusty tannins. Good but would have preferred more refinement, think the others liked this more than I did.
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1964 Château Cheval Blanc 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Agree with every word in acyso’s note on 6/4/2023. Incredibly youthful colour but a slightly distracting port-like nose. Palate was very vibrant and slightly sweet with some dark spice, chocolate notes. Grateful to have tried this but think I admired rather than enjoyed this wine.
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1995 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Slightly cloudy with some toffee and roasted fruit notes. Seemed a little advanced at first but became purer and silkier with air. The last glass attained a superb balance, but didn’t have the oomph of the ‘95 CDLR last year. Another very generous share.
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2008 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Combe aux Moines Vieille Vigne 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Fourrier is one producer that has such a strong imprint that it’s possible to call blind - said that this was a ‘06 or ‘08 Fourrier Gevrey. A little of the ‘08 screechy acid but with the lifted fruit signature and spice of Fourrier. A little astringent, didn’t have the energy and delineation of the best vintages, but still very enjoyable.
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2007 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Brought for a friend. Some secondary development but still quite firm and structured. Slight cola note and stemminess, not fully giving and rather coiled up at the moment.
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1964 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 94 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Rather oxidised with coffee notes at the start but surprisingly became more alive with air. A regal, stately wine with tertiary notes and not much fruit to speak of, but loved the harmonious elegance on this. A real treat.
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2001 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Another round of Giacosa roulette, not the best this time around but could have been worse. Distracting cough syrup note on the nose, slightly too ripe on the palate with some prune and plum notes. The seamless character was a redeeming factor that made me like the wine more than others. Unfortunately it developed an unpleasant menthol note in the decanter.
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1990 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Rather shrill at first with its acidity sticking out, so thought this was a Nebbiolo. Much improved with air as it got more expressive - gained a velvety texture, delicate and sappy dark cherry fruit. In a good spot now.
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