2023 Athens Wine Event

Athens, Greece
Tasted Friday, December 8, 2023 - Saturday, December 9, 2023 by Papies with 108 views

Introduction

Our Annual wine event in Athens this year held in conjunction with the celebration our friends 50th birthday

Flight 1 - Part 1 - Dinner at Spondi (11 Notes)

( https://www.spondi.gr/en/ )

  • 1996 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Vinothéque Brut 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind and frankly was the first time for all of us trying this wine.
    Beautiful from the start , had this intensify and depth of flavour of age but was also fresh full of energy so for us was for sure a RD but we shied away from the DP side of things.
    Impressive bottle for sure, elegant, polished and still so energetic and really this has a so much more to give. Soft toast, light exotic touch too. Exceptional wine 96-97

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

  • 2011 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted Blind.
    This is now impressively young and almost buttoned down and shy. Needs a lot of decanting at this stage and it took it a bit of time to get going and even 2 hours later this was still not there. We are not sure if it’s down to our bottle or generic for the wine ( we had the 2018 vintage of this 5 months ago and was magical for example, Papies 96) .
    The nose was shy and co use have been a lot of different Chardonnays. Nicol said this could even be assertive in the focus and energy. A wine of quality for sure but just shy. 91-92 and please decant.

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

  • 2008 Louis Jadot Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot 95 Points

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

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind. Magnificent well aged white burgundy for sure the question was how good and noise of Le Montrachet were heard from our friends. And indeed this is that level. The wine for sure feels even older and we thought it was early 2000s. Nice richness, well evolved, still an element of a lan oaky dynamic ( ruled Terran Chardonnay out) tertiary and fruit, earthy notes. Magical well aged burgundy. 95-96

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

  • 1973 Château Cheval Blanc 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind and perplexed our group and frankly most of us thought this was burgundy, lilt La Tache level and this is the testament to the beauty ( we would have never guessed 1973) of this wine. A magical wine for sure.
    Well aged, but still full of life, mature fruit but less earthy and more still with a savoury richness in the fruit. Impressive for sure and we can go for a long time here. For us the wine of the night even though we rated others higher than this still it was a magical wine. 96-97

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

  • 2003 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 91 Points

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

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind , bottle 02222.
    Happy to have tried this blind cause the star gazing of the label would have for sure affected our judgement.
    Frankly this is paying the price of being a 2003. The fruit has a burnt feel to it and lacks the elegance of what should be this magical wine. Reminded us of the 2003 La Mouline that was so uncharacteristic of what this wine could be and it’s just not a La Tache. It’s a 2003 and frankly they should not have released this. 91 at best

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

  • 2000 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    (12/8/2023)

    From magnum, tasted blind in 2 formats , half decanted for an hour and half just from the bottle served in 2 glasses side by side blind. A fascinating play on one’s mid ( maybe touch cruel) as the wines were so different and definitely tells us this wine needs to be decanted for a good hour. It was not as impressive as when we had this from bottle 4 years ago ( again blind and papacies 98) so maybe the magnum is ever so slower to develop. Was even difficult to place it as a barolo for the non decanted one. It was only a couple of hours later that it got going and showing barolo feel. A very slow burner. 93 on this time but with lots of life ahead.

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

  • 1989 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind. Guessed hermitage but off bottle of it past its best.
    The nose started exceptional but then tailed off and so did the wine and we feel this is a wine of great variability. We have had this 5 times in the last 15 years and we have not had a good bottle for some time. Back in 2008 and 2010 this was a magical wine but ever since we have had just average experiences and our fair share of bad bottles.
    On the day this was shy and not singing some hints of direction but not really the level it should be. One should definitely be careful with bottle provenance and maybe stick to recently released ex chateau bottles only. 92 at best

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

  • 1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque 99 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind, went straight for 1980s La La and perfection of wine. The comment was actual one does not win points guessing this textbook beauty.
    We have tried this wine 3 times so far over the last 7 years ( What a privilege) and always rated this 99-100 and on this occasion was not different at all.
    Savory, well mature, earthy but full of energy, rich but in harmony and of course with that full on smoky, roast meat edge that so defines the La Las and we keep falling in love with over and over. We do not need to say more. 99-100 again and again

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

  • 2003 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Inaugural Eleven Confessions Vineyard 96 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind. Textbook SQN Syrah no doubt and spotted as such. The question which one and how old. We went with 10 years old such energy and unwavering power this wine had. Impressive, amplified in all respects like all great SQNs , big of course but also harmonious and a magical wine in its own special way. Impressively so young and this has easily another 2 decades of life and maybe more. 96 and definitely a lot more once it evolves further.

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

  • 1961 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg 95 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind. Is this 10 or 20years old was the question until the wiser friend ( ok he is a bollinger award winning MW too ) said this is 70s or older.
    And there lies the magnificence of this wine, 60+ years of age and as fresh as a youthful wine of 15, bright energetic, layered.clean on the palate, mineral, some undertone of tertiary fruit maybe if one digs deep and especially with meta knowledge of what this is. Impressive wine and a worthy 94-95

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

  • 1946 Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento Selección 93 Points

    Spain, Andalucía, Montilla-Moriles

    (12/8/2023)

    Tasted blind but pretty much all of us guessed PX of greta age. That ability to cover the wine glass to the point of changing its colour is a trait none but very old PXs have.
    Impressive wine and really so much alive and energetic, ( all these bottling were really bottled in the last facade or so , this being bottle 410 of 810 under the 46.2 bottling series) . Rich, touch cloying , covers the palate like a thin film of rich and sticky wine. An experience for sure and an ever so beautiful. 93-94 range.

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

Flight 2 - Part 2 - A Private Lunch (11 Notes)

(https://www.vassilenas.gr/our-place/)

  • NV Amayna (Viña Garces Silva) Sauvignon Blanc Agapes 90 Points

    Chile, San Antonio Valley, Leyda Valley

    (12/9/2023)

    This was the only one served non-blind and frankly is one of those discovery/interest wines . Solvera style white wine though with 2015,16,17 vintages.
    The nose of of light oxidative, light Sherry notes, soft vanilla and nuts. Almost like a soft Sherry in many ways and this carries on the palate. A curiosity but not a wine one can have more than a glass at this stage at least. Let’s call is a 90 for that.

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

  • 2003 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and we guessed 2004-2006 Dom Perignon and made a point also that we did not feel this was a P2…
    Fresh and bright and in a way defeats the purpose of the P2 which is supposed to show a deeper and more focussed side of the wine. That been said utterly delicious and great, still young, lazer level focus and with an intensity that lingers for a long time. A much fresher style of P2 but a great Dom nonetheless. Not sure it’s worth the premium vs the normal bottlings at this time of its life though. 95-96

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

  • NV Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvée 10 Years 90 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and the wisest of the table settled at a Bordeaux white as there was a bit of linearity and a sémillon feel albeit a few insisted on a Riesling edge.
    The wine is indeed a fascinating story a full blend of 10 vintages spanning 10 years of wines from the estate with a varying degree of cépage. It is a bit thin at this stage at least and light and lacked a presence. Great story though but was eclipsed by the 50yr cuvée that was served right after ( Papies 95) . Good 90

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

  • NV Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvee 50 Years (released 2021) 95 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and we went with 10yr Terlan Rarity Pinot Bianca, such were th slaters of this and they depth of flavour while the acidity was on a low perception mode. Maybe a touch of off dry wines too here that masked it.
    A fascinating story of a blend of 50 years worth of wines of variable cépages and style that created something special, as special as one of our favourite white wines in the world. A solid 95

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

  • 2012 Hatzidakis Winery Assyrtiko de Louros Vignes Centenaires 93 Points

    Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and most of us thought this was a 20yr old Rhône blend or south Rhône white . Andreas went with SQN the Kolibri on account of low acidity ( most likely here is the sweetness and richness masking it) . Our friend AndreawSGHall 6 years ago said it best, like selosse but with no bubbles. And indeed it’s that oxidative side, richness from colour to palate and definitely aged a bit faster than normal for Assyrtiko styles but that is the style of their noble cuvée. Maybe not for all but no one could argue against the level of this. We do prefer our whites though brighter and more energetic in a way less evolved. 93

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

  • 2008 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 96 Points

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

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and frankly very disappointed not to have picked up the rich, youthful and special side of the Grenache. We were amazed and yet dam founded in the sense that we could not place this beauty. One could be forgiven for even saying an old SQN Grenache here as the intensity of the fruit is there but it has none of the weight. It’s the 4th lucky crossing of paths with this wine over the last 4 years ( Papies 95-96) and what a beautiful experience. Elegant, pure in the specialness of the Grenache made from a unique terroir. Easy 96, lots of life here.

    Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2012 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux 94 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and we could not place it. We actually went with 10 year old Xinomavro of the highest end ( Dalamaras VV) rather than anything to do withCabFranc.
    Had that young but Uber elegant and polished feel of a Nebbiolo with some extra depth which prompted us for Xinomavro. Alas what an unveiling and albeit the wine is young and just about crossing over from the dark side it is an impressive one for sure. Give this time. A solid 94 for now.

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

  • 2008 Dalamara Winery Paliokalias Naoussa 94 Points

    Greece, Macedonia, Naoussa

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind.
    We went with a 15yr slightly modernist Barolo. Mesmerising in the way that we love Xinomavro and especially from Dalamaras ( his VV is in our mind the best Greek Red ever made) . Subtle, elegant, well evolved but still on the fruit and really shows the greatness Xinomavro can achieve made well and allowed to age as much of it is drunk far too young. So ever so beautiful wine . 94-95 , has another 5-10 years for sure but felt at peak now.

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

  • 1990 Château Montrose 99 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind.
    There was no doubt what this was nor how exceptional of a wine this was. We actually said thank you to our friend that offered it ahead of even posting our guess. We went with Lynch Bages 1990 as we did feel some of the austerity of Pauillac.
    The wine is simply stunning , soft, almost feminine but with a lot of presence and this has another 20 years to go but ever so subtle and magnificent . Pointless to rumble on. 99

    Interestingly a few weeks ago when crossing paths with the magical 1990 Margaux ( Papies 99) we made the comment that that was the ballerina in the Chinese theatre’s production on Swan lake where the ever stoic ballerina just mesmerises all while balancing on the guy’s shoulders. The 1990 Margaux was the Ballerino. This 1990 Montrose was the Ballerina Ever so magical scene, And here is the link - https://youtu.be/O6CRB_dLTYo?si=isMcz985UMNWUc0R

    Post a Comment / 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1995 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and followed in the footsteps of the Perfect 1990 Montrose ( Papies 99) . Felt a bit like the new world version for a hot 1990s vintage like a 1994 and that ripeness sort of stole away from the beauty of this almost. Touch of a burn on The fruit. A wine we never really came friends and even a dozen years ago green and not spoiled didn’t get along with it ( Papies 93) . This is not a poor wine in any measure but really fat this level we expected the supercalifrajilisticexpialidocious level of elegance. 93-94

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

  • 1993 Château Pajzos Tokaji Esszencia 96 Points

    Hungary, Tokaji

    (12/9/2023)

    Tasted blind and arrived on fatigued palates after what could only be descriptors a magical line up of wines but still shown.
    Frankly we felt this is is 30 yr old Vinson to of the highest level as the wine had an impressive lightness to come along with the proper depth of flavour and density. Not that we have that much of experience with Esszencia level of Tokaji but sort of expected it to be solid and impossible to have but a few sips. This was plain magnificent and an experience to be treasured and testament to it is that even last it shown.95? 96? 97?

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

×
×