11/15/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Another banner year for Thivin. Beautiful nose of crushed blackberry, iron, and a whiff of sweet spice. Juicy, vibrant fruit with ample, cleansing acidity but with plenty of density and weight (by Beaujolais standards) to give me hope for an even better future. Not as deep, dark, and brooding as Thivin can be in warmer years, I found this to be an exceptionally balanced and compelling drink.

2/9/2021 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Enjoyed it over five(!) nights with my wife. A wine of great intensity, with all the aromas and flavors of Sauternes packed in, creating a feeling of density and complexity with every sniff or sip. Heady smells of ripe apricot, orange marmalade, toffee, vanilla, and a bit of Xmas cake spice. Incredible weight on the palate, just coating every nook and cranny with marmalade sweetness but undergirded with an equally powerful acidity that stands up ably to the mass of ripe fruit. An absolute knockout with the stuffing to last another several decades and still probably the best value from this justifiably legendary vintage.

8/13/2020 - EhrlichDY wrote:

Not as good as my last bottle. Seems tired or off in some way. I hope this ins't a trend.

7/13/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine:

On opening, the usual VA cloud hits your sniffer, but a short time in the decanter let that recede and the usual cornucopia of Musar aromas came wafting to the fore: dark coffee, cherry pie, walnut, beef blood, ash, leather, spice cabinet. Brought a smile to my face with every whiff. On the palate, perfectly resolved tannins and that unmistakable sweet cherry Musar fruit with tingly spices, acid, and VA varnish. Like old Beaucastel, the wines' flaws are always plain to see but somehow meld seamlessly into the wines' character, becoming virtues. What joy they give me!

4/22/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine:

This was just dynamite. Slight browning at the edges gives away its age, but the nose was just lovely, with plenty of the fresh cracked pepper and blackberry you'd expect from a zin, but with lovely earthy and mushroom tones that give it an almost Bordeaux-like flair. Silky, sweet, and effortless on the palate, but not without some sneaky structure (from the big petite sirah proportion in the blend?). Great with burgers off the grill; this bottle disappeared quickly. In a perfect spot, but could easily go on a few more years without losing its edge.

7/12/2018 - Billigan wrote:

Exceptional. Rich, glossy berry fruit but tons of earthy and savory flavors, green tobacco, and that chalky, fine tannin that’s a hallmark of the vineyard. Bar none the best rendition of this consistently excellent wine since the 2009. Maybe not the spine of the also-great 2010, but more immediately approachable and absolutely delicious.

5/26/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:

Fiftieth Birthday Dinner with 1968 Riojas and Other Treats (San Francisco): Dull, deep yellow/light golden. Subdued nose that is not as bright or pure as it should be. Medium weight, not that sweet. There is a bit of mustiness, the fruit just doesn't sing, and it's missing something in terms of mouth feel. I have to believe that this bottle was off in some way even if not overtly corked. Interestingly, after having had a superb bottle of this in 2010, I see that another bottle in 2014 showed much the same way as this did. Very disappointing given the quality of the vintage for dessert wines.

1/27/2018 - Billigan Likes this wine:

This bottle was just breathtaking. Burgundian elegance and balance, svelte and silky palate presence, gorgeous whiffs of mourvedre funk, and beautiful richness without any of the alcohol fumes of modern CdP. Just stunning and no-doubt one of the greatest CdPs ever made.

1/1/2018 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Finally sourced this wine again, and I'm so glad I did. As big and bold as it was in its youth, but now gradually unclenching its fist. The ripe black fruit has softened considerably while still showing ample spine. The minerality, which was always there in spades, has moved further to the fore, giving the wine a distinctly volcanic vibe to finish. A completely sui generis and completely delicious Beaujolais with miles ahead of it.

11/3/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Brilliant combination of new world richness and Bordeaux aromatics. Dark, earthy, and herbaceous aromas; absolutely gorgeous, effusive, fun to swirl and sniff. Cashmere texture, with lovely touches of fresh herb and mineral flavors, marred only by a bit of heat on the finish. Tremendous wine and drinking beautifully right now.

2/15/2017 - chablis28 wrote:

Really disappointing from one of my, usually, favorite producers???! Did they sell out to the maker of Meiomi PN? This is a mess and bares no resemblance to the usually; supple, ethereal, feather weight red fruited style of all the other vintages I've been drinking every year since 2005??? Its up 1% in Alc on the label from last year's 12.5% to 13.5% but taste and smells more like a 15.5% CDP. Darker color than usual, starts out with a pleasant enough juicy grapy nose but turns Alc nose quickly. Blackberry jam, plum and hint of rasin on the ponderous weighty palate. Turns a little savory later but still, nearly undrinkable, for me. Think Ill be skipping a vintage for the first time with Dupeuble. Glad I didn't buy more. Not flawed. Oddly, seems like a "great" vintage didn't work out "great" here. At least not for my palate. Meiomi and Belle Glos drinkers will love this :). Need to see if any more 2014 around.

5/15/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine:

My goodness this was in such a perfect spot. Gorgeous nose of smoked meats, cracked pepper, cinnamon, and a little floral/rosy stuff for good measure. Savory, rich, and earthy on the palate with an almost satiny texture with just a hit of spicy bite on the finish. Chave just always seems to deliver, vintage after vintage.

2/9/2017 - tdelorme wrote:

Definitely shows the power and ripeness of the vintage, but with the grace you would expect from Foillard. It would be interesting to taste this next to the 09. I think I prefer the 14 -- but it's Foillard and as you would expect it is delicious.

1/31/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine:

It'd been over a year since I last give this one a whirl, and I was glad to see it still showing beautifully. Plenty of the same cool, granitic smells and stony textures with just pitch perfect balance. This is basically my archetype beaujolais, and my favorite from the 2014 vintage.

9/11/2016 - Billigan Does not like this wine:

Sorely disappointed in this showing. Deep purple in the glass, with strong, grapey aromas and a big whiff of alcohol. On the palate, more grapey flavors and an almost syrupy texture with a hot finish. No improvement on night #2. The snappy acids and stoniness I've long-loved in this wine are nowhere to be found, as it shows scarcely any expression of its terroir or varietal character. What happened here?

9/13/2016 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:

A revelation. Excellent stuff. As Billigan noted, and I suspect we have the same salesperson, like a cru beaujolais but with a bit of new world heft. It's clean, almost too clean for my taste in this level of wine, where I tend toward a bit of sauvage (of course). Still, this is a wine I will be returning to. As some Chilenos would say, y volveré, a tus brazos caeré. Las estrellas brillarán, nuestro amor renacerá.

7/13/2016 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Absolutely gorgeous perfume, with a smoky depth, like burning embers in the glass. Exceptional balance and proportion on the palate, which still shows of plenty of muscle to last in the cellar. But no need to wait; this wine is singing now.

6/7/2016 - convex Likes this wine:

Summer officially arrived. Nice nose of floral, lemon zest and honey. Screams freshness and minerality in the mouth. No weakness here but perhaps a bit forgettable. I expect to drink this all summer long.

3/6/2016 - Billigan Likes this wine:

The "baby" [insert famous vineyard/producer] moniker gets tossed about often as we search for some way to capture the magic of a legendary wine that's now out of our price range, but it's not often that I've found the substitute wine to live up to its billing. However, this is the rare case where the "Baby Chave Hermitage" is actually an apt description. In its gorgeous array of savory and meaty aromas flavors, it was reminiscent of some of the finest Texier or Gonon wines that I've had, but it also possessed an extra level of both depth and refinement that put it on another level, especially for the appellation. Only a 92 now, but it shows tremendous potential for the cellar. No, it's not Hermitage, but for the money, it's as close as you'll get.

2/24/2016 - the godfather wrote:

tasty, good qpr, a touch of wood, remains to be seen if this is a repeat purchase

6/13/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. The Corcelette has all the charms of Foillard's other bottlings, but with an accessible quality than the more structured Cote du Py. Ready to drink anytime, but no harm in holding a few more years to see what other elements emerge.

5/17/2015 - Charlie Carnes wrote:

Advanced; really bad.

3/14/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine:

A stunning wine and proof positive that the "forever-burly" 1986s are really hitting their stride. After an 8-hour Audouze, this was humming. A knockout perfume full of cassis, turned earth, smoke, and leather. An exceptionally balanced-but-richly-fruited palate, with the tannins perfectly integrated. No, this isn't some powerhouse heavyweight, but it is an exceptional middleweight that truly shows the best of what Bordeaux is all about.

1/23/2015 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:

Freshly turned earth, bucketfuls of it. On top of that, layers of tobacco leaves, black peppercorns and a touch of bell pepper. None of the pyrazines come through on the red-fruited, medium-bodied palate that's warm, and expressive but also well lifted and slightly savory. A superior value at just $16. recommended

Slow-o 2 hours, served non-blind.

1/17/2015 - acyso wrote:

An excessibe [sic] balla [sic] afternoon at Domaine (Chicago, IL): I think the biggest surprise on this bottle was how much fruit there was -- and all of it ripe at that. The palate had the same juicy ripeness to it, but the acidity gave this a certain litheness. Very, very good now, but this definitely has the capability to last for another decade.

11/30/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine:

This wine made me think of that classically cheesy Robert Palmer video, "Simply Irresistible," as it's just one of those whose sheer deliciousness bowls you over. That's not to say it's simple by any means, as its nose is plenty complex, with loads of black cherries, canned peaches, spices, some floral action, and a hint of Bojo funk. On the palate, the trademark Foillard silk is in full effect, as this just glides down with effortless sweetness. The price is steep, but it's hard to argue when the bottle is drained so quickly with huge smiles on everyone's faces.

11/13/2014 - Charlie Carnes wrote:

The ridiculous baby diaper and hints of band-aid, blew off after about an hour to reveal a really crappy Burgundy. Hideous. 2 out of 3 have been flawed.

9/3/2014 - Billigan wrote:

Very similar experience as Seth. Was expecting more fireworks given past experience and the quality of the vintage, but this seemed like it was tucked tight in its shell. Only after several hours of airtime, when some lovely jasmine and minty aromas peeked out, did I get a sense of the complexity that may come one day. Time to put the rest of my stash to sleep for a good many years.

6/29/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Classic LdH nose, rich with nutty and floral aromas. Similarly oxidative elements on the palate, which managed the usual high-wire act of oily texture and lovely acidic freshness with an almost-metallic minerality to accompany the sherry-ish nutty flavors.

4/11/2014 - diggydan wrote:

Nice wine, surely doesn't suck. Herbal and savory, good clean fruit profile shaded towards the dark. Super tannic and tight upon uncorking but opened nicely in the glass with 20 mins of air.

8/6/2013 - Billigan Likes this wine:

A bit tight out of the gate, but all its charms became evident by the second night. Rich, lemon custard, light florals, and a pat of butter on the nose. The oak is very much dialed back, letting plenty of citrus fruit and minerality come to the fore, with everything well structured and balanced and delineated. No roundness or flabbiness here, but no angularity or austerity either. Superb!

3/22/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Given how my first bottle went and the vintage characteristics, I was expecting something really lean, but this has fleshed out beautifully into a prototypically wonderful Lapierre. Great, red-fruited aromatics, along with some mild Bojo funk and the trademark iron-like mineral notes of this producer. On the palate, it's filled out its frame and taken on a silken, more richly fruited feel (almost creamy in texture) but with ample acidity and just the faintest hint of greenish herbs to give it some snap. I almost balked at the price hike for this on release, but I'm glad I didn't. It's worth the tariff and a testament to great winemaking in a tough year.

1/21/2014 - essconsults Likes this wine:

94-97 on the first night. Massive, mentholated, cool mostly blue fruity, but to me, more Gevrey than Morey St. Denis. This has tremendous soil tones, but is very tannic and acidic, yet has a hugely long finish that goes on for minutes. Put this away for 15 years and see what happens.

92-95, unfortunately on successive nights (same bottle) and therefore I'm lowering my score. As we know Jacques Lardiere often hugely outperformed in lackluster years, but did his methods cause him to perform less well in the great years? I have also tasted his '10 Chambolle Fuees which was very big and un-Chambolle like (see my note).

I apologize for the initial, hasty note, on the CSD, but it WAS enormously impressive the first night-it hasn't followed through, which is unlike my experience with other top '10s.

10/5/2013 - Billigan wrote:

Almost a citrusy quality from the abundant, juicy acidity, along with the usual leathery scents. Typical LdH silk on the palate but undercut slightly by a sourness on the finish.

9/27/2013 - coremill wrote:

The worst non-obviously flawed wine I've had in a long time. There is a weird chemical aspect to the nose that took my a long time to identify but eventually I decided it smelled like Elmer's glue. There's also a bit of windex, green grass, lemon/grapefruit juice, and a slightly reductive smokey/peppery quality. On the palate there is hardly any fruit but a ton of grassy acid and some unbalanced drying tannin. This tastes a bit like somebody dropped a bucket of tannin powder in a vat of crappy Loire sauvignon blanc. It was a struggle to finish a glass. 3-4 hours of air did not help.

I'm clearly not drinking the same wine everyone else is raving about, but I couldn't figure out what was wrong here. Not corked, not oxidized or heat damaged, not obviously bretty or volatile.

7/10/2013 - christyler wrote:

I knew this would be too young, but I opened it anyway. It's a little difficult to enjoy now - even after a four hour decant it's tightly coiled, the wood is noticeable and the tannins are a little rough. It still has that beautiful acidity that Baudry's 2010s all display, and I think it has tremendous potential. My remaining six bottles won't be touched for at least 5 years.

5/5/2013 - Billigan Does not like this wine:

I think Brix really nailed it with his note here in terms of the wine's characteristics with the exception being that I found this rather joyless. For me, rose is about refreshing, energetic, food-friendliness, and if it has some additional complexity (like in a Baudry rose or a Mordoree Tavel), then that's bonus. But this wine delivered none of those qualities. Sour, spritzy, and a bit of a slog to drink on what was a nice spring picnic with my family.