1/21/2024 - Whistler wrote:

Tannic initially. In sweet spot at 4 hours with some aeration. First of 12. Solid, classic.

12/29/2023 - Whistler wrote:

Needs another 5 years. After 4 hours still tight. No flaw but does not fit the profile of vcc. Odd.

10/31/2023 - Whistler wrote:

First bottle of the case. Tightly wound even after 3 hours in the decanter. Will leave for another 5 years.

7/21/2023 - Whistler wrote:

Drink with Hoffmeister and Sambell’s Pete and Marg; dined outside, bit of brett on opening, but it blew off, needs an hour decant

6/28/2011 - Whistler wrote:

I just finished the last of a case and it was quite the Jekyll and Hyde of a wine with a whole range of experiences across the 12 bottles. Judging by the reviews, this is evident across the vintage. I have notes to write several reviews but don't really see the merit. I know that I like Jaboulet's La Chapelle at its best - game and spice in velvet textures - but as I can't be sure which La Chapelle will show up in the bottle, better to look elsewhere in future. Scores ranged from 85-94.

2/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Good depth and structure, no doubt this has much more to offer in 5-10 years. Will debate it more then.

6/1/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Recommended by an Aussie who knows his wine. A wine which has the upfront fruit but where the oak and vanilla has integrated nicely. Well priced and good drinking.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars Pre Auction Tasting

The hardest wine of the evening to evaluate. The nose was slightly muted and on the palate the wine was also less expressive. There are dark fruits, oak and spice there but very reticent. The wine seems to have closed down for a period as I have read positive notes about the wine already 'singing' dating back to 04/05 by Neil Martin on RP. Either that or the wine has not been allowed sufficient time in the decanter. Hard to know and possible as this was not a formally run tasting. No chance to get a second try later as it had all been drunk.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars Pre-auction Tasting

A wine of great typicity that has hit its plateau of maturity and showing very well this evening. Deep garnet core, both red and black fruits on the nose with the usual leather and oak integrating well with the fruit. Fills the mouth and delivers a long finish. A reminder to show patience with our cellars - 27 years young.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars Pre-auction Tasting

So much in this wine - chocolate, coffee, spices, black cherries, leather, woodsmoke, mint - a smorgasboard in its own right. Similar qualities as the 1990 Petrus. A Lady Gaga of a wine. One's preference between that or the preceding Angelus or Latour of the same vintage would have to be based around personal style. That being said, they all seemed my style!

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars pre-auction tasting.

The wine was showing very well. What stood out was how seamlessly integrated the fruit and the tannins were and the result was something very beguiling, soft, supple and succulent. It did not hold quite the same power as the Latour but the integration of its elements made it stand equal.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars, pre-auction tasting

This was all about power combined with finesse and concentration combined with elegance. We approached the wine after it had been a good while in the decanter so it had already opened up. Black fruits, leather, cigar box sewn together wonderfully well. Although the '90 Angelus and Clinet which followed were different in style, they were all brilliant wines and it seemed churlish to declare a WOTN.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars Pre-auction tasting

No formal notes. Satisfying nose of dark fruit and cassis, rich and concentrated on the palate but slightly lean as compared with 1990 Latour, Angelus and Clinet which followed! Still a very good wine.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars pre-auction tasting.

A decent but straightforward effort which struggled to compete with its first and second growth peers on the day.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars pre-auction tasting.

Was not easy for this wine when tasted next to some wonderful Mouton and Latours. This came across as being an enjoyable but fairly four square bordeaux. Well made but a little monochromatic next to its peers.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars pre-auction tasting. Equally as surprising as the '81 La Mission, a lovely wine. Earthy, woodland notes and slightly spicy. No formal notes.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

HK Crown Cellars pre-auction tasting.

Pleasantly surprised this was wine was so soft and elegant but ultimately fresh for an '81. Earthy tones and soft black berries - all refinement and class, though being an 81 not as intense as other vintages. Entirely pleasurable.

11/13/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Good combination of power and acidity. Rich, and fat on the palate but not cloying. Nice minerally finish, with tannins leaving you wanting more.

1/23/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Black cherries and cedar on the nose, if a little muted. More generous and giving on the palate. Very structured and delineated - shows its pedigree. Yet, the finish is still closed to some degree. This will be a long-lived wine and is yet to peak. Will try again in 2-3 years but may need longer.

6/15/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Immensely powerful, monolithic wine. Dark and imperious, a wall of black fruits, spice and leather. Years from maturity and it will be interesting to follow its evolution. Could be a real powerhouse if everything comes into alignment. Too early to make a call for me.

9/20/2008 - Whistler wrote:

Surprisingly good stuff. Ripe and enticing on the nose. Soft tannins, well delineated structure revealing good layers of flavour and an impressive finish.

12/6/2007 - Whistler wrote:

Dry, austere and bitter.

1/10/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Surprisingly solid second wine from Chasse Spleen. No signs of faltering - a supple, rounded, elegant wine.

7/28/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Lovely drinking from a less high profile wine maker. Would seek it out again.

3/3/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Consistently enjoyable Puligny. Performs well for a non-cru.

12/12/2008 - Whistler wrote:

Olivier Leflaive delivered a very well crafted, traditionally-made Puligny - enjoyed one case throughout the year.

12/12/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Olivier Leflaive seemed to be in the same league as Domaine Leflaive on this one. Good body and structure in this Chassagne. Finished the case throughout the year.

12/12/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Drunk a case over the course of the year and the BP was a consistent performer. It has a rich nose of berries, saddle and wood. On the palate, soft velvety and well rounded - no coarseness. Decent length if a little short. Highly pleasurable wine.

6/12/2011 - Whistler wrote:

Liberated some more of this terrific wine from storage at Crown Cellars and drank again the other night. While I give it the same rating as in 2007, it just has a more mature, softer, voluptuous feel to it yet while maintaining the clean delineation. No signs of it starting to take a downturn, though it would be irresponsible not to drink faster than one every four years - my current run rate.

10/21/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Drank a case throughout 2009 and it was a consistent performer. Wonderful mineral nose. Very precisely made, steely character and citrus flavours shine through. Could have had a little more length.

6/10/2011 - Whistler wrote:

I have tasted this four times in the last 3 years and been a little disappointed each time until this evening when the TR seems to have finally hit its stride. Before, while the wine clearly had sufficient weight it delivered a finish that was slightly lacking in finesse. I had come to think the wine would not come round and I would have to slog through the rest of the case but all of a sudden a final evolution has happened and the finish is now seductive and compelling rather than slightly dry and underwhelming.

6/12/2011 - Whistler wrote:

I have tasted this wine over a dozen times in the last five years. I would agree with Neil Martin (on RP site) who says this is the best of the First Growths in 97. If you were to taste it blind it's hard to see many picking it as a '97 as it has such great concentration and purity. On the palate it is superbly structured, peeling back multi-dimensional layers of flavour.

6/1/2011 - Whistler wrote:

Been holding off from drinking one of two bottles, well worth the wait. On the nose you know that a treat is coming - ripe, sweet blackcherries, graphite, leather and woodsmoke. Combining exceptional power and great finesse on the palate, the length is terrific. I doubt this wine will improve further but will remain where it is for well over a decade.

12/14/2010 - Whistler wrote:

An impressive nose, soft and supple on the palate with dark fruits and warm leather tones but there followed a touch of astringency on the finish.

12/26/2010 - Whistler wrote:

A racy, upfront Bordeaux, very alluring and highly enjoyable. Plenty of wood and smoke on the finish, probably a little too much but this is still real Bordeaux with richness and power without verging on the over-extracted style.

6/12/2011 - Whistler wrote:

I actually drank this in 2009 on two occasions but did not write a tasting note at the time as the wine seemed too young. It has a great pedigree - super-concentrated and well structured but the wine is not fully integrated yet and has not opened up to its complete potential, at least not to my mind. It's interesting that Neil Martin sees this as 2013-30 drinking window and RP a 2002-22 - we all have different palates. Given its Chateaux Margaux, I don't want to take any exploratory risks and I will try again in 2013. Though I see many, like RP, are enjoying it to the full now.

1/15/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Decent, honest, quaffable Chianti. To go with your pizza or homemade pasta rather than anything too high end.

6/12/2011 - Whistler wrote:

Made in the old world style of pinot. Good nose of strawberry/raspberry. Seductive, velvety mouthfeel, some layers of flavour coming through on the palate but they dissipate somewhat as the length ebbs away. An admirable effort and very enjoyable drinking.

4/27/2009 - Whistler wrote:

One of the best expressions of a second wine. Well crafted, soft and enticing on the palate. Nicely balanced, sweet tannins and a good finish. What's not to like....but as with second wines, will not have the wow factor of the grand vin to merit the 95 point+ scale.

9/6/2007 - Whistler wrote:

A refined and elegant wine and highly enjoyable to drink - very well rounded, no rough edges - but lacks the concentration to take it any further.

3/30/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Gave 2 hours in the decanter yet when we finished the wine 5 hours after it was opened it was still not delivering its true potential. I have two cases, so will give it another 2 or 3 years and check back in then.

2/14/2011 - Whistler wrote:

Consumed nearly two cases over the last 4 years and this wine has been a terrific, consistent performer. On decanting it offers up a beautiful sweet perfume. A wine of great concentration, harmony and balance. It is a mature wine but still vibrant.

11/23/2010 - Whistler wrote:

Promises a lot on the attack and the mid-palate where it is soft and voluptuous and I was expecting something really quite special. However, I found the length to be a little disappointing. The wine seemed to disappear all too readily. Nonetheless this is lovely drinking.

5/28/2010 - Whistler wrote:

A forward, rich, seductive, spicy medium bodied wine that lacks only the weight and depth to earn higher merit. Some of the bottles in the case exhibited cloudiness which made the finish a little dry.

10/22/2009 - Whistler wrote:

Drank a case throughout the year of 2009. A really well crafted, mature white burgundy with citrus and steely elements wonderfully woven together by a talented winemaker.

3/5/2011 - Whistler wrote:

I don't think I have met anyone who enjoys wine who does not appreciate Ornellaia. This vintage is a broad-shouldered, giant of a wine and is quite captivating. Still developing yet already seductive and voluptuous. Will be interesting to see its progress over the years and one suspects it will be rated higher as, hopefully, everything comes into alignment

12/12/2007 - Whistler wrote:

A well made burg but lacking the stuffing and subtlety or weight to deliver something special.

6/22/2009 - Whistler wrote:

A delicious dry champage. It ain't cheap but it's a decadent treat.

10/10/2007 - Whistler wrote:

A broad-shouldered, densely packed corton. Good acidity and finish.

3/8/2009 - Whistler wrote:

I preferred this to the 96 and 97 VCCs. The wine has a greater level of concentration. As always, it seems, well balanced and harmonious.