4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted 3 hours before dinner

The nose had blueberries, slightly balsamic strawberry and some oak infused spiciness.

The palate is just fantastic, so incredible concentration, playful structure with juicy strawberry on top.

As with the Vougeot 2020, this became even better after 24-48 hours, should become even more fun with more bottle age.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): Absolutely spectacular nose upon opening.

This changed through the night, after a little while going more towards that 20 vintage primary phase signature, which for me is blackberry, blackcurrant, plums, licorice and burnt sugar.

However, at the very end of the night, this became ever brighter in profile, now going towards raspberry, fresh strawberry, citrus fruits on top of dried heather, baking powder, hawthorn and cedar.

The palate was, from the beginning, red fruited with a dry mouthfeel with cigar box, dried bushes, cedar and a slight bell pepper finish.

At first, this made me a bit sceptic regarding this vintage from Mugneret-Gibourg, it seems like 2020 is so dense and slightly out of character. However, after TWO DAYS, it finally hit its stride! Now, it is unbelievable beautiful, so unfathomable smooth textures, quite reminiscent of Vougeot 2019 and very true to the style I´ve come to expect from Mugneret-Gibourg. This clearly will need SO much time, but that level obtained after 2 days of air, for me, is as good, or maybe even better, than the 2019.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted 3 h prior to serving

Almost candied strawberry, rhubarb, cloudberry, cut hay on the nose.

So sweet and caressing palate, huge intensity growing through the curve.

Next to the Clos Vougeot 2019, it showed many similarities, perhaps a slightly less obvious nose and a bit more structured and direct palate, not as weightless as Vougeot (then again, what is?).

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): The nose is so fresh with that 19 vintage signature of high acidity coupled with premium raspberry, wild strawberry. It also featured grapefruit, dates, rose stems, a slight green note, though only as a subtle element adding to the complexity.
Despite its fresh and open impression, I felt that the wines core is safely guarded, it clearly needs time.

The palate is, as the 15, so elegant, no obtrusive tannins, and a finish that kept on growing, seemingly for ever. Strawberry all the way here, light peppery touch and rose petals.

For now, it´s hinting at greatness that is some years down the road, should be absolutely riveting in due time.

97 for now

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted 3h prior to serving

Very different profile than the Vougeot 15 next to it, marked by the 18 vintage, sure, but with time, I really came to love its direct nature. High pitched red berries with resin/raspberry bush and certainly some oak infused notes.

Quite structured palate, dense and impactful, though the quality of fruit is really something and always hinting at that MG red berry signature.

I liked this even better than a bottle some 16 months ago, so I have high hopes for this vintage chez Mugneret-Gibourg with more cellar time.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): Opened 3h prior to dinner, quick double decanting 2 h before serving

The nose here is just mind bendingly complex, and still, the one word that comes to mind is "delicate". The harmony of this wine transcends physical reality and transports me to alternative dimensions, not adhering to our usual wordly surroundings, but rather emphasizing esthetic resonance and higher truths.

Suffice it to say, I liked it. A lot.

The nose featured an intense earthiness with a wonderful warm soil aroma, fresh mushrooms, saffron, musk, white pepper and rubber. The fruit had perfectly mature high notes of redcurrant, strawberry and blood orange. It embodied the whole specter of aromas, more so than any Burgundy wine I´ve ever had.

The palate was more fruit driven than the nose with red cherry, raspberry, lemon rind. Enormous length with red cherry skins.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

Mugneret-Gibourg (Clos Vougeot and Lutenières) (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 2 hours before dinner

An elegant first impression, certainly a fresh Kabinett, showing primarily citrus, white orchard fruits, before (with air and temp) the fruit turned sweeter, broadening the profile somewhat.

Nicely integrated palate, the sweetness is more of an addition than the dominating force. Perhaps the finish could be slightly longer, but clearly high quality stuff.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 h, followed 6 h

This was drunk alongside Barthod Chambolle 18. I would have thought this would be the fruity, fun one and Barthod the serious wine, though the opposite was the case.
A bit stemmy nose, slate and earth. At first, I was struggling to find the fruit, though with a LOT of air, a Grenache-like fruit profile emerged.

Nice mouthfeel, firm, ripe red fruits and a bevy of spices.

Blind, I would not guess Gamay, but this is not your ordinary, early drinking Beaujolais, it´s something else entirely, looking forward to revisiting.

90 now, certainly potential for more in the future.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 h, followed 6 h

This is excellent, the freshness is striking, especially considering the vintage, truly an achievement. Elegant nose of raspberry, juicy cranberry, clove and perhaps a hint of rose stems.

Great mouthfeel, really loving the completeness of this wine, feels very harmonious and true to Chambolle. Through the long finish, that slight 18 bitterness sneaks in, but in no way intrusive.

4/20/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Late night PnP, followed 2-3 h

So fresh from the get-go, all red fruits, distinct oak vanillin and a slight earthy component.
Medium+ bodied, nice density for the level with a growing cherry pit bitterness note through the decently long finish.

Obviously no hurry on this one, but by no means a waste to open now.

4/6/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

PnP, followed 7 hours

At first, hot and woody, needed 2-3 hours to reveal a pure expression of white flowers, yellow apples and a compelling minerality in the background.
With more air it takes on a sweetness which is interesting enough, though for me, the height was at the 3-4 hour mark, where it was the most elegant, delineated, and frankly easy drinking.

4/6/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Slow oxed 1 hour, followed 7 h

At first very muscular, dark fruits and grippy tannins.
After an hour or so in the glass, this showed wonderful purity with raspberry, cranberry and that lovely top note mineralité.

Suave and pliant palate, very long finish. Slightly darker profile than the 19, though with air, this is very much in line with the style of Lorenzon and contemporary Mercurey.

3/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

Pure nose of crunchy red berries, lemongrass and rose petals.
Smooth palate, drinks very well at this early stage

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 5 hours

Essence of class with tropical fruits, honey and just a bevy of mild spices.

Palate is so broad and smooth, yet never heavy, and the length is epic.

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 2 hours

The nose featured plums, caramelized wagyu, cut hay.

A lot of structure through the long, firm finish.

Very classic, needs more time for the nose to relax and reveal more Nebbiolo glory.

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): Very nice, though for every bottle I drink of this, they become increasingly juicy and, dare I say, void of tannins. I seem to recall a bottle in the autumn with grippy tannins, where they went, I have no idea.

It showed almonds on the nose alongside tar, roses and cherry.

Supple and round, with a dusty strawberry finish.

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): This needed every bit of 4 hours in the glass to reveal an explosion of raspberry, red currant, blackberry, stems, spices and damp soil.

At the end of dinner, this was just stupendously nice, what an epic wine!

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 5 hours

A slightly muted nose. With air, that tell-tale Duroché red berry bonanza appears, very nice stuff indeed.

So juicy palate with the finest of tannins and a very long finish.

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 2 hours

A raw nose, almost bloody, with black crowberry, tomato stem, cola, rose petals and black pepper.

Very nice mouthfeel, sweeter fruits here. Very nicely integrated tannins with a long finish.

Blind, I would put this in Rhone. This was such an interesting wine!

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): I slow-oxed only 1 hour, since a bottle of Trapet Chambertin 2010 died after 1.5 h in the glass a year back.

This bottle, however, was not tired at all! A wonderfully complex nose, at first dominated by sous bois, roasted thyme and licorice, eventually showed very sweet, though fresh, strawberry and raspberry.

On the palate, the wine grew for 5 seconds to a climax of huge concentration with wild strawberry, cedar and dusty tannins. Enormous length as well.

Supremely elegant/fresh despite its high level of concentration, just wonderful.

This kept on evolving through the night, should cellar very well, though for me, super for current consumption as well.

2/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

An eclectic night (Trapet, Duroché, Yquem,...) (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 2 hours prior to serving

The nose has pure white fruits, red apple and elderflower.

The palate is harmonious with integrated tannins and a very long grapefruit-infused finish.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

What a wine! So much spice, super classy structure and an incredible finish

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

Perhaps not a perfect bottle, the nose showed primarily sous bois.
Dark berries on the palate with mature complexity, a hint of brett which I suspect muted the fruits somewhat.
Classy structure, though.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

More raw and unpolished than the Ech next to it. Actually, the nose showed some blood as well as roasted thyme, stems and candied citrus rind. A lot of character here.

A touch of leather, somewhat anglular with a lot of structure and a very, very long finish driven by pine/cedar.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Outrageously complex nose. It has a little bit of everything, perhaps slightly darker fruited than the 17 and 19, but no sur maturé in sight.

The palate is significantly darker than those two vintages, though with air, that characteristic gentle citrus finish takes over, rendering the wine very harmonious.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

What a great nose, crackling with energy, showing green fruit and crunchy croak.

For me, the palate didn't quite live up to the standard set by the nose, though a very nice wine.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

At first a bit muted, fills out better with air. Not very delineated, though attrictive yellow fruits and a nice, long finish.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Plastic gloves, orchard fruits, smoke and nuts on the nose.
Fantastic mouthfeel, swarming fruit intensity, so round and pleasing, just pure class. A bit more firm through the long finish.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Very stemmy nose with bonfire and dark pitched grape stems.

The palate was a different story, just insane concentration with raspberry, blackberry, heather and a super long, bone dry finish with a nice smokyness.

A somewhat mysterious nose, but my god, the palate was just incredible.

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

So luxurious nose with glossy berries, high pitched acidic cherry and some caramel.

Outrageous concentration for a Village, so round and intense, loads of spice, red berry.
A growing orange note through the very long finish.

For me, this lived up to the hype..
93+

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

What an amazing nose from the get-go, just the purest expression of white fruits with so many top notes of mineralité. One of those noses that draws you further and further in.

More yellow fruited palate, dragon fruit, mild citrus, some iron, gun powder and slate as well. Very, very long with petrol.

Fantastic!

2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

In need of serious cellar time, this was super closed and tough for some 2-3 hours, but eventually showed strawberry, roasted herbs, rose petals, subtle vanilla and a stony minerality on the nose.
So pretty mouthfeel, fine tannins, on point acidity and a very long finish.
Even better than last time, this will be a benchmark Burlotto Barolo in due time.

1/31/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

PnP

What a nose upon opening, extremely complex with roasted herbs, black cherry, blackberry, smoke, cedar and hazelnut.
After an hour or so, the fruit turned red, ending up with the freshest wild strawberries with a backdrop of lemon curd. So incredibly harmonious and smooth with depth of aromas for days.

At first, the palate was slightly monolithic with dark fruits and a hint of bitterness. However, after 1.5 hours, it showed superb dusty tannins with so much lift and grace and a growing finish ending with sweet orange notes.

The nose was exceptional, the palate was very good, reminds me of a slightly less concentrated version of the 19.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

Harmonious nose of premium lemons, yellow orchard fruits. Still very energetic, and for me, it has subsumed all the generous oak very nicely.

More mature notes on the palate, again orchard fruits and a long, marzipan driven finish.

A great showing, this has really fared well with cellar time.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

The nose features green apple, lemongrass and electric acidity.

Much more resolved acidity on the palate, fine breadth and a long, nutty finish.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

Wow, this bottle was at a perfect place right now, still vigour and fruits, but showing age and integrating the structure.

The nose was so harmonious and speaking clearly of Pauillac and of Mouton with so much exotic spices, fruits ranging from red to blackcurrant.

The palate is medium to full bodied, still a bite (more like a hug) from the tannins, and fine complexity + a really long finish.

Fantastic showing.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

While showing its age, this remains energetic with aromas of cigar box, leather, cranberry and blackberry.

The palate is still alive, showing smoke, heather, black pepper, band aid and a dry, dusty finish, which has decent length.

Absolutely stunning that this is from 74, it has to be one of the best Bordeaux wines from that vintage.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

High class from the first whiff, very much towards yeast and bread, then a growing intensity from peaches and pears. Harmonious and classy.

The palate has gorgeous textures, fine tannins through the curve and a long, long finish with smoke and cardamom pods.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A somewhat green nose with bell pepper. Growing red cherry in the background.

Much better palate, still some greenness, but so classy structure, going towards glossy red fruits.
Nose 90, Palate 93+

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

Damned nice, playful red fruits with faint spice.

Palate has blueberry, cherry, so harmonious, just a classy drink.
This will drink better young than the 2020.

94/95

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 2 hours, followed 5 hours

A floral nose with rose stems, raw licorice, rocks, almond and black pepper.

The palate had rose stems, honey, roasted tomate stems, jubilant red berries and a long, stemmy finish.
Very good freshness, never heavy, quite a different Spanish red, should cellar well.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 3 hours

The nose had perfect balance between blackberry, minerals, rocks, dried meat and cedar.

Fantastic in the mouth, archetypical Bordeaux and Graves with minerals and a vast array of dark berries. Still present tannins, but for me, super for drinking now.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted 2 hours prior to dinner

The nose was, at first, dominated by crispy, green grapes and star fruit. Second whiff revealed Pinot typicity with sour red cherry. Also some oak here, a growing cola note as well.

Palate has good freshness, round feel with somehow green fruits alongside raspberry and a long spicy finish.

Easily the best American wine I´ve had.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted 3 hours before dinner

Deep purple fruits on the nose with Chinese five spice, sweet soil, roses, hawthorn and sweet tobacco.

Medium to full bodied palate, juicy mouthfeel with spicy strawberry and a long finish of soft red fruits.

At the end of the night, this had really picked up steam, becoming a power house of pure raspberry, Burgundy fun. Fun now, could become spectacular with more cellar time.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 2 hours

The first thing that hit me when smelling it was a whiff of alcohol, some green elements like raw tomato stems. After some time, licorice became quite dominant on the nose.

Fierce tannins, some cigar box, increasingly better integrated with air, but for me, never really hit its stride.
A few hours in, it picked up some rose hip and citruc rind, which I quite liked.

Certainly good, though perhaps not great, and for me, the nose was never indicative of its origins.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Slow-oxed 1 hour

Fantastic nose of cherries, black pepper and mature elements. With some air, the fruits turned red, going towards strawberry, rendering the wine so incredibly appealing.

Somehow even better palate, so luxurious mouthfeel, dusty tannins and soft fruits, epic length. This is really grand vin.

This is made before Thomas took full control at the domaine, and while it´s said that mainly he has found his form the last few vintages, this is for my palate, anyways, in (or close to) the same league as what´s being made today.

1/28/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:

A mixed bag Wednesday (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted 4h prior to serving

At the first whiff, this is so clean with pure yellow citrus and stony minerality.
Elegant mouthfeel, medium bodied with a growing orchard fruit driven finish.

With air it took on more breadth, though lost some of its elegant poise.
For me, this drinks very well now.
92/93

1/25/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Consistent with last note

Needs a good amount of air, at least a few hours decant at this stage.
But my god, what a wonderful wine, the growing fruit concentration through the curve is mind bending, it simply has to be experienced to be believed.

1/24/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Slow oxed 2 hours

This had a textbook mature right bank nose of peppery soil, leather, blackberry and a touch of VA. With air, the sweeter elements grew, balancing the mature notes perfectly, becoming very enjoyable.

Palate is juicy, brighter profile compared with the nose, blueberries, canned peaches, oriental spice, cigar box and some sous bois. Decent length too.

93/94

1/24/2024 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine:

Again, this was fantastic upon opening, though quickly went in to a tunnel. It takes a good 3 hours in open decanter to bring it in balance, but when it gets there, it exudes class with glossy red berries, cool vanilla and Vosne spices.
Extremely satisfying mouthfeel, large scale for a Burgundy, though for my taste, never heavy.

Drink (decant) or hold