Tasted blind, this wine had a medium yellow center and clear rims. The medium+ intensity nose put forth match-stick, lemon, brioche, and mineral notes.
In the mouth, this was a big wine with a lot of power and acidity. I was gorgeously intense and long.
This still seemed a bit young to me. However, I doubt it will ever lose the sulfur note in the nose and the slight bit of excess oak in the mouth that hold it back for me. It those elements don't bother you, your score would likely be several points higher.
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Not quite as clean and bright as the ‘99 the other night but still correct and alive and a good example of mature Leflaive. A little more in the way of toasted nuts and bruised yellow fruit.
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PnP, thought it was short on finish at first, but with air it got notably longer. Sesame-perfumed, rich, graceful. Lingering vintage acidity for the long run. Soft and powerful at the same time, just a beautiful old Leflaive. I'm running out of complimentary words here; consistent decade for the domaine. 94+
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library release? and dangerous vintage but showed well. great minerality and leanness. Acidic and fresh but with time, it opens up. Not as explosive as the bigger brothers Chevalier or Batard, but an elegant one.
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Library release. Lime, mint and peanut aromatics. Is peanut normal? Resolved palate. Can’t help thinking this should be better, much better. (RE 08177)
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Tasted blind, this wine had a medium yellow center and clear rims. The medium+ intensity nose emanated citrus, almond paste, and white stone but it was contaminated with a bit of TCA.
In the mouth, this wine was lovely, with it ripe fruit and strong acidity. It had outstanding length.
This had all the material for greatness, it was just never going to make it. based on other CT notes, it appears this vintage of this wine had problems. Without the TCA this would have rated 95 easy.
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The nose was beautifully explosive with flint, sesame, matchstick and citrus. Palate was precise and layered with strong core citrus fruit and lingering minerality. Got the punch and length.
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The nose , taste and finish of this 20 year old wine was nothing more than perfect. Chardonnay can be different but not better. This was fantastic wine , which i will never forget ! Popped and poured. Amazing !!!!!!!
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Remarkably light lemony color, with an impressively bright citrus nose and almost chalky minerality, more like a grand cru Chablis than a BBM. After 30 mins this opened up to reveal more of the wines fruit and floral components. This transformation was evident on the palate as well, initially I was struck by the acidity and structure of this energetic 19 year old. Over the next hour the layers of fruit, spice and minerality clung to this wine's vibrant acidity. Texture was both light and rich at the same time and finishes leaving you wanting another sip. Lots of time left for this compelling BBM.
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Light petrol, lemon peel, and stones on the nose. Wet rocks, papaya and backpalate lemon peel. Some oyster shell and chalk on the finish. Great acidity on this. While I did not have this wine young, it appears that the acidity has come into better balance versus where it was ten years ago.
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Medium gold color, fresh fruit profile, rich and velvety texture, good balance and integration. More elegant than powerful, still youthful and held up well for several hours. This is a wine I could drink all night.
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Tasted blind, this wine had a light yellow center with clear rims. The medium+ intensity nose offered up lemons, white stone, almond paste, and some wood.
In the mouth, this was rich and ripe but still had the hard edges and lack of integration typical of a younger wine. All the components are there, the key question is whether the remaining oak flavors will be absorbed by the wine.
I might be willing to bet yes. This should pick up a few points in 10 years or so.
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Flighted next to a 96 Carillon BBM, and as good as it was, it was pancaked by the Carillon. Standing alone, this would merit an outstanding score. Less Leflaive like than expected, and a touch understated. Good juice.
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magnificent wine, profound and subtle. too young, starting to open but not ready. no greenness on the nose or in the color so should not be too long... wonderful color, gold but not overly so, very lush and brilliant. wonderful, dreamy nose, not overly opulent, quite restrained but charming, not the austere lemony flavors one might get. Rather very interesting mushroom, vanilla and hay. drink 2015-2030
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color was darker than the combettes. i didnt think this was oxed but definitely felt more advanced compared to the combettes. bit loose and disjointed. not a great bottle and completely outshone by the combettes today.
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Cold War Nuclear Escalation Wine Club Dinner (Hong Kong Wine Vaults, Aberdeen, Hong Kong): Bright golden yellow pee colour. Nose is fresh, very light honeycomb, honey, slate-driven minerality, lemon zest.......several dimensions and which are very, very well integrated. Palate is beautifully integrated, balanced and harmonious rounded honey, honeysuckle, roasted hazelnut, citric acidity, smoky.....heady...lovely. You don't need to write much about this even over several hours of coming back to it over a long dinner.....straight down the middle elegant excellent Grand Cru White Burgundy but which will definitely improve with more age.....thanks Richard.
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Nose of brioche, hazelnut and citrus. Minerailty is razor sharp. Despite 45' of decanting, the wine is still shy, and does not uncover all its richness. The mouth is an example of purity and aroma precision. The wood is perfectly integrated and add the right creamy touch to the buttery and hazelnut flacours. After some time in the glass, the richness and the concentration start to reveal. The finale is incredibly long and pure. The wine drinks well now, but its is a very long distance runner. Thanks to Richard for thie marvel ! A great introduction to the DRC66 which will follow !
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Dinner with JP and friends: Still so painfully young and absolutely not oxidized. Light golden straw color. Quite citrus dominated at first with a strong acidic spine. Gradually fleshed out over 3 hours with some honey suckle emerging but still nowhere near it's potential. A more elegant and refined leflaive and so different from the Chev and Batard. It will be hard to keep my hands off my remaining bottles for a few years while I work on the combettes and pucelles. Definitely a few points of upside.
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Beautiful, elegance complex aromas of chamomile, lots of mild cold herbs with perfume white floral and fruits that surrounded by fresh, crisp mineral with just a little touch of creamy, lemon custard. While the nose is absolutely live up to the fame, the palate is even better, not the sheer volume and class of a chevalier nor as power and rich as the Batard, instead, this is stunningly harmonious and elegance with superb bright fruits that show off the purity and flirt around with layer and layer of polished, refine minerality and cold herbs all supporting firmly by the high acidity of 96 vintage but the acid is ripe and mouth watering hence the focus, precision as well as transparency. The finished is remarkably long and complex too, with pure white fruits and cold herbs nuanced that's linger. Entering secondary stage and will need many more years to be fully mature. I love this. Buy - Yes.
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Heartland: Popped and poured. The first tentative smell reveals no hint of oxidation -- what a relief! Deep, gold color in the glass. Positively brilliant nose with a kaleidoscope of aromas -- smoke (forest fire in a glass), lemon, orange (creme brulee in a glass), pepper, coffee and more. Truly all you could hope for from a nose. And then it tastes pretty good too. Large scale with concentrated fruit balanced out with excellent structure. Flavors are both intense and expansive -- a great combination. Long, satisfying finish. Count me a fan.
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Nessuna traccia di ossidazione, colore molto chiaro. Al naso polvere da sparo presente ma elegante ed intgrata con la camomilla, bella bocca con grande acidità e struttura, finale molto lungo. Ancora giovanissimo.
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When first opened, I thought this was OK, even excellent. The color was slightly dark, but not alarmingly so. The quick first impression was something delicate and elegant - a real beauty. But as soon as I poured K a sample at the restaurant, she immediately said "oxidized." And of course she was right. As it sat in the glass it got darker, more bitter and more simple.
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Chosen as the wine of the night (WOTN) at the Wine Geeks dinner tasting at the Crossing. It was my turn to host and this was drank after the 90 Krug. Fabulous Leflaive flavors and wonderful griping acidity frame this huge long wine. Classic Leflaive with the outstanding intensity that one would expect from the 96 vintage.
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Gorgeous wine from the master of Puligny. Pale and very fresh but no longer young. Not the slightest hint of oxidation. Lovely middleweight BBM where the finesse and complexity are the key ingredients, not power or size. Completely avoids the excess acidity that numerous '96s display; yellow fruits but no lemon. Delicious and ready now.
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With the Newmark's....Great acidity...nutty flavors with lemon and orange....long and very light on its feet with great balance and substantial palate presents.
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A classic Leflaive with sweet lemon flavors and good minerality and it maintains a firm spine of acidity to match the strong material here. Actually smelled of dirty seawater after a while and the high acidity is a bit over-powering at times. A hint of madeirization is a cause for some concern and even though it has the power to age for a long time, it's in a funny place right now.
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1/27/2023 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great focus and energy to this bottle. As fresh as they can still be.
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6/12/2022 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind, this wine had a medium yellow center and clear rims. The medium+ intensity nose put forth match-stick, lemon, brioche, and mineral notes.
In the mouth, this was a big wine with a lot of power and acidity. I was gorgeously intense and long.
This still seemed a bit young to me. However, I doubt it will ever lose the sulfur note in the nose and the slight bit of excess oak in the mouth that hold it back for me. It those elements don't bother you, your score would likely be several points higher.
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6/3/2022 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
Not quite as clean and bright as the ‘99 the other night but still correct and alive and a good example of mature Leflaive. A little more in the way of toasted nuts and bruised yellow fruit.
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4/17/2022 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
I thought this bottle was slightly more evolved than recent 1996 Pucelles and lacked freshness I'd hope for from library release. (RE 08176)
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10/9/2021 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
Cusp of full evolution into lemon aromatics and placid palate, retains tension. (RE 08718)
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6/15/2021 - hprphf Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP, thought it was short on finish at first, but with air it got notably longer. Sesame-perfumed, rich, graceful. Lingering vintage acidity for the long run. Soft and powerful at the same time, just a beautiful old Leflaive. I'm running out of complimentary words here; consistent decade for the domaine. 94+
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5/26/2021 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful bottle. Smooth but complex. Nothing out of place here.
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2/17/2021 - WIBA Likes this wine: 92 Points
library release? and dangerous vintage but showed well. great minerality and leanness. Acidic and fresh but with time, it opens up. Not as explosive as the bigger brothers Chevalier or Batard, but an elegant one.
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2/17/2021 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Showing good depth for the '96 BBM. Perhaps less sharpness and focus than some bottles, but very good palate complexity.
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2/17/2021 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Library release. Lime, mint and peanut aromatics. Is peanut normal? Resolved palate. Can’t help thinking this should be better, much better. (RE 08177)
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10/10/2020 - fclarity wrote: flawed
Tasted blind, this wine had a medium yellow center and clear rims. The medium+ intensity nose emanated citrus, almond paste, and white stone but it was contaminated with a bit of TCA.
In the mouth, this wine was lovely, with it ripe fruit and strong acidity. It had outstanding length.
This had all the material for greatness, it was just never going to make it. based on other CT notes, it appears this vintage of this wine had problems. Without the TCA this would have rated 95 easy.
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3/6/2020 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 95 Points
The nose was beautifully explosive with flint, sesame, matchstick and citrus. Palate was precise and layered with strong core citrus fruit and lingering minerality. Got the punch and length.
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2/13/2019 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well structured, still vital, but lacking a bit of both from what it was a few years ago, at least in this bottle. 93-
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10/21/2018 - aquacongas wrote: 92 Points
Ingo's Birthday Clash 20.10.2018; 10/21/2018-10/22/2018 (Jörg Müller Sylt): Not so strong as the chevalier-montrachet last year, subtle rice popcorn, missing legth and depth. 92
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10/27/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Some Wine Tasted at the Zachys Auction; 10/27/2017-10/28/2017 (Charlie Palmer Steak - Washington, DC): Rich stone fruit, most prominent at the start. Slightly hollow middle is the only detraction, with good intensity and richness on the finish. Good freshness and vibrancy for the vintage. Overall very good.
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4/28/2017 - tinybubbles wrote: 88 Points
Well advanced bottle with little coordination or substance across the midpalate.
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3/25/2017 - salil wrote: flawed
Prematurely oxidized. Bummer - pristine bottles of this should be amazing.
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1/13/2017 - etyc Likes this wine:
1996-themed dinner at Am Club.
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10/28/2016 - Frank Schneider wrote: 100 Points
The nose , taste and finish of this 20 year old wine was nothing more than perfect. Chardonnay can be different but not better. This was fantastic wine , which i will never forget ! Popped and poured. Amazing !!!!!!!
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1/14/2016 - BradE wrote:
The Boys of Bedrock without Bedrock. BBM and Dujac Clos St. Denis; 1/11/2016-1/14/2016: I found this bottle subdued, and four hours of air didn't change my initial impression. Carl loved it, and truly believes its just a matter of development time. Most of us weren't with him on that. Bottle or wine; not sure.
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9/18/2015 - paul195 wrote: 95 Points
Remarkably light lemony color, with an impressively bright citrus nose and almost chalky minerality, more like a grand cru Chablis than a BBM. After 30 mins this opened up to reveal more of the wines fruit and floral components. This transformation was evident on the palate as well, initially I was struck by the acidity and structure of this energetic 19 year old. Over the next hour the layers of fruit, spice and minerality clung to this wine's vibrant acidity. Texture was both light and rich at the same time and finishes leaving you wanting another sip. Lots of time left for this compelling BBM.
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4/24/2015 - steinersing wrote: 92 Points
quite rich and powerful, a little evolved now.
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4/1/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light petrol, lemon peel, and stones on the nose. Wet rocks, papaya and backpalate lemon peel. Some oyster shell and chalk on the finish. Great acidity on this. While I did not have this wine young, it appears that the acidity has come into better balance versus where it was ten years ago.
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11/15/2014 - Flavito wrote: 95 Points
Amazing complexity, drinking perfectly now. No sighs of oxidation, will last decades!
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10/13/2014 - paul195 wrote: 95 Points
Medium gold color, fresh fruit profile, rich and velvety texture, good balance and integration. More elegant than powerful, still youthful and held up well for several hours. This is a wine I could drink all night.
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4/17/2014 - BUBBA DAWG Likes this wine: 96 Points
Charity Event - French Tasting (Restaurant Daniel): white burgundy WOTN...rich, complex, nutty, layered and highly delineated with a long finish...superb!
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10/11/2013 - cortoncharlie wrote: 93 Points
Third try from this batch and its finally coming together! not the most weighty but feminine and elegant
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3/3/2013 - fclarity wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind, this wine had a light yellow center with clear rims. The medium+ intensity nose offered up lemons, white stone, almond paste, and some wood.
In the mouth, this was rich and ripe but still had the hard edges and lack of integration typical of a younger wine. All the components are there, the key question is whether the remaining oak flavors will be absorbed by the wine.
I might be willing to bet yes. This should pick up a few points in 10 years or so.
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2/15/2013 - Le Musigny wrote:
Good bottle but didn't stand up to the Carillon.
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2/15/2013 - BradE wrote:
Flighted next to a 96 Carillon BBM, and as good as it was, it was pancaked by the Carillon. Standing alone, this would merit an outstanding score. Less Leflaive like than expected, and a touch understated. Good juice.
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2/12/2012 - Imoollan wrote: 96 Points
magnificent wine, profound and subtle. too young, starting to open but not ready. no greenness on the nose or in the color so should not be too long... wonderful color, gold but not overly so, very lush and brilliant. wonderful, dreamy nose, not overly opulent, quite restrained but charming, not the austere lemony flavors one might get. Rather very interesting mushroom, vanilla and hay. drink 2015-2030
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12/16/2011 - winecowboy wrote: 87 Points
Gold colour. Flat and slightly advanced. Tired bottle.
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12/16/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: flawed
Long lunch with Alex, KH, 7, Mun, Rich, Gary, Cary and DF (The Principal): Flat, oxidised and disjointed. Not performing as it should.
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12/16/2011 - cortoncharlie wrote: 89 Points
color was darker than the combettes. i didnt think this was oxed but definitely felt more advanced compared to the combettes. bit loose and disjointed. not a great bottle and completely outshone by the combettes today.
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6/29/2011 - Goldstone wrote: 92 Points
Cold War Nuclear Escalation Wine Club Dinner (Hong Kong Wine Vaults, Aberdeen, Hong Kong): Bright golden yellow pee colour. Nose is fresh, very light honeycomb, honey, slate-driven minerality, lemon zest.......several dimensions and which are very, very well integrated. Palate is beautifully integrated, balanced and harmonious rounded honey, honeysuckle, roasted hazelnut, citric acidity, smoky.....heady...lovely. You don't need to write much about this even over several hours of coming back to it over a long dinner.....straight down the middle elegant excellent Grand Cru White Burgundy but which will definitely improve with more age.....thanks Richard.
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6/29/2011 - jpijg wrote: 94 Points
Nose of brioche, hazelnut and citrus. Minerailty is razor sharp. Despite 45' of decanting, the wine is still shy, and does not uncover all its richness.
The mouth is an example of purity and aroma precision. The wood is perfectly integrated and add the right creamy touch to the buttery and hazelnut flacours.
After some time in the glass, the richness and the concentration start to reveal. The finale is incredibly long and pure. The wine drinks well now, but its is a very long distance runner.
Thanks to Richard for thie marvel ! A great introduction to the DRC66 which will follow !
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6/29/2011 - cortoncharlie wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with JP and friends: Still so painfully young and absolutely not oxidized. Light golden straw color. Quite citrus dominated at first with a strong acidic spine. Gradually fleshed out over 3 hours with some honey suckle emerging but still nowhere near it's potential. A more elegant and refined leflaive and so different from the Chev and Batard. It will be hard to keep my hands off my remaining bottles for a few years while I work on the combettes and pucelles. Definitely a few points of upside.
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6/18/2011 - psmith wrote:
Some sulfur and flint. Crisp, with mineral and lemon notes - clean front with some oxidative traces that done detract. Nice.
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3/15/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Beautiful, elegance complex aromas of chamomile, lots of mild cold herbs with perfume white floral and fruits that surrounded by fresh, crisp mineral with just a little touch of creamy, lemon custard. While the nose is absolutely live up to the fame, the palate is even better, not the sheer volume and class of a chevalier nor as power and rich as the Batard, instead, this is stunningly harmonious and elegance with superb bright fruits that show off the purity and flirt around with layer and layer of polished, refine minerality and cold herbs all supporting firmly by the high acidity of 96 vintage but the acid is ripe and mouth watering hence the focus, precision as well as transparency. The finished is remarkably long and complex too, with pure white fruits and cold herbs nuanced that's linger. Entering secondary stage and will need many more years to be fully mature. I love this. Buy - Yes.
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11/16/2010 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Heartland: Popped and poured. The first tentative smell reveals no hint of oxidation -- what a relief! Deep, gold color in the glass. Positively brilliant nose with a kaleidoscope of aromas -- smoke (forest fire in a glass), lemon, orange (creme brulee in a glass), pepper, coffee and more. Truly all you could hope for from a nose. And then it tastes pretty good too. Large scale with concentrated fruit balanced out with excellent structure. Flavors are both intense and expansive -- a great combination. Long, satisfying finish. Count me a fan.
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2/23/2010 - Jossik wrote: 90 Points
Nessuna traccia di ossidazione, colore molto chiaro. Al naso polvere da sparo presente ma elegante ed intgrata con la camomilla, bella bocca con grande acidità e struttura, finale molto lungo. Ancora giovanissimo.
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3/22/2009 - sdr wrote: flawed
When first opened, I thought this was OK, even excellent. The color was slightly dark, but not alarmingly so. The quick first impression was something delicate and elegant - a real beauty. But as soon as I poured K a sample at the restaurant, she immediately said "oxidized." And of course she was right. As it sat in the glass it got darker, more bitter and more simple.
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11/19/2007 - Alpine wrote: 95 Points
Chosen as the wine of the night (WOTN) at the Wine Geeks dinner tasting at the Crossing. It was my turn to host and this was drank after the 90 Krug. Fabulous Leflaive flavors and wonderful griping acidity frame this huge long wine. Classic Leflaive with the outstanding intensity that one would expect from the 96 vintage.
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8/13/2007 - sdr wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous wine from the master of Puligny. Pale and very fresh but no longer young. Not the slightest hint of oxidation. Lovely middleweight BBM where the finesse and complexity are the key ingredients, not power or size. Completely avoids the excess acidity that numerous '96s display; yellow fruits but no lemon. Delicious and ready now.
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6/9/2007 - Alpine wrote: 94 Points
With the Newmark's....Great acidity...nutty flavors with lemon and orange....long and very light on its feet with great balance and substantial palate presents.
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4/4/2007 - dream wrote: 90 Points
A classic Leflaive with sweet lemon flavors and good minerality and it maintains a firm spine of acidity to match the strong material here. Actually smelled of dirty seawater after a while and the high acidity is a bit over-powering at times. A hint of madeirization is a cause for some concern and even though it has the power to age for a long time, it's in a funny place right now.
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