A small gathering of friends - most Burgundy (Reston, Va): RJ wants to open a red and we asked for a Cabernet based wine. The first impression is a Burgundy but RJ says no. Now Jedi mind trick, the fruit is subdued and red, and there is a noticeable cedar, perhaps a 70s Cab or Bordeaux. Justin thinks a right bank Bordeaux which is an excellent guess as there is no Cabernet expression. It is difficult to make an educated guess as RJ doesn’t have the 70’s wine. It is the 97 DRC GE. Despite being a label whore, this is a letdown. Some red fruit, a hint of stem, strong cedar, smoke, mushroom. a bit of sous bois and earth. Medium concentration, subtle red fruit, slightly lean, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium long subtle red fruit driven finish. Really disappointing but showing RJ’s never-ending generosity.
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1997, Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Burgund, Frankreich. Reifes Rubin. Rauchige Nase, kühl anmutend, Torf, dunkle Schokolade, viele Kräuter, ätherische Öle, mit mehr Luft Trockenfrüchte. Im Gaumen schlank, präzis, wunderbar frisch, elegant, zeigt Druck und viel Harmonie, markante, jedoch gut eingebundene Säure, endet langanhaltend und feinwürzig. Auf dem Peak. Jetzt bis 2027, 19 vvPunkte (94/100). vvWine.ch
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Meaty, bacon, smoky nose which translated exactly into the palate. Nice initial attack and spicy mid palate but then ended on dry tannins and a bit hollow on the short finish. It is certainly enjoyable for the intriguing smokiness but based on this tasting I would say that it is on the decline and its austerity will never soften to reveal more terroir...
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Initially thought it was a flawed bottle but as the bottle funk dissipated, red fruits and forest floor scents started to appear. Medium body with blackberries finish. Classy.
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Very green, herbaceous nose that was difficult to get past. On the palate a touch of sweetness showed up from the fruit however abruptly cut off by the dryness and semi harsh acidity on the end. This is the first 97 I've tasted of this wine so don't know if this is typical.
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Birthday Wines (Kruger's D*ck): 3rd or 4th time trying this and while it isn't necessarily getting any better, this one showed a little fresher. Still plenty of secondary herbal, forest floor things going on, but with a burst of cranberry and raspberry. Nice little mushroom element, baking spices, and high acidity.
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Bouteille N. 06804, Année 1997 (8.076 Bouteilles Récoltées). Very delicate and astonishing wine: layers of fruity aromas like cherries and raspberries, red roses, spices, cloves, cherry liquor with kernel. Velvety sweet tannins. Yummy! The time stopped for us, five friends celebrating the life in State of Nirvana with this and other great wines. Unforgettable!
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Actually I don't like the character of vintage 1997 but this wine didn't show much the hard-edge, quite good in balance, lovely tight, lovely compact and shows the true scent of DRC's GE. The aftertaste is very good. It changes my vision of DRC 1997.
Recommended : Open it 2 hours before drinking. its direction of develop is interesting and seductive to follow to its peak at 3.30 hours.
Drink now - 2022...............92-94/100.................
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Tasting Group Dinner - DRC Thank-You For Brad England (La Belle Vie, Minneapolis): The nose features earth, cinnamon, and red fruit. On the palate, this is slightly chalky, with nice medium-weight, tart red fruit. Nice earth/tobacco/smoke secondary flavors. The acidity becomes more intrusive on the finish, which is much shorter than the other wines in tonight's lineup.
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Kitchen Tasting Group Tribute to Brad England (La Belle Vie): The nose gives an enticing melange of red fruit, mineral, smoke, and cigar ash. A bit of an oddity in this line-up. The nose is pleasant enough, but doesn't lure you in like the other wines served -- that DRC exoticness is missing (or is at least less prominant). On the palate this gives an excellent blend of red cherry and mineral. Lacking a bit on concentration relative to the other wines served, and the finish was the weakest of the night. However, this is still an excellent wine that was a real treat to taste.
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Hans tasting: Only my second DRC, and really impossible to write a TN, but for my records... Maroon in color. Huge, complex nose of mostly sexcondary characters, although some cherries poked through. Super acidic. Light bodied, spicy, and still dominated by secondary characteristics. As I drank this, I found the nose and finish more enjoyable then the palate. To me, this wine seemed to be starting to decline, but it was an experience. The aromatics were really something. Even this wine, possibly declining, and from a less the stellar vintage, still had something to say almost a decade later. Just based on the uniqueness of this wine, I'd have to give it 94 points.
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Hans Krueger Selections Tasting (The Jug): Nose is dominated by secondary characteristics of black truffle, gravel, pencil lead, and ash. The palate is sharp and acidic with sour cherry and raspberries for fruit, with damp earth, oak, and some tannins intermingled. Surprised about the medium body and existing tannins for this older pinot. The acidity softened after a while, which was nice. Very educational and enjoyable experience, being able to taste a DRC. Drink now though, due to the fact that the fruit is fading. Thanks Hans!
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WHITE TRUFFLE, Lobster, DRC and the movie Sideways (Wilfred Van Gorps Apartment NYC): God damn Wilfred you are too kind for this one.. My second DRC in my life and my goodness was it GOOD.... 1000 Flowers.. (need translation please) Wonderful aromatics of flowers and cherry flavors. The palate offers up cherries once again with a hint of raspberry. Fat and seductive this is drinking beautifully. What a pretty wine. If you have more than 1, definitely don't be shy trying one. This is close to peaking.. We drank this DRC with risotto, lobster, and WHITE TRUFFLE!!!!!
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3/4/2023 - Malarky997 Likes this wine: 92 Points
After a tough start, with a soaked-through cork, this bottle opened up just well-enough after a couple of hours.
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7/12/2022 - dcwino wrote: 90 Points
A small gathering of friends - most Burgundy (Reston, Va): RJ wants to open a red and we asked for a Cabernet based wine. The first impression is a Burgundy but RJ says no. Now Jedi mind trick, the fruit is subdued and red, and there is a noticeable cedar, perhaps a 70s Cab or Bordeaux. Justin thinks a right bank Bordeaux which is an excellent guess as there is no Cabernet expression. It is difficult to make an educated guess as RJ doesn’t have the 70’s wine. It is the 97 DRC GE. Despite being a label whore, this is a letdown. Some red fruit, a hint of stem, strong cedar, smoke, mushroom. a bit of sous bois and earth. Medium concentration, subtle red fruit, slightly lean, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium long subtle red fruit driven finish. Really disappointing but showing RJ’s never-ending generosity.
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12/25/2021 - jrsobeck Likes this wine: 95 Points
I read that this was over the hill. I disagree. It had a great nose, full body, and a long finish. Absolutely great.
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3/6/2020 - vvWine.ch Likes this wine: 94 Points
1997, Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Burgund, Frankreich. Reifes Rubin. Rauchige Nase, kühl anmutend, Torf, dunkle Schokolade, viele Kräuter, ätherische Öle, mit mehr Luft Trockenfrüchte. Im Gaumen schlank, präzis, wunderbar frisch, elegant, zeigt Druck und viel Harmonie, markante, jedoch gut eingebundene Säure, endet langanhaltend und feinwürzig. Auf dem Peak. Jetzt bis 2027, 19 vvPunkte (94/100). vvWine.ch
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3/28/2015 - ricknat1 wrote:
Spent, very light
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9/15/2013 - Capt Cutlass wrote: 88 Points
Meaty, bacon, smoky nose which translated exactly into the palate. Nice initial attack and spicy mid palate but then ended on dry tannins and a bit hollow on the short finish. It is certainly enjoyable for the intriguing smokiness but based on this tasting I would say that it is on the decline and its austerity will never soften to reveal more terroir...
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11/14/2011 - winecowboy wrote: 92 Points
Initially thought it was a flawed bottle but as the bottle funk dissipated, red fruits and forest floor scents started to appear. Medium body with blackberries finish. Classy.
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5/14/2011 - BurgFixx wrote: 89 Points
Very green, herbaceous nose that was difficult to get past. On the palate a touch of sweetness showed up from the fruit however abruptly cut off by the dryness and semi harsh acidity on the end. This is the first 97 I've tasted of this wine so don't know if this is typical.
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8/1/2010 - jjclips2 wrote: 92 Points
Birthday Wines (Kruger's D*ck): 3rd or 4th time trying this and while it isn't necessarily getting any better, this one showed a little fresher. Still plenty of secondary herbal, forest floor things going on, but with a burst of cranberry and raspberry. Nice little mushroom element, baking spices, and high acidity.
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2/27/2010 - Ikuyo wrote: 97 Points
Bouteille N. 06804, Année 1997 (8.076 Bouteilles Récoltées). Very delicate and astonishing wine: layers of fruity aromas like cherries and raspberries, red roses, spices, cloves, cherry liquor with kernel. Velvety sweet tannins. Yummy! The time stopped for us, five friends celebrating the life in State of Nirvana with this and other great wines. Unforgettable!
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1/8/2009 - noppakit s. wrote: 92 Points
Bottle No.03724
Actually I don't like the character of vintage 1997 but this wine didn't show much the hard-edge, quite good in balance, lovely tight, lovely compact and shows the true scent of DRC's GE. The aftertaste is very good. It changes my vision of DRC 1997.
Recommended : Open it 2 hours before drinking. its direction of develop is interesting and seductive to follow to its peak at 3.30 hours.
Drink now - 2022...............92-94/100.................
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8/3/2007 - lars1014 wrote: 89 Points
Intensly mineral almost austere. There was additional notes of cherry, decaying underbrush, but mostly mineral. Will this wine soften up?
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7/31/2007 - Siggy wrote: 88 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - DRC Thank-You For Brad England (La Belle Vie, Minneapolis): The nose features earth, cinnamon, and red fruit. On the palate, this is slightly chalky, with nice medium-weight, tart red fruit. Nice earth/tobacco/smoke secondary flavors. The acidity becomes more intrusive on the finish, which is much shorter than the other wines in tonight's lineup.
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7/31/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 91 Points
Kitchen Tasting Group Tribute to Brad England (La Belle Vie): The nose gives an enticing melange of red fruit, mineral, smoke, and cigar ash. A bit of an oddity in this line-up. The nose is pleasant enough, but doesn't lure you in like the other wines served -- that DRC exoticness is missing (or is at least less prominant). On the palate this gives an excellent blend of red cherry and mineral. Lacking a bit on concentration relative to the other wines served, and the finish was the weakest of the night. However, this is still an excellent wine that was a real treat to taste.
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12/14/2006 - hutch wrote: 94 Points
Hans tasting: Only my second DRC, and really impossible to write a TN, but for my records... Maroon in color. Huge, complex nose of mostly sexcondary characters, although some cherries poked through. Super acidic. Light bodied, spicy, and still dominated by secondary characteristics. As I drank this, I found the nose and finish more enjoyable then the palate. To me, this wine seemed to be starting to decline, but it was an experience. The aromatics were really something. Even this wine, possibly declining, and from a less the stellar vintage, still had something to say almost a decade later. Just based on the uniqueness of this wine, I'd have to give it 94 points.
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12/14/2006 - jjclips2 wrote: 89 Points
Hans Krueger Selections Tasting (The Jug): Nose is dominated by secondary characteristics of black truffle, gravel, pencil lead, and ash. The palate is sharp and acidic with sour cherry and raspberries for fruit, with damp earth, oak, and some tannins intermingled. Surprised about the medium body and existing tannins for this older pinot. The acidity softened after a while, which was nice. Very educational and enjoyable experience, being able to taste a DRC. Drink now though, due to the fact that the fruit is fading. Thanks Hans!
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11/14/2004 - jamiekutch wrote: 96 Points
WHITE TRUFFLE, Lobster, DRC and the movie Sideways (Wilfred Van Gorps Apartment NYC): God damn Wilfred you are too kind for this one.. My second DRC in my life and my goodness was it GOOD.... 1000 Flowers.. (need translation please) Wonderful aromatics of flowers and cherry flavors. The palate offers up cherries once again with a hint of raspberry. Fat and seductive this is drinking beautifully. What a pretty wine. If you have more than 1, definitely don't be shy trying one. This is close to peaking.. We drank this DRC with risotto, lobster, and WHITE TRUFFLE!!!!!
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