CellarTracker!™

Search: (advanced)




Other resources
CellarTracker! Forum
About this site
Links to other sites



  Home | All Cellars | Tasting Notes | Reports | UsersHelp | Member Sign In 
  >> USE THE NEW CELLARTRACKER <<
 11/1/2023-11/9/2023 (Republic of Georgia then stopover in Paris and Dijon)
 

 

There has been no events for Grand Jury Europeen in the past few years. The last GJE affiliated event was Villa D’Este wine symposium in November of 2018. Laurent Vialette, a close friend and the new president of Grand Jury du Vin emailed with an invitation to a Grand Jury event hosted by the government of the Republic of Georgia, I signed up without immediately. The event was held from November 2 to 5th as part of the Grand Jury in partnership with the government of Georgia.

 

Reception at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi

I arrived at the hotel almost a day after leaving the house. Laurent greeted us. I had seen Laurent exactly a year earlier in Beaune, so it was really nice to catch up. Our Georgian hosts organized a delicious Georgian spread. I quickly learned about Chacha and had a short. Most of us affectionately referred to it as Chacha Cha! The version we drank was really good, comparable to a well-made Eau de Vie.

  • 1990 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne (11/1/2023)
    Perfectly cellared en magnum. Perfectly mature nose displaying succulent sweet yellow fruit, peach, baked apple, clementine, honey, light caramel, brioche, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of generous yellow fruit, rich and opulent but also beautifully balanced, medium generous fine mousse, good acidity, strong mineral, and a long ripe opulent yellow fruit driven finish with honey and caramel at the end. Drinking incredibly well. Champagne is always better in magnum format. (97 pts.)
  • 1999 Bouchard Père et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru (11/1/2023)
    En Jeroboam. Not premoxed but a bit one dimensional. Exceptional concentration, very ripe yellow fruit, rich and deeply toned, peach and dry apricot, a lot of honey. A good demonstration where a great red vintage may not be so great for the whites. Slightly lacking acidity. The time has not been kind. (89 pts.)
  • 1997 Château La Conseillante - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (11/1/2023)
    In double magnum, complex nose displaying sweet subtle red fruit, strawberry, belle pepper, smoke, mushroom and earth. Medium concentration, shy red fruit, silky, cool and lean, medium acidity, earthy mineral, mostly resolved tannins and a medium long subtle red fruit driven finish. This has developed nicely in double magnum format. It reminds me Clos Rougeard a bit. A pleasant surprise. (93 pts.)
  • 2004 Vieux Château Certan - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (11/1/2023)
    In double magnum, medium expressive nose displaying cool youthful black fruit, crushed blackberries, dusty flower, sweet spices, thyme and limestone. Very good concentration, nicely layered cool black fruit, silky and polished, medium acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a medium to long pure cool black fruit driven mineral finish. This is not quite ready in this format. Very promising. (93 pts.)
  • 1966 Château Talbot - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/1/2023)
    In double magnum format. Laurent V. opened this in honor of George, our host, as it is his birth year. This came from an impeccable cellar, the fill is still into the middle neck. Expressive nose displaying generous super sweet red fruit, strawberry and a hint of cherry, truffle, grilled cep, light caramel, ash, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, generous mature sweet red fruit, silky and fluid, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long sweet red fruit driven finish with a hint of ash at the end. This is a great example of perfectly cellared large format Bordeaux. (95 pts.)

11/2 - Lunch

This was only the second Georgian meal but I was falling in love, bold flavors and super tasty. The Giacosa from a magnum was drinking incredibly well. Prior to lunch, we had a walking tour of Tbilisi. There were strong French architectural influences in some of the buildings. Some buildings were very Sovietesque.

  • 1997 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (11/2/2023)
    Perfectly mature nose displaying ripe warm red fruit, dry cherry, strawberry jam, a hint of licorice, leather, tar, mushroom, sweet spices and mineral. Very good concentration, nicely layered shy red fruit, warm, soft and round, medium acidity and mineral, soft tannins and a medium to long warm and sweet red fruit driven finish. This clearly demonstrates the warm vintage. Drinking nicely but fully mature and will not improve. Mr. Sandrone was a member of the Grand Jury Europeen and we cheered in his honor. (93 pts.)
  • 1997 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (11/2/2023)
    In magnum. Mature color indicating the warm vintage. Fully mature expressive nose displaying generous sweet red fruit, leather, tar, mushroom, truffle, sweet spices and iron. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of very sweet red fruit, rich and warm, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long generous sweet red fruit driven finish with a hint of iron and truffle at the end. This is drinking incredibly well. Kelly tells us a fascinating story from Mr. Giacosa himself. There was no red labels in 1997 as Mr. Giacosa needed the funds and the red labels would required an additional two years of aging. (96 pts.)
  • N.V. Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (11/2/2023)
    En magnum. This is actually vintage 2008. Expressive nose displaying sweet pure yellow fruit, baked apple, a hint of lemon curd, light honey, white flower, sweet spices and limestone. Very good concentration, generous sweet yellow fruit, rich and sweet but also pure and energetic, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long sweet yellow fruit driven finish. It clearly demonstrates the 08 greatness. (94 pts.)

11/2 - Alaverdi Monastery

Before reaching Tsinandali Estate, the hotel where Grand Jury du Vin sessions were held, we visited Alaverdi Monastery winery. It was fascinating to learn about the winemaking history, which dates back to the 12th century, and to learn about how the religious artworks were removed during the Soviet era.

  • 2015 Alaverdi Rkatsiteli Marani - Georgia, Kakheti (11/2/2023)
    Attractive and interesting yellow wine nose displaying generous dry yellow fruit nose, dry apricot and yellow peach, dry orange peel, strong honey, anise, petrol and iron mineral. Orazio mentions strong Chamomile which is a great description. Very good concentration, generous dry yellow fruit, rich, sweet and warm, medium acidity, iron mineral, and a long sweet dry yellow fruit driven finish. This is an interesting and tasty wine. (91 pts.)
  • 2015 Alaverdi Saperavi - Georgia, Kakheti (11/2/2023)
    Expressive nose displaying sweet concentrated black fruit, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, licorice, liquid smoke, pepper, sweet spices and crushed rocks. There is a hint of oxidative note that is not bothersome. Excellent concentration, generous sweet black fruit, rich and unctuous but also showing a good balance, medium acidity and mineral, and a long sweet black fruit driven peppery finish. I noticed a hint of residual sugar. According to the wine make, this is a completely dry wine but 15% plus alcohol This is a very unique wine for me. (90 pts.)

11/2 - Dinner at the hotel

We arrived at Tsinandali Estate as the sun was going down. It was a really nice hotel with a Park Hyatt kind of vibe. We had a wonderful meal with our Georgian hosts and other guests. I truly loved all the dishes served. Three gentlemen sang traditional Georgian songs, which were really enjoyable and impressive.

  • 1995 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année - France, Champagne (11/2/2023)
    En magnum directly from the house. Rich intense yellow color. Expressive nose displaying ripe sweet yellow fruit, baked apple, peach, strong brioche, honey, light caramel, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, generous sweet yellow fruit, rich and deeply toned, bright acidity, medium mineral, and a long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with caramel and brioche at the end. This is a bit “heavy”. Fully mature and read to go. I clearly prefer the 96. I tried from three different magnums which were identical. (93 pts.)
  • 1975 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/2/2023)
    Another perfectly stored example. Perfectly mature nose displaying red and black fruit, strawberry, a hint of cassis, mushroom, dirty damp cellar, sous bois, sweet spices and earth. There is a hint of Brett, Very good concentration, generous red and black fruit, soft and warm, medium acidity, earthy mineral, fully resolved tannins and a medium long generous red and black fruit driven finish. IMO, the 70s were really challenging decade for Bordeaux and a lot of wines show Brett/dirty damp cellar that kills the fruit expression. This could have been at least a few points higher. (90 pts.)

11/3 - Grand Jury Session 1 - 2010 Bordeaux

It was really nice to be a part of a Grand Jury tasting once again. The format was identical to the previous Grand Jury sessions. The 2010s were showing well and aging beautifully, as originally expected. During the 2010 En Primeur, I thought the Mouton was the best wine, and this session confirmed my original assessment.



  • 2010 Château Calon-Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (11/3/2023)
    Wine 1 - Red fruit, bell pepper, silky, bright acidity, fine tannins and medium finish. One of the less concentrated wine and a bit straightforward.

    Afterthought: This is a typical Calon Segur, i.e. classic but a bit straightforward. (90 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Latour Grand Vin - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/3/2023)
    Wine 2 - Pure generous rich red fruit, a hint of oak, dusty cab floral note, lead pencil, very young, exceptional concentration, good fruit, silky tannins. Montrose?

    Afterthought – This is a classic Cab driven wine with excellent concentration. One of the most concentrated and youthful wine of the tasting. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Giscours - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 3 - Cool red and black fruit, coffee, chocolate, truffle, herb, mint, bell pepper, silky and spicy.

    Afterthought – Medium concentration, slightly lean and classic wine. (91 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Lafite Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/3/2023)
    Wine 4 – black fruit, cassis, blackberry jam, chocolate, subtle oak, exceptional finesse, fine silky tannins and a long finish.

    Afterthought – Classic Cabernet driven wine with exceptional finesse and a long finish. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Domaine de l'A - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 5 – Very ripe yet cool, cool black fruit, cassis, noticeable tannins, very ripe.

    Afterthought – A bit riper than others, medium concentration. Really well made wine that showed well against the big boys. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Pavie - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/3/2023)
    Wine 6 – Dusty flower, concentrated black fruit, oak, fresh, mint, tannins, structured, most tannic wine of the tasting.

    Afterthought – The most structured/tannic wine of the tasting. This was when Pavie pushed the limit. During the 10 EP, someone said, 'This is a goddamn 100-year wine.' (95 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Figeac - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/3/2023)
    wine 7 – Mint, similar to wine 3, chocolate, mocha, silky, big, cool, lead pencil, very youthful.

    Afterthought – Strong chocolate, excellent concentration. Very youthful and not terribly complex. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Rauzan-Ségla - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 8 – Pepper, black fruit, silky, cool, fine tannins. Excellent balance.

    Afterthought – Perfect ripeness, beautifully balanced. I really loved the wine during the 10 EP. In my opinion, Rauzan Segla is producing excellent wines and represents great QPR. (95 pts.)
  • 2010 Les Forts de Latour - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/3/2023)
    Wine 9 – Black fruit, chocolate, silky and sexy, spicy, very refined.

    Afterthought – I always had the opinion that second wines represent poor QPR. Maybe I am wrong. This was exceptional. (96 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Giscours - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 10 – Mint, then more mint, black fruit, leaner and cooler.

    Afterthought – This was served twice to check how members taste. It was nice that I scored them the same with similar impressions. The Giscours was a bit thinner and less interesting compared to the others. (91 pts.)
  • 2010 Château La Gaffelière - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/3/2023)
    Wine 11 – Slightly overripe black fruit, baked fruit, silky, and cool.

    Afterthought – Time has not been too kind. A bit leaner, yet it seems overripe. (91 pts.)
  • 2010 Château La Fleur-Pétrus - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (11/3/2023)
    Wine 12 – Floral, black fruit, truffle, silky and airy, with very fine tannins and exceptional concentration.

    Afterthought – This is a classic Pomerol from a great vintage. (95 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/3/2023)
    Wine 13 – Opulent sweet black fruit, chocolate, light caramel, and cassis. Exceptional concentration yet perfect balance. My guess is Mouton. My wine of the tasting.

    Afterthought – I gave the 10 Mouton the perfect score. It was my wine of the 10 EP. This has developed beautifully. I always considered Mouton to be very fruit-driven and modern, not as 'noble' as the other First Growths. There are exceptions, e.g., 82, 86, and 2010. (98 pts.)
  • 2010 Château La Lagune - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (11/3/2023)
    Wine 14 – A hint of green, black fruit, dark chocolate, cool, and silky.

    Afterthought – I always found La Lagune to be a bit straightforward and not terribly complex. (92 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/3/2023)
    wine 15 – Super concentrated, very ripe black fruit, blackberry jam, caramel. Big and silky. Very modern wine.

    Afterthought – This didn’t surprise me. Very modern. If you enjoy big Napa cabs, this may be a good wine to try. Not a bad wine but definitely modern. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Domaine de Chevalier - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (11/3/2023)
    Wine 16 – Cassis, Pauillac nose, blue fruit, milky chocolate, lead pencil. Classic, cool, and refined, with fine tannins.

    Afterthought – A Jedi mind trick, as I thought this was a top Pauillac, and my tasting notes steered me in that direction. Really classic and really nice. Definitely need to try a bottle soon. This was a pleasant surprise. (95 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Haut-Bailly - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (11/3/2023)
    Wine 17 – Complex, refined, a hint of roasted fruit/espresso, lead pencil. Silky and fine tannins.

    Afterthought – This was very good but not as concentrated as some of the others. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 18 – Crème de cassis, cab dominating nose, bell pepper. Cool and fresh.

    Afterthought – I am surprised by this; I didn’t like the bell pepper green note. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Branaire-Ducru - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/3/2023)
    Wine 19 – Lead pencil, cassis, a bit simple.

    Afterthought – I smelled this twice. I found it not at the same level as the others, so I didn’t spend too much time revisiting. (90 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Pavie Macquin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/3/2023)
    wine 20 – Chocolate, ripe black fruit, black truffle, silky.

    Afterthought – Ripe but not overripe. Generous fruit. This was a big monster but aged nicely. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (11/3/2023)
    Wine 21 – A bit green and vegetal but also showing very ripe fruit, fresh. A bit simple.

    Afterthought – Not sure what happened here. When tasted in 2016 in Cos vertical, I really liked the wine. (90 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (11/3/2023)
    wine 22 – Exceptional finesse, sensual, silky. Excellent concentration, silky tannins and bright acidity.

    Afterthought – Truly a grand vin! A great Bordeaux. Perhaps my rating was too low. The repeat of the 89? (96 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/3/2023)
    Wine 23 – Cabernet dominating nose with crème de cassis, mint, and lead pencil. Excellent concentration.

    Afterthought – A perfectly ripe Cabernet nose. Classic. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Montrose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (11/3/2023)
    Wine 24 – Beautiful black fruit, truffle, mint. Silky and refined.

    Afterthought – Pomerol like sexy black fruit and truffle. I rated 98pts in 2017. An excellent wine! (95 pts.)
  • 2010 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 25 – Cabernet nose, black fruit, silky.

    Afterthought – Somehow, I liked this as much as the grand vin. However, neither of them was my favorite. Coincidently, my EP score was identical. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/3/2023)
    Wine 26 – Cool fresh black fruit, silky and sensual.

    Afterthought – A really hedonistic yet classic wine. Drinking incredibly well. Highly recommend! (96 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/3/2023)
    Wine 27 – Rich black and red fruit, cool, silky, long, and sexy.

    Afterthought – A long time ago, I rated the '03 100pts, higher than the '03 Latour. This became a big joke amongst my tasting group. Oh well, deja vu?" (97 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/3/2023)
    Wine 28 – Caramel, oak, cassis. Modern impression. Silky and big.

    Afterthought – I somehow always find LLC to be modern with a touch of oak. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/3/2023)
    Wine 29 – Cool black fruit, a hint of oak, dark spices. Very good balance, cool, and precise.

    Afterthought – Similar to Wine 28, Leoville Las Cases, but showing less oak and less modern. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Tertre Rôteboeuf - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/3/2023)
    Wine 30 – Surmaturite, very ripe black fruit, truffle, mocha, sweet spices. Rich, silky, very good balance, and precision. The 'Surmaturite' note is so unique that I guessed correctly.

    Afterthought – This was very controversial, and I was in the minority in loving it. (97 pts.)
  • 2010 Vieux Château Certan - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (11/3/2023)
    Wine 31 – Perfectly ripe black fruit, truffle, and espresso. Silky and cool. A bit straightforward.

    Afterthought – The wine that I rated 100 points during the EP. Need to revisit soon. (92 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/3/2023)
    Wine 32 – Perfectly ripe black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, light caramel. Sexy and delicious.

    Afterthought – I thought I had 'missed' the mark on this wine. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Château Gazin Pomerol - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (11/3/2023)
    Wine 33 – Grapy, chocolate. Generous concentration, rich and sexy.

    Afterthought – This was “grapy and ripe” but I liked it. (94 pts.)

11/4 - Grand Jury du Vin Sessin 2 - Georgian wines

We had a Grand Jury du Vin session featuring Georgian wines. The whites were all yellow wines. It was fascinating that most of both reds and whites were made with indigenous grapes. The reds reminded me of Portuguese wines with a decent amount of Touriga Nacional, i.e., dark and inky fruit dominating other grape varietals. I am not a big fan of yellow wines, but at least half of them were very good.

    11/4 - Lunch

    It was a sushi buffet. As much as I loved all my meals in Georgia, this one was not terribly tasty.

    • 2005 Mongeard-Mugneret Grands-Echezeaux "L'Instant" - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru (11/4/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying concentrated red fruit, strawberry, cherry, sous bois, grilled cep, sweet spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of sweet red fruit, warm and round, perfect amount of acidity, strong earthy mineral, and a long sweet red fruit driven finish. This is a rare bird. Drinking really well but can improve, adding more tertiary/sous bois note. (95 pts.)

    11/4 - Gala Dinner

    The gala dinner was truly exceptional, featuring mesmerizing performances by The Georgian National Ballet and traditional singers. The dances were beautifully choreographed, exotic, and highly technical, while the singers delivered soulful and powerful performances.

    The wines, all in excellent condition as expected, were contributed by the producers. While all the dishes were excellent, two truly stood out. An Arctic char and its roe was incredible. When I mentioned this to Otto Geiser, my good friend, a great chef, and a fellow Grand Jury du Vin member, he introduced me to Chef Jan Hartwig, who flew in to prepare the dish. Chef Hartwig is the proprietor of the three-star restaurant JAN and also happens to be Otto's son-in-law. The other outstanding dish was the suckling pig, perhaps the best I've had in my life.

    People in Georgia seem to love to party, dressing up, drinking, and celebrating. The big afterparty involved a lot of singing, including both traditional and western songs. Orazio, another Grand Jury du Vin member, joined in and sang 'O Sole Mio' with a new Georgian friend. The party at the bar lasted through we hours. Unfortunately, I had to catch a shuttle to the airport at 5 in the morning, so I headed up around midnight.

    • 1990 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame - France, Champagne (11/4/2023)
      En Jeroboam. Perfectly mature yet youthful nose displaying generous decadent yellow fruit, baked apple, clementine, a hint of peach, brioche, light caramel, honey and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of decadent yellow fruit, still showing generous fine mousse, rich, warm and generous, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a seamless long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with honey and brioche at the end. This is showing so incredibly well in this format. (97 pts.)
    • 2019 Weingut Burg Ravensburg Husarenkappe Riesling Großes Gewächs - Germany, Baden (11/4/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying concentrated pure white and yellow fruit, green apple, lemon curd, yellow peach, honey, honeysuckle, sap, a hint of petrol and crushed rocks. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of pure concentrated white and yellow fruits, rich and oily but incredible precision and focus, bright acidity, super mineral and a long concentrated white and yellow fruit driven mineral finish. Once again, this is super mineral! Exceptional showing. (95 pts.)
    • 2017 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (11/4/2023)
      Beautiful youthful nose displaying generous yellow citrus fruit with a hint of white, lemon curd, white peach, kiwi, strong beeswax, white flowers, vanilla and wet stone. Gooseberry/SB note really kicks in. Very good concentration, generous yellow citrus/Gooseberry, oily and generous but also showing a good balance, perfect amount of acidity, strong mineral, and a long yellow citrus fruit driven finish with beeswax at the end. This is a classic Domaine de Chevalier Blanc. Drinking really well. (94 pts.)
    • 2010 Château Beauregard - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (11/4/2023)
      Medium expressive nose displaying subtle black and red fruit, blackberry, strawberry, dark chocolate, a hint of green, truffle, scorched earth and iron. There is a hint of metallic note. Medium concentration, subtle black and red fruit, silky and slightly lean, good acidity, iron mineral, nicely resolved tannins and a medium long subtle red fruit driven finish. There is no need to wait but it will not decline rapidly. (91 pts.)
    • 2005 Clos Fourtet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/4/2023)
      Expressive youthful nose displaying concentrated black and red fruit, blackberry concentrated, chocolate dipped cherry, milky chocolate, dark flowers, truffle, liquid smoke, luxurious oak, sweet spices, and earth. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of perfectly ripe concentrated black and red fruit, silky, rich and fluid, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long concentrated black and red fruit driven finish with liquid smoke at the end. This is a very modern concentrated St Emilion. Although quite enjoyable, this will improve for another decade or two. (96 pts.)
    • 1982 Château Belair (Dubois-Challon) - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (11/4/2023)
      Dirty damp cellar, shy red fruit and mostly tertiary. The fruit has mostly faded. I believe this is a correct bottle that came directly from the chateau. (89 pts.)
    • 2003 Château Guiraud - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (11/4/2023)
      Super concentrated sweet yellow fruit, apricot dominates, also mango, peach, honey, crème brulee and sweet spices. Exceptional concentration but a bit heavy and one dimensional. (91 pts.)

    11/5 - Jules Verne

    The last visit was in 2019, and the restaurant was under Alain Ducasse's team. There was a cheaper lunch menu that was no longer available.

    The dishes under Chef Frederic Anton were all excellent, definitely worthy of two stars. The wine list was a bit pricier, but the choices were greater and still included a number of excellent values.

    I highly recommend Jules Verne. Please do not dismiss it as a tourist trap. Dining at Jules Verne is a civilized way to experience the Eiffel Tower, with priority access to the plaza and the tower.



    • 2015 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill - France, Champagne (11/5/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying concentrated yellow and white fruit, baked apple, lemon curd, pear, brioche, honey, sweet spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of generous perfectly ripe yellow and white fruit, rich yet pure, energetic and precise, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a seamless long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of brioche and honey at the end. This is generous and delicious but also very precise and energetic. Drinking really well at the moment but will age beautifully for the next couple decades. (96 pts.)
    • 2019 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/5/2023)
      Intoxicating youthful nose displaying intense pure black fruit, crushed blackberry, blackberry concentrated, lavender, a hint of licorice, liquid smoke, light caramel and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of pure black fruit, silky and fluid, perfect harmony and finesse, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long pure black fruit driven floral finish. This clearly expresses the house style. Gorgeous and expressive. (97 pts.)

    11/5 - Bar at Le Train Bleu

    The lunch at Jules Verne was exceptional, and we lost track of time. We somehow misjudged how long it would take to get to Gare Lyon. We were almost an hour late.

    The station was super busy and trying to purchase two new tickets were quite stressful. We had about an hour wait so we had a bottle at Le Train Bleu. The place was a bit too chaotic and busy.

    • 2021 Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru L'Essence des Climats - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (11/5/2023)
      Medium expressive nose displaying ripe yellow citrus fruit, lemon curd, pineapple, honey, light caramel, sweet spices and mineral. Very good concentration, generous sweet yellow fruit, rich, deeply toned and oily, bright acidity, medium mineral, and a medium long ripe yellow fruit driven finish. This is a bit too rich and ripe. Despite of bright acidity, it feels a bit cloying. (89 pts.)

    11/6 - Comte LIger-Belair

    I have known Louis Michel for close to two decades. We were both young back then, him even younger than I.

    Unfortunately, we were unable to visit him last year as he was on vacation with his family. Visiting Louis Michel is always one of the top highlights of our trips. Louis Michel is a straightshooter without any pretense.

    He added a number of new Cuvees, Vosne village Aus Reas, La Croix Rameau, Malconsorts and Grands-Echezeaux. It was remarkable how the new Cuvees clearly expressed the Domaine's style. For my palate, he is the best wine maker in Burgundy.


    Obligatory photo

    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Grandes Vignes Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Delicious succulent white and yellow fruit, pear, pear preserve, apple, coconut, oak, sweet spices and fine mineral. Very good concentration, rich white and yellow fruit, oily but showing a good balance, bright acidity, medium mineral, and a long rich white and yellow fruit driven finish. This is a rich and stylized white Burgundy. The style is consistent with the previous vintages. (93 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Château - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée (11/6/2023)
      Beautiful floral nose with delicious pure red fruit, sugar coated strawberry, raspberry, cherry, rose, a hint of oak, sap, sweet spices and earth. Very good concentration, beautifully layered sweet red fruit, pure and beautifully detailed, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long delicious red fruit driven finish with a hint of oak and rose at the end. I really love Louis Michel’s Clos du Chateau. This is super delicious already, definitely above the village level. (94 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Cras - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying concentrated oily black fruit, blackberry liqueur, black cherry, violet, light caramel, cappuccino, sweet spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of sweet black fruit, rich and oily, bright acidity, earthy mineral, fine tannins and a long sweet black fruit driven finish. This is a big scale masculine NSG. (93 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Very refined nose displaying perfectly ripe black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, rose, espresso bean, Vosne spice and fine mineral. Excellent concentration, very finely layered pure black fruit, silky and airy, exceptional finesse and detail, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long perfectly ripe black fruit driven finish. This is already very enjoyable. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Grandes Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying rich black fruit, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, dark flowers, ink, a hint of licorice, sweet spices and earth. Very good concentration, concentrated rich black fruit, full and oily yet also silky and cool, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long concentrated rich black fruit driven finish. This is a bit more elegant than the NSG Cras. (93 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée (11/6/2023)
      Spicy nose displaying ripe black fruit with a hint of red, blackberry, cherry compote, raspberry preserve, a hint of caramel, rose, spicy spices and earth. Very good concentration, generous rich black fruit, rich but silky, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long generous ripe black and red fruit driven finish. The Clos du Chateau is definitely a step up. This is tasty however. (91 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying sweet red fruit, candied strawberry, cherry, very floral, light caramel and fine mineral. Medium concentration, finely layered sweet red fruit, silky and nicely detailed, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long sweet red fruit driven floral finish. Drinking really well already. (92 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée La Colombiere - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying rich but pure red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, dark flowers, light caramel, Vosne spice, spicy and fine limestone mineral. Medium concentration, nicely layered rich yet fresh red fruit, very elegant and bright, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long bright red fruit driven floral finish. This seems fresher and brighter than the other Vosne village cuvees. (92 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying perfectly ripe red and black fruit, strawberry, blackberry, tea, vosne spice, light caramel, sweet spices and mineral. Very good concentration, layers upon layers for sweet pure red and black fruit, rich yet silky and beautifully detailed, bright acidity, fine limestone mineral, and a long generous sweet black and red fruit driven spicy finish. This is a classic Brulee that is already showing well. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru La Croix Rameau - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Very floral nose displaying subtle sweet red fruit, strawberry candy, cherry, rose, sap, sweet spices and limestone mineral. Very good concentration, finely layered bright red fruit, subtle, elegant and airy, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long subtle red fruit driven floral finish. The fruit shows richness but maintains a very elegant overall impression. (94 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying riche red fruit with a hint of black, cherry compote, raspberry, blackberry, caramel, rose, Vosne spice and limestone. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated red and black fruit, rich, unctuous and opulent, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long concentrated red and black fruit driven finish. This may be the biggest wine of the tasting. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying subtle red fruit, raspberry, cherry, espresso beans, a hint of oak, spicy spices and limestone mineral. Medium concentration, nicely layered subtle red fruit, cool and precise, noticeable but fine tannins and a long cool red fruit driven spicy finish. The expression is cool and subtle. (94 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying generous black fruit, crushed blackberry, mulberry, black cherry, rose, spicy spices and fine limestone mineral. Exquisite palate, incredibly layered pure delicious black fruit, fluid and silky, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long pure black fruit driven finish. It is already super enjoyable. (96 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive complex nose displaying perfectly ripe sweet black fruit, blackberry jelly, black cherry, a hint of licorice, black truffle, sweet spices and mineral. Beautifully integrated palate, very finely layered pure generous black fruit, silky, showy and sexy, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long generous pure black fruit driven finish with a hint of licorice at the end. This is showing really well. (96 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive floral nose displaying concentrated red fruit, candied strawberry, raspberry tart, rose, sap, sweets spices and earth. Excellent concentration, nicely layered bright rich red fruit, deep and rich but also silky and nicely balanced, perfect amount of acidity, earthy mineral, and a long concentrated red fruit driven floral finish. This feels different than the other Vosne cuvee with the concentrated red fruit. Showing beautifully in a different way. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Grands-Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive complex nose displaying opulent black fruit, blackberry liqueur, blackberry, rose, a hint of licorice, liquid smoke, light caramel, Vosne spices and limetone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of rich black fruit, rich and deep but also silky, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long rich black fruit driven finish. This complex wine displays generous black fruit and smoky incense. (96 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair La Romanée - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Romanée Grand Cru (11/6/2023)
      Exquisite nose displaying perfectly ripe red and black fruit, raspberry jelly, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, mocha, cornucopia of flowers, incense, dark spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered black and red fruit, perfect balance, silky and air, perfect amount of acidity and fine mineral, and a seamless long perfectly ripe red and black fruit driven floral finish. This is an exceptional Burgundy. (98 pts.)

    11/6 - Buisson-Charles

    This marked our second year visiting Pascal. I connected with Patrick via Facebook last year after hearing many positive comments about Buisson-Charles. The 21s were excellent, and since Patrick kindly allowed us to visit again, I was really looking forward to our return.

    I was pleasantly surprised as the wines were even better than the 21s. The 22 Chambertin was my top two wines of the trip. I have no idea how the fruit was sourced but this was simply a "Wow" wine.

    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Aloxe-Corton - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Aloxe-Corton (11/6/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Medium expressive nose displaying fresh red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, rose, sweet spices and earth. Medium concentration, generous red fruit, warm and round, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium long red fruit driven earthy finish. (90 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Volnay 1er Cru Santenots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Barrel Sample - The regular barrel.

      Expressive nose displaying generous red fruit, strawberry, cherry compote, light caramel, grilled mushroom and mineral. Very good concentration, nicely layered generous red fruit, rich and generous, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long perfectly ripe red fruit driven finish. (92 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Volnay 1er Cru Santenots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Upper part of Santenots with pre-phylloxera selection. I believe this will be bottle separately.

      Exquisite floral nose displaying perfectly ripe pure red fruit, rose and cornucopia of red flowers, fresh button mushroom, a hint of light caramel, a hint of stem, sweet spices and mineral. Already showing beautifully integrated palate, nicely layered generous pure red fruit, silky, airy, beautifully detailed, bright acidity and mineral, and a seamless long pure red fruit driven floral finish. This is incredibly floral and refine. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos de Micault - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Expressive nose displaying black and red fruit, blackberry jelly, strawberry, licorice, spicy spices and earth. Very good concentration, nicely layered generous black and red fruit, silky and round, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long generous red fruit driven earthy finish. This is a classic Pommard showing generous fruit and earthiness. The vines from 1935, small berries. (92 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Chapelle-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Remarkably light color, 100% stem inclusion. Patrick explains the wine gets darker in the bottle. Explosive nose displaying pure red and black fruit, licorice, a hint of stem, rose, perfume, sap and mineral. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered sweet red and black fruit, silky and fluid, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long pure red and black fruit driven floral finish. I love the gorgeous floral nose and airy texture. 18 month elevage and no filtering. (96 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Intoxicating yet noble nose displaying pure yet super rich red fruit, raspberry jelly, a hint of licorice, rose, light caramel, truffle, and mineral. Exceptional concentration, incredibly layered rich red fruit, silky and airy, bright acidity and mineral, and a seamless long red fruit driven finish. The vines from 1955. Absolutely gorgeous wine. (98 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Expressive nose displaying pure white fruit, pear and apple, coconut, sweet spices and crushed rocks. Very good concentration, perfectly ripe pure white fruit, beautiful balance and energy, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long pure white fruit driven mineral finish. (91 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Bourgogne Blanc - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Expressive nose displaying concentrated white fruit, lemon curd, pear, beeswax, honeysuckle, sap, sweet spices and mineral. Very good concentration, generous concentrated white fruit, rich especially for a BB, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a medium to long concentrated white fruit driven finish. (91 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Bourgogne Blanc Haute Densité - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - One part in Meursault and the other in Puligny. Expressive nose displaying concentrated rich white fruit with a hint of yellow, apple, apple candy, a hint of pineapple, honeysuckle, spicy spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of rich concentrate white fruit, oily and opulent, bright acidity, medium mineral, and a long rich concentrated white fruit driven finish with honeysuckle at the end. Remarkable concentration for a BB. (93 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Meursault Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (11/7/2023)
      Barrel sample - 15% new oak, from 60 to 100 years old vines. Expressive nose displaying pure white fruit, apple, pear, honey, marzipan, a hint of mint, spicy spices and limestone. Very good concentration, finely layered pure white fruit, good balance and detail, bright acidity, fine limestone mineral, and a long pure white fruit driven finish. (93 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Meursault Les Tessons - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - A very refined nose displaying pure fresh white fruit, pear, white peach, a hint of lemon, beeswax, honeysuckle, cool mountain stream and fine mineral. Very good concentration, nicely layered pure white fruit, elegant and precise, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long pure white fruit driven finish with beeswax at the end. Showing a beautiful finesse, especially for a village Meursault. (94 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Meursault 1er Cru Bouches-Chères - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Complex, super mineral driven nose displaying fresh pure white fruit, pear, apple, white peach, white pepper, lanoline, and crushed rocks. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered pure white fruit, cool, subtle and precise, perfect amount of acidity, super mineral, and a long pure white fruit driven finish. I would love to taste this once bottled. Excellent. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Meursault 1er Cru Gouttes d'Or - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Rich expressive nose displaying concentrated opulent white fruit, pear, apple, apple candy, honeysuckle, vanilla, white flowers, and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of rich white fruit, oily and opulent, perfect amount of acidity and fine mineral, and a long concentrated rich white fruit driven floral finish. This is a big serious wine. Cleary richer and bigger than the Bouches-Chères. (95 pts.)
    • 2022 Buisson-Charles Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes-Dessus - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Powerful big scale nose displaying concentrated white and yellow fruit, pear, lemon curd, vanilla, honeysuckle, dry extract, spicy spices and crushed rocks. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated white and yellow fruit, rich and oily but also cool, energetic and beautifully detailed, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a long concentrated white and yellow fruit driven finish. There is a lot of dry extract at the end. This is a very complete wine. (96 pts.)

    11/6-La Cuverie De Vosne

    We had originally planned to have lunch here. Fortunately, our visit with Louis Michel lasted longer than expected, and we had to go directly to Buisson-Charles.

    We missed the grand opening of the Cuverie by a week during our last year's trip. The place had a cool vibe and was super nice to chill and enjoy a bottle or two. The wine list was extensive and featured a lot of great options which were all certified organic.

    It was a chilly, drizzly day. We sat near the window with a beautiful view of the Vosne vineyards, a nice way to end the day.

    • 2020 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (11/6/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying concentrated sweet yellow fruit, lemon curd, honey, beeswax, vanilla, dry extract, sesame, sweet spies and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated yellow fruit, rich, oily and deeply toned but also showing a good balance and energy, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with honey and beeswax at the end. This is a big scale concentrated Meursault that nicely expresses the producer and the vineyard. (95 pts.)

    11/7 - Marchand Tawse

    We arrived a bit early. I stopped by a patisserie and grabbed an apple chausson, super delicious and under $2, gotta love France. We were greeted by Amandine, Pascal's lovely wife. Pascal somehow got chlorine in his eye, requiring medical attention. Then, there was a roof leak that needed to be addressed. Despite all the troubles, Pascal and Amandine were incredibly hospitable and spent ample time with us. We also tasted a half dozen whites, but the wines were hard to evaluate.

    11/7 - La Cabotte

    In an earlier email, Pascal and Amandine invited us to lunch, and they reserved a table at La Cabotte. Pascal greeted two ladies who were seated next to us, and we were introduced to Nathalie. She introduced herself as the sister of Jean-Charles Boisset. I was fascinated by how calm and subtle she appeared. Those who have met Mr. Jean-Charles would understand what I meant.



    I was always curious about the wine list at La Cabotte. The list was still great but there were too many bargains. The cooking however, were classic and well executed.

    • 2015 Hubert Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Derrière Chez Edouard Cuvée Haute Densité - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      expressive nose displaying concentrated pure yellow citrus fruit, honey, honeysuckle, a hint of vanilla/oak and mineral. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of super rich yet pure yellow fruit, oily and dense but also weightless, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long concentrated pure yellow fruit driven finish with honeysuckle at the end. This is super concentrated yet beautifully balanced. (95 pts.)

    11/7 - Clos de Tart

    This was the second year that I visited Clos de Tart with Alessandro. Since he became in charge of Clos de Tart, he meticulously analyzed the vineyards and the wines. For my palate, Clos de Tart has improved since Alessandro came on board, becoming more refined and detailed.

    • 2022 Domaine du Clos de Tart Morey St. Denis - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Medium expressive nose displaying cool black and red fruit, blackberry, strawberry, licorice, lavender, dark spices and earth. Medium concentration, generous black and red fruit, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium long earthy finish. (90 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Clos de Tart Morey St. Denis 1er Cru La Forge de Tart - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Expressive nose displaying generous black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, mint, spicy spices, and earth. Very good concentration, nicely layered black fruit, pure, fresh, and silky, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long black fruit driven earthy finish. (92 pts.)
    • 2022 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru (11/7/2023)
      Barrel Sample - Expressive nose displaying pure black fruit, blackberry, licorice, stem, truffle, sweet spices and mineral. Very good concentration, finely layered black fruit, silky and fluid, bright acidity and strong mineral, and a long black fruit driven finish with a hint of sap at the end. There is a hint of oxidative note that needs to be resolved. (95 pts.)

    11/7 - Dinner

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in Burgundy. The wine prices have gone up since last year. I was hoping for a bottle of Ramonet Montrachet but no luck. The dishes were spot on which didn't surprise me at all.



    • 2019 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying opulent yellow citrus fruit, lemon curd, apple tart, a hint of gunflint, toasted luxurious oak, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, layers upon layered of concentrated yellow fruit, rich and full, bright acidity, strong mineral and a long concentrated yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of vanilla at the end. This is a concentrated highly stylized Meursault, very PYCM. (95 pts.)
    • 2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru (11/7/2023)
      Expressive nose displaying cool concentrated black fruit, fresh blackberry, black cherry, a hint of licorice, dark flowers, sap, light caramel, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, nicely layered pure black fruit, silky, generous and nicely detailed, perfect amount of acidity, strong mineral, and a long concentrated black fruit driven finish with dark flowers at the end. This is not as good as the exquisite bottle from the 22 trip. (96 pts.)

    11/8 - L'Astrance

    This was the restaurant I always meant to dine in before COVID hit. The wine list was quite good, but the main reason was to try a mature Saint Christophe Mondeuse. Chef Barbot's dishes were perfectly executed and often showed strong Japanese influences. I had to shamefully admit that my favorite dish was tagliolini with copious amounts of white truffle. Although the truffles were small, the aroma was heavenly.


    Wild mushroom tart that was memorable


    The Branzino was perfectly steamed, and the entire course had a distinct Japanese flair. The server also informed us about the specific city in Japan where the rice originated.


    In heaven


    Super baby Iberico


    Pear and then Pear

    • N.V. Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (11/8/2023)
      2014 Disgorgement. Beautiful brilliant yellow color. Expressive nose displaying decadent yellow fruit with a hint of red, apricot preserve, peach, red currant, honey, burnt sugar, cinnamon, brioche, smoke, and limestone. Fully integrated palate, decadent sweet yellow fruit, very fine subtle but fine mousse, rich, sweet, and deeply toned but also beautifully balanced, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long decadent yellow fruit driven finish with honey and cinnamon at the end. Although fully mature, not showing the oxidative note that I get in Substance. (95 pts.)
    • 2005 Domaine Prieuré Saint Christophe Vin de Savoie Mondeuse Tradition - France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie (11/8/2023)
      Initially shy but opens up quickly. Expressive nose displaying mature bright red fruit, strawberry jam, raspberry, a hint of dry cherry, strong pepper, leather, tobacco, scorched earth, sap, tarragon/Chartreuse and strong mineral. Fully integrated palate, nicely layered bright red fruit, silky and fluid, nice detail and balance, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long sweet and bright red fruit driven finish with pepper and tarragon at the end. I am thinking between Rayas (red fruit), Chave (pepper) and Clos Rougeard (herb). Kelly mentions a Chignon which I agree. This well stored example is drinking beautifully. (94 pts.)

    11/8 - Le Bar

    After a big lunch, we decided to walk it off and headed toward the Champs-Élysées. November weather in Paris is unpredictable, and it started to rain. We noticed a fancy-looking hotel and decided to stop by. Both Kelly and I had been to George V, but we didn’t recognize it until we got closer. We reached the lounge area, and the beautiful hostess was rather cold and showed no interest in helping us. Luckily, the bar opened, and we were seated at a nice table. Great minds think alike, and both Kelly and I found two great wines.


    • 2020 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (11/8/2023)
      Unbelievably energetic and precise nose displaying perfectly ripe pure yellow citrus fruit, lemon curd, fresh lemon, honey, a hint of beeswax, honeysuckle, spicy spices, and crushed rocks. Quintessential Les Clos palate, slightly coiled perfectly ripe pure yellow fruit, incredible intensity, energy and precision, perfect balance, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a seamless long yellow fruit driven finish with honey and mineral at the end. This is very “Clos” and different than Valmur or Blanchot. Exceptional Chablis. (98 pts.)
    • N.V. Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Enfers - France, Champagne (11/8/2023)
      Decadent complex nose displaying succulent rich yellow fruit with a hint of red, lemon curd, baked apple, sour apple, a hint of red currant, brioche, cinnamon and other sweet spices, rain water and fine limestone dust. Beautifully integrated palate, nicely layered succulent yellow and red fruit, very find medium generous mousse, rich and sumptuous but also beautifully balanced and detailed, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long succulent yellow and red fruit driven finish with cinnamon at the end. This is a very complete Champagne that is drinking incredibly well. There is no need to wait, however. (96 pts.)

    This was another memorable trip. The hospitality in the Republic of Georgia was incredible. I truly love the bold flavors of Georgian cuisine. The Georgian wines, mostly from indigenous grape varietals, were fascinating and enjoyable. The visit to my favorite region in the world, Burgundy, was special once again. It was fun and memorable to travel with my best wine buddy, Kelly Walker.

     

     
    © 2003-24 CellarTracker! LLC. All rights reserved. "CellarTracker!" is a trademark of CellarTracker! LLC. No part of this website may be used, reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of CellarTracker! LLC. (Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.) - Follow us on Twitter and on Facebook