Premier Cru Table

Champagne

• 2014 Jérôme Prévost Champagne La Closerie Extra Brut Les Beguines - France, Champagne
  Bright, balanced, showing very well. 93-94 (93 pts.)
• 1996 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Belle Epoque - France, Champagne
  On the mature side showing good acidity. 92 (92 pts.)
• 1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne
  Magnum. Lovely freshness coming together, so balanced with bright acidity. 94 (94 pts.)
• 1976 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne
  Next to 76 DP. High acidity with enough ripeness, barely showing any age, a delicate rendition. 93-94+ (93 pts.)
• 1976 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
  Next to 76 Krug. Riper and smaller in structure, showing more aged character. 93 (93 pts.)

White

• 1984 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
  My favorite of the Raveneau flight. Very fresh, aged tropical flavors, roasted yellow fruit, marshmallow. Very good weight, light on its feet across the palate. 93-94 (93 pts.)
• 2008 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
  High acidity, fresh, vibrant with a spin. 93-94 (93 pts.)
• 1996 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
  Slightly advanced, more evident on the palate. Nose shows aged character with some dirt; seems consistent in this vintage chez Raveneau. 92 (92 pts.)
• 2007 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
  Next to 00. Sunshine tropical fruit, coconut. Good weight. 92-93 (92 pts.)
• 2000 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
  Next to 07. Showing better with age, hue of toasty flavors, very young. 92-93 (93 pts.)
• 2006 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
  Magnum. Showing great for my expectation of this vintage, great balance, bright white fruit. 93-94 (93 pts.)
• 1989 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
  Ripe, fat, well-cut white fruit, slightly older than I expected and just missing some Ramonet electricity. 93 (93 pts.)
• 1985 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
  Incredible power and fineness but just missing a touch of the stunning electricity common in 80s. Still a huge wine. 94 (94 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
  Super ripe but contained in the structure. These new Leflaive vintages just pack incredible layers and power in them. 94-95+ (95 pts.)
• 2014 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
  Superb acidity and well-cut, needs a lot more time. 93-94+ (93 pts.)
• 2011 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
  Lovely brightness, lots of mineral, easy to drink. Throughout the week even better, indeed very big structure. 93+ (93 pts.)
• 2015 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
  04890. Really shy similar to the 14. Can feel the superb balance but not giving much at the moment. Would refrain from opening. 94++ (94 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine Bizot Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits
  Characteristic Bizot white nose, very good weight, easy to like. 92-93 (92 pts.)
• 2006 Domaine d'Auvenay (Lalou Bize-Leroy) Bourgogne-Aligoté Sous Chatelet - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté
  00642/1180. Not as well-cut as recent vintages, but showing very good balance and signature popcorn reduction, if slightly thinner. 93 (93 pts.)
• 2019 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Clos des Bouchères - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
  Magnum. Liking more recent vintages chez Roulot, not overripe even in this vintage, well-balanced, very young. 93+ (93 pts.)
• 2011 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
  Thinner, cooler vintage also showing better. 92 (92 pts.)
• 2013 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
  Thin and young with lots of acidity. Somewhat unstructured on the palate. 92 (92 pts.)
• 1998 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
  Either the vintage performance or not a good bottle. (FLAWED)

Best Premier Crus!

• 2021 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
  Mindblowing complexity and details through every inch. Layers and layers of lifted pure red fruit with bling bling citrus acidity. Who says all Roumier is purple? Classic showing of a "weaker" vintage, which I love. Easy WOTN after enough air. 96-97 (96 pts.)
• 1999 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
  Stunning, needs air, meaty borderline complete. One of my favorites tonight. 94-95 (94 pts.)
• 1995 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
  Don't think is a perfect bottle, missing some Vosne spice and fruit. (FLAWED)
• 1991 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
  Yummy, not the power house of recent vintages but classically done with sous bois and spicy red fruit. 93 (93 pts.)
• 1999 Emmanuel Rouget Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
  Heated, not undrinkable but certainly the most inconsistent of wines in this league, RIP. Superb clarity and finesse on the palate, however. (FLAWED)
• 1971 Domaine Michel Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
  Alexis Lichine label, fruit day. Sous bois, cherry, spicy, classic. 93 (93 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
  365/2092. Superb fruit quality, spicy, lacy, one of the best performers tonight. 94-95 (95 pts.)
• 2009 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Cras - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
  1273/1513. Showing ripeness and earthiness, not as sexy as recent vintages. 92 (92 pts.)
• 1985 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
  Some heat damage, showing brown sugar, but pretty otherwise. 91 (91 pts.)

Burgundy

• 2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
  00329/18196. Superb nose like the bottle from a few months ago, but shorter finish. Then again this is PnP. Love the vintage green/freshness in DRC as always! 95 (95 pts.)
• 2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
  03466/16313. Still in the same phase as three years ago, no rush to open, very good balance with hint of woodiness in the red fruit. 93-94 (94 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
  01447/13758. Great clarity and purity, much more accessible than the GE on the side. 94+ (94 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
  02254/12672. Somewhat closed compared to the Echezeaux on the side and the last bottle a few months ago. Lovely clarity and purity and better weight. 94+ (94 pts.)
• 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
  12524/14772. Love the vintage aromatics, so much going on, dark with superb power, somewhat thinner than I remembered. 94 (94 pts.)
• 2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
  02513/15537. Great showing, notably riper. 93 (93 pts.)
• 2017 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
  01735/15482. Superb blue and jungle fruit nose with extra spice. Tough competition in this vintage against the RSV, however. 94 (94 pts.)
• 2007 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
  PnP, young, dark still, showing very good clarity like this vintage, if slightly thinner. 93-94 (93 pts.)
• 1993 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
  Red capsule. Great aromatics, lifted, natty almost, clear blue fruit, well-defined with drive. 95+ (95 pts.)
• 1971 Maison Leroy Clos St. Denis - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru
  Slight TCA, decanted. Love the vintage fruit quality and power on it. Some brown sugar and aged stylistic earthiness. 93 (93 pts.)
• 2004 Domaine Dujac Bonnes Mares - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
  Magnum, oops. (FLAWED)
• 2001 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
  Resolved showing great red fruit aromatics. Super lovely. 94 (94 pts.)
• 1989 Joseph Drouhin Clos St. Denis - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos St. Denis Grand Cru
  Very Drouhin acidity, dark fruit, resolved. 93 (93 pts.)
• 2000 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
  Surprisingly really delicious, balanced, lifted. 93 (93 pts.)
• 1990 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
  Magnum. Definitely on the earthy side, but very good structure. 92-93 (92 pts.)
• 2008 Olivier Bernstein Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
  Lovely aromatics but thin. 91-92 (92 pts.)
• 1988 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-Du-Milieu - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
  Magnum, corked. (FLAWED)
• 2015 Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis 1er Cru - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
  Cheese on the cork but pretty transparent vintage purple fruit. On the thin side. 91-92 (92 pts.)

Red

• 1979 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
  First pour was stunning, lifted dark fruit borderline complete/the legendary 85. Second pour shows more acidity and thinner palate, but still very good. 94-95 (94 pts.)
• 1990 Château Lafleur - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
  Some TCA but drinkable past that, very pretty underneath. (FLAWED)
• 1990 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  Super. Stunning balance and body, even better than pervious few bottles. 97+ (97 pts.)
• 1961 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  Decanted, TCA, showing sublime texture on the palate. Big RIP, but even so I imagine LMHB will still outperform in this vintage. (FLAWED)
• 1988 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  Pencilbox and nice Pauillac flavors, on the simple side. 92 (92 pts.)
• 2002 Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  Delicious with inky fruit. 93 (93 pts.)
• 1961 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Drinking nicely but fading and light. 90 (90 pts.)
• 1989 Château Clinet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
  Magnum. Leather, polished fruit, whole, very good. Kept improving in balance and structure with time. 94-95 (95 pts.)