1997 and previous Premier Cru Red Burgundy

My turn to pick the topic, so I picked one of my favorite wines, red Burgundy with some age. These were probably the most consistently good wines across the board for me of these events. However, there were also no real stand out or truly spectacular wines (highest score was 92 points, but lots of 91s as well). We did these non blind, and went from the youngest to the oldest (plus the Vogue that was added at the end of the night). Awesome stuff.

• 2002 Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Strange nose of some stewed pineapple, and soft oyster mushrooms cooking in light olive oil, coated in some stinky cheese. Mild on the palate, with not much acid. It's quite soft and almost supple. Strangely uninteresting. I want my Les Clos to cut my face off with acid, but this is fairly soft. Perhaps some greater oak influence than I usually prefer in my Chablis. The finish does show some tart acid, and it entirely coats my mouth. It's fairly light on complexity and not too detailed in its length, however it does stay on the palate for some time (just not evolving much). I get more of the mushrooms in olive oil as well.

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• 2006 Réyane et Pascal Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Champans 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Pop and pour, and WOW, the aromas on this really jump from the glass. Amazingly floral, really spicy and amazingly rich, creamy, and delicious, almost like a fruit dessert. This also expresses a good bit of earth spice on the nose, but the spicy red fruit is intense. Big flavor, tart, rich, but all at once light in body, expressing some beautiful raspberry under the big tannins that begin building. It's pleasing on the palate, but very tight. Bitter and tight finish, but still has some intense fruit. Solid structure and balance, but not yielding much at all. Awesome potential here... the structure is impressive and balanced in its components, even though the finish is locked hard. The beauty on the nose today tells me that this is going to turn into a fantastic, blossomed wine with 10-15 years on it. After just 15 minutes in my glass the nose was already beginning to lock down hard. The bottle I had last year was surely open for a while, because if I didn't experience the initial few minutes of this in the glass I would have likely scored this around 89.

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• 2001 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Soft aromas of earth, and elegant in aromas, including car leather polish. Nice mild, tart, elegant, soft texture on the palate, but not too complex, showing some pleasing red fruits with strawberry building the longer it holds on the tongue. Nice and fresh on the palate. Really nice finish, some big tannins build, and is all that's left on the tongue. Quite primary on the finish.

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• 2000 Domaine de Montille Pommard 1er Cru 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

  Bigger rd fruits on the nose here, meat (like beef jerky), and salmon skin. This is VERY Pommard in character. Thick and fruity. Again, big fruit on the palate, light but grippy tannins. Kind of funky on the finish, but in a good way. It changes character nicely over time, with good length. An enjoyable drink.

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• 1997 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Considering the pedigree and vineyard here, this was a let down for me. The nose is elegant and supple, showing some earth, and earthy red fruits. Lots of surprisingly juicy fruit on the palate, soft, gritty, and good acid building, but the more it's on the palate the more tannic it becomes. There's some mild funk on the finish, with nice balance throughout. A solid wine, but not really exciting me, nor graceful.

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• 1996 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Château des Ducs 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Soft aromas, some arm pit funk, but it's sweet (yum), some mushrooms, light red fruits, and sweet earth. Really nice tart fruit on the palate, building deeper red fruits as it holds on the tongue, some tartness, and granite. The finish is kick ass, though. This really explodes on the finish. When you first swallow there's a bit of a calm, but then it's a beautiful flower covered in sour sugar beginning to open. Nice acid and tart flavors. Beautiful evolution on the finish. I love how long and gritty the finish yes, while never becoming overpoweringly tannic. Killer. My and the group's wine of the night.

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• 1990 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Soft red apples on the nose. The palate is rich and soft. More red apples, more elegant and integrated than the nose suggested. There's also a lovely tobacco component that builds. More interesting flavors build on the palate without tannins taking over. Great mid-palate. The finish drops off a bit, and while nice, soft, and elegant, it's quite mild. The group's number 2 wine of the night.

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• 1989 Remoissenet Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  The first thing I noted and wrote down on my first smell was, "Finally something ready to drink!" The nose is very balanced and open, fantastic flavors including balsamic and overall just very graceful. Really nice, expressive mid-palate, with more of the fantastic balance. For me, this wine wasn't about the particular flavors, but its balance and grace throughout. I could sit down with a bottle of this and relax, meditating on the wine. 91+

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• 1988 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vignes Rondes 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru

  Smells like a rubber band. Funky as s**t. Worcestershire sauce. After the nose, the palate showed brighter red fruits, tart, and lots of funk as it held on the tongue. Tart funk on the finish. Really not all that great, and funky as s**t on the finish too... not in a good way.

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• 1983 Philippe Leclerc Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Didn't take too detailed notes, but it was drinking similarly to the last bottle I had. It was showing quite a bit of balance tonight, some tobacco, pleasing spice, and slight green character. Light body and textured, still pleasing soft fruits, and big tannins remain. Really balanced throughout and drinking beautifully. Mine and the group's #3 wine of the night.

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• 1998 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Awesome last minute addition to the night. This was massive on the nose compared to the others; tons of heavily peppered deep red fruits, and really delicious aromas. Definitely larger than expected. Wow, the massive fruit carries onto the palate with tons of grip and sticky red fruits with sweet tannins. Huge again on the finish. Nice balance throughout, and impressive how it holds the fruit with that much structure, but this is entirely too young to consume today. For me, the fruit is actually a bit out of balance and excessive compared to the acid. I'd love to try it again in 15 years.

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I got seriously wasted by the end of the evening.