Very crisp wine that started off the evening very well. I would have liked some for the later seafood course, but it disappeared. Ended with a bit of lemon and minerality—a focused wine.
As always, awesome aroma of far away citrus with a hint of toasted honey and a very crisp finish. Acidity was in balance and the hint of minerals did not overwhelm. Let this sit for the entire dinner and tried again after 3 hours—pleasantly surprised by an enjoyable “flat” wine with a hint of citrus and toasted oak with a clean finish.
Started with a citrus aroma and other characteristics that made me think of the color gold for some reason. Very nice acidity, with a hint of minerality with a crisp finish. 89-92
This wine started with aromas of smoked meats and earth, followed by quite a bit of tannins with background hints of eucalyptus. Finished showed a bit of unbalanced acidity. 87-90
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Some red fruit aromas with a background of smoked oak and cedar. This was followed by balanced flavors involving plums and a hint of nutmeg. Very solid wine that should be a staple CdP. 88-91
This wine provides flavors that make me very comfortable--like sitting next to a nice fire, shrouded by blankets next to my wife with my Lab by my feet. Picture the aromas in that setting, and that is how this wine starts. Finished a bit smoky, which I love. 89-92
I really enjoyed the aromas of ripe red currant--that still were a bit tart because they sometimes never get sweet, some oak and a hint of vanilla. This wine was double decanted 3 hours prior, and it was very balanced during the middle of the tasting experience and had a lingering finish that made me want to just smell it more. 90-94
A very traditional Barolo that I had alongside a 1998 Armando Parusso Barolo Vigna Munie—I really should have tasted this wine before the Parusso, which was a completely different style in its intensity of flavor. This wine was much shyer, which is a great thing sometimes. Many people would marry this wine, and date the Parusso. 88-90
This was like being on a classic wooden sailboat on absolutely clear, smooth water on a day that was not too cold or hot. I’ve never actually experienced this, but at least I’ve had this wine. Opened and served immediately, and this was showing very well. I hate to repeat the word “smooth” too often, but this wine was incredibly smooth with sophisticated red fruit flavors present but not overwhelming. My WOTN. 91-96
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
I've always loved the name, translated to "hill of the belching beef," and I'm happy I love this wine. Starts off with interesting aromas involving a mixture of sublime tropical fruit and deep red berries. Exotic wine that does not smack you in the face, but rather sneaks up on you in a nice way. Neither the aroma, flavor nor finish screams out, but when merged together, they become a flavorful memory. The lingering finish had a hint of oak with a splash of background vanilla. 90-95
Still an awesome wine, but did not show as well as some previous bottles—closing down a bit? Many at the dinner table believed that this wine would age well, and we all thought it was a pleasant value at about $40. I have a feeling that the price of wine from Lascombes is going up in the future. I really love the expression of some espresso mixed with earthy notes and ripe fruit from this wine. 90-94
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru
Had a bit after dinner, and tried to get more, but everyone was consuming this wine so fast. Awesome wine with apricots and peaches with a fine layer of honey. Stopped eating dessert and just enjoyed this wine. 90-95
1995 A. R. Lenoble Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé 91 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Very crisp wine that started off the evening very well. I would have liked some for the later seafood course, but it disappeared. Ended with a bit of lemon and minerality—a focused wine.
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NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 92 Points
France, Champagne
As always, awesome aroma of far away citrus with a hint of toasted honey and a very crisp finish. Acidity was in balance and the hint of minerals did not overwhelm. Let this sit for the entire dinner and tried again after 3 hours—pleasantly surprised by an enjoyable “flat” wine with a hint of citrus and toasted oak with a clean finish.
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2004 Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
Started with a citrus aroma and other characteristics that made me think of the color gold for some reason. Very nice acidity, with a hint of minerality with a crisp finish. 89-92
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2001 J.M. Boillot Volnay 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay
This wine started with aromas of smoked meats and earth, followed by quite a bit of tannins with background hints of eucalyptus. Finished showed a bit of unbalanced acidity. 87-90
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2001 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Some red fruit aromas with a background of smoked oak and cedar. This was followed by balanced flavors involving plums and a hint of nutmeg. Very solid wine that should be a staple CdP. 88-91
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1996 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
This wine provides flavors that make me very comfortable--like sitting next to a nice fire, shrouded by blankets next to my wife with my Lab by my feet. Picture the aromas in that setting, and that is how this wine starts. Finished a bit smoky, which I love. 89-92
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1998 Parusso Barolo Bussia Vigna Munie 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
I really enjoyed the aromas of ripe red currant--that still were a bit tart because they sometimes never get sweet, some oak and a hint of vanilla. This wine was double decanted 3 hours prior, and it was very balanced during the middle of the tasting experience and had a lingering finish that made me want to just smell it more. 90-94
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2000 Elvio Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
A very traditional Barolo that I had alongside a 1998 Armando Parusso Barolo Vigna Munie—I really should have tasted this wine before the Parusso, which was a completely different style in its intensity of flavor. This wine was much shyer, which is a great thing sometimes. Many people would marry this wine, and date the Parusso. 88-90
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1986 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
This was like being on a classic wooden sailboat on absolutely clear, smooth water on a day that was not too cold or hot. I’ve never actually experienced this, but at least I’ve had this wine. Opened and served immediately, and this was showing very well. I hate to repeat the word “smooth” too often, but this wine was incredibly smooth with sophisticated red fruit flavors present but not overwhelming. My WOTN. 91-96
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1998 Tertre Rôteboeuf 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
I've always loved the name, translated to "hill of the belching beef," and I'm happy I love this wine. Starts off with interesting aromas involving a mixture of sublime tropical fruit and deep red berries. Exotic wine that does not smack you in the face, but rather sneaks up on you in a nice way. Neither the aroma, flavor nor finish screams out, but when merged together, they become a flavorful memory. The lingering finish had a hint of oak with a splash of background vanilla. 90-95
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2003 Château Lascombes 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Still an awesome wine, but did not show as well as some previous bottles—closing down a bit? Many at the dinner table believed that this wine would age well, and we all thought it was a pleasant value at about $40. I have a feeling that the price of wine from Lascombes is going up in the future. I really love the expression of some espresso mixed with earthy notes and ripe fruit from this wine. 90-94
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1996 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru
Had a bit after dinner, and tried to get more, but everyone was consuming this wine so fast. Awesome wine with apricots and peaches with a fine layer of honey. Stopped eating dessert and just enjoyed this wine. 90-95
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