Dr. Bob and Elaine Hudak dinner at Lavandou

Lavandou, Washington DC
Tasted Saturday, April 14, 2012 by dcwino with 885 views

Introduction

Dr. Bob Hudak was in town for a conference and eight of us got together to try a few Burgundies. Bob and Elaine came with their eight month old son who was adorable and handsome.

The tastings like this is very educational. The wines clearly demonstrated the vintage characters. The 96s were very pure and precise but lean, the 99 had sweeter and riper fruit expression, the 00 Clos de Tart was surprisingly ready compare to the others. The 96 Anne Gros Clos Vougeot was oxidized but some seem to enjoyed it.

Flight 1 - Champagnes (2 Notes)

Flight 2 - Pinot and Savigny (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Skewis Pinot Noir Bush 70 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Sometimes you don’t make friends by writing a TN like this. This bottle was showing very poorly and I believe this is a correct bottle. I read someone mentioning this being Burgundian but I don’t see it. For me this is a typical cali pinot that has seen the better days. The spicy character comes from the alcohol, very little fruits, it reminds me the 01 Clarendon hills Kangarilla.

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  • 2009 Domaine Pavelot (Jean-Marc et Hugues) Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Narbantons 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru

    Cherries, blackberries, stems and earth. Perfectly ripe fruits but remains fresh as there is very little baby fat at this stage. Sweet and cool palate, excellent concentration and noticeable structure. It will never be a very complex wine as the fruit is not layered but it will still be an excellent wine. Strangely I am thinking this may be one of the rare 09s that may shut down. This will improve at least a couple of decades. Lovely and impressive showing.

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Flight 3 - Clos Vougeots (2 Notes)

  • 1996 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Clos Vougeot 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

    Initially muted/shutdown with a hint of stem and I am thinking, corked? With about 30 minutes of air, bright red fruits, cherry, sappy, tar and raw mushroom. It is a good example of the 96 red burgundy; very pure fruit expression, piercing acidity and noticeable structure. The fruit expression is neither opulent nor obvious perhaps a red equivalent of the 01 Les Clos. This is very pure, precise, vibrant and energetic. Perhaps some may ask for more fruits.

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  • 1996 Domaine Anne Gros Clos Vougeot Le Grand Maupertui Flawed

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

    Really dark and cloudy. The nose confirms that the wine is oxidized badly.

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Flight 4 - Vosne-Romanée 1er (3 Notes)

  • 1996 Joseph Drouhin Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    I have had a number of the 96 Drouhin and they clearly show the 96 vintage characters. Pretty delicate but perfectly ripe red fruits, bright and spicy. Medium concentration, sappy and precise. Very similar to the 96 Hudelot Noellat CV but a bit more ripe and a bit more generous upfront fruits.

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  • 1988 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 86 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    It has seen the better days. The fruit has thinned out, some sap, just a hint of tired red fruits. I believe this never had enough fruits to counter the structure.

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  • 1999 Domaine Michel Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    A very good example of the 99 but not necessarily the 1er crus VR for me. Bright ripe red fruits, raspberry, cherry, tar and earth but not much sweet exotic Vosne spice. Definitely riper and more generous fruits than the 96s. It is a bit tight and the fruit expression is still primary. Perhaps another five years of cellaring will help.

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Flight 5 - Clos de Tart (1 Note)

  • 2000 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru

    The nose is a bit more generous and sweeter than the others. Cherry, strawberry and sap. As Howard pointed out, this is not as concentrated and big as the more recent vintages of CDT. Sweet, generous, pretty, and medium concentration. Nice wine that is ready to drink but a few more years of cellaring will help. At $125 paid, niether a steal nor a waste.

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Flight 6 - Stickies (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Château Rieussec 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    This is WOTN by a big margin. Intense ginger, botrytis spice, clove, mango, papaya and peach. Unbelievable concentration, chewy yet bright acidity keeps the wine in perfect balance. It perhaps lacks the refinement and airy characters of the D’Yquem but what a great wine!

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  • 1988 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 89 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru

    Apple, honey and spice but no petrol. Quite fresh but lacks the depth and complexity.

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Closing

It was a fun evening.

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