France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
(12/18/2011)
Intense lemon and hazelnut nose with crushed stones on the palate, this is Niellon Chevy at its most transparent, 30 second finish, higher score if it puts on weight; 93
A really gorgeous example of lovely wine made in an off vintage, on release the best of the firsts was Latour, but this may be better today, roasted nuts and Maduro leaf on the nose, full body with some displaced tannin covering a very good cherry and prick of chewing tobacco core; 92+/94
What a contrast to the 1992! this was overripe and Zinfandel-like upon release and it's turned into a bit of a Zin-like mess of tannin and vegetal matter with air, on the upside, this had lovely rose, milk chocolate and cocoa-tinged tannin when first opened, a gambler's wine; 88
Inky black with dense chocolate and coffee cake, black currants and charred meat, 30 second finish, this needs a decade to harmonize and 3 decades to develop beguiling secondary aromatics, but it certainly has the balance to reward patience; 95+/97
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
(12/18/2011)
Good core of cherry but one-dimensional, with a slightly tart finish, this really should be a better wine, and this, perhaps underscores my strong preference for the minterally, intellectual Mazis or straight Chambertins over Griottes and Charmes; 91
Even in this elegant vintage, this is a big, brutal wine that still needs decades, blackberry nose with deep fruit core, and a touch hot on the finish; 91/93
Intense cherry nose with nut oil overtones, big black fruit with cocoa and figs, with air, violets emerge, this is 1990 Margaux-like on the nose with a touch higher alcohol at 14.5%, this is almost balanced for a Cali cult; 94
Minerally nose with lightish body on the first day with spritely mineral and a lime-tinged finish, on day two, it really comes together and the body firms up with unctuous peach and 2005 muscle; 92/94+
Intense raisiny nose and a midpalate that isn't quite integrated / too hot when opened, after 3 days, this improves, showing nuts, dusty black cherry, tar and anise; 90
Tasted several times with declining results, this half-bottle was full of dried apricot and pepper, so overdone with the apricot that it's quite one-dimensional, supposedly got better the next day, but I found it hard to care; 88
2004 André Beaufort Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
(12/18/2011)
Nice compact bead and lively mineral-driven apple and pear notes; 93
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1990 Domaine d'Auvenay (Lalou Bize-Leroy) Meursault Les Narvaux 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
(12/18/2011)
Golden color, hazelnuts and apples, crushed limestone and chalk, touch of heat on the finish with some bitter inner nut character; 92+
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2007 Domaine Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
(12/18/2011)
Intense lemon and hazelnut nose with crushed stones on the palate, this is Niellon Chevy at its most transparent, 30 second finish, higher score if it puts on weight; 93
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1970 Château Haut-Brion 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(12/18/2011)
Lovely must and tobacco, like opening the doors to an old chest, cigar box with a fading core of currants and spice; 90
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1978 Château Figeac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
(12/18/2011)
Woodsy band aid nose, fruit core is fading, turns to shoe leather and dusty cherry blossom with air; 89
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1992 Château Lafleur 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
(12/18/2011)
Spice and cedar nose, medium body with some green pepper, with air it turns Burgundian with tobacco-tinged raspberry and 30 second finish; 93+
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1993 Château Haut-Brion 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(12/18/2011)
A really gorgeous example of lovely wine made in an off vintage, on release the best of the firsts was Latour, but this may be better today, roasted nuts and Maduro leaf on the nose, full body with some displaced tannin covering a very good cherry and prick of chewing tobacco core; 92+/94
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1995 Château Lafleur 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
(12/18/2011)
What a contrast to the 1992! this was overripe and Zinfandel-like upon release and it's turned into a bit of a Zin-like mess of tannin and vegetal matter with air, on the upside, this had lovely rose, milk chocolate and cocoa-tinged tannin when first opened, a gambler's wine; 88
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1996 Château Léoville Las Cases 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
(12/18/2011)
Cedar nose with lead pencil undertones, core of blackberry and spice with well-integrated tannin; 92+
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1996 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(12/18/2011)
Cedar and spice on nose, medium body, good acids, finishes woodsy but clean; 91
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1998 Château Trotanoy 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
(12/18/2011)
Only had a sip of this as the vultures gobbled this up while I was cooking. Plummy red fruit with mineral and blood; 94
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2000 Château Latour Grand Vin 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(12/18/2011)
Inky black with dense chocolate and coffee cake, black currants and charred meat, 30 second finish, this needs a decade to harmonize and 3 decades to develop beguiling secondary aromatics, but it certainly has the balance to reward patience; 95+/97
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1993 Domaine Ponsot Griotte-Chambertin 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
(12/18/2011)
Good core of cherry but one-dimensional, with a slightly tart finish, this really should be a better wine, and this, perhaps underscores my strong preference for the minterally, intellectual Mazis or straight Chambertins over Griottes and Charmes; 91
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2009 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru En Caillerets 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
(12/18/2011)
Violet and candied roses on the nose, this rich Volnay has wonderful pickled black cherry and a spicy, 30 second finish; 92/94
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1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
(12/18/2011)
Cured venison aromas with black cherry core, roasted meats, woodfire and silky tannin; 93+/96
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1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
(12/18/2011)
Even in this elegant vintage, this is a big, brutal wine that still needs decades, blackberry nose with deep fruit core, and a touch hot on the finish; 91/93
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2002 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
(12/18/2011)
Intense cherry nose with nut oil overtones, big black fruit with cocoa and figs, with air, violets emerge, this is 1990 Margaux-like on the nose with a touch higher alcohol at 14.5%, this is almost balanced for a Cali cult; 94
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2009 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese 92 Points
Germany, Nahe
(12/18/2011)
Minerally nose with lightish body on the first day with spritely mineral and a lime-tinged finish, on day two, it really comes together and the body firms up with unctuous peach and 2005 muscle; 92/94+
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1970 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 90 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
(12/18/2011)
Intense raisiny nose and a midpalate that isn't quite integrated / too hot when opened, after 3 days, this improves, showing nuts, dusty black cherry, tar and anise; 90
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1986 Château Climens 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
(12/18/2011)
Thick pine sap on nose, with a bit too much dried apricot but nice waxy finish; 93+
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1996 Château Climens 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
(12/18/2011)
Burnt apricot nose, more Sauturnes-like than Barsac, candied tangerine rind and a touch of cream make this better in the mouth than on the nose; 92
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1997 Château d'Yquem 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
(12/18/2011)
Tasted several times with declining results, this half-bottle was full of dried apricot and pepper, so overdone with the apricot that it's quite one-dimensional, supposedly got better the next day, but I found it hard to care; 88
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