France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Lots of ripe stone fruit aromas and flavors, clearly from a very ripe vintage with impressive density, even if lower acidity. Very opulent and forward, modest spice. None of the telltale Ramonet mint. Probably best in the near-to-medium term. Much better than a recall from a couple of years ago, when the new oak seemed to protrude.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru
Served double blind to the tasting group. Firm black fruit aromas and flavors. Lots of tannin still a bit too prominent, but good earthy and mushroom character in background with modest spice, nuanced hints. Finished the last two glasses the next night, and it really had not changed much. I have one more bottle and will most likely hold it another 10 years to see if it becomes more interesting.
Tasted double blind. A real step up from its 1988 counterpart just tasted. Ripe and powerful black fruit with spice hints and some dark chocolate and liqueur hints. Ripe plum on palate, still more fresh than mature. Good balance and textures, moderate length.
Served double blind to the tasting group this afternoon. I wasn't sure what to expect, given such an early Kistler PN, as well as coming from a vineyard hardly known for the varietal. Group had trouble identifying this as Pinot, despite the strawberry/raspberry fruit profile, largely because of the fruit's sweetness. Still quite fresh fruit throughout with reasonable tannins, giving it some intriguing flavors and aromas, even if also some jagged edges.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Ripe, lush and forward fruit aromas, mostly black with enticing spice. Identical flavor profile on palate. Lots of balance already, more than I remember from a few months back when tasted at La Paulee. Still needs a few years in the cellar to soften, but I'd expect this to be a great young drinking Grand Cru, perhaps starting as early as 2016.
Tasted double blind. Don't recall ever having this 3rd wine from Latour before. Plum and pleasant spice, everything ripe but still balanced. Forward and easy to enjoy today and for the next 5 years. Moderate length, not lots of energy.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Blue and black fruit aromas, very lush and forward. Slight "grape juicy" flavors for now now, but I'm confidence this will soften over the next few months. Not the most firm styled Bonnes Mares, but seemingly representative of the nice textures of Chambolle.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Tasted double blind. Lots of spice to start, which didn't seem very Gevrey at first. Palate started showing more firm and black fruit, but also less meaty and more elegant and textures. Slight mushroom character starting to emerge, this is entering a nice drinking window now. I haven't had the opportunity to taste this wine in several years, so was glad to be able to revisit.
Tasted double blind. Plum and cassis with lots of ripe fruit throughout. Ok spice throughout, just enough energy to keep this interesting and balanced. Easy to enjoy.
2006 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Lots of ripe stone fruit aromas and flavors, clearly from a very ripe vintage with impressive density, even if lower acidity. Very opulent and forward, modest spice. None of the telltale Ramonet mint. Probably best in the near-to-medium term. Much better than a recall from a couple of years ago, when the new oak seemed to protrude.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1986 Maison Leroy Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos des Ormes 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru
Served double blind to the tasting group. Firm black fruit aromas and flavors. Lots of tannin still a bit too prominent, but good earthy and mushroom character in background with modest spice, nuanced hints. Finished the last two glasses the next night, and it really had not changed much. I have one more bottle and will most likely hold it another 10 years to see if it becomes more interesting.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1988 Château La Fleur de Gay 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Tasted double blind. Firm black fruit with lots of tannin. Modest background spice, some coarse character from the vintage really comes through.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1989 Château La Fleur de Gay 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Tasted double blind. A real step up from its 1988 counterpart just tasted. Ripe and powerful black fruit with spice hints and some dark chocolate and liqueur hints. Ripe plum on palate, still more fresh than mature. Good balance and textures, moderate length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1991 Kistler Pinot Noir McCrea Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Served double blind to the tasting group this afternoon. I wasn't sure what to expect, given such an early Kistler PN, as well as coming from a vineyard hardly known for the varietal. Group had trouble identifying this as Pinot, despite the strawberry/raspberry fruit profile, largely because of the fruit's sweetness. Still quite fresh fruit throughout with reasonable tannins, giving it some intriguing flavors and aromas, even if also some jagged edges.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2009 Domaine d'Eugénie Clos Vougeot 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Ripe, lush and forward fruit aromas, mostly black with enticing spice. Identical flavor profile on palate. Lots of balance already, more than I remember from a few months back when tasted at La Paulee. Still needs a few years in the cellar to soften, but I'd expect this to be a great young drinking Grand Cru, perhaps starting as early as 2016.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Château Latour Pauillac de Latour 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasted double blind. Don't recall ever having this 3rd wine from Latour before. Plum and pleasant spice, everything ripe but still balanced. Forward and easy to enjoy today and for the next 5 years. Moderate length, not lots of energy.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2011 Domaine Robert Groffier Bonnes Mares 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Blue and black fruit aromas, very lush and forward. Slight "grape juicy" flavors for now now, but I'm confidence this will soften over the next few months. Not the most firm styled Bonnes Mares, but seemingly representative of the nice textures of Chambolle.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2002 Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques Domaine Louis Jadot 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Tasted double blind. Lots of spice to start, which didn't seem very Gevrey at first. Palate started showing more firm and black fruit, but also less meaty and more elegant and textures. Slight mushroom character starting to emerge, this is entering a nice drinking window now. I haven't had the opportunity to taste this wine in several years, so was glad to be able to revisit.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Tasted double blind. Plum and cassis with lots of ripe fruit throughout. Ok spice throughout, just enough energy to keep this interesting and balanced. Easy to enjoy.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1964 Giorgio Barbero e Figli Barolo Riserva
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted double blind. Not showing much of anything. All earth.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No