La Paulée de San Francisco 2014 Verticals Tasting

Lucky enough to attend this for the third year. I like the morning session of the Verticals Tasting; I prefer to taste before lunch. The notes are very cursory, and are presented in the order tasted.

• 2004 Ballot-Millot & Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

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

  Fresh, slightly nutty yet crisp, pure, good length.

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• 1999 Ballot-Millot & Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

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

  Nice, richer and more "full" than the 2004, tad bit of sulfur, apparently the winemaking here changed drastically in 2000, to a more hands off and minimal intervention approach.

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• 1995 Ballot-Millot & Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

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

  Very floral and fresh on the nose, but the palate seems somewhat light and a bit short.

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• 2010 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

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

  Fresh, deep floral nose; full and broad on the palate with lovely white fruit, noticeably excellent balance.

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• 2007 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

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

  Reticent nose, really not showing much and really have to dig for the feint flowery nuances; crisp and elegant palate, the balance of these wines is impeccable.

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• 2002 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

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

  As with the 2007, the nose seems somewhat reticent, the palate is supple and round with nice maturing fruit, really lovely.

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• 2009 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Showing a lot of slate on the nose, yet still quite rich; chalky palate, not particularly deep but has a nice, long finish.

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• 2008 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Nose of lemon and minerals, with the palate again showing a chalky aspect, lean but focused, good finish, and really a very nice Chablis.

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• 2007 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Strong lemon-lime aromas, almost aggressively so; drinking very nicely, with the seemingly high acid keeping it very tight and focused.

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• 2010 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chatenière Blanc

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru

  Lovely perfume, with minerals and a bit of toast; the palate is rich but very precise.

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• 2009 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chatenière Blanc

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru

  Nose quite rich, palate a tad bit muddled and doesn’t come near matching the focus of the 2010.

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• 2008 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chatenière Blanc

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru

  A fresh, flowery nose, mineral-laden palate, very nice.

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• 2010 Domaine Génot-Boulanger Corton-Charlemagne

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  Very fresh and expressively forward nose, full and rich on the palate with a long finish, very nicely balanced, quite nice.

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• 2009 Domaine Génot-Boulanger Corton-Charlemagne

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  Nose is somewhat muted in comparison to the 2010, rich and full on the palate, though a bit round and flabby; the 2010 is much more racy and enjoyable.

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• 2008 Domaine Génot-Boulanger Corton-Charlemagne

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  A shy nose, with some minerals; palate shows some lemon and minerals, but frankly is unexciting. A “meh” wine.

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• 2007 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Terrific nose! Loaded with minerals, spice and flowers, and the energy of this wine really comes through on the palate. Really nice!

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• 2009 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Aromas here a bit muted; rich, a bit fat, but still a nice wine, just not near the energy of lovely 2007.

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• 2010 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  A piercing nose, truly penetrating, with a little toast, and while I prefer the 2007 to this wine, this is still very nice.

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• 2010 Bouchard Père et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet La Cabotte

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Intoxicating aromas of flowers and minerals, simply awesome; rich and big, juicy, but exquisite balance. A great wine.

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• 2009 Bouchard Père et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet La Cabotte

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Somewhat muted following the 2010, rich, lacking the complexity of the 2010. Still, a very nice wine, but nowhere near the level of the 2010.

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• 2006 Bouchard Père et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet La Cabotte

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Somewhat buttery, though it is deep and shows complexity, flavors of marzipan, a big wine, excellent.

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• 2009 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

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

  Slutty red-fruited nose, rich red fruit on the palate, quite nice, and very long.

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• 2002 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

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

  What lovely aromas, starting to show maturity, spices; palate is still very young, and very deep. Wow, what a gorgeous wine!

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• 1998 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

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

  Light pipe tobacco on the nose, beautiful perfume. Palate is simply lovely, with a beautiful, deep texture. Seemingly still has years to go.

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• 2008 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts

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

  Very spicy nose, tannic, pomegranate/cranberry palate, spice.

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• 2002 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts

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

  Intoxicating perfume, showing some maturity, excellent mix of maturing red/black fruit.

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• 1999 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts

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

  Nose shows very young, dense, deep dark fruit, anise. Wow, what a finish! Very dense and deep. Really liked this.

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• 2010 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  Highly perfumed nose, fresh strawberries, very red-fruited, elegant and charming wine, long finish. Great!

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• 2006 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  A stark contrast to the 2010, the nose on this 2006 is quite restrained, an elegant wine with a piercing palate. Nice.

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• 2003 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  Spicy, maybe a bit stewed; tannic, ripe. Where does this go from here?

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• 2006 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs

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

  A lovely and elegant nose, though it does have a slight bit of stink (maybe some mushrooms?), very astringent and tannic (too much so?), hard to figure this one out.

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• 2007 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs

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

  Bright, red fruit aromas, spice, very pretty; elegant, charming, and very drinkable.

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• 2008 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs

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

  Very fresh, crunchy red fruits, mouthwatering, delicious.

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• 2010 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes Vieille Vigne

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

  High-toned red fruit, light spice and minerals; penetrating palate, very nice.

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• 2009 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes Vieille Vigne

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

  Attractive and pretty nose, some tannins, this seems like it might be closing up (?), spicy finish.

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• 2007 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes Vieille Vigne

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

  Something very odd with this wine, not sure what it is. Has some CO2 on the palate. Off.

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• 2007 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Very aromatic, excellent 2007, pure and wild red fruit.

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• 2006 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  A bit of stink here, something off, it's okay, but certainly doesn’t have the nice purity of the 2007.

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• 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Nose somewhat closed, elegant and lovely palate, needs time, what great balance, everything in place.

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• 2008 Camille Giroud Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  I continue to be underwhelmed by the Giroud wines. Straightforward nose, pomegranate, very nice, but Grand Cru?

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• 2009 Camille Giroud Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Lush fruit, nice, tad bitter on the finish.

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• 2010 Camille Giroud Chambertin

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Very tight on the palate, bright fruit finish, but ultimately unexciting.

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• 2011 Faiveley Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Explosive aromatics, an intense medium-bodied wine, nice finish.

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• 2010 Faiveley Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Really lovely aromatics, deep and penetrating palate, rich and long.

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• 2009 Faiveley Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  More “obvious” fruit than the 2010, lush, slutty, long spicy finish.

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A terrific event! It's always fun to see how other notes compare to my own. There are a few which diverge wildly. Whether it's because we were tasting different bottles (or perhaps morning session versus afternoon session), or just have different palates, it's interesting.