Lemon curd, toast, spice and florals. Rich, pure fruited and delicious, both the precision and balance are spot on. Complexity already to be found in the the flavour profile even in this youthful stage. Even better than a great bottle earlier in the year.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
A little shy at first - rosemary and some light mint and after time it opened up more to show smoky sesame and wild florals. The palate is excellent from the start with real class, even with the Batard fruit weight it is beautifully driven thanks to the piercing acid core. Good texture and length to it, this will continue on a very nice path assuming no ox issues.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Served blind. Great colour - ruby and fading out just a little at the edge. Cherry, redcurrant, smoky wood and tar - feels quite complex on the nose. Good structure, has some grip to it but also a nice soft fruit character that leads me to believe it has a fair bit of age. Drinking really nicely, this is a real surprise when revealed, in fantastic shape for what it is!
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Cloudy coloured. Tomato, raspberry, cherry, really tarry and graphite as well. Tannins still showing strength but they are fine and don't inhibit the flow of the palate. Very very good but not quite at the point where it amazes.
Decanted for 4 hours. Redcurrant and blackcurrant, licorice, pepper, tar, earth and tobacco. Wonderfully balanced palate, the texture and spice shine through and the length is exceptional. Clean but complex. Superb. I thought this was great but would be better with more time when I tried it 7 years ago, and I think I was right!
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
VA and graphite, with some roses, raisin and cassis - a full on nose but very good! Shows plenty of powerful sweet fruit, but also has some charm about it. There is a little oak that still sticks out, but I'm confident the fruit should outlast it.
Musky florals, graphite, coffee, vibrant cherry and chocolate - feels opulent but isn't over the top. The palate shows obvious youth but it has composure and a fantastic mouthfilling quality while remaining pure and driven. The good acidity really helps push things along. A vibrant wine with plenty going on, this will be even better with time.
Popped and poured. Pear, apple, spice and a light honey note starting to show. Plenty of zip to the acid, this feels extremely fresh and light while retaining a sense of depth, with the sweetness really held back and in good balance. Maybe a little bit less along the path to maturity than a 2004 Prüm Graacher Himmelreich that I had earlier in the year, but certainly on the same excellent track.
2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points
France, Champagne
Lemon curd, toast, spice and florals. Rich, pure fruited and delicious, both the precision and balance are spot on. Complexity already to be found in the the flavour profile even in this youthful stage. Even better than a great bottle earlier in the year.
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2004 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
A little shy at first - rosemary and some light mint and after time it opened up more to show smoky sesame and wild florals. The palate is excellent from the start with real class, even with the Batard fruit weight it is beautifully driven thanks to the piercing acid core. Good texture and length to it, this will continue on a very nice path assuming no ox issues.
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2004 Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg Flawed
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
Off-bottle, a let down as I had wanted this to shine. Not corked but advanced/damaged. Kindly replaced by retailer/importer.
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1984 Louis Latour Gevrey-Chambertin 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Served blind. Great colour - ruby and fading out just a little at the edge. Cherry, redcurrant, smoky wood and tar - feels quite complex on the nose. Good structure, has some grip to it but also a nice soft fruit character that leads me to believe it has a fair bit of age. Drinking really nicely, this is a real surprise when revealed, in fantastic shape for what it is!
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1974 Château Giscours Flawed
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Soy and yeast. Way past its best.
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1964 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Cloudy coloured. Tomato, raspberry, cherry, really tarry and graphite as well. Tannins still showing strength but they are fine and don't inhibit the flow of the palate. Very very good but not quite at the point where it amazes.
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1994 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 95 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Decanted for 4 hours. Redcurrant and blackcurrant, licorice, pepper, tar, earth and tobacco. Wonderfully balanced palate, the texture and spice shine through and the length is exceptional. Clean but complex. Superb. I thought this was great but would be better with more time when I tried it 7 years ago, and I think I was right!
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1994 Best's Great Western Shiraz Thomson Family 91 Points
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
VA and graphite, with some roses, raisin and cassis - a full on nose but very good! Shows plenty of powerful sweet fruit, but also has some charm about it. There is a little oak that still sticks out, but I'm confident the fruit should outlast it.
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2004 Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Musky florals, graphite, coffee, vibrant cherry and chocolate - feels opulent but isn't over the top. The palate shows obvious youth but it has composure and a fantastic mouthfilling quality while remaining pure and driven. The good acidity really helps push things along. A vibrant wine with plenty going on, this will be even better with time.
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2004 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Popped and poured. Pear, apple, spice and a light honey note starting to show. Plenty of zip to the acid, this feels extremely fresh and light while retaining a sense of depth, with the sweetness really held back and in good balance. Maybe a little bit less along the path to maturity than a 2004 Prüm Graacher Himmelreich that I had earlier in the year, but certainly on the same excellent track.
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