Apricot, ginger, earth, some nougat and other honeyed notes on the nose. The palate shows very good acidity, showing no signs of falling away. Great layers of flavour, with earthy savoury elements mixing well with the rich, developed fruit. 10 years after I last tried it, this has hit its fully aged peak and is drinking superbly, even managing to hold its head up next to a jaw dropping bottle of 1996 Clos du Mesnil.
Highly perfumed nose, with white floral notes, lime, melon, mandarin and apple - fresh and bright, but also has a huge amount of interest and depth. The acidity on the palate pierces with exceptional precision, stretching the wine out to incredible lengths. There is immense power within the fruit here, combined with the acidity it tastes incredibly pure and concentrated at the same time. Sublime wine.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Distinctive mint with lemon, pine needles, orange peel and graphite, with licorice in the background - intoxicating nose that kept delivering with time in the glass, slowly revealing more each time I went back to it. The richness of the fruit on the palate combines well with an oily texture and good acidity. Intensely flavoured across the length of the wine. In a good spot to start drinking now, though plenty of time is left for good bottles. Truly great wine, amazingly though the lesser of the 3 vintages we tried tonight, probably suffering for the extra dimension and energy that the younger vintages showed.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Slate, mint, orange peel, brine and sea spray right after pouring, with air showing more lime, smoky flint and white floral notes - stunning amount of aromatic complexity in this young wine. The balance between intensity and precision on the palate is incredible, with the powerful fruit controlled and focused by stunning acid presence. Next to the 2 other 2013 Montrachet bottles from other producers tonight, this even feels restrained in style, which is unbelievable given its weight and depth. A monumental wine.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Delightfully pure stone fruit on the nose, showing peach, nectarine, apricot, as well as pear, some green tea leaves and musky floral notes. The fruit power reigns on the palate, it is punchy and ripe at first while maintaining balance and freshness throughout. With time in the glass it tightened up, though it still retained its pure fruit drive. Delicious and delightful.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Reductive on the nose, with flint and smoke combining with yellow floral notes, pear, orange and apple. The palate is exceptional, with scintillating minerality and acidity driving across the palate with pure energy. The flow here is compelling, there are serious layers of flavour that rush along, intertwined with the acidity. Showstopping length. This felt like the wine with the most potential over the long term out of all the bottles we tried tonight.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Out of control, kaleidoscopic nose of apricot, lemon and orange peel, coconut, grapefruit, truffle and licorice. The fruit power on the palate is similarly incredible, with the same depth and layered complexity giving this an astounding amount of interest. The balance and structure involves some sort of magic I'm sure - given how much fruit there is, it is immensely impressive that the wine always felt controlled and driven. Ridiculously great showing for this wine.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Undergrowth and forest with iron and some soft red fruit. The palate seems a bit inexpressive and single dimensional and some sweet and sour notes on the finish. Some at the table thought it may have had low level TCA, which may have been the case, or it may just have fading past its best. Didn't really fall away further through the night as I came back to it, but it also didn't really open up further.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
An ethereal style to the nose that captures my attention right away, looking closely I could see roses, cherry, spice, graphite and lots of pretty red berry fruit, but it is always glimpses rather than overtly obvious. The palate feels much the same, with beautiful elegance and the red fruit displayed in layers that built upon each other. Brilliantly classy and poised, with outstanding length as well. Totally in the zone, this was drinking superbly well tonight. Very close to the best de Vogue Musigny I've had.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Red licorice, raspberry, earthy spices and chocolate on the nose. Gripping tannins driving the framework here, with brooding and powerful fruit leading into excellent length. This is an entirely different prospect next to the 1993 which was so delicate and ethereal, the 1999 is excellent in its own right with impressive depth and structure, but unquestionably feels like it is in need of more time to approach its peak.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Cherry, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry with violets and plum. The palate has a intense core of fruit, with good depth of flavour while retaining the brightness that you want to see when drinking young Pinot noir. Excellent length, with fine structure that will serve it well in the medium to long term. Very similar to a half bottle 6 years ago, this will blossom if it has time to do so.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
A genuine unicorn wine with 169 bottles and 2 magnums made this vintage. Fills the glass with swirling aromas, very floral and lifted spices, cherry, raspberry and light stalks. The palate shows a superb red fruit profile, with beautiful delicacy and balance. Even though the fruit is so light on its feet, with really refreshing lift and acidity I still found that it has compelling fruit depth. For such a young wine it feels like all the components are in the right place. The style of wine that I found here is exactly what I think of when picturing my ideal Chambolle-Musigny, with delicate, pure fruit and gorgeous, expressive aromatics. A thrilling, likely once in a lifetime experience.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Blind. Cherry, stalks, stem and beans. The green from the nose follows onto the palate, giving the wine a bit of a bitter element. There is some good tannin presence there, but it is washed over with the green elements. Not a surprise when revealed as I've had similar experiences with this wine previously.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Blind. Dark violet florals, chocolate, blood, black cherry and some redcurrant. Really composed on the palate, medium bodied fruit and excellent length that is stretched out by bright acidity. Doesn't show any of the 2004 green streak at the moment, a really successful showing for this wine.
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
Coconut, sultana, caramel, raspberry, redcurrant, cherry, tobacco and ash on the shifting, complex nose. Great texture on the palate, there is excellent balance between the sweet edges to the fruit and the alcohol that kicks through and amplifies the flavours. Excellent length. This was in fantastic condition and was a superb way to end an evening of superb wines.
1982 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 94 Points
France, Champagne
Apricot, ginger, earth, some nougat and other honeyed notes on the nose. The palate shows very good acidity, showing no signs of falling away. Great layers of flavour, with earthy savoury elements mixing well with the rich, developed fruit. 10 years after I last tried it, this has hit its fully aged peak and is drinking superbly, even managing to hold its head up next to a jaw dropping bottle of 1996 Clos du Mesnil.
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1996 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 97 Points
France, Champagne
Highly perfumed nose, with white floral notes, lime, melon, mandarin and apple - fresh and bright, but also has a huge amount of interest and depth. The acidity on the palate pierces with exceptional precision, stretching the wine out to incredible lengths. There is immense power within the fruit here, combined with the acidity it tastes incredibly pure and concentrated at the same time. Sublime wine.
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2005 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Badly premoxed. A tragedy.
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2005 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Distinctive mint with lemon, pine needles, orange peel and graphite, with licorice in the background - intoxicating nose that kept delivering with time in the glass, slowly revealing more each time I went back to it. The richness of the fruit on the palate combines well with an oily texture and good acidity. Intensely flavoured across the length of the wine. In a good spot to start drinking now, though plenty of time is left for good bottles. Truly great wine, amazingly though the lesser of the 3 vintages we tried tonight, probably suffering for the extra dimension and energy that the younger vintages showed.
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2013 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet 97 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Slate, mint, orange peel, brine and sea spray right after pouring, with air showing more lime, smoky flint and white floral notes - stunning amount of aromatic complexity in this young wine. The balance between intensity and precision on the palate is incredible, with the powerful fruit controlled and focused by stunning acid presence. Next to the 2 other 2013 Montrachet bottles from other producers tonight, this even feels restrained in style, which is unbelievable given its weight and depth. A monumental wine.
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2009 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Delightfully pure stone fruit on the nose, showing peach, nectarine, apricot, as well as pear, some green tea leaves and musky floral notes. The fruit power reigns on the palate, it is punchy and ripe at first while maintaining balance and freshness throughout. With time in the glass it tightened up, though it still retained its pure fruit drive. Delicious and delightful.
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2013 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Montrachet 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Reductive on the nose, with flint and smoke combining with yellow floral notes, pear, orange and apple. The palate is exceptional, with scintillating minerality and acidity driving across the palate with pure energy. The flow here is compelling, there are serious layers of flavour that rush along, intertwined with the acidity. Showstopping length. This felt like the wine with the most potential over the long term out of all the bottles we tried tonight.
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2013 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet 97 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru
Out of control, kaleidoscopic nose of apricot, lemon and orange peel, coconut, grapefruit, truffle and licorice. The fruit power on the palate is similarly incredible, with the same depth and layered complexity giving this an astounding amount of interest. The balance and structure involves some sort of magic I'm sure - given how much fruit there is, it is immensely impressive that the wine always felt controlled and driven. Ridiculously great showing for this wine.
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1978 Maison Leroy Musigny Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Undergrowth and forest with iron and some soft red fruit. The palate seems a bit inexpressive and single dimensional and some sweet and sour notes on the finish. Some at the table thought it may have had low level TCA, which may have been the case, or it may just have fading past its best. Didn't really fall away further through the night as I came back to it, but it also didn't really open up further.
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1993 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
An ethereal style to the nose that captures my attention right away, looking closely I could see roses, cherry, spice, graphite and lots of pretty red berry fruit, but it is always glimpses rather than overtly obvious. The palate feels much the same, with beautiful elegance and the red fruit displayed in layers that built upon each other. Brilliantly classy and poised, with outstanding length as well. Totally in the zone, this was drinking superbly well tonight. Very close to the best de Vogue Musigny I've had.
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1999 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Red licorice, raspberry, earthy spices and chocolate on the nose. Gripping tannins driving the framework here, with brooding and powerful fruit leading into excellent length. This is an entirely different prospect next to the 1993 which was so delicate and ethereal, the 1999 is excellent in its own right with impressive depth and structure, but unquestionably feels like it is in need of more time to approach its peak.
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2007 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Cherry, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry with violets and plum. The palate has a intense core of fruit, with good depth of flavour while retaining the brightness that you want to see when drinking young Pinot noir. Excellent length, with fine structure that will serve it well in the medium to long term. Very similar to a half bottle 6 years ago, this will blossom if it has time to do so.
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2007 Faiveley Musigny 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
A genuine unicorn wine with 169 bottles and 2 magnums made this vintage. Fills the glass with swirling aromas, very floral and lifted spices, cherry, raspberry and light stalks. The palate shows a superb red fruit profile, with beautiful delicacy and balance. Even though the fruit is so light on its feet, with really refreshing lift and acidity I still found that it has compelling fruit depth. For such a young wine it feels like all the components are in the right place. The style of wine that I found here is exactly what I think of when picturing my ideal Chambolle-Musigny, with delicate, pure fruit and gorgeous, expressive aromatics. A thrilling, likely once in a lifetime experience.
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2004 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Blind. Cherry, stalks, stem and beans. The green from the nose follows onto the palate, giving the wine a bit of a bitter element. There is some good tannin presence there, but it is washed over with the green elements. Not a surprise when revealed as I've had similar experiences with this wine previously.
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2004 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Blind. Dark violet florals, chocolate, blood, black cherry and some redcurrant. Really composed on the palate, medium bodied fruit and excellent length that is stretched out by bright acidity. Doesn't show any of the 2004 green streak at the moment, a really successful showing for this wine.
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1975 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico 94 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
Coconut, sultana, caramel, raspberry, redcurrant, cherry, tobacco and ash on the shifting, complex nose. Great texture on the palate, there is excellent balance between the sweet edges to the fruit and the alcohol that kicks through and amplifies the flavours. Excellent length. This was in fantastic condition and was a superb way to end an evening of superb wines.
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