Served double blind. Very interesting nose, with a distinct aroma of jasmine tea. Plenty of herbaceous and aromatic notes, but a little more acidity for me to end up guessing Rhone white. Weird enough that I went to some sort of Italian wine; perhaps one of those vermentinos in the riper style? Quite good.
Disgorged June 2018, 6 g/L dosage. 50% 2015, 50% 2013/4. A very nice edition of this wine, with far more richness and depth than I remember it ever having. A touch of creaminess on the palate helps to give this some more heft as well, and is balanced nicely by the acidity. Nice balance overall.
This doesn't have the minerality and fresh cut that I expect in Chablis. It's got a slight heaviness to it with some waxiness that seems more at home in the Cote de Beaune. Some nice fruit qualities here, but again a little larger-scaled than I would expect for Chablis.
Never understood this wine; don't think I ever will. Too waxy and heavy, with some juiciness from the youthful fruit here. But end of the day, nowhere enough cut, and a bit too much bitterness and alcohol on the finish.
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
Served double blind. Initially so carbonic I thought this was some sort of gamay, but a second sniff brought me to syrah. Settled on the 2016 Pax, with the pretty, juicy red fruits, as well as a fair bit of acidity. A bit empty on the midpalate, which is where this failed for me. Nonetheless, a pleasant, juicy, drinking syrah.
Better than the 2015 edition. I'm definitely going to need to put a bunch of this in my cellar. It's damn well what this wine ought to be. Slight bits of brininess and earth, with good amounts of black fruit as well. Hermitage-like in its demeanor, concentration, and intensity. Probably tops most of the wine coming from the actual hill these days.
Significant brett on the nose. There are definitely pleasant, lighter-toned pinot characteristics here, with nice earthiness and fruit to balance everything out, but the funkiness and natty qualities overall overwhelm the nicer aspects here.
Initially, there's a good whiff of sulphur, but it actually blows off quite quickly. This is a fairly large-scaled wine, perhaps far more so than the appellation may imply. It's definitely a little fatter than I'd like, and the fruit is broad and sweet. The acidity is there, but I'd actually like just a little more of a kick to it. Good, but not entirely confident it's worth the tariff.
2010 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Blanco 88 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja
Served double blind. Very interesting nose, with a distinct aroma of jasmine tea. Plenty of herbaceous and aromatic notes, but a little more acidity for me to end up guessing Rhone white. Weird enough that I went to some sort of Italian wine; perhaps one of those vermentinos in the riper style? Quite good.
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NV Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Cuvée Sainte Anne 90 Points
France, Champagne
Disgorged June 2018, 6 g/L dosage. 50% 2015, 50% 2013/4. A very nice edition of this wine, with far more richness and depth than I remember it ever having. A touch of creaminess on the palate helps to give this some more heft as well, and is balanced nicely by the acidity. Nice balance overall.
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2016 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
This doesn't have the minerality and fresh cut that I expect in Chablis. It's got a slight heaviness to it with some waxiness that seems more at home in the Cote de Beaune. Some nice fruit qualities here, but again a little larger-scaled than I would expect for Chablis.
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2016 Pierre Gonon St. Joseph Blanc Les Oliviers 83 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Never understood this wine; don't think I ever will. Too waxy and heavy, with some juiciness from the youthful fruit here. But end of the day, nowhere enough cut, and a bit too much bitterness and alcohol on the finish.
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2016 Domaine Jamet Syrah Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
Served double blind. Initially so carbonic I thought this was some sort of gamay, but a second sniff brought me to syrah. Settled on the 2016 Pax, with the pretty, juicy red fruits, as well as a fair bit of acidity. A bit empty on the midpalate, which is where this failed for me. Nonetheless, a pleasant, juicy, drinking syrah.
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2016 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
Better than the 2015 edition. I'm definitely going to need to put a bunch of this in my cellar. It's damn well what this wine ought to be. Slight bits of brininess and earth, with good amounts of black fruit as well. Hermitage-like in its demeanor, concentration, and intensity. Probably tops most of the wine coming from the actual hill these days.
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2015 Athénaïs Bourgogne Clos Béru Amphore 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Significant brett on the nose. There are definitely pleasant, lighter-toned pinot characteristics here, with nice earthiness and fruit to balance everything out, but the funkiness and natty qualities overall overwhelm the nicer aspects here.
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2016 Domaine Francois et Antoine Jobard Meursault Les Tillets 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Initially, there's a good whiff of sulphur, but it actually blows off quite quickly. This is a fairly large-scaled wine, perhaps far more so than the appellation may imply. It's definitely a little fatter than I'd like, and the fruit is broad and sweet. The acidity is there, but I'd actually like just a little more of a kick to it. Good, but not entirely confident it's worth the tariff.
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