France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
From half-bottle. An excellent showing -- I served it blind to a few experienced tasters and they thought it was a high-acid vintage like 2014 (which just goes to show how overblown the concerns about flabby 2009s were). Popcorny reduction (the good kind, as Henri might say), but lots of fruit thanks to the vintage. Admittedly I've had a premoxed bottle of this, but the ones that aren't are just absolutely stupendous.
Served double blind. The aromatics had me going to riesling, and the perception of relatively high alcohol (I had guessed 14-14.5%, though it was 13.5% on the label) brought me to Alsace. So, I suppose, a pretty fair representation of place. There is ripe fruit on the palate as well as a slight phenolic bitterness. Not quite the style of riesling I like -- I would have liked just a little more cut.
Served double blind. Obviously recognizable as Northern Rhône immediately, and by process of elimination correctly identified as Côte-Rôtie: this wasn't burly enough for Hermitage or Cornas, but lacked the pepperiness of St. Joseph. I ended up guessing that this was a wine of a great producer in a cooler year, or a lesser producer in a great year, which perhaps goes to show how well Jamet handled the solar 2015 vintage. Quite a few tannins on the back end, and a palate of great breadth. This had an afternoon of air and was drinking splendidly (surprisingly?). Despite how enjoyable this was now, I think the best days are still many years in the future.
Served double blind. Heightened tart red fruit aromatics on the nose, a similar fruit profile on the palate, and a very nebbiolo-like tannic structure had me going to Alto Piedmont. I didn't think this was either Barbaresco or Barolo because the palate felt lighter and didn't have a riper fruit profile. Plenty of acidity and freshness, I had thought this was a current release wine. These are wines that will clearly live a long time.
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Sadly this bottle wasn't as good as my last two experiences with this wine. The nose shows a very mild hint of pyrazine, as well as quite a bit of dried herbs. The palate is a little plummy and shows a fair bit of ripeness and alcohol, but I wouldn't say it's over the top either. I know what this wine can be, so it's definitely a little disappointing.
Served double blind. Obviously syrah, but this is so juicy and drinkable it was difficult to place where it was. I had some thoughts that this was Gramenon or a Jamet Collines Rhodaniennes but this was probably a little bigger and denser than that. The juiciness also had me convinced that this was a current release wine. Imagine the surprise on the reveal. My impressions of Levet were of very animale, funky wines, and this was nothing like that at all. Super delicious though.
2009 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
From half-bottle. An excellent showing -- I served it blind to a few experienced tasters and they thought it was a high-acid vintage like 2014 (which just goes to show how overblown the concerns about flabby 2009s were). Popcorny reduction (the good kind, as Henri might say), but lots of fruit thanks to the vintage. Admittedly I've had a premoxed bottle of this, but the ones that aren't are just absolutely stupendous.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2017 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Clos Mathis 88 Points
France, Alsace
Served double blind. The aromatics had me going to riesling, and the perception of relatively high alcohol (I had guessed 14-14.5%, though it was 13.5% on the label) brought me to Alsace. So, I suppose, a pretty fair representation of place. There is ripe fruit on the palate as well as a slight phenolic bitterness. Not quite the style of riesling I like -- I would have liked just a little more cut.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Served double blind. Obviously recognizable as Northern Rhône immediately, and by process of elimination correctly identified as Côte-Rôtie: this wasn't burly enough for Hermitage or Cornas, but lacked the pepperiness of St. Joseph. I ended up guessing that this was a wine of a great producer in a cooler year, or a lesser producer in a great year, which perhaps goes to show how well Jamet handled the solar 2015 vintage. Quite a few tannins on the back end, and a palate of great breadth. This had an afternoon of air and was drinking splendidly (surprisingly?). Despite how enjoyable this was now, I think the best days are still many years in the future.
Post a Comment / 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Ferrando Carema Black Label (Etichetta Nera) 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Carema
Served double blind. Heightened tart red fruit aromatics on the nose, a similar fruit profile on the palate, and a very nebbiolo-like tannic structure had me going to Alto Piedmont. I didn't think this was either Barbaresco or Barolo because the palate felt lighter and didn't have a riper fruit profile. Plenty of acidity and freshness, I had thought this was a current release wine. These are wines that will clearly live a long time.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1985 Mas de Daumas Gassac 90 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Sadly this bottle wasn't as good as my last two experiences with this wine. The nose shows a very mild hint of pyrazine, as well as quite a bit of dried herbs. The palate is a little plummy and shows a fair bit of ripeness and alcohol, but I wouldn't say it's over the top either. I know what this wine can be, so it's definitely a little disappointing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche / La Péroline 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Served double blind. Obviously syrah, but this is so juicy and drinkable it was difficult to place where it was. I had some thoughts that this was Gramenon or a Jamet Collines Rhodaniennes but this was probably a little bigger and denser than that. The juiciness also had me convinced that this was a current release wine. Imagine the surprise on the reveal. My impressions of Levet were of very animale, funky wines, and this was nothing like that at all. Super delicious though.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue