Mostly CDP dinner

Six of us got together to drink mostly CDPs. The food was solid as usual.

• 2012 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Medium expressive nose displaying concentrated ripe yellow fruit, baked apple, lemon curd, honey, cinnamon and mineral. Excellent concentration, layer upon layers of concentrated yellow fruit, generous fine mousse, rich and deeply toned, but also precise and focused, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with cinnamon at the end. This seems to be not as expressive as the previous bottle from September 2021. The level of concentration is remarkable.

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• 2014 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne 95 Points

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

  Beautiful light gold. Expressive nose displaying ripe yellow fruit, lemon curd, peach, a hint of pineapple, honey, vanilla/oak, a hint of butterscotch, sweet spices and limestone. Beautifully integrated palate, nicely layered yellow fruit, good harmony and balance, bright acidity, good mineral expression, and a long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with sweet spices and vanilla at the end. This has evolved faster than I anticipated, which is not a bad thing. This gives a very modern impression with noticeable oak. Really delicious for my palate. I need to revisit another bottle soon.

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• 2016 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 93 Points

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

  Medium expressive nose displaying slightly coiled yellow fruit, lemon curd, apple, flint, mint, cool mountain stream and limestone. Excellent concentration, slightly coiled cool yellow fruit, very precise, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a medium to long coiled yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of flint at the end. This is a very focused and precise wine. The fruit is a bit tight, Perhaps decanting will help.

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It was still open and expressive.

• 2019 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Expressive nose displaying very ripe slightly dry yellow fruit, clementine, orange peel, peach, citrus oil, light caramel and mineral. Excellent concentration, finely layered exotic yellow fruit, sweet and opulent, medium acidity, strong mineral, and a long concentration ripe yellow fruit driven finish with orange marmalade at the end. I like to try them young before they shutdown. Although very ripe and exotic with high alcohol, this shows a very good balance.

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I preferred the 16.

• 2015 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Slightly subdued nose displaying very ripe concentrated dry yellow fruit, apricot, dry peach, mango, caramel, honey and sweet spices. Exceptional concentration, slightly coiled concentrated ripe yellow fruit, 10W40, rich, deeply toned, medium acidity and mineral. This is incredibly ripe, dense and rich. For my palate, a bit heavy and cloying.

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• 2016 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Expressive nose displaying ripe yellow fruit, peach, lychee, pineapple, mint, honey, sweet spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, nicely layered sweet yellow fruit, rich yet cool and nicely detailed, bright acidity, strong mineral, and long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with honey and sweet spices at the end. The fruit is more expressive and clearly defined compare to the 15.

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• 1994 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Unfortunately corked!

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• 2007 Domaine de Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Expressive nose displaying very ripe red fruit, cherry, dry cherry, fruitcake, licorice, strong tobacco, leather, rare steak, dark spices, tree bark and earth. Excellent concentration, packed concentrated slightly dry red fruit, dense and deeply toned, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long ripe red fruit driven finish with licorice and tobacco at the end. This shows tobacco and dry cherry that I associate with Rayas. Just like the 07 Rayas, it is extremely ripe.

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The 01 Le Clos du Caillou showed extremely well.

• 2000 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Expressive nose displaying perfectly ripe silky black fruit, blackberry liqueur, black berry, licorice, tobacco, leather, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of rich black fruit, silky and fluid, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, still noticeable tannins and a seamless long ripe black fruit driven finish with tobacco at the end. This can improve for another decade, gaining additional leather and tobacco.

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• 2001 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve le Clos du Caillou 98 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Youthful expressive nose displaying concentrated rich black fruit, blackberry liqueur, black cherry, licorice, tobacco, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered intense black fruit, silky and fluid, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long generous black fruit driven finish with tobacco and licorice at the end. The best showing of this wine, intense yet harmonious and beautifully balanced.

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These were extremely ripe.

• 2007 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Medium expressive nose displaying very ripe slightly dry black fruit, blackberry liqueur, fruitcake, licorice, brown sugar, grilled meat, tree bark and earth. There is a bit of heat at the end. Excellent concentration, packed black fruit, rich, bright acidity, earthy mineral, and a long ripe black fruit driven finish with licorice and brown sugar at the end. It is a bit hot and monolithic, IMO. I am not sure if this will improve. YMMV.

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• 2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Similar to the 07 La Combe des Fous. Expressive nose displaying very ripe black fruit, blackberry liqueur, black cherry, fruitcake, licorice, dark spices and earth. There is a hint of heat. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of black fruit, silky and fluid, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a long very ripe black fruit driven finish with licorice at the end. I find it a bit monolithic.

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May be overwhelming for some, simply hedonistic.

• 1996 Alois Kracher Welschriesling TBA #9 Zwischen den Seen 97 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  Beautiful glowing amber. Hedonistic nose displaying opulent sweet tropical fruit, mango, dry manger, peach preserve, plum and honey. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of dense sweet yellow fruit, thick and rich but also fluid, bright acidity and a long dense yellow fruit driven finish with honey at the end. It reminds me SQN stickies a bit. Some may find it overwhelming but simply delicious for me!

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