Small glass. Distinctly grassy aromas with lemony flavors, this came across as slightly bitter but also warm on the finish. Not my style of Sauv Blanc.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Good concentration of fruit here with lots of enticing layers. But unlike the best 2013s that have harmonized the lean and sweet components, this still does not seem perfectly integrated, even if very tasty.
Small glass. Good richness and concentration for Aubert's entry level wine, even if slightly simple. Better in another year, but this will be best young.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Rich and powerful orchard fruit throughout with floral/ spiced hints, and a very engaging brightness and energy from start-to-finish. Very good now. Long and seamless finish.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Maranges 1er Cru
Black cherry, meaty spice, hints of mushroom and leather faintly emerging. Clearly not ripe, but nothing green, either, this is charming and balanced with medium+ weight. Very good now.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Small glass. Sweet black and red cherry, maturing faster than I might expect for wine at this level, with lots of leather and forest floor already through. Lots here to enjoy, with good weight and nuance coming through, but best to enjoy by 2030.
Popped-and-poured. Musty to start, this seemed dirty for 10 minutes but quickly cleaned up and turned it another great 1989. Black plum and berries with leather and braised meat spice. Not powerful but lots here. This continued to taste as good an hour later, and should hold well for many years to come.
Small glass. This had been decanted in advance, which didn't really help because I found this very closed down and hinting at its potential. Others liked this more.
Small glass. Somewhere in between wonderfully powerful and monstrously ripe, I again understand why some like this style, but In don't count myself amongst those people.
2021 Blackbird Vineyards Dissonance 85 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Small glass. Distinctly grassy aromas with lemony flavors, this came across as slightly bitter but also warm on the finish. Not my style of Sauv Blanc.
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2013 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Good concentration of fruit here with lots of enticing layers. But unlike the best 2013s that have harmonized the lean and sweet components, this still does not seem perfectly integrated, even if very tasty.
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2021 Aubert Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Small glass. Good richness and concentration for Aubert's entry level wine, even if slightly simple. Better in another year, but this will be best young.
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2015 Littorai Chardonnay Mays Canyon 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Rich and powerful orchard fruit throughout with floral/ spiced hints, and a very engaging brightness and energy from start-to-finish. Very good now. Long and seamless finish.
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2012 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Small glass. Clear ripe vintage character coming through, seems to be starting to fade and lose its luster.
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2011 Camille Giroud Maranges 1er Cru Le Croix Moines 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Maranges 1er Cru
Black cherry, meaty spice, hints of mushroom and leather faintly emerging. Clearly not ripe, but nothing green, either, this is charming and balanced with medium+ weight. Very good now.
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2007 Louis Jadot Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes Domaine Gagey 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Red berries aging gracefully with spice and pepper notes, and the mineral textures are the highlight here.
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2010 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Small glass. Sweet black and red cherry, maturing faster than I might expect for wine at this level, with lots of leather and forest floor already through. Lots here to enjoy, with good weight and nuance coming through, but best to enjoy by 2030.
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2021 Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Napa Valley
Small glass. This is very big, very ripe, nearly sweet. Not my kind of wine.
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2017 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Napa Valley
Small glass. Also ultra ripe and powerful with a sweet cola-like character that never thrills me, even if I almost understand why others like this.
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1989 Château Cantemerle 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Popped-and-poured. Musty to start, this seemed dirty for 10 minutes but quickly cleaned up and turned it another great 1989. Black plum and berries with leather and braised meat spice. Not powerful but lots here. This continued to taste as good an hour later, and should hold well for many years to come.
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2011 Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Concept The Benchland 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Small glass. Black fruit, slightly lean and hollow, nearly bitter on finish.
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2010 Château Cantenac Brown
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Small glass. This had been decanted in advance, which didn't really help because I found this very closed down and hinting at its potential. Others liked this more.
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2015 Saxum Broken Stones
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Small glass. Somewhere in between wonderfully powerful and monstrously ripe, I again understand why some like this style, but In don't count myself amongst those people.
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