By the glass as a welcome at The Waterside Inn. We usually shy away from young Krugs but this was exceptional even at this youngish time. Full of energy , full on focus with a rich feel and an intense nose. Really it makes us wonder why bother with the premium of the vintage one. Impressive and with a lot of life ahead. 93-94
The sommelier at The Waterside Inn pushed hard for this ( indeed the price was retail value ) and that they had one recently and it was exceptional. We generally worry with Bollinger wines and longevity but this is not an ordinary wine and given the provenance this was in another dimension. We think the reaction of our friend who upon arriving late was thrusted a glass and was still in the midst of settling down smelled this and went " wow " and then look up to us in a stage of amazement as if to say what have we got here! :) And indeed has that effect , impressively bright even though it is well aged and mature, balanced and effortless wine with a soft mousse and a sublime palate feel. Pointless to say more. An exceptional wine and an easy 97+
Decanted and served after 30 minutes. Of course a very elegant wine and true tot he pedigree. The nose dominated the experience though and the palate fails to follow and indeed has this harshness of the 1996 tannic structure on the finish that sort of spoils the beautiful salvo of aroma that the nose sends. Leather, cedar, earthy, well mature but still with life on the nose. Palate does not follow to this level and is an outlier vs the other Top end wines who seems to have become softer and almost Burgundian. Still an impressive 94 but a lowdown given the pedigree and vintage.
Decanted and served and the words of the sommelier at The Waterside Inn resonated with this wine " Its among and especially for the price, the bets wines we stock" And indeed this was exceptional and even more followed in the footsteps of the 1996 Haut Brion ( Papies 94) and wiped the floor with it. Still so much alive almost young in some respects but also so well mature and elegant. A class act for lovers of old school well aged claret. Earthy, soft mushroom, still some spice and soft mocha, rich fruit still resonates and we think this is easiest the best Pichon Baron we have come across and among the best wines too. Harmonious, elegant and just exceptional. 97-99
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
One appreciates is at a great event (or hosting one) when the wine to close is a Figeac 2000. An impressive wine and just about getting into its full stride. Very much herby, minty, soft spice and a medicinal edge ( not a bad one) on the nose which rushed and attacks the senses. Full on in many ways but maintaining a balance and elegance. On the palate it is there but its also young and has a lot more to go on the evolution of the fruit side. An impressive wine nonetheless and one we hope to cross paths with in the future too. 96
By the glass ( via coravin) at The Waterside Inn. Frankly among the lower end of experiences we have come across with otherwise what is liquid gold. This and maybe it was our bottle just lacking depth and excitement and could well be a function of the 86 vintage and how warm it was. It’s a a very good wine don’t get us wrong but for the price , the pedigree and the inherent expectation this ranks low. An objective 92
By the glass at The Waterside Inn. This was served with Yquem 1986 ( Papies 92) and frankly rose well above it. Impressively bright and even at this youthful stage complex and with a well balanced rich core. Floral and expressive and just excellent. 94
A beautiful way to close our dinner at The Waterside Inn. Dark coloured , dense , rich but ever so effortless and balanced . Nice rich core that sort of balances the spiritness of it and just lures one in closer and closer. Impeccable
NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 171eme 94 Points
France, Champagne
By the glass as a welcome at The Waterside Inn.
We usually shy away from young Krugs but this was exceptional even at this youngish time. Full of energy , full on focus with a rich feel and an intense nose. Really it makes us wonder why bother with the premium of the vintage one. Impressive and with a lot of life ahead. 93-94
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1999 Bollinger Champagne Vieilles Vignes Françaises 97 Points
France, Champagne
The sommelier at The Waterside Inn pushed hard for this ( indeed the price was retail value ) and that they had one recently and it was exceptional. We generally worry with Bollinger wines and longevity but this is not an ordinary wine and given the provenance this was in another dimension.
We think the reaction of our friend who upon arriving late was thrusted a glass and was still in the midst of settling down smelled this and went " wow " and then look up to us in a stage of amazement as if to say what have we got here! :)
And indeed has that effect , impressively bright even though it is well aged and mature, balanced and effortless wine with a soft mousse and a sublime palate feel. Pointless to say more. An exceptional wine and an easy 97+
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1996 Château Haut-Brion 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Decanted and served after 30 minutes.
Of course a very elegant wine and true tot he pedigree. The nose dominated the experience though and the palate fails to follow and indeed has this harshness of the 1996 tannic structure on the finish that sort of spoils the beautiful salvo of aroma that the nose sends. Leather, cedar, earthy, well mature but still with life on the nose. Palate does not follow to this level and is an outlier vs the other Top end wines who seems to have become softer and almost Burgundian. Still an impressive 94 but a lowdown given the pedigree and vintage.
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1990 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 98 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Decanted and served and the words of the sommelier at The Waterside Inn resonated with this wine " Its among and especially for the price, the bets wines we stock"
And indeed this was exceptional and even more followed in the footsteps of the 1996 Haut Brion ( Papies 94) and wiped the floor with it. Still so much alive almost young in some respects but also so well mature and elegant. A class act for lovers of old school well aged claret. Earthy, soft mushroom, still some spice and soft mocha, rich fruit still resonates and we think this is easiest the best Pichon Baron we have come across and among the best wines too. Harmonious, elegant and just exceptional. 97-99
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2000 Château Figeac 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
One appreciates is at a great event (or hosting one) when the wine to close is a Figeac 2000.
An impressive wine and just about getting into its full stride. Very much herby, minty, soft spice and a medicinal edge ( not a bad one) on the nose which rushed and attacks the senses. Full on in many ways but maintaining a balance and elegance. On the palate it is there but its also young and has a lot more to go on the evolution of the fruit side. An impressive wine nonetheless and one we hope to cross paths with in the future too. 96
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1986 Château d'Yquem 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
By the glass ( via coravin) at The Waterside Inn.
Frankly among the lower end of experiences we have come across with otherwise what is liquid gold. This and maybe it was our bottle just lacking depth and excitement and could well be a function of the 86 vintage and how warm it was. It’s a a very good wine don’t get us wrong but for the price , the pedigree and the inherent expectation this ranks low. An objective 92
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2018 Domaine Ostertag Gewurztraminer Fronholz Vendanges Tardives 94 Points
France, Alsace
By the glass at The Waterside Inn.
This was served with Yquem 1986 ( Papies 92) and frankly rose well above it. Impressively bright and even at this youthful stage complex and with a well balanced rich core. Floral and expressive and just excellent. 94
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NV A. Hardy Cognac Noces D'Or , 50 ans ( 50 years of The Waterside Inn )
France, Cognac, Grande Champagne Cognac
A beautiful way to close our dinner at The Waterside Inn.
Dark coloured , dense , rich but ever so effortless and balanced . Nice rich core that sort of balances the spiritness of it and just lures one in closer and closer. Impeccable
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