Didn't realise I had this before but pretty similar impressions. Rich and toasty, but with such zesty acidity that I wondered if it could have been a grower. Still needs more time to round out.
Asked a friend to bring this to do a side-by-side with the '19 Bouchard Val Vilaine. More driven and chalky than the Bouchard with fantastic energy and acidity. Citrus fruit with some light spice. Splitting hairs to decide between the two, as a friend said both were right up our alleys.
Brought for a friend. Similar impressions before, a richer, more hedonistic edition of the VV with distinct opulence and sweetness. Had superb tension despite the large scale. Most including myself preferred this marginally over the Brochet but both were fantastic.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
My contribution. A superb old-school white; rich and bready with some oxidative, nutty notes but with a superb backbone. A real contrast to the more modern '16 BdM alongside, most preferred the BdM but I slightly preferred this.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
I guessed new Leflaive with its overtly ripe but tensile citrus fruit; in hindsight I think it’s the style of producers who are trying to prevent premox lol. More showy but angular than the Bize with piercing acidity, a good contrast of styles.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Was between northern Rhone or Vosne for this but didn't get to CdP. Had a brilliant nose - floral and spicy at the same time and developed some smoke with air. Superb freshness and structure to this; firm dark red fruit and tannic grip that balanced the acidity. Very harmonious and my WOTN.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru
My extra. Bought as a punt with a terrible fill, turned out to be much better than I expected. Superb lifted nose of yesteryear; not completely clean but so alluring. High but not screechy acidity, fruit was surprisingly vibrant still. Quite divisive but I belonged to the camp that liked this a lot, can’t wait to try the other bottle with a better fill.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
The only guess that I nailed today (was quite useless otherwise). Others said '17/18 but no doubt in my mind that this was a '10 Gevrey GC. A deep, smoky nose but palate was a little light so thought Charmes. Possibly the first Potel that I liked.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Clearly before they changed style, guessed '09 masculine Gevrey GC as it bore some similarities to the '10 Bellene Clos de Bèze. Some cola, potpourri notes, way too Parkerized for me. Only wine that I poured out.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
Thought this was a Dujac because of the spice but when told it was a destemmed maker that usually didn't show like this, I went for '17 Vosne but didn't have a clue about the producer after eliminating Cathiard. Very expressive and feminine for a Meo, lovely purity and precision. These '17s are quintessential Burgs to me, and one of my favourites on the night.
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
Struggled with this, identified this as a Loire with the slight pyrazine notes, but thought not Rougeard because it lacked the finesse and elegance. Didn't have the magic of previous Rougeards, even if it was still pleasurable.
Had variable experiences with this bottle before but this was the best. Clearly identifiable as a traditional maker with high VA and elevated alcohol, I thought '11 Cappellano because of the freshness. Harmonious, but lacking the lift and magic of usual Giacosas.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Another one I struggled with, this was served alongside the Giacosa and I thought this to be a modern Nebbiolo because it didn't have any pyrazine notes. Once revealed to be a Bordeaux, thought this was a right-bank from the '80s. Vibrant blueberry and cassis notes, so fresh and restrained compared to modern versions.
Wow this was on, a wonderfully classic left-bank that was so youthful, thought '95/96. Epitome of controlled power, another one of my favourites on the night.
Guessed this wine correctly because of the capsule and the person who brought it. Rougher tannins and more masculine than the '89, a little awkward and missing the finesse of the '89.
Brought for a friend. Surprised that most guessed this as a Sauternes, to me it was a classic German sweet but with less acidity and freshness than the fantastic '01 I had a couple months ago. Agree with the previous note that this was disjointed, but still pleasurable.
2008 Pol Roger Champagne Blanc de Blancs 91 Points
France, Champagne
Didn't realise I had this before but pretty similar impressions. Rich and toasty, but with such zesty acidity that I wondered if it could have been a grower. Still needs more time to round out.
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NV Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut (2019) Le Mont Benoit 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Asked a friend to bring this to do a side-by-side with the '19 Bouchard Val Vilaine. More driven and chalky than the Bouchard with fantastic energy and acidity. Citrus fruit with some light spice. Splitting hairs to decide between the two, as a friend said both were right up our alleys.
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2019 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne VV/R19 93 Points
France, Champagne
Brought for a friend. Similar impressions before, a richer, more hedonistic edition of the VV with distinct opulence and sweetness. Had superb tension despite the large scale. Most including myself preferred this marginally over the Brochet but both were fantastic.
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2012 Simon Bize Corton-Charlemagne 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
My contribution. A superb old-school white; rich and bready with some oxidative, nutty notes but with a superb backbone. A real contrast to the more modern '16 BdM alongside, most preferred the BdM but I slightly preferred this.
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2016 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
I guessed new Leflaive with its overtly ripe but tensile citrus fruit; in hindsight I think it’s the style of producers who are trying to prevent premox lol. More showy but angular than the Bize with piercing acidity, a good contrast of styles.
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1997 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Marie Beurrier 94 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Was between northern Rhone or Vosne for this but didn't get to CdP. Had a brilliant nose - floral and spicy at the same time and developed some smoke with air. Superb freshness and structure to this; firm dark red fruit and tannic grip that balanced the acidity. Very harmonious and my WOTN.
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1985 Joseph Drouhin Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbé 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru
My extra. Bought as a punt with a terrible fill, turned out to be much better than I expected. Superb lifted nose of yesteryear; not completely clean but so alluring. High but not screechy acidity, fruit was surprisingly vibrant still. Quite divisive but I belonged to the camp that liked this a lot, can’t wait to try the other bottle with a better fill.
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2010 Maison Roche de Bellene Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
The only guess that I nailed today (was quite useless otherwise). Others said '17/18 but no doubt in my mind that this was a '10 Gevrey GC. A deep, smoky nose but palate was a little light so thought Charmes. Possibly the first Potel that I liked.
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2010 Jean-Pierre Guyon Clos Vougeot 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Clearly before they changed style, guessed '09 masculine Gevrey GC as it bore some similarities to the '10 Bellene Clos de Bèze. Some cola, potpourri notes, way too Parkerized for me. Only wine that I poured out.
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2017 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
Thought this was a Dujac because of the spice but when told it was a destemmed maker that usually didn't show like this, I went for '17 Vosne but didn't have a clue about the producer after eliminating Cathiard. Very expressive and feminine for a Meo, lovely purity and precision. These '17s are quintessential Burgs to me, and one of my favourites on the night.
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2008 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
Struggled with this, identified this as a Loire with the slight pyrazine notes, but thought not Rougeard because it lacked the finesse and elegance. Didn't have the magic of previous Rougeards, even if it was still pleasurable.
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2001 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Had variable experiences with this bottle before but this was the best. Clearly identifiable as a traditional maker with high VA and elevated alcohol, I thought '11 Cappellano because of the freshness. Harmonious, but lacking the lift and magic of usual Giacosas.
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1986 Château Pavie 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Another one I struggled with, this was served alongside the Giacosa and I thought this to be a modern Nebbiolo because it didn't have any pyrazine notes. Once revealed to be a Bordeaux, thought this was a right-bank from the '80s. Vibrant blueberry and cassis notes, so fresh and restrained compared to modern versions.
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1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Wow this was on, a wonderfully classic left-bank that was so youthful, thought '95/96. Epitome of controlled power, another one of my favourites on the night.
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1990 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Guessed this wine correctly because of the capsule and the person who brought it. Rougher tannins and more masculine than the '89, a little awkward and missing the finesse of the '89.
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2000 Weingut Keller Dalsheimer Hubacker Riesling Auslese 91 Points
Germany, Rheinhessen
Brought for a friend. Surprised that most guessed this as a Sauternes, to me it was a classic German sweet but with less acidity and freshness than the fantastic '01 I had a couple months ago. Agree with the previous note that this was disjointed, but still pleasurable.
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