The great start to 2025 (Ocean Drive)

Tasted Saturday, January 4, 2025 by RobinTeo with 157 views

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 1999 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin 88 Points

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

    Ripe bouquet with some VA and nail varnish. Palate showing black plums, earth, leather, sadle and granite. While still showing incredibly youthful, one can only wonder what a fruit bomb this must have been when this was younger - good depth but lacking balance and finesse.

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  • 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 89 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    First time tasting the Rosado. Bouquet is citrusy and light footed with strawberries, tomato leaves and hazelnut. Palate shows sherry-like with dried fruits, limestone and sesame. Nice as an opening to the Tondonia flight but I never really went back to this.

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  • 1961 R. López de Heredia Rioja Viña Tondonia 93 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    First whiff of the bouquet and I was blown away by how fresh and youthful this was - how can this be this old and taste so fresh? Dark berries, sage, leather and cocoa dominate the bouquet while palate shows plenty of concentration, depth and finesse. I've always felt these ones need time to come around and this sure did.

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  • 1973 R. López de Heredia Rioja Viña Tondonia 90 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Compared to the 1961, this tasted much more mature, or rather, how a 70s Rioja should taste, with truffles, aged comte and dried cherries on the bouquet. Palate mirrors the bouquet with wet earth, dried roses, dried cherries and iron. Despite the age, there is power and depth on the palate with some finesse on the finish.

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  • 1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia 92 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Structurally alike to the 1961. Not familiar with the strong structured vintages in Spain but would have pegged the 1991 and 1961 in the same vein. Bouquet showing youthful exuberance with dark berries, plums, sadle and smoke. Palate has heft and concentration, there is balance here but albeit a little foursquare and more "typical" rioja. Would love to see how this ages further.

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  • 1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia Flawed

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Expected a lot more stone fruits amidst a slightly dry landscape but unfortunately slightly tainted. Some pear, apricots, sudachi and starfruit peek through but nothing more than that.

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  • 1968 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Gran Reserva 92 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Tasted its age but in a good way. Bouquet showed good balance and amidst the dried fruits, leather and sadle, there was a hint of bullish defiance, almost daring you to belittle and underestimate this wine. Palate had good energy and tension with still plenty of fruit and power. Good finesse and balance for sure but is this better than the 1961 Tondonia? Surely it beats the 1973 and maybe on par with the 1991 but not too sure about the 1961.

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2021 IRENKA Pinot Noir 95 Points

    Japan, Hokkaido

    First time trying this and didn't realize what a unicorn this was. Wonderfully aromatic bouquet with whole bunch goody stemmyness, floral, lifted and transparent with nice chiseled red fruit (think mulberries and bayberries). Where most Japanese pinots fall flat on their feet, the palate propped this one up a few levels. Fantastic energy and verve, stretching and opening up in broad shoulder fashion, the palate remains as beautiful as the bouquet with great finesse and sensuality.

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  • 2015 Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes 93 Points

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

    Firmly a fan for the last couple of years after trying the 2018 Caillerets. This showing was no slouch! Coming from magnum, the bouquet on this showed some reduction, before white flowers, nashi pear, starfruits and lime zest dominate. Palate has plenty of energy and tension with good minerality supporting the fruit core of white peaches and custard apples. Crisp acidity on the finish takes this up a notch - wonderful!

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  • 2017 Thibault Liger-Belair Richebourg 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

    Half-doubting that this would be closed, the 2017 vintage showed true to form and quashed all doubts. Coming from magnum, this was understandably tight but quickly opened up in glass. Bouquet emanates vosne spice, cloves, silky cranberries, dark plums and orange peel. Palate showing youthful exuberance but in a nice way, fruit is still plenty concentrated with power and heft but in no way where each is threatening to overpower the other. While tannins has started to soften, there is still heaps - nothing some meat to pair this with wouldn't fix. Would love to see how this blossoms with time.

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Flight 3 (9 Notes)

  • 2006 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Bonnes Mares 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    Popped and poured, drank over 1 hour at cellar temperature. Felt that this wouldn’t be ready and open for business but host was super generous, hence opted to leave this aside for an hour in hopes that it would open up. While probably 10-15 years too young, the bouquet showed nicely with crushed dark berries, cherry stems, violets, juicy dark plums and sadle. Palate a little grumpy but with time opened up to a burly frame, fresh dark plums, licorice, beef tallow and cloves. Tannins silky but this needs more time for more integration to happen and I wouldn’t open this for another 10-15 years.

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  • 2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

    Always grateful to drink a DRC and even more so from the generous host. I have had limited experience with DRC but one whiff of the bouquet is all it takes to convey that it’s recognizable and telling. Crushed berries, stems, elderflower, violets and vosne spices (cloves, cardamom and sage) come to the fore with smoked mulberry spice, blood orange, cloves and kampot white pepper hit you on the palate. Superb finesse and balance with concentration in spades - however, this shut down pretty quickly in glass, suggesting that 2005s are indeed not ready to be drunk! Put this away and your patience will be rewarded 😬

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  • 2003 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

    First off the bat of the serious session, pop and poured. Vintage character telling here with bouquet showing off ripe plums, violets, limestone, cloves and sage. Palate shows a bit more nuances and layers with dark plums, dried roses, sandalwood, mulberry, blood orange and white peppercorns coming to the fore. This has concentration and depth with plenty of power but I’m not quite convinced about the balance and finesse here. Sure, this is by all means rocking but I felt between the concentration and elegance, this did not quite have the finesse typical of Rousseau Chambertin.

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  • 2012 A. et P. de Villaine Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise La Digoine 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise

    Brief notes. Stems, roses, bayberries and cherries on the bouquet, this is a little light footed but alluring and quite charming. Palate shows quality beyond its label, good structure and winemaking approach here with some serious substance. Thought this was gorgeous!

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  • 2019 Millemann Wines Corton-Renardes 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    First time trying Millemann and quite interesting to see some glimpses of DRC style imprinted here. Bouquet very aromatic and lifted with dried herbs, mint, raspberry, crushed violets, and cloves. Palate has great tension and texture with layers of transparent cherry and mulberry fruit with minerality intertwined and supporting the fruit core. There is some sweetness on the palate which should hopefully go away as this integrates with time. This is a yummy effort with finesse that outclasses the ripe vintage but not sure if it’s worth the secondary market prices.

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  • 2017 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Richebourg 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

    Another one that I didn’t think would be ready at all - but I suppose the 2017 vintage showed glimpses of what a wine this could be. I couldn’t imagine drinking this at this age if it were a warm vintage! Bouquet very primary, opening up with cloves, punchy plums, vosne spices, morello cherries, cedar and crushed violets. Palate showing ferrous iron, raw almonds, five spice, goji berries and dill. Pedigree aplenty here and firmly present but needs a bucket load more time to become truly enjoyable.

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  • 2007 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 94 Points

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

    Had this recently and was fortunate to have this one again. Animalistic bouquet with hay, straw, oak, dark prunes and leather. Palate mirroring the bouquet with dark fruit, animalistic funk (good way), smoke and cedar. Great concentration and depth with good fruit concentration and overarching structure - this is one that will last for a while.

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  • 2002 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 97 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Pop and poured, left open to breathe at cellar temperature. Fantastic and probably my favourite wine of the incredible line up. Sensual and powerful bouquet delivering incense smoke, tar, chocolates, dried roses and sage while palate dominated by crushed violets, dark plums, licorice and orange peel. Wow, what a palate - incredibly concentration and depth with plenty of balance and elegance. Tannins fine and slightly grippy - no risk of this one drying out and this is perhaps even a bit too youthful today but drinking super well with incredibly finesse. Superb superb superb showing!

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  • 2015 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône La Pialade 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

    Compared to the Henri Bonneau, this was a tad simplier and lighter with some elegant red cherries, cedar, cloves, cardammon and violets. Palate is also a ltitle more straightforward with red fruits and violets dominating. Tannins quite silky by now and a nice drink!

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