France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Beautiful, old-school rich and buttery Chardonnay so I guessed a more traditional Meursault maker like Pierre Morey from a warm vintage like '09. Surprised that this was an '18 so should definitely be drunk up soon, lacked the acidity of the Cassiopée alongside. Enjoyed this more than the others because of the sappy, slightly honeyed fruit.
My contribution, opened this three hours before dinner to a huge whiff of cardboard but thankfully it blew off after some time in a Voss bottle. Brilliant perfume with lifted violets and more obvious Cordier funk compared to the '89 Gruaud Larose the previous day. Agreed with a friend who said that the palate was clunky at the start, but in the end this had wonderful elegance and acidity in a decidedly old-school Bordeaux fashion. Think only one other person agreed with me at dinner but this was a wine that really spoke to me.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Rich, dark-fruited and seductive with some greenness so I guessed '90 Las Cases. Not a wine that spoke to me despite everyone else at the table loving this, too dense and no lift but could understand why others liked this.
Agree with acyso's previous note. Initially alcoholic with a distracting liquorice note but settled down to make me think that this was a '01 Nebbiolo. Still too dark-fruited and tannic for my taste.
We wondered if this could be a Burgundy but eventually agreed that this had to be a northern Rhone. I went for Hermitage while a friend went for Cornas, but made sense given that this was a masculine Côte-Rôtie maker. Got better with air as it became more expressive with mocha and some savoury, peppery notes. Superb length. My second favourite on the night.
Similar impressions to the previous bottle which was outstanding. Beautiful structure for a weaker vintage, very complete with attractive dark cherry fruit. Elegant and textural, this was very much up my alley.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
Perfumed but highly acidic so I guessed cool vintage like '13 Gevrey again (same mistake as always with this wine!!). Wasn't the biggest fan even though it put on more weight with air, didn't have the elegance of '10s.
Now I was very sure this was much younger than the Mugnier alongside, possibly '21 with the primary but light red fruit. Was shocked on both counts that this was an '01 and Pommard, but didn't care much for this otherwise since I guessed this as a Grenache at first with sweet fruit and zero structure.
Candied and youthful cherry fruit with sweet spice that made me guess a '15 from a newer-school maker. To be honest, I think this was when Arnaud was still finding his style - both heavy-handed and candied at the same time. Also had a distracting lactic note. Hard pass.
2022 Domaine de Cassiopée Maranges Les Plantes Blanc 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Maranges
My extra. New-school but with attractive, slightly tropical fruit. Good energy and acidity. Surprisingly most preferred this over the Drouhin.
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2018 Marquis de Laguiche (Joseph Drouhin) Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Beautiful, old-school rich and buttery Chardonnay so I guessed a more traditional Meursault maker like Pierre Morey from a warm vintage like '09. Surprised that this was an '18 so should definitely be drunk up soon, lacked the acidity of the Cassiopée alongside. Enjoyed this more than the others because of the sappy, slightly honeyed fruit.
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1990 Château Talbot 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
My contribution, opened this three hours before dinner to a huge whiff of cardboard but thankfully it blew off after some time in a Voss bottle. Brilliant perfume with lifted violets and more obvious Cordier funk compared to the '89 Gruaud Larose the previous day. Agreed with a friend who said that the palate was clunky at the start, but in the end this had wonderful elegance and acidity in a decidedly old-school Bordeaux fashion. Think only one other person agreed with me at dinner but this was a wine that really spoke to me.
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1990 Château Angélus 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Rich, dark-fruited and seductive with some greenness so I guessed '90 Las Cases. Not a wine that spoke to me despite everyone else at the table loving this, too dense and no lift but could understand why others liked this.
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1990 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto San Lorenzo 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Agree with acyso's previous note. Initially alcoholic with a distracting liquorice note but settled down to make me think that this was a '01 Nebbiolo. Still too dark-fruited and tannic for my taste.
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1999 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 94 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
We wondered if this could be a Burgundy but eventually agreed that this had to be a northern Rhone. I went for Hermitage while a friend went for Cornas, but made sense given that this was a masculine Côte-Rôtie maker. Got better with air as it became more expressive with mocha and some savoury, peppery notes. Superb length. My second favourite on the night.
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1997 Château Margaux 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Similar impressions to the previous bottle which was outstanding. Beautiful structure for a weaker vintage, very complete with attractive dark cherry fruit. Elegant and textural, this was very much up my alley.
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2021 Weingut Keller Riesling von der Fels 92 Points
Germany, Rheinhessen
More ready than my previous experience, tropical and sweet but with good acidity; albeit with less complexity than the other wines on show.
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2010 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
Perfumed but highly acidic so I guessed cool vintage like '13 Gevrey again (same mistake as always with this wine!!). Wasn't the biggest fan even though it put on more weight with air, didn't have the elegance of '10s.
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2001 Domaine Michel Gaunoux Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens-Bas 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
Now I was very sure this was much younger than the Mugnier alongside, possibly '21 with the primary but light red fruit. Was shocked on both counts that this was an '01 and Pommard, but didn't care much for this otherwise since I guessed this as a Grenache at first with sweet fruit and zero structure.
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2009 Domaine Denis Mortet Marsannay Les Longeroies 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay
Candied and youthful cherry fruit with sweet spice that made me guess a '15 from a newer-school maker. To be honest, I think this was when Arnaud was still finding his style - both heavy-handed and candied at the same time. Also had a distracting lactic note. Hard pass.
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