7345 bottles, 120 magnums and 5 jeros, disgorged 03/2024. Sweet, so sweet, really 4g/L here? Level of corkiness on the surface, but not faulty. Bruised apple, corn syrup, red dates, syrup. Good acidity but the date flavor is overwhelming. 89-90
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Magnum, served blind. Whole cluster, toned red fruits, immediately very DRC in style if a touch cloudier. Intense spice and nail polish that speak Brûlées to me. Striking clarity despite the vintage ripeness. People were guessing 99 RSV and 10 DRCs; there was even a guess for Leroy. Day two, more blue fruits and a touch dusty, but so quintessentially Vosne. 94-95
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
00367/11809. Particularly successful bottle, as usually DRC does not edge out as WOTN. Whole cluster aromatics with intense spice, red and dark fruit, pure rose petal, so much stem, clean smoke, meaty, primary still with tremendous potentials. This vintage is finally waking up. 96-97+
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Romanée Grand Cru
2080/3632. Intensely mineral and sweet red fruit. Stewed vintage quality but quite clean on palate, a juxtaposition I can only attribute to terroir. Palate really is quite something. 94-95
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Reductive with flinty notes, ultra spicy, soft cherry fruit, lifted qualities reminding me of Truchot. Unfortunately the only successful Engel bottle of the evening. 94
NV Julien Prélat Champagne Chantemerle 90 Points
France, Champagne
7345 bottles, 120 magnums and 5 jeros, disgorged 03/2024. Sweet, so sweet, really 4g/L here? Level of corkiness on the surface, but not faulty. Bruised apple, corn syrup, red dates, syrup. Good acidity but the date flavor is overwhelming. 89-90
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2006 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil 94 Points
France, Champagne
13669, 319030. Rich white fruit and brioche with textures. Quite young. 93-94+
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2009 Les Climats du Coeur Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Magnum, served blind. Whole cluster, toned red fruits, immediately very DRC in style if a touch cloudier. Intense spice and nail polish that speak Brûlées to me. Striking clarity despite the vintage ripeness. People were guessing 99 RSV and 10 DRCs; there was even a guess for Leroy. Day two, more blue fruits and a touch dusty, but so quintessentially Vosne. 94-95
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2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 96 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
00367/11809. Particularly successful bottle, as usually DRC does not edge out as WOTN. Whole cluster aromatics with intense spice, red and dark fruit, pure rose petal, so much stem, clean smoke, meaty, primary still with tremendous potentials. This vintage is finally waking up. 96-97+
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2006 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair La Romanée 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Romanée Grand Cru
2080/3632. Intensely mineral and sweet red fruit. Stewed vintage quality but quite clean on palate, a juxtaposition I can only attribute to terroir. Palate really is quite something. 94-95
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1993 Domaine René Engel Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Brulées 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Reductive with flinty notes, ultra spicy, soft cherry fruit, lifted qualities reminding me of Truchot. Unfortunately the only successful Engel bottle of the evening. 94
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1995 Domaine René Engel Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Brulées 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Inky and bloody with dry vintage tannins, very Mortet-esque. Better with air but never quite liked it. 92
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2001 Domaine René Engel Clos Vougeot 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Sweet brown sugar, iron, never really opened up. Does not seem obviously faulty. 90-91
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