Holiday Champagne Gala

Conway Farms CC - Lake Forest IL
Tasted Thursday, December 18, 2025 by Burgundy Al with 96 views

Introduction

We arrived late so I did not get to taste probably 1/3 of the Champagnes, then was not very focused on note taking during dinner, so only have notes on probably half the wines tasted.

Flight 1 - The Main Event (10 Notes)

Flight 2 - Wines with Dinner (12 Notes)

  • 2022 Jean-Claude Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Small glass. Big, nearly brawny. As dense and powerful as the Bâtard tasted a few days ago, just slightly less refined.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2020 Jean-Claude Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Ruchottes 94 Points

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

    Small glass. Both lean and ripe orchard fruit with floral and mint notes. Lots here, and so well textured on its long finish. Just a baby. My first time trying this vintage, sadly I only have one bottle in the cellar.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2019 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Small glass. so densely packed, this is backward and angry to be opened so early, but giving pretty glances as it looks at you over its shoulder. Great potential, 2035 - 2060.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2019 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts

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

    Small glass. Reductive start, so tough in assess in the few minutes I could stay focused, but also a good richness behind the reduction.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1977 Joseph Phelps Insignia 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Small glass. Shockingly still fresh enough with nicely dense black fruits still in charge with enough earth to make it more interesting. Good balance, interesting expanding finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1986 Château Gruaud Larose 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Small glass. Rich and well spiced black plum and cherry with grilled meat. Plenty of structure but it is out of the limelight, so very well balanced today. One of the best showings I have ever had for this wine.

    Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 1986 Château Cos d'Estournel Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Small glass. Corked was fully soaked through. Wine seemed flat and disjointed, so an incorrect bottle.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Château Palmer 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    In vertical. Spiced aromatic start with black cherry, plum, and berries. Not the ripest of the vintages, but that gives this a great old school character that I truly like. better now vs when last tasted 15 ago, but I don't expect the next 15 years will be quite as kind. Good now.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2006 Château Palmer 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    In vertical. Same aromatic profile as the 2004, just riper. Bigger fruit and richer, but less nuanced notes in the middle. Also very good now.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2008 Château Palmer 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    In vertical. Meaty black fruits, with a nearly bloody richness I liked. Dense with good+ length, this will reward cellar time. My first time trying this vintage, and I like it a lot.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2009 Château Palmer Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    In vertical. Some liked this, and there was a clear richness, but I think it showed signs of stewiness and heat damage of some sort.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2000 Château Cos d'Estournel 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Small glass. Not a powerhouse compared to many 2000s, but meaty, well spiced and elegant with lots of great textures. Slightly better than when last tasted last month.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

×
×