| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. JacquesPinot Noir more |
1/28/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 100 pointsChampagne and Burgundy evening (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): Among the three Pinot Noirs enjoyed this evening, this seemed to be almost Pauillac in nature, with evident lead pencil/graphite reflecting power and depth. There is a distinct dark cherry note, indeed, rather the pit of a juicy black cherry that beguiles the senses, especially as it also exudes floral notes. But unlike the Volnay tasted before, this wine includes an almost fiery mid palate, as if graced with a dollop of port: 1999 was a ripe vintage. And so pleasingly framed by nuanced structure that exudes both grip and polish, making me think "pristine balance." While the Volnay was far more floral, this was more dark fruit and graphite, with more impressive palate depth, essentially layer upon layer unfolding that rather amazes the senses. I realize that experts say that Clos St Jacques is not Grand Cru, but this producer crafts the best Clos St Jacques I have ever had, and 1999 is superb. Long, magical finish. And it has the concentration to last at least another 20 years if not more. Thanks to Chris Bublitz for this generous offering. 13% alcohol |
| Red |
2010 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-Du-MilieuPinot Noir more |
1/28/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsChampagne and Burgundy evening (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): When I first tried it, it begged air, so I double decanted and served after the 2009. The 2010 vintage can be more structured as was the case with this wine, but over time in glass, it was so hard to resist. Aromatically very floral, from rose petal to peony, with red cherry. The palate combines structure with vivaciousness, very lively but reigned in, and an increasingly silky attire over the structure, a textural finesse for the palate! The tannin is still rather prominent, and the wine begs food. It was an excellent match for the pasticio, whose richer aspects, from the meat sauce and the buttery pasta and bechamel coating proved a fine foil to the structured tannin and acidity in the wine. Long finish, with freshness and lift. While the food exuded spice, the wine exuded floral aromatics, both complementing one another, so I give this experience a rather high score. With thanks to Randy for bringing this bottle. |
| Red |
2009 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux BoudotsPinot Noir more |
1/28/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 pointsChampagne and Burgundy evening (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): While double decanting, I could not help but notice the beguilingly floral and refined red cherry aromas so prominently emanating from the carafe. But there is greater complexity on the palate, with espresso bean, wet earth (but not old leaves!), juicy (rather marinated) cherry, and wet stone "minerality" delivered with smooth tannin coupled by balancing acidity that excites the palate and beckons further drinking. There is a somewhat wild Nuits-Saint-Georges aspect that is not as polished as the Volnay that followed, and which probably would have gone better with, say, venison, but we wanted to have homemade pasticio and it paired well enough! |
| White - Sparkling |
1990 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon OenothèqueChampagne Blend more |
1/28/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsChampagne and Burgundy evening (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): Coming after the 1996, I could not help but notice some hazelnut aspects that made the wine taste older than its vintage, but what retains a high score is the sheer energy on the palate. Given a small amount of leftover wine, I am sipping this again the morning after, and it is delicious. The color is dark straw, as compared to the light straw of the 1996, so noticeably more evolved, as is the nose, but the palate packs both richness and quite exciting energy, it lingers through to a long finish albeit still with toffee and hazelnut, again betraying its evolution. But I really liked its ample palate coating texture, honey nut, and baked apple - and lemon - pie. The bubbles are still smoothly present. Not going higher than the 95 rating, just because of an over evolution. And yet, I could see this match linguini and mushrooms with truffle shavings in a cream sauce, because its evolved nature did not go as well with the lobster. Many thanks to Randy for this bottle. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| White - Sparkling |
1996 Dom Pérignon Champagne OenothèqueChampagne Blend more |
1/28/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 100 pointsChampagne and Burgundy evening (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): I have had this wine for several years now, having acquired a case of 12 bottles in a black wooden box shortly after its release, and by Golly, this was rather perfect. Notes from memory, but you have such youth for a wine that seems to resist aging. The color was light straw, and from the get-go, it seems very young. The aromatics of cool citrus, lime and lemon, subtle apple and still youthful brioche without any hazelnut or nutty oxidations aspects proved promising, and the promise is fulfilled on the palate, which reflected sheer balance: between subtle and noble opulence to textural finesse, to liveliness and energy to a caressing and very long finish. Among seven people, this bottle was rather quickly gone. It was the best bottle from my stash so far, and if you have any of this wine, there is no need to rush, especially if stored properly. We continued with the lobster... 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| Rosé - Sparkling |
2007 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Brut RoséChampagne Blend more |
1/28/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsChampagne and Burgundy evening (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): Served with a lobster salad, whose colors matched the rosé Champagne (these are important considerations!), the Dom Ruinart proved both vivacious and smooth, a bubbly with a refined bead. Composed of 80% Grand Cru Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Oger), the Montagne de Reims (Sillery and Verzenay), and 20% Aÿ Grand Cru Pinot Noirs. It had undergone malolactic fermentation with some 10 years aging on the lees. On the palate, ripe citrus, red apple and orange rind, but above all perfumed forest strawberry, with subtle brioche that reflected its creamy texture but still very vibrant on the palate, with a long finish: a very good pairing for the lobster. Dosage at 5 g/L, clocking in at 12.5% alcohol. Thanks to Chris Bublitz for this wine, which I think has the depth and concentration to age gracefully, such as a 1979 that we had enjoyed some 15 years ago. |
| Red |
1996 Château Léoville Las CasesSt. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/16/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 97 pointsAn evening of fine wine and food (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): A close to 98-pointer, but still a bit too reserved for that high a score. LLC is notorious for opening up (cue the 1986) and this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc is no exception. But what breeding and class to the palate! I kept thinking "gorgeous finesse" which this wine has in spades. A very polished wine. Am I repeating myself with synonyms? Yes. With the most pristine balance and refinement among the three Bordeaux we enjoyed over dinner, but over time, I could not help but noting an almost fiery single malt power within the wine, not as evidently "wild" as the Cos tasted alongside, but more subtle. This wine has the depth and density and structure to gain in complexity and to get a higher score in about 5 to 10 years, so no rush. I had opened this bottle the morning of the dinner, then double decanted to remove some deposits two hours before the dinner. And, yes, ripe but not overripe fruit, with cool blueberry, tobacco leaf and cassis. Long, long finish. 12.5% alcohol. 7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
1996 Château Cos d'EstournelSt. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/16/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsAn evening of fine wine and food (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): This blend of Cos 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, which had aged in 65% new oak was the "wildest" of the three Médocs we had over dinner, which included GPL and LLC. Above all, a powerfully tannic wine, whose tannins had a somewhat caged animal aspect but not unripe, notwithstanding hints of grilled paprika that for me added complexity to the more evident ripe cassis, truffle and tar. Fuller bodied than the Grand Puy Lacoste of the same vintage, and a longer finish, infused with peppery spice and a cooler blue-fruit aspect. In any case, at least this bottle - thanks Keith - could easily be cellared for the longer term. |
| Red |
1996 Château Grand-Puy-LacostePauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/16/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 pointsAn evening of fine wine and food (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): Some initial brett aromatics (slight bandaid) blew off with time in glass to reveal a rather broad palate with that gorgeous cedar and graphite that one expects from top flight Pauillac like GPL. Although one senses an initial medium-bodied palate, the powerful tannins make it more full bodied with time in glass, with balancing acidity that makes the wine exciting. Lovely expression of plum and cassis fruit, medium finish. 13% alcohol. A very good match for the wood grilled ribeye steak that came with mushrooms, au gratin potatoes and haricots verts in a foie gras sauce. |
| White |
2009 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes RuchottesChardonnay more |
1/16/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsAn evening of fine wine and food (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): At first quite a bit reduced, with a somewhat dark hue but not at all premoxed. Indeed, the opposite, which was a good sign. We poured in glass at the beginning of the dinner and waited while enjoying the Cristal. About 30 minutes later, it started to open up with subtle butter, wet slate, and red apple. And that typical Burgundy acidity that lends so much freshness even from a hot vintage like 2009. Indeed, the balancing energy made this a super pleasure to drink, given the impressive palate density and structure. I do not drink enough white Burgundy, with many thanks to David Ehrlich for opening this bottle. Paired very well with the Atlantic Day Boat Scallops with roasted cauliflower puree, wild mushrooms, romanesco, crispy kale, verjus and of course butter... |
| White - Sparkling |
2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal BrutChampagne Blend more |
1/16/2024 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 97 pointsAn evening of fine wine and food (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): At first it seemed a bit "merely" citrus, especially when one considers the price of this wine, and the vintage. But do not be quick to judge. Over time, the wine showed off subtle depth and body, with structure to last, although I prefer Cristal when youthful. Over time the brightness also increased in excitement, with vivid notions of white pear, lime/lemon and gorgeously savory blood red orange. The finish was especially long and tonic. A superb wine that paired very well with briny raw oysters, which we had ordered to start. |
| Red |
2010 Château CanonSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/2/2023 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsThis bottle I had sampled using a Coravin over a year ago, so I was worried how it would taste. |
| Red |
1992 Philip Togni Cabernet SauvignonSpring Mountain District more |
7/10/2022 - PanosKakaviatos wrote: 94 pointsAn evening with Kevin Shin (Virginia): After nearly 20 years (in bottle), truly fun to drink, with eucalyptus, mint and herbal aspects. About as far and away from a ripe blockbuster Cab as you can get, and although lacking the complexity of a superior wine, it was vibrant on the palate, with freshness, delivered in smooth tannin. I recall the alcohol being 12.3% |
| White - Sparkling |
2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs BrutChardonnay more |
7/10/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsAn evening with Kevin Shin (Virginia): This is drinking wonderfully. Many thanks to Kevin Shin. His peerless stocking conditions, the wine tasted almost as upon release, this vintage being broader, more evidently creamy than, say, the 2008 vintage. But as other professional tasters have noted, this is an exemplary effort for the warmer vintage that can sometimes exude tropical notes. Not so, here. What pleased me most was the impressive weight and palate feel, finely textured, with bright notes of citrus, subtle in expression with some brioche, albeit not really tertiary quite yet. I was focusing a bit more on our conversation so did not take careful notes, but we both loved it! Kevin served some excellent cheeses with crackers - and an addictive duck mousse, all of which paired very well with the Champagne, which showed a very fine bead, still rather youthful, again due at to the provenance. 9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2021 Château SuduirautSauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 97 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: My highest score of the vintage goes to this amazing wine, 100% Sémillon ageing in 50% new oak. It gives off such distinct notes of ginger and white pepper, with a sensually dense palate texture, evoking peach and pear. Very low yields, low production, but magical. A long finish. (96-98) |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2021 Château La Tour Blanche SauternesSémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: Tasted on three occasions with similar notes, this is terrific! The wine exhibits tropical fruit, quince and pineapple (but not from a can). A gorgeous palate, smooth and bright, furthermore with a light color that reflects that brightness visually. Along with Raymond-Lafon, a top flight Sauternes that will not hurt your wallet. (95-97) |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2021 Château Raymond-LafonSauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: A gorgeous wine on the level of Tour Blanche, showing off superb energy and focus, exuding ginger, pepper, apricot, nectarine and smoky aspects. An estate near and dear to me, as I had worked there back in 2001, and I know the family, but no bias is factored here. The 2021 is a wine to buy without hesitation! (95-97) |
| Red |
2021 Château Cos d'EstournelSt. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: Another candidate for top 2021 red, as tasted from barrel: This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot transcends 2021 with vivid cool blue fruit, tobacco leaf, spice, artisanal chocolate, pepper and spice and excellent freshness on the finish, backed up by palate density and underlying power. Aging in 55% new oak and clocking in at 12.7% alcohol, it reflects superb lower alcohol balance. (95-97) |
| Red |
2021 Château Calon-SégurSt. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: You have something special when your second wine, Le Marquis, already conveys red cherry and blackberry notes. “As if we are in a different vintage”, quipped director Vincent Millet. Indeed, Château Calon Ségur comes across legitimately noble in its expression of tobacco leaf, cool blueberry fruit, with mid-palate juiciness, leading to a fine, long finish! The blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 1% of Petit Verdot excites. Could Millet have anticipated the sunless summer? He explained how workers de-leafed both sides of the vines at the end of June to aerate the grapes against possible mildew, even if not much came. Indeed, this exposed grapes to more possible sunlight for natural concentration (along with a drier late August). Aging in 100% new oak, the wine clocks in at just under 13% alcohol. (94-96) |
| Red |
2021 Château Brane-CantenacMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: With perfumed aromas of faded rose, white pepper, black tea leaf, and nutmeg spice, this blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and bits of Carmènere, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc mightily impresses for its robust mid palate. Overall refined tannins albeit a touch drying on the finish, but barrel aging should resolve this. (94-96) |
| Red |
2021 Château ClarkeListrac-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 91 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: The best among the Listrac wines that I tasted. With a lovely nose, bright attack albeit tannins a bit hard. But successful wine for the vintage. There is some tartness on the finish. (91-92) |
| Red |
2021 Château Haut-BaillyPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: Tannic finesse, rather sumptuous ripeness and impressive acidity/tannin balance (so important in this vintage) make the cut. The success in this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc is testimony to the excellent team and to the new cellars inaugurated for this vintage. Warmer, gravel soils in the cooler summer worked well, as pickers waited through to 12 October to get optimal ripeness. Alcohol is 13% and aging in 50% new oak. Let’s see how it tastes from bottle. (94-96) |
| Red |
2021 Château RochebelleSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: Crisp red autumnal ripeness and wet stone (three hectares on the limestone plateau) transcend the vintage, which co-owner Emilie Faniest called one of “endurance” as it required “human investment and vigilance from the beginning to the harvest.” The estate lived up to the task as the 80% new oak is well integrated, and the wine clocks in at 13.8% alcohol without added sugar. I also love the mid-palate juiciness as experienced too at the negociant Joanne. Cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare, an impressive showing indeed. (93-95) |
| Red |
2021 Château Larcis DucasseSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: A top wine of 2021! Using only grapes grown from vines on the slope, which drained late spring and summer rainfall well, this blend of 86% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc exudes fruit purity, palate refinement and excellent, vivid wet stone “minerality”. It clocks in at 13.5% alcohol and is ageing in 50% new oak. Tasted three times (at Pavie Macquin, at the UGCB and at Joanne) with consistent notes: darn good stuff, with tannic ripeness and spicy fruit that pleases. 94-96+ |
| Red |
2021 Château FigeacSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/31/2022 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 pointsSelections of Bordeaux 2021 from barrel: Another candidate for wine of the vintage. Can you spell t-r-a-n-s-c-e-n-d? It has more juicy fruit than expected from the vintage, which director Frédéric Faye referred to as “of determination”. He and his team were determined to get optimal ripeness, and Figeac succeeds with flying colors. Rather predictably, the blend counts “the most Cabernet percentage ever,” Faye says, with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot, which had a tougher time. A decision taken to “ignore alarming weather forecasts for the weekend of 2 October” proved correct: two weeks of Indian summer ensued, which helped the Cabernets. While I would not compare the ripeness here to 2018, 2019 and 2020, the 2021 comes much closer than most, reflecting bright red and black fruit and remarkable tannic finesse rather rare for the vintage. Part of the success is due to the estate’s new winery, used for the first time for this vintage and through which the number of lots for blending was 40% higher than for the 2020 harvest, allowing greater precision after the painstaking harvest. Any fan of Figeac should get 2021 in their cellar. As ever, 100% new oak. And alcohol at 13% with a pH of 3.65. (95-97) |
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