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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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White
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2018 Paul et Marie Jacqueson Rully 1er Cru Raclot Blanc
Chardonnay more
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13% alcohol. Diam5 closure, pretty long. Pale golden colour with a luminous quality.
The nose is vivid with white flowers, yellow plum and some lanolin. Similarly balanced in the mouth with just a hint of opulence counterbalanced by vg grip and excellent acidity; there is quite a lot going on here. A model of Chalonnais Chardonnay, especially given the warm vintage.
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Red
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2008 Château Clauzet
St. Estèphe
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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13% alcohol. CS 55%, M 40%, CF and PV 5%. Longish cork, but the texture is pretty loose. Decanted 90 mn ahead. Deep colour with no sign of ageing.
The nose has great harmony with fruity aromas mixed with tobacco leaf and a faint hint of vanilla. The mouth is half a step behind at this stage, as it is quite tight, but it shows vivid fruit and superb acidity before the unresolved tannins kick in.
Pretty good as it is for those who can tolerate a good bit of structure, but will undoubtedly harmonise in the next 5 to 10 years.
It is an awful pity that this chateau has now been subsumed into Lillyan-Ladouys, as I always felt that Clauzet was the more authentically St Estèphe on the two properties.
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Red
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2022 Domaine du Pas de l'Escalette Coteaux du Languedoc Les Petits Pas
Grenache Blend, Grenache more
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13% alcohol. G 45%, Car 30%, S 25%. Diam5 closure. The colour has a youthful purple tinge and it is just about translucent.
Joyful aromatic nose, definitely red fruited with some cranberry. Similarly balanced in the mouth with superb acidity and a variety of red fruit.
I must say that I was surprised by the percentage of Grenache in this wine, given that it comes across as red fruited; must be the altitude (350m, so not exactly alpine) and the winemaking, combined with the youth of the bottle. In my Terrasses du Larzac references (not far off), the closest in style would be Terrasse d'Elise.
My first experience with this domain, and a success without a doubt.
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Red
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2020 Domaine d'Aupilhac Coteaux du Languedoc Montpeyroux Les Cocalières
Red Rhone Blend more
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13% alcohol. S 40%, Mrvdr 30%, G 30%. Longish cork of so-so quality.
The colour is pretty dark but not opaque.
Very good nose of red berries with just a hint of liquorice. The mouth is similar with superb freshness and a magnificent lift in the finish; some strawberry there too. Plenty of substance here, so the ageing potential seems excellent.
Very successful, and it is ever so reassuring to see that wines of such freshness can be produced in the deep south; apparently the vineyard is relatively high up (350m), on volcanic soil and north facing. It will be interesting to compare the wine with the regular Aupilhac whose vines are south facing.
My first encounter with the domain, and a resounding success.
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White
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2022 Domaine de Thalie Mâcon-Bray Les Pierres Levées
Chardonnay more
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13% alcohol. The cork is above average, both in length and in quality. Pale lemony colour.
The nose has good intensity with yellow flowers and a good bit of refinement. The mouth is a step behind at this early stage because of a cutting green apple (Granny Smith) flavour that dominates way too much for my taste. More seriously, a note of sour cider in the finish compromises the purity and cleanliness of the wine.
No lack of substance, so this could still evolve into a more harmonious bottle. At the moment, I am leaning negative as to the repurchase decision.
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White
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2022 David Trousselle Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune La Couleuvraire
Chardonnay more
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12.5% alcohol. Diam10 closure. The colour is pale straw with a hint of a greenish tinge.
Very aromatic flowery nose with a lovely purity; white flowers and citrus fruit. In the mouth, the wine has plenty of freshness (bordering on bracing) but no lack of substance. Apparently, élevage includes 20% new oak, but I did not perceive it, at least when drinking the wine in isolation; when drinking the second half of the bottle in parallel with an unbaked wine, the difference in élevage was obvious, but not leading to any dissonance.
Very successful. The 16.6€ price is not outrageous, but there is plenty of competition from the Mâconnais and elsewhere in that bracket.
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Red
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2018 Domaine Sylvain Pataille Bourgogne
Pinot Noir more
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13% alcohol. Extremely short cork of decent quality. Translucent colour, but not as pale as in some on this producer's other wines.
There is an eggy component (fresh egg) to the aroma which tends to dominate the red fruit; this does not go away during the meal. The mouth is mercifully free of this reductive taint (well, nearly...), and it shows good vivacity, in a style more reminiscent of Beaujolais than Burgundy.
Frankly disappointing given the reputation of the winemaker.
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Red
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2011 Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent La Rochelle Château des Jacques
Gamay more
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13.5% alcohol. Long cork of vg quality. The colour is medium, certainly quite dark for Gamay.
The nose is more dark than red fruited, but nothing cooked, and there is a vivacious note too; no perception of oak either. The mouth has excellent acidity and it is more red fruited than what the nose would lead you to expect.
While this is a good wine, it is lacking depth. In vg condition though, so there is scope for improvement, maybe...
Not really a success on this occasion, but perhaps I have been spoiled by the superlative bottles that I had in the last two days.
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Red
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2002 Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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13% alcohol (it feels like a bit more). CS 77%, M 12%, CF 10%, PV 1%. Long cork of vg quality with minimal wine penetration except along a few outside streaks. Decanted 75 mn ahead. The colour is dark with marginal thinning but no bricking at the rim.
The nose is immediately enticing and complex with fresh dark fruit, ink and a smoky element that is more Lapsang than tobacco. The mouth adds opulence kept in check by superb acidity; the tannins are resolved but the wine does not lack grip. No direct perception of oak; menthol in the finish adds a fresh note. There is no doubt that this is a special wine with a great sense of completeness.
Highly successful, unlike the bottle of Lafite of the same vintage that we had a week ago.
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Red
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2019 Domaine Sylvain Pataille Marsannay Les Longeroies
Pinot Noir more
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13% alcohol. Just a short note as this was consumed at a restaurant. Pale translucent colour.
The nose is immediately enchanting with a heady mix of red berries; complex and sophisticated. Equally good on the palate with superb balance and silky mouthfeel.
Really remarkable; the fact that one can produce such a refined wine from a relatively unheralded AOC frankly calls into question the established Burgundy hierarchy.
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White
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2021 Domaine Clos des Rocs Pouilly-Loché Les Mûres
Chardonnay more
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13.5% alcohol. Very good cork. The colour is pale straw.
The nose is both rich and floral with a great sense of purity; some fresh apple betrays the Mâconnais origin. The mouth is remarkably complete in that it covers the whole spectrum from tartness to a hint of sweetness (not in the sugary sense). No perception of oak at any stage. A lot of tension here but no austerity at all; good depth too.
A very individual wine and a superb partner for fresh prawns (and I am choosy for this pairing).
My first encounter with this producer and a success without a doubt.
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Red
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2017 Daniel Bouland Chiroubles Châtenay
Gamay more
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13.2% alcohol. More than decent cork. Sustained colour but still translucent (unless you overfill the glass).
The nose is red fruited with some complexity beginning to emerge. Superb mouth with a pure-but-not-that-simple feel and remarkable length; the acidity is substantial but in no way overbearing.
Year after year, Bouland produces superb age worthy wines out of Morgon (mostly) and Chiroubles; long may it last.
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Red
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2010 Louis Chavy Auxey-Duresses
Pinot Noir more
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12.5% alcohol. The cork is slightly above average. Lovely ruby translucent colour.
Very pure red fruited nose, mostly redcurrant but with just a hint of raspberry; lovely and not that far from Nebbiolo. The mouth is juicy and joyful in a way that evokes Beaujolais (this is not a negative).
A satisfactory Burgundy in the light lively mode, remarkably fresh at age 14.
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Red
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2002 Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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12.5% alcohol. Embossed bottle. Transparent cover over the collar sleeve. The cork is of vg quality but not that long; no wine penetration anyway. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is dark with marginal thinning at the edge of the rim.
The nose mixes ripe wild dark berries with some ink in a very classy way. The mouth has plenty of grip more as a result of highish acidity than significant tannins; harmonious in its own way, which is far from opulent.
Probably not fully ready yet. Is it of 1er cru quality? Probably not.
In today's meal, the wine ended up playing second fiddle to a rack of French lamb which was simply glorious.
Still highly enjoyable, but not at a commensurate level with the current price (about 500€ according to IdW, give me a break).
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Red
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2011 Domaine Berthelemot Beaune 1er Cru Grèves
Pinot Noir more
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13% alcohol. Good cork with some tartrate deposits. The colour is medium but translucent.
The nose is refined with mixed red berries and just a hint of liquorice. The mouth adds plenty of peps due in no small part to excellent acidity.
Strangely, the wine was completely overwhelmed by a dish of pot roasted pigeon with root vegetables; disappointing but educational, I suppose. Much better on its own afterwards.
In good condition and free of the flaws that some have reported in burgundies of this vintage.
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White
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2018 Paul et Marie Jacqueson Rully 1er Cru Raclot Blanc
Chardonnay more
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13% alcohol. Diam5 closure, as dense as ever. The colour is light gold.
Yellow flowers on the nose as well as a touch of sweat (in a pleasant way). The mouth is very vivid with barely a sign of buttery notes and notes of honey counterbalanced by substantial acidity. Very satisfactory and not in any way overblown, vintage notwithstanding.
In perfect condition, and looks like it might improve over the next few years (five?).
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Red
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2013 Domaine Thillardon Chénas Les Carrières
Gamay more
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12% alcohol. Very short cork of pretty good quality. The colour is fairly dark for Gamay, but it is still translucent.
Very pretty nose of redcurrant with a great sense of purity. Very poised in the mouth with great balance and no excess of acidity.
A remarkable success given that the vintage is not held in high regard; in excellent condition too. An instance of Gamay keeping very well indeed at age 11 but without showing any development.
Also to be noted is the questionable value for money at well offer 20€ currently for a basically simple wine.
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Red
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2019 Diego Morra Langhe Nebbiolo Il Sarto
Langhe DOC
more
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14% alcohol. Diam5 closure. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is very pale ruby and translucent.
The nose is somewhat reticent, but what it shows is enticing (redcurrant mostly and just a hint of rose petals). The mouth adds very substantial acidity, borderline excessive, but it has superb mouthfeel too, go figure!
This is probably the youngest Nebbiolo that I ever had, so I think that there is room for improvement with bottle age; as it stands, it is a notch below the best LN that I had.
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Red
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2011 Freres Muzard Santenay Vieilles Vignes
Pinot Noir more
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13% alcohol. Fairly long cork of reasonable quality. The colour is pale and translucent.
The nose shows pretty red berries but there is also a smoky component, more turf than wood. The smoky element is also very present in the mouth, which has high acidity in the finish; vg mouthfeel nevertheless.
A bit of a puzzler, this one.
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White
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2014 Jacques Saumaize Pouilly-Fuissé Les Courtelongs
Chardonnay more
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13% alcohol. Good cork. The colour is rich gold.
The nose is vivacious and floral with some beeswax and a touch of lanolin added. The mouth is more nimble that what the colour would lead you to expect, with superb refreshing acidity in the finish.
In perfect condition at age ten, which cannot be taken for granted.
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Red
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2010 Montirius Gigondas Terres des Ainés
Red Rhone Blend more
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14.5% alcohol. G 80%, Mrvdr 20%. Very short cork of reasonable quality; no wine penetration anyway. The colour is pretty dark with significant thinning at the edge of the rim.
The nose shows black olive and ripe fresh black fruit, with just a raisiny hint in the finish, but nothing overwhelming. Similarly balanced in the mouth with vg acidity. There is nothing bulky here, which is remarkable for a G based wine; this shows special skills in both viticulture and wine making. Correspondingly leaner than most people's idea of a Gigondas, but none the worse for it.
In vg condition now and for at least five years.
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Red
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2011 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône
Red Rhone Blend more
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14% alcohol. Very short cork of middling quality. Opened 90 mn ahead but did not decant. The colour is pale and cloudy.
The nose is immediately enchanting evoking an infusion of rose petals mixed with "grenadine"; this is really unique. Similarly superlative in the mouth with extraordinary length and magnificent mouthfeel. Less strawberry than on other occasions, and I will not complain about that.There is a "sweet without sugar" feel here. No tannin worth talking about but good grip nevertheless.
I feel that it is best not to have this wine too often in order to preserve the whaouh effect. The partnership with Iberico pork chops was excellent.
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Orange
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2016 Domaine Les Bruyères Vin de France L'inattendu
Marsanne more
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13% alcohol. This is Marsanne and Roussanne with a year long maceration in amphora. Ardeaseal closure. Amber colour and very cloudy.
The nose is the best part with green plum and some honey; back down to earth with the mouth which is reminiscent of cider.
Not worth the trouble for my palate, but I must admit that I never had an orange wine that convinced me.
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White
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2015 Paul et Marie Jacqueson Rully 1er Cru Gresigny Blanc
Chardonnay more
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13.5% alcohol. Superb cork of reasonable length. Rich golden colour.
The nose is very satisfying, mixing floral aromas with ripe yellow plum and very discreet notes of élevage; very classy. Barely half a notch behind in the mouth, with fresh apple and excellent balance including perfectly judged acidity; neither lean nor bloated.
A magnificent match for live prawns (well we did not eat them alive...).
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Red
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2005 Château Carbonnieux
Pessac-Léognan
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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13.5% alcohol. CS 60%, M 30%, CF 10%. Shortish cork of vg quality. Decanted an hour ahead. Dark colour with minimal fading at the rim.
Harmonious nose marrying dark berries and olive with tertiary notes of leather and ash; good complexity, then or what? The mouth is just as good with vg mouthfeel and excellent balance. Some residual tannins ensure good grip. There is class here without a doubt.
I may be in a minority, but I am more impressed by the red than the white at this estate.
Coming into its drinking period, which should last fifteen years easily.
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