Based upon info for the '15: "The grapes hail from Morgon’s famous lieu-dit of 'Côte du Py,' situated S of the village of Villié-Morgon and N of the hamlet of Haut-Morgon on an inactive volcano of 1,174 feet high. The vines face due S on crumbling, decomposed schist & granite soils, said to produce rich and powerful reds. Vines 35-55 yrs old; Traditional, whole cluster fermentation in s/s tanks prior to aging in FR oak barrels, 90% 3- & 6-yr old, 10% new. ≈50 cases produced."

N: Some reduction, RIPE berries on top of minerals with some earth; Occasional HINTS of flowers? Intensity lurking

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it morphs into a fairly LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. Needs/DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking through '24. A *very* substantive style that should be able to accompany "like-minded" entrées. My EXC in a markedly "bigger" style than is "typical" for Beaujolais. [I saw no other source with which to compare this vendor's $18.95.]

“Sangiovese & Merlot with an ave yield of 30 hl/ha. Fermented for 12 days in cement tanks @ 28° C; Macerated on the skins for 4 wks; Aged for 24 mos in oak barriques (85% new, 15% 2nd use); 14.65% ABV, 5.86 g/l T.A., & 3.49 pH; 86,000 bottles produced & bottled Jan ’20.”

N: RIPE blkberies, poss blk rasps, with hints of smoke? Intensity lurking?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it evolves into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS 12, poss 18 mos, then drinking into '25. My EXC-/EXC, the higher arguably for QPR. 92 pts Suckling (11/’19), 90 winealign.com (10/’19), & 89 Decanter (Fiordelli, 4/27/20). [This vendor's $19.95 is as good as any of wine-searcher's current listings!]

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

N: Slightly closed; Toasty, poss smoky, oak atop ripe berries (boys)/pyrazines

P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker that only somewhat resolves as it transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with a distinct dustiness & a sense of swtness to the tannins. MIGHT be approachable now with hearty fare, but NEEDS/deserves into '22, poss '23, & the tannins/overall lack of "polish" *might* be an issue even then? My VG+, though I *could* see an EXC- *if* one likes the style that MIGHT just be going through a temporarily disjointed phase? [By all means DO check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price!]

N: Closed; RIPE berries with pyrazines & hints of eucalyptus; With addt'l swirling, occasional whiffs of barnyrd? Intensity lurking?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by a bit of astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it pretty much works itself out by the LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the few, fairly innocuous, very, VERY fine tannins. Unless frt/swtness is currently masking underlying structure, for now with food & through '23, poss longer. Nicely done in the style! My EXC-; [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price!]

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage.

N: Grass somewhat atop minerals, apples coming on with swirling

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by a lovely acidity which fairly seamlessly leads into a LONG, BALANCED, elegantly tangy/swt finish. VERY nicely made for now & through '22, poss longer? My EXC (92,93/100 using that metric). [This vendor's now $21.95 is $2 < wine-searcher's only other current posting.]

Note: 1st tasted on 2/15/20.

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

N: Closed; Minerals, flint, poss smoke, with hints of caramel

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt beautifully counterbalanced by an acidity which flows into a LONG, BALANCED, TANGY/swt (60:40) finish that is already showing impending elegance. DESERVES through '21, then drinking through '24 without difficulty. Impressively done! My EXC, poss even higher down the line? [This vendor's $30.95 would put it in the middle of wine-searcher's 3 postings.]

N: Butter (but with some restraint), notes of smoke, with hints of lemons, POSS some tropical frts? Intensity lurking?

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish OAK/frt nicely offset by an acidity which seamlessly evolves into quite a LONG, BALANCED, TANGY/swt (55:45) finish which ult shows a pleasantness to counterbalance the firmness. Nice now with food, should improve through '21, then drink into '25 min? QUITE an impressive wine! My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric), the higher a good bet 'fore all is said & done. :) Gold from '20 TEXSOM Int'l @ $75. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

N: Very RIPE *plums* with notes of pyrazines; Intensity lurking

P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the LONG, balanced finish with a quasi-elegant, TANGY/swtness (60:40) to the few, fairly unoffensive, dusty tannins. Unless frt is currently masking underlying structure, for now with food, could improve a tad for 6-12 mos, then drink through '23, poss '24? My EXC-, & could see EXC for QPR. 93 pts ea WA, Tim Atkin (2/’18), & WE (7/1/20) @ $30, 90/Silver @ 18 Int’l Wine Challenge, and 87 @ ’17 Decanter World Wine Awards. [This vendor's $23.95 is as good as any of wine-searcher's current listings.]

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

N: Minerals atop ripe berries, notes of minerals below?

P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it only somewhat resolves by the LONG, balanced, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a discernible swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, but everything seems in place to then drink through '25, very likely longer. QUITE nicely done! My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric), the higher eventually? [DO check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price!]

N: Slightly closed; Vanilla atop minerals with notes of smoke?

P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much maintains into & through the LONG, balanced finish with notes of swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '22 (POSS '23?), then drinking through '27 without difficulty, poss longer? NICELY done in a potentially elegant style (for this DOCG)! My EXC-/EXC, the higher a good bet... eventually. 97 pts Suckling (9/’17), 93 Vinous (4/'20), 91 ea Vinous (4/’20) & WA (Larner, 10/'20),90 WE (5/1/20) @ $89, & 15/20 Jancis Robinson (Speller, 1/15/20). [This vendor's $49.95 is as good as any of wine-searcher's current entries!]

From Jaboulet’s young vyds + any wine not making the cut for La Chapelle; Typically, destemmed with an ≈10 day fermentation @ 30°C max; 12-18 mos in oak (20% new, the remainder 50:50 1 & 2 yr old casks) after being aged in vat for a few mos; Filtered, but unfined;

N: Slightly closed; Earth/minerals with ripe berries, rest tough to parse (though one experienced taster mentioned wht pepper); Intensity lurking

P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which never even remotely loses contact with the init frt as it SEAMLESSLY works itself into the quite LONG, impeccably BALANCED finish with an already lovely swtness to the dusty tannins. Suspecting the frt to be masking addt'l structure, cellar this gem into '23, then drink it through '29 min (though it MIGHT be approachable now with, say, a double decant?) A *stunning* wine! My EXC/EXC+, & could well reach Exceptional- eventually! 95 WA (Czcerwinski, 12/'19), 94 ea Dunnuck (12/12/19), Suckling (7/17/19), & Vinous (Raynolds, 4/1/20), 16/20 Jancis Robinson (3/6/19), and 4*/5 drinkrhone.com (12/’19). [This vendor's $59.95 puts it in the TOP quartile of wine-searcher's postings.]

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

Dr. Tom, THANK you for the 4th time your generosity has allowed me to taste a Seña, the other 3 having been the '04! :)

N: Pyrazines init, RIPE boys coming forward with swirling, also notes of toast

P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly pretty much works itself out by the LONG, BALANCED finish with an elegant tangy/swtness to the few, firming, dusty tannins. Drinking VERY nicely, & I can see this going well with food probably through '24. My EXC/EXC+.

N: Butter, poss butterscotch, with notes of lemons, poss flowers way beneath?

P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE oak/frt balanced by an acidity which seamlessly transitions into a LONG, BALANCED finish with an alluringly elegant tangy/swtness. Drinking beautifully right now, & if all were like this bottle (my fav of my 6 bottles?), drinkable through '22, poss more? My EXC, arguably EXC+ given the < $20 pd for it [COSTCO closeout] several yrs ago.
// ≈7 hrs after it had been opened [@ home]: The frt has now almost TOTALLY vanished, though NO sense of oxygenation, & the acidity still QUITE nice.
∑: Be WARY of this falling apart with TOO much air! :( 91 pts Tim Atkin, 88 Vinous (Tanzer), & 16/20 Jancis Robinson.

Note: Also tasted on 8/5/17, 7/6/18; 1/15, 9/1, & 9/21/19, + 1/18/20.

Dr. Tom, THANK you for following your instincts to share this charming Champagne! :)

“Crafted from a selection of the most prestigious terroirs in Champagne, the 1er & Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims predominating.” Typically, “50-55% Chard, 35-40% P.N., & 10-15% Pinot Meunier; Reserve wines: 30-35%; 4 yrs aging on lees & 8 g/l dosage.”

N: Yeasty with notes of apples, + a bit of earthiness?

P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by an acidity which fairly seamlessly evolves into a very LONG, delightfully TANGY/swt (60:40) finish. While I suspect this should be sensational with food, I can see it also working as an aperitif (at least for those fond of acidity.) 12% ABV; My EXC.

Torben & José, THANK you so VERY much for sharing this special bottle! :)

N: Notes of orange rind, ripe berries, & flowers, with hints of leather?

P: MF, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by a SLIGHTLY astringent pucker which seamlessly, somewhat works itself out by the LONG, balanced finish with a TANGY/swtness (75:25) to the few, very, VERY fine tannins. A *very* HIGH acid style which uses that (as opposed to the LARGELY resolved tannins) for its still FIRM finish. NEEDS food, which it should accompany admirably through '24, poss longer? My EXC+ (94,95/100 using that metric), but one HAS to be entranced by the acidity to go that high with it. ;)

Ken, I *do* appreciate your generosity in having shared this Bordeaux! :)

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

Bottle #076078; 13% ABV

N: Init barnyrd blows to an attractive melding of pyrazines & ripe berries, with notes of earth, poss leather, & other unparsables

P: LM body; Rndish entry with nice, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it fairly seamlessly works its way into & through the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the fairly innocuous, yet still firming, very, VERY fine tannins. Should work with food through '24, I'm guessing. NICELY done! My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric). [As of late Jun '20, wine-searcher still shows sources for the 750 ml starting @ $150].

A heartfelt TY to all who made tasting this possible!

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

[From a bottle opened ≈24 hrs prior]

N: Earth, pyrazines, ripe berries, with undertones of smoke?

P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, balanced finish with a pleasant tangy/SWTNESS to the few, quite innocuous, dusty tannins. Ignoring the possible effects of how long it had been opened, for NOW & through '22, poss '23, in a TOTALLY mature style. 14.8% ABV; My EXC (92, 93/100 using that metric), though poss "but" EXC- *if* QPR is considered? [As of late Jun '20, wine-searcher still shows 7 sources from $195-$350].