2/20/2021 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Seriously dense '01. Loads of minerals, iron. Drying tannins. A lot of balance and intensity. Drink in know less than 5 years.

10/11/2019 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Drink soon. Heavy presence of soy throughout. But surrounded by lovely perfumes red and black fruit supported by great balanced structure.

8/7/2018 - antiwood wrote:

Lovely young stuff. Bottle not listed as in Cellar in records.

4/7/2018 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Watta ya know. After 7 straight bottles of premox tired wines from Fevre, this one is alive and kicking in a lovely way. Sea notes, lemon zest, pineapple, buttery nose. Silky, ripe, full body w/o being too much ... strong mineral finish. Not a classic Chablis but really good Chardonnay.

8/12/2017 - antiwood wrote:

I may have given up on this too soon. Secondary notes really beginning to pop out .. aromatic, lovely mouthfeel with enough '96 freshness to be lively with the acidity enveloped in a pillow of soft Pinot fruit. If there is a complaint, it is that the inner energy of this wine remains low. But the move towards secondary is increasing the interest and I'd guess this will positively evolve for another five years or so.

4/6/2017 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Very primary and youthful. For a St Joseph, this is fruit forward with nice balance and less cut then historically. Lovely fruit and typical N Rhone syrah flavors. Still simple ... but seems to have an excellent future head. I'd give it 3-5 years.

7/9/2016 - antiwood wrote:

Drank with Rick/La Spiga. It's fine wine. Not worth a tasting note though and not worth the current $'s. Disappointing for what it's supposed to be, but certainly nice.

12/26/2015 - antiwood wrote:

Ebrim tasting note of 2/1/15 says it all, other than I'd note this was a bit tired or heavy set.

12/13/2015 - antiwood wrote:

Developing aromas. A good deal of weight for a riesling but gorgeous mouthfeel and balance .. not ponderous at all. Really drinking nicely.

8/2/2015 - antiwood wrote:

Round, soft, some apparent sweetness although probably dry by measurement. Not terribly interesting. Drink away.

4/27/2015 - antiwood Does not like this wine:

What the heck is this? It ain't St. Joseph but follows Guigal's over extracted highly ripe methods .. purple dense grape fruit with a dollop of oak. Too bad I have one more bottle. Remains primary. I guess give it another five years, although I'm not sure what for.

4/24/2015 - antiwood wrote:

meh. Drink now.

4/10/2015 - antiwood wrote:

Short note: dry, balanced, lean, gorgeous, drinking well.

12/22/2014 - antiwood Does not like this wine:

This maybe the only Alzinger Bottling that I've not liked, ever. This feels tired, over the hill, with no verve at all.

11/2/2014 - antiwood wrote:

A cool set of aromas, jerky, brush, sous-bois. Very fresh fruit on the attack ... still mostly primary. Tannins are chalky more than dusty and still have more resolving to go. But this is very Hermitage in palate and feel. Nice but not 'it's no Chave'. Missing plushness in the mid-palate and freshness (a bit drying) in the finish would be my only complaint. Drink again in 3-4 years.

10/28/2014 - antiwood wrote:

Tight as a drum at opening. Following notes after four hours. A not quite brilliant ruby/violet color. Vanilla, toast, red vines, Firm tannic presence softened with lovely sap. Finish is fresh with black fruits coming to the fore. I'd like the nose to be more complex, but the body/finish is intriguing and coming around with a dark char underlying the fruit. Give 3-5 more years to the next bottle.

10/23/2014 - antiwood wrote:

After four hours, begins to sing a bit. Very fragrant blackberries, bright,
A good deal of still primary fruit and sap that is very dark. Definitely beginning to open up. Firm grip which is still a tad drying. Tails in a sweet but quick manner. Quite nice, I'm guessing many reviewers aren't giving it air time. Give 2-4 more years.

8/2/2014 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Classic northern rhone .. olives, Mediterranean brush, a vein of venison, and white pepper. Soft, full bodied, balanced .. the tannins are present but nearly mature. Fresh fruit still envelopes growing secondary flavors. Long balanced finish. Gorgeous. Still very youthful and should gain for 5-15 more years. Drank at Nells.

6/1/2014 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Everything is still primary with this. Nose is somewhat subdued with ripe Pinot aromas. Good weight on the body, still a bit of baby fat, fiery tannins. Medium long finish. Toasty oak is present on nose and body but definitely not over the top. This is actually better than I expected .. drink again in 3-4 years.

5/25/2014 - antiwood wrote:

Fairly complex nose of honeysuckle, pear, lychee nuts, and perhaps some apples that are a bit old ... but you have to search as it's a somewhat muted aromatic. Simply not enough freshness on the palate, very light body, a bit tired, albeit pleasant. Finish on the shorter side.

Body variation? This is nothing as potent as the '96 I had from last month.

3/17/2014 - antiwood wrote:

Needed 4-5 hours to open up. Then, fantastically fresh, tannins still firm, lots of time left. But this is classic CdP, just ripe enough, a bit rustic ... drink or hold.

3/11/2014 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Short note: this is still very primary with classic SLB brambly fruit but that purple grapeiness in youthful Savigny is still very present. Full bodied and just beginning to bring on secondary flavors .. definitely still needs time.

3/1/2014 - antiwood wrote:

Clean, crisp, balanced. Mostly apple with some pear. Acidity is fresh and cleansing as it should be. Still a baby. And lovely.

2/26/2014 - antiwood wrote:

Subdued nose with some nuttiness and seaside. Incomplete body with low acidity levels for a Chablis. Clipped finish. Consistent memory of this wine across three bottles. Another Garagiste failure.

12/12/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Mature riesling aromas, white flowers, white pepper, clove, nutmeg. This is really nicely balanced between a medley of crisp citrus (lime blossoms, orange, grapefruit), mineral, and a nice dollop of acidity to keep it fresh. The mineral keeps on going and going through the finish. Really nice kabinett .. just sweet enough and somehow avoids the insane overripe rieslings of the modern era completely. But ... no reason to hold.

12/8/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Showing best after 6-8 hours. Still very primary earlier. Tinge of bricking. Raspberry, brush, mineral, ash, thyme/herbal notes. Body is fairly narrow and a bit tight. Very intense mineral on the finish. Pretty classic Savigny. This seems to be opening up albeit still further to go.

6/18/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Ruby red with slightest tinge of orange. Beautiful Pinot Noir perfume balanced light vanilla and sweet oak presence .. blackberry, orange pekoe tea, pencil lead. Lighter body than most Cortons and more developed than many 2002's. Vanilla runs strong on the finish but it remains supported by enough fruit to stay balanced. Drinking nicely now but should continue to evolve well. Not your classic Corton but just fine.

6/16/2013 - antiwood wrote:

Simple nose. Overripe fruits although light bodied. Hole in the mid-palate and fairly abbreviated finish. Very little varietel character and no perfume at all. You can have it.

5/27/2013 - antiwood wrote:

Give it more time. Somewhat closed in and lacking freshness. Still, most components seem to be there for a nice wine.

5/24/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Somewhat subdued nose albeit shows signs of developing. Still some primary grape but hints of spice, black fruits. Fairly dense body with great balance just beginning to develop and a sense of much more to come as it relaxes. Has the characteristic Chandon de Briailles softness. Medium long finish that ends with dusty tannins. This is youthful but everything seems primed for continued great development. Try again in a couple of years.

5/19/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Lovely fresh aromatics combining citrus and a bit of tropical. Higher apparent sweetness than at release with a slight loss in body but remains crisp enough. Long finish. Still high energy. Chidaine rocks .. not sure how this will age but will check back in in 1-2 years.

4/21/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Damn good. That is all.

3/31/2013 - antiwood wrote:

Tight compared to the recently sampled RSV and Beaumonts. Firmer all around from nose to tannins to somewhat clipped finish. Drink again in 3-5 years.

2/10/2013 - antiwood Likes this wine:

Primary aromatics of dark fruits/blackberry, minerals, pencil lead, green peppercorns, spearmint. Although the body is mostly primary development is now peaking through. This is full bodied with more red fruits than on the nose. but not deep and somewhat softer than most Corton at this age .. Merode house style here. Dusty tannins hang around a long finish with a very pleasant mouthfeel. I very much like this and it should develop beautifully for another five years.

2/2/2013 - antiwood wrote:

Prematurely aged? Drink yesterday?

12/17/2012 - antiwood wrote:

Powerful aromas of ripe, dark blackberry fruit, pencil lead, Darjeeling tea. Great energy and focus on the palate. Still primary and intensely fresh, structure is up front. Mineral driven lengthy finish. This remains gorgeous and is still developing with many years ahead.

7/21/2012 - antiwood wrote:

Lovely summer wafts from the glass: blackberries, cassis, white pepper, black olives ... extremely elegant nose. The body is simply stunning. Incredible inner mouth aromatics, completely mouth filling and balanced. Tannins are soft and an overall silky texture. Blackberry fruits and subdued leather notes. The finish is forever, lively, and gorgeous. This is Hermitage at it's best.
Third bottle in last five years and clearly the best and what 1989 promised at release. Perhaps the first bottle was off .. this one could be a more mature version of the last bottle from two years ago. With two bottle left, I'll drink the next one at 25 years old. Did I mention lately the crime that the Jaboulet family perpetrated on this wine over the last twenty years?

2/4/2012 - antiwood wrote:

Still primary. Asian spice,, candied red fruits, pure but modest aromas. Great robe, mouth coating palate presence with hidden depth. This is a sneaky big wine. Long finish of soft fruit and a nice edge of acidity. All underpinned by very ripe and dusty tannins. This is beautiful Burgundy where lightness of foot highlights the aromatics of PN. Give it 3-5 years 'til the next bottle ..

Decanted 2 hours in advance and still opening up 6 hours later. I admit to not understanding many of the other tasting notes on this wine unless most drinkers are used to New World Pinot.

11/12/2011 - antiwood wrote:

Very dark burgundy/red/purple. Deep and developing nose note of black cherry, Vosne spice, hints of prune and grilled beef. Nearly grand cru depth and powerful. Great core of black fruits. Long somewhat piercing finish. Lovely burgundy. Just moving past it's youth and beginning to open up .. but wait multiple years.

10/28/2011 - antiwood wrote:

Very primary. Drink in 5 years.

5/21/2011 - antiwood wrote:

Not very interesting at all. Acid left for another bottle? Somewhat tired. Off bottle?

5/13/2011 - antiwood wrote:

Dense. Extremely fresh and barely tame, classic Cornas aroms, very Mediterranean: green olives, smoke, dusty hillside herbs, with a tinge of blackberry in the background. Oh my. Body of fresh vibrant dense fruit, very wild cherry/raspberry fruit, candied red hots, sweet herbal tones, with follow through on dusty tannins, medium bodied. A really long finish that stays vibrant a long time. Verset at his absolute best. Again. Just compared notes to last bottle, eerily similar.

5/9/2011 - antiwood wrote:

Garnet colored. Mild mannered wine and surprisingly softening since the vintage. FLoral nose, fairly pure. Lighter bodied, dusty tannins with enough acidity to balance. Red fruits/raspberry and bramble. Not much evidence of oak. Clean finish although not terribly long. Lovely pinot which is drinking fairly well fairly early.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: Somewhat different nose .. dried fruits instead of concentrated fruit, herbal/thyme character , a bit of volatility. This wine did not have the elegance or fragrance of it's sibling. A bit all over the place and not together.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: Vibrant fun aromas hinting at great energy .. plums, pomogranite. On the wild side with the energy on the nose followed through in the mouth, much fresh fruit, a bit all over the place, chunky tannins, Pleasant but dusty finish. A really nice start to the evening. Not the most complex or dense wine, but keeps you interested.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: Fragrant and perfumed nose, lovely spice, roses, peppy ... fruit liquor (cherry? pomogranite?). Great inner mouth perfume. The most burgundian of the wines tonite. Impeccable balance. Lighter weight but the type of complexity that draws you in, makes you focus, and there is always something new. Tannins are mellowing quite a bit. Lovely finish that almost tickles. Yum.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: Lovely, well made, not Barolo. Same notes as the A. Conterno Granbussia but less weight and depth. Consistent with every Sandrone I've ever had. Great winemaker. Belongs in a factory.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: I gorgeous, balanced, wine with great density that finishes beautifully. And I have not that much interest. Everything is hung off of an oaked, wood frame from the nose right through to the end. Lovely, but where's Piedmont? Mind you, this is not hit you over the head oak .. but still, everything is tasted in reference to that frame .. for some else, not I.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: After the well made but 'where i's Piedmont' modernity, this just exploded on us. Can anyone say tar and roses? Lotsa? The nose leaped from the glass and attacked us. Spices everywhere. Energizer bunny on the palate. Very tannic but boy, this works. Just beginning to mature.

5/6/2011 - antiwood wrote:

1995 Barolo with Usual Suspects: Holy moly. Vibrant, precise aromas .. not as explosive or spicy a nose as the G. Conterno but the high tones lend a freshness which is gorgeous and there is much complexity. The body .. that rocks. The perfect example of silken, molten steel. Narrow framed but oh my, the incredibly dense, deep. brooding fruit just rocks. Dense and firm but silken, smooth, elegant. It doesn't actually finish. Ever. Very dark stuff. My since was that this incredibly youthful but a couple of others thought it was getting on. They're wrong. :) Drink over next 30 years.