1/14/2024 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Slightly less refined than the Cathiard and Potel tasted alongside, but far from eclipsed . Tannins more to the fore here really worked well with a sausage and lentil casserole, whereas the others shone more solo or with cheese. By Cote Nuits standards, good QPR.

1/14/2024 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Hard to pick a winner between this and. Potel Pruliers 2005 tasted alongside. ‘05 Potel just edged it for persistence of finish , but the Cathiard from 06 was itself beautifully fully balanced and long with smooth tannin and wonderfully aromas of damson and leather. Not quite a peak, so no rush

12/26/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Surprised me - in a good way. Long, rich and still fruity with good balance of sweetness and acidity. Complex and satisfying mid to end palate. Better than expected from the vintage…but my only bottle! Would keep 5-10 still if you had more.

12/4/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

More balanced than many 2003. Both structure and fruit remain, with good length an depth in mid and end palate. Better than expected and would have lasted a few more years

11/16/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Still pale with green tinge even at 17. Grapefruit aromas somewhat tamed with a some apple and almost a hint of apricot. very slight oiliness in mid palate, long and savoury finish still with good acidity.

Overall much more like white Borrdeaux than in-your-face NZ SavB. Quite lovely with food.

Shame it is my last from this vintage…no risk of fast fade

8/4/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Riesling crossed with Jura? Slight hint of oxidation. Definite past it’s best, but only one bottle left so don’t know if this was an oddity. But drink up!

7/27/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

A surprise - literally! Found a bottle with no label. Could see it was Girardin and red but not sure what it is. Anyway, on opening a moderately mature burgundy, not at all over the hill. Garnet core, 3-4mm brown rim. Tinned strawberries, cherries. Soft but still present tannins. Very enjoyable

Only subsequently identified by process of elimination and can only say that the CT drink-by date of 2012 was very pessimistic!

If you have any left, open soon and enjoy

6/3/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Feared this would be showing its age too much, but actually lovely. Rich brassy gold colour. Restrained but rich nose. Initial apricot in palate quickly balanced by grapefruit acidity and slowly fades to a dry mineral finish. Great with a Thai inspired salad but suspect would also match a soft cheese like Stinking Bishop or Perl Las.

Overall, count me as impressed how well this has kept!

5/8/2023 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Musty initially. Even brick red almost to rim. Richer with some air. Little fruit, and tannin resolved. Old Rhône - love or hate it!

12/29/2022 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Up with most BdB vintages from top houses. Well developed nose, gentle mousse, fine bubbles, very long and balanced palate. Excellent!

10/7/2022 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Definitely in slow decline, but also my last. Drink up!

8/17/2022 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Drinking very well. Can’t add much more - just enjoy it. Good for at least 5-8 years

6/27/2022 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Even deep ruby, 3-4mm brown rim. Reticent nose of damson and leather. Hint of spice. Similar on palate with dry tannin to finish. Tannins lasting more than the fruit, but acidity still there. Likely past plateau (but haven’t had enough bottles to tell!). Won’t die quickly, but won’t improve. Drink up

1/22/2022 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Very aged champagne nose initially, then musty and banana aromas fell away to leave glorious aged white wine with soft mouse. Drinking well, but last bottle.

1/1/2022 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Still dark garnet core, 3mm rim. Tannin resolved. Spice, leather and blackberry aromas, continued on palate with more emphasis on spice. Rounded full and long palate. Gains complexity from 2 hours in glass, suggesting more life. Very good

5/12/2021 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Garnet core, 3mm rim fading to white, no hint of brick red yet. Damson and embers on nose. Long legs. Cherry plus tinned strawberry initial palate, then tannic hit and good acidity. Drying finish, but well balanced, a touch shorter than hoped. Likely better in 5 years as tertiary kick in and tannin fades a touch more.

5/9/2021 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Pleasantly venerable, but drink up. Brick red edge, mid red core. Not a lot of fruit left. Hints of damsons leather and distant cigar smoke on nose. Palate more dark fruit, then drying mid and quite abrupt finish. Talk to HG Wells and try 5 years ago!

5/1/2021 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Still dark red core, 5mm paler rim with just a hint of Orange/brown. Wonderful cassis aromas, followed by meaty gravy and red pepper. Full ripe CS cassis on palate, with tannins almost resolved. Superb aged New World style CS. Seems younger than 99, so no rush

4/8/2021 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Petroleum and green apples on the nose, with a touch of oak? Initial mineral and acid hit, then mellows to balance and long mid palate of apples, finishing with flint and creamy mouthfeel. Long but not vast. Dry (unsurprisingly). Would love to try again in 10 years when may well score higher - but have no more.

4/2/2021 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Still a great wine, but lost some of the richness compared to previous. Oak and minerality more to fore now, making it a good match to food and enough acidity to cut through a buttery sauce with my fish. Long stony finish. Very enjoyable, but drink up what you have left.

1/2/2021 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Dark garnet, 3mm clear rim with little browning, damson and bramble nose, rich dark fruit palate with noticeable but quite restrained tanin that is not drying. Slightly saline end to a surprisingly long finish.

Much better than expected from vintage and would easily last a few years yet despite other comments. If you have some left (I don’t!) then enjoy but no need to rush.

Excellent with a slow-cooked beef casserole.

11/25/2020 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

“This could be my everyday champagne” said my better half! Interesting half-way house between the in-your-face fruit and acidity of many NV and the deeper, more biscuity tones of CH, many (not all) DP, and Krug. Improved with food and on day two (with a champagne stopper) - both suggesting keep for a few years yet. Looking forward to more chances to assess

5/30/2020 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Surprisingly fresh, not yet into meaty tertiary stage. Rim still dark. Tannins mostly resolved. Very good, and could still wait a few years if you like your Rotie elderly

5/23/2020 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Not flawed, but beyond best. Drink now - unless you have a time machine and can do so 10 years back!

Vegetal tertiary nose promises mich if it were claret or pinot, but it roves more than is delivered on palate. Fruit largely gone, leaving hot alcohol and a smidge of tannin

4/17/2020 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Balanced mineral initial impression, good richness later in palate - though not as overtly rich as Bongran, if you are familiar with that. Easily 5 years remaining. Good value

4/11/2020 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Just superb, savoury with touch of fruit still underneath. Can’t see it improving but if you have some left, open now and enjoy.

12/15/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Drank at Chester Claret Club 400th tasting. Excellent soft mouse, still fruity, fresher than expected - magnum effect? - with delicate nutty aromas.

11/24/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Fabulously powerful and meaty nose. Only smelt something similar previously from Fonsalette. Rich, savoury, and long on palate. Totally different league to a typical CdR. A few years left, it highly enjoyable right now.

11/24/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Beautiful deep bronze colour. Very sweet but with balancing acidity, and complex orange and botrytis aromas. Unlikely to improve much, so enjoy now.

11/2/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Still a deep garnet core, but broad brick rim. Meaty tertiary aromas with hint of bramble. Tannin fully resolved, but avidity is balanced. Good with venison casserole - would be even better sipping in front of a fire with chees course, but not an option this evening sadly. Drink up if you have any left

10/5/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Neither great nor awful. Clean sherbets nose and initial flavours, but both palate and mouse a bit short.

8/10/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Incredibly still only black. Strong dark fruit with coffee undertones. Very long and still almost drank same after 3 days open. Would have kept for 10 years more but this my last bottle.

8/4/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Spanish Pinot. Hmmm I thought - but so wrong. Even at 13 years old still deep red and youthful. The backbone of a Burgundy but with swept fruit of a New World Pinot, without being jammy. Could have waited another decade but had only one bottle. Will seek out more.

7/16/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Old bottle just come to me, decanted about 45 mins before tasting. Past peak, with little fruit left but still balanced, savoury palate and high toned nose. Not overly tannic. Drink

7/16/2019 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Ancient early-90s bottle from an excellent cellar, and far from dead. Mouse good on first pour but short-lived. Slightly drier and more assertive mouth feel, more peel than fruit compared to younger bottles. Full but not overtly biscuity like many old champagnes.

Very impressive survivor and still an most enjoyable wine, but don’t wait much longer if you have any of this age!

11/5/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Tannin resolved. Mid garnet with 8-10mm rum fading through orange to almost clear. Meaty aroma, with some black fruit in palate. Relatively short compared t some vintages. Mature but should fade gracefully

9/20/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Powerful dark fruit and herb aromas, long legs (14.5%), still surprisingly youthful in colour - could easily be half the age. Some tannin left to resolve, mineral and spice on early palate, more obvious black fruit mid, turning to long dry and warm finish. If you like fruity Rhône style, drink up fast. Should fade gracefully if you like leathery old Syrah

8/27/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Ruby core, 3mm brown rim. Lovely balance - a point, with just a touch of tannin still to resolve. Meaty/leather aromas mixed with dark fruits. Oak barely present. May marginally improve, but highly enjoyable as is. Drunk with rib eye, simply served. Overall one of the best bottles I can recall of a firm favourite wine.

8/19/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Fully mature. Even warm red core, with a 10mm paler rim. Tannins resolved, leaving cedar and tobacco and hint of damson - though all a touch muted. Expect it would gently fade from here, as secondary flavours not emerging much. Enjoyable last bottle with a weekend dinner

5/25/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Mid straw, with hint if green. Interesting citrus with hint of pineapple aromas, with balanced richness and int of oak. Mineral initial and mid palate, fades just a touch faster than expected overall on palate. Lovely with hake simply served. Overall, quite the most refined Chablis I've had for a long time (not one of my regular purchases), and a delicate, balanced mouth feel.

5/18/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

A point - glorious wine currently. Two bottles tasted in past week because 1st was so nice. Mid straw colour, layered aromas including pineapple, apricot, bit of citrus and hint of oak. LONG on palate with good acidity, more tropical fruit, hint of flint mid, then very long finish of 30s+. More left in the case, but maybe not for long! Good with food, fabulous just sipping - which is unusual for me with a white wine. Don’t wait, because you are missing a treat.

4/28/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Tannin and fruit resolved to balance. 5mm orange rim, dark core. Black fruit aromas. Tertiary flavours not showing strongly. Very pleasant. Will change as ages further, but won’t improve to my mind.

4/8/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

An unusual rose. I find Landon overly acidic in Black Label, but also many roses too jammy. This offering gets the balance just right. More savoury than most rose, with good weight and length. Stood up to quails eggs and a seafood starter very nearly as well as an excellent BdB served for comparison, though would be best as a classy aperitif - outside, on a sunny evening ideally!

4/8/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk wrote:

Certainly the best bottle of English bubbly I have had. Further refined, with great depth and balance. Gentle mouse and very long. Classic BdB mouth fill. A match for any grand marque BdB short of the likes of Dom R. No rush - should last for years yet., and improved from 2 years ago

3/31/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Superb. Still looks surprisingly youthful, with depth to red core and rim only a few mm of orange. Savoury palate with leafy aromas and hit of tar to finish. Long. Tertiary flavours may come to fore more with another 10, but as change rather than improvement I suspect. No rush, but at peak?

3/31/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Last half. Still good, but has not developed the really interesting nuttiness of some older Sauternes. Enjoyable, but to my mind not improving - very different animal to Rieussec of same vintage (no surprise, but FTR)

1/19/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Long, complex, fine mouse, and interestingly different. Didn’t keep good enough notes to score

1/7/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Typical 1999 in that it could take 10 more years in cellar (but this my last). Tannic, but with a soft edge to them. More red/black fruit and mineral on palate than meaty mature burgundy as yet.

1/7/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Continues to develop. A touch more golden than previous bottles, still fresh but with long, fruity palate. Hint of butteriness developing. 2002 vintage style suits this well. No rush - easily 5-8 years .

1/7/2018 - paul@brittain.me.uk Likes this wine:

Hard to fault, this the 2017 release based on 2000/99/98/97/96 wines. Rich biscuity nose, fine and subtle mouse (not aggressive - remember this has in bottle for 15 years before release!), long and mouth filling complexity. Like mature burgundy with gentle bubbles. Very reminisent of Krug GC. May not offer the same brand appeal or a fancy box, but excellent value if you like your champagne with age.