12/12/2023 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

So rich and fragrant. Could age so much longer even with 8 years already gone.

6/2/2023 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

After a few hours in the decanter it shows meaty and leafy tobacco notes. Wish it was more concentrated.

12/1/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Round, tropical, and aromatic. Great for young Rioja.

11/24/2022 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

The fruit is still very nice and taught. However the alcohol still reverberates throughout the wine. Makes it difficult to enjoy any blooming subtleties.

11/4/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Great texture and full of ripe red fruit. Definitely want to try more of her wines.

10/4/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Kirsch, dark cherries, coffee, and smoke. A bit of a brooder. Nice grip and mouthfeel. Not sure how it’ll evolve.

5/16/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Been picking up 2001 Bordeaux as it’s easier to find than 2000 and seems to hold up better.

Surprising youth. Great structure and fruit. If you open this soon let it breathe for several hours. Wish I had more.

5/11/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Ripe tropical fruit, rich, and round texture. Retains freshness and acidity. Wish I had more.

5/1/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Bold dark fruits, pepper, and a little bit leathery. The alcohol is a bit high for me but this is still very fresh.

4/17/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

This seems to have the ripeness and vigor of a 2018. While it is all about the fruit in the beginning, at 2 hours it shows more grace and aromatics (smoke and crushed raspberries). Looking forward to aging a few bottles.

4/3/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Sleek texture and loaded with honeyed stone fruits. Still some tartness and lip smacking finish. No longer thick and powdery like a few years ago.

1/31/2022 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Rich and pleasant. So much so you don’t really mind the baby fat but know it has way more potential. I opened it way too early but offering enough ripe flavors to satisfy.

12/24/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Still quite young. Well structured tannins and a girth of fruit. Might be in a bit of transition. Not much tertiary notes to it. All this said, lots of promise.

12/19/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Drank over 3 days. Hearty dark fruit mingled with some soy flavors. Reminds me a bit of some Oregon Pinot. While the tannins are soft you can sense there’s lots of ageability to this wine.

12/1/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

For an 8 year old wine this smelled and tasted very young. Must have been pristinely stored. Fragrant red fruit dominates the whole experience. Not overly tart either. At this stage, it is simple but very satisfying. Could age much longer.

11/27/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Still very purple. Fresh and fruity. Lively fruit and flower aroma. Looking forward to aging a few years.

11/8/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

Heady and floral. Very much reserved. Open for two and half days and there wasn’t much change. All it’s big flavor is damned up for the moment. That said, it manages a light grace despite its girth. A lot still to be unwrapped here. Wait on this as long as you can.

10/18/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Really polished texture and subtle aromatics. Creamy fruits, and refreshing overall. Really enjoyed but looking forward to aging even longer.

8/29/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

Hearty in style. Big dark cherry notes and a bit more body than I expected. Not that I really know what to expect from Santenay as I’ve only had a handful.

8/7/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Tropical and a fair amount of new oak. Some decent weight and tart fruit. Very enjoyable and look forward to seeing how it ages.

7/26/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Smokey and herbaceous at first. Tart fruit that eventually relents and becomes richer and the acidity comes alive after a few hours. Layered finish. So good.

7/25/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Lots of life, whole citrus, creamy, and tart. Yummy and delicate.

7/11/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: This was the big surprise for me. Walked a wobbly line between richness and lively acidity. The Chardonnay was on display with lots of citrus and undertones of honey and almond.

It had the most developed secondary flavors. Sure, it was the oldest of all the wines but its shape and development were a surprise.

While the '08 was the best of the evening this was certainly a dark horse.

7/11/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: The 2008 vintage was just fantastic. Even on the first sip it seemed a lot better than the other wines we had tasted up to this point.

This is also the only wine of the bunch where the blend was changed. 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay.

The richness and savory qualities of the Pinot were apparent from the get go. Though the acidity made it quite lithe. Definitely the most alive of the bunch.

Certainly could age it for much longer but really lovely now.

7/11/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: This seemed quite indicative of the vintage. Lots of plump fruit and sweet citrus. Though there was some tartness underlying these big flavors.

Both the 2011 & 2009 had a robust golden color. Made it look a little Sauternes-like.

On second pass the Chardonnay in the blend became more dominant. Started to taste more like a rich still Chardonnay.

7/11/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: This was the bottle I was most interested in trying as 2011 was probably the worst year of the decade and few producers made vintage wines, let alone ones for Special Club.

There seemed to be less pressure on this which may be because of poor storage at some point in the bottle's life. It also could have just been bottled at less pressure. The resulting texture was very soft, not a bad thing, but seemed unusual. Lots of rich buttery tones to the aroma and palate. The acid also seemed low so the wine seemed opulent. A creamy texture with honeyed citrus fruit.

Tasting it later the sweetness of the wine had compounded. The vanilla and butter flavors seemed more obvious and less stitched into the whole of the wine.

7/11/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: This was very straight-laced on its first pour. A zesty nose leading to a palate of juicy citrus and toasted brioche. The acidity wasn't ripping. It was calm and consistent.

Tasting it again an hour later it had become more vinous. The citrus fruits seeming more whole and the yeasty notes fading into the background.

7/10/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

I tried this 5-6 years ago and bought a bottle because it showed a side of Chambertin I had never seen.

Very elegant. The budding violet aromas I nosed when I first tried it were fully open now. Fresh mint, and forest fruits.

The palate had such tender fruit. It is something I always associate with pacalet’s wines. Soft easygoing tannins and a tart finish. So still quite young but is out of its shell.

Really impressive, hope to find another bottle down the road.

7/9/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

Very nice fruit with a lot of musk when I first opened it. Grew to be much « leafier » as the night went on. Showing some dry tobacco and astringent tea. Might not have had the best storage all its life but still a good showing.

7/5/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Much more cohesive. Waxy fruit, lemon balm, perfume, bay leaf, and whisps of petrol. All in one fluid motion.

6/6/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

It’s nice to have a little splash of this when you first open it to enjoy its freshness. Then it’s worth corking back up and having the rest the following day. This wine is so much better on the second day. Great bouquet of spices, flowers, and fruits. The palate is rich and teeters on savory flavors on the finish. Say what you want about 2011, this was delightful.

6/3/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

So minty and tender. While it’s all so pleasing already, this wine still hasn’t completely bloomed. It seems reductive just in a different way. The aroma and the palate are so tightly knit this could age for much longer. But it’s taut fruit and youth make it so lovely.

6/3/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

A heady aroma that is full of floral oils. Spicy palate with lots of fresh fruit. Some girth to it but still a lighter body. Delightful and easy to enjoy.

5/16/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

A Walk Through Simon Bize 1er Crus: Everyone said this had the most promise down the road. Though it was very enjoyable already. Great lithe texture. The dark fruit seemed smoothed out into a coulee.

After aerating the aroma is thick with underbrush. But this wine probably wasn't at its best yet.

5/16/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

A Walk Through Simon Bize 1er Crus: This was probably my favorite of the night. When you first open it you get that Savigny earthiness. But a bit closed so the wine comes off as kind of empty.

After a few hours the wine has great lift. No longer a heavy Pinot also showing some minty green qualities that make it really refreshing. Worth the wait.

5/16/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

A Walk Through Simon Bize 1er Crus: This is a much bigger wine than the others. Lots of sous bois aroma which is starkly different form the palate. Big black fruit and tannins with grip. This really needed food with it.

Trying it again later the tannins seemed astringent but the wine had not settled down. Still lots of big fruits.

5/16/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

A Walk Through Simon Bize 1er Crus: This seemed the most unapologetic of the wines. Lots of wet earth and underbrush on the nose. Softer tannins and lush dark fruit. '08 is an acid forward vintage but works very well behind the scenes in this wine.

Circling back around the wine seemed more ethereal. It's in your face aroma had subsided and it came across as more nuanced.

5/16/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

A Walk Through Simon Bize 1er Crus: An odd combination of earth and spice. Both in aroma and taste. The fruit is soft but the acid is a bit limp. While this seems past its prime the tannins seem underripe.

Coming back to it a few hours later the fruit played more of a role but the alcohol was showing through more than one would want. The finish seemed to fall apart as well.

This is supposed to be the most approachable of the Savigny 1er Crus so I think I just opened this a bit too late.

4/29/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Wonderfully tart and citrusy. Like a lemon pop at first. Though you do get more berry coulee flavors as the wine opens. The clarity is really refreshing. Great steak knife for food or a zesty aperitif.

4/12/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Teasing but gives just enough. Very fond of the tart dark red fruit of NSG. Showed off some earthy aromas on the first day but traded it for a clearer palate on the second. Not a showy wine but it does satisfy. I look forward to another down the road.

3/28/2021 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

A little tired but still very nice. Medium bodied and creamy mouthfeel. Not much acid which is why you should drink it now. Enjoy autumnal fruits, creme de cassis, plums, mild spice, and wet tobacco.

3/15/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Drank over two days. More bitter tea and cherry fruit this time. Still a lovely texture. Not as expressive as previous bottles but still a delight to drink.

3/13/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Almost ten years on this and it’s still fresh as a daisy. Aromas of fresh veggies and fruit. After a few hours there are more spice and floral aromatics. The palate has taut red fruit and mossy undertones. After a few more hours the wine gains some girth and shows that it can age for much longer than initially thought...but I couldn’t wait any longer. :)

1/29/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Wonderful aroma, reminds me of being there, in a cellar. Damp earth, fermenting must, and floral scents. A palate of whole fruits, dark raspberries and blueberries. With a little lilt of acidity. I don’t know if I’d age this any further it’s such a pleasure now.

1/28/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

An initial sting of sweetness that turns to tart green apples and flowers. A taste of crisp well water. So satisfying and refreshing.

1/26/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

The smell of the richest olive brine. Soaked red fruits on the palate. This wine always builds on itself as it opens up. Every time I have it I am impressed all over again.

1/5/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Imagine fresh well water. Powerful and satisfying mineral flavors in tandem with richer (compared to 2017 tasting) honey notes. The wine seems too fat in the beginning but shortly after opening the acidity wakes up and cuts everything nicely. This still has code yet to be unraveled but insofar has become less dainty and more satisfying since my last bottle.

12/4/2020 - WhatsSamSipping wrote:

Tart and electric upon opening the bottle. Stiff fruit as if they were just pulled from a restaurant chiller. Over the course of several hours the fruit thaws and becomes more robust. More tannins emerge as well. This wine is still quite primary. After 8 hours there weren't many earthy/secondary characteristics. The alcohol gives this Pinot some broader shoulders and I'm not sure if this helps or hinders the wine. I think this has great bones but I don't know if I have the patience to wait on them.

12/3/2020 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

Rich and creamy, like a finely whisked egg yolk. Yellow plums, dried citrus, crushed cashews, and salted butter. The acidity is remarkably still noticeable. It gives all the flavors life which makes the wine seem so much younger than it is.

11/19/2020 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:

This is starting to show tertiary flavors. Though everything was a bit dry and stiff. The aroma had some roasted meat and the beginnings of green peppercorns. A palate of brooding dark fruit and an added grit from the tannins that just don't want to relinquish this wine.

Kept checking in on this for three days and it just didn't seem to wake up.

Still enjoyed but I think this is a bit closed but will come out the other side soon.