4/5/2024 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

Bright young red-purple color, at first opening an assertive but broad nose of blackberry and cherry fruit with a wonderful complexity of floral notes, on the palate fine depth, mid-weight dark berry-driven fruit leading into a long and slightly peppery austere finish, with time the fruit develops a punchy character ala 2006 red burgundy, the finish settles a bit with time but still indicates this is going to demand 3 or so years for resolution, robust, seamless, the remains of the bottle 3 days later (no preservation techniques applied) were surprisingly vibrant, a very promising Spatburgunder- one of the finest I have ever tried.

(***)+, possibly **** in time, 2028-2040

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright pale yellow color, fine nose of melon, pear and honeysuckle, young grass, on the palate light and genteel but with very good depth, fine long fragrant finish, young days and showing well- but surely there is a good deal more to come with age.

[****, 2030+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro wrote:

black purple red color- probably the deepest color of any wine tonight, burnt fruit on the aggressive nose, fresh coffee grinds, licorice, on the palate impenetrable, inky, showing a little herbal and chalk nuance but in no way is this subtle, FWIW many in the room spoke well of this- so my read on this was far from popular consensus.

[**+?, 2040+ this will need a long time to achieve its ends]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright red purple color, smooth and slippery nose, strong clay earth note, polished- perhaps overly so- but also with perfectly ripe berry fruit with chalk notes, on the palate deep and dense but lacking the excesses of both the vintage and other wines that have turned “modern” of late, firm oak presence, heavy old school tannins that are nicely buried, I rather like this and I am tempted to think that- as with Palmer and Mouton- Canon has found a nice balance of the traditional and new ways of things that will yield something a bit different in time but still true to its roots and of appeal to an AFWEer like me.

[***+, 2040+ it did show nicely today but instinctively I think this one will need a good bit of time]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

very dark purple-red color, textured nose of wild raspberries, cherry, mint and young bramble, on the palate most attractive with beautiful balance and respectable restraint, a mid-weight and the most “classic” wine on the table tonight- like Magdelaine it wears its vintage honorably but with no excess to distract from its base character, cherry fruit on the palate with a light punch note, fine length.

[****, 2035+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

inky purple color, lovely nose, ripe cassis, a bit of oak spice, crushed blackberries, on the palate perfectly ripe- just perfect, lively assertive tannins, the mid-palate is sheer joy with racy mineral and berry notes to accompany the pure and effortlessly beautiful cassis and cherry fruit, great length with a light chalk note, this shows the power and punch of the vintage without the potential excesses better than just about every other wine here tonight, superb.

[****+ - *****, 2030+ a long distance runner for sure, but this I think will be turning the corner in 10 years]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro wrote:

deep purple red color, muted nose showing only dark fruit notes, a bit of plum and pepper, on the palate roasted and overtly sweet, very primary, oak presence stinging and too strong for my tastes, also has something of a heavy feel to it, many at the event liked this very much FWIW- and as with the Pichon Lalande it is easier to approach tonight than most.

[***?, 2040+ as with the 1986 I think this is going to take a very long time to get there]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

deepish purple color, cassis, red plums and raspberry on the nose, notable oak, light bramble, on the palate a firm earth note, darker spectrum of fruit, tannins and oak a more overt presence, very good length and also very good balance- of late I have often found this wine over-oaked in recent vintages but the sheer power of 2020 reduces that risk greatly here.

[***+, 2040+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

medium deep purple color, pure cassis fruit on the nose- slightly roasted, some oak spice, plum note, on the palate a buttery and joyous fruit akin to the Haut-Brion, for the moment this is all fruit on the palate- and showing beautifully, out of all the wines served tonight this is the one I would open now for dinner if I had to choose, good length, lovely wine and the only question is whether its hallmark nuances will fully emerge in time or if this will remain more fruit-driven.

[***+, 2030+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

medium deep purple color, rolling waves of red and black fruit on the nose, berry and plum nicely overlaid with textures of clay and white minerals, on the palate closed around the edges with a clear view in the center of an attractive array of primary cherry, plum and cassis, despite the excesses of the vintage this manages to remain its usual seamless self, good finish.

[***+, 2030+ if more nuance develops with time, I will have underrated this]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

deepish purple color, racy nose with a bit of liniment, cherry, strong ferrous and earth notes, on the palate a mirror image making for a wonderful and expressive wine, ideal ripeness as well, great length, very fine.

[****+ to *****, 2040+ a long wait, but it will be worth it]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

good deepish purple color, nose of glorious mulberry fruit, very pure and alluring, perfect ripeness, cassis and cascades of violets, chalk and dark chocolate notes, on the palate something of a contrast- fruit forward with buried tannins, notable note of roasted plums, the palate then goes mute on a good finish lacking fanfare, still it is early days- so that is not yet of great concern.

[***+, 2035+, this showed best on the nose, if the rest catches up this will be a top 2020]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

medium deep purple-red color, very ripe nose- almost roasted, strong oak, on the palate rolling and slightly sweet fruit, indulgent, soft tannins, good finish- nicely fragrant, not as tight as Mouton but still somewhat restrained in the middle.

[***, 2030+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

inky purple color- far darker than both Haut-Brion and Lafite (moreso than usual), on the nose sexy spice notes, cassis, mineral notes prominent on the nearly shut-down palate, strong but rounded tannins, firm oak a noticeable presence- but in proper proportion, the most shut-down of the first growths but also the one showing the greatest number of glimpses at its nuances.

[****, 2040+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright purple red color, fruit-dominant nose, cassis with hints of pencil lead, violet and boxwood, on the palate the ripe fruit quickly gives way to a closed mid-palate with substantial- but rounded- tannins, cherry notes, a bit of chalk, great length, despite its reluctance today- clearly a very fine vintage for Lafite.

[****+, 2045+]

10/12/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

rich deep purple color, sweet plum and cherry on the nose, very fruit driven, minimal herb notes, on the palate a joyous and buttery fruit that immediately reminded me of how the 1995 was at release, as with the nose- the palate is heavily fruit dominated, black plums, cassis, cherries, perfect ripeness, rounded, very good length, I have not been enamored of the oak levels and concentration here in vintages like 2014- but in 2020 the sheer power of the fruit is making for a good overall balance more akin to the past.

[****, 2040+]

10/10/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

light to medium red color, at opening very tight on the nose and on the palate a bit hard with stem notes contrasting with a mid-weight fruit that was surprisingly a bit like 2020 in character- notably with a hint of roasted plums, 8 hours later the nose has broadened with cherry notes, spicy oak and a slight medicinal note with green stems, on the palate an attractive cherry fruit with rose petals, clay, mid-weight with some dry tannins and a savory finish of good length that is showing a bit hard on the tail end, nicely detailed and transparent, to compare with prior vintages of similar wines- this has the transparent detail of 2001, a good ripe fruit that is slightly roasted ala 2020 and a strong presence of medicinal and stem notes that is very much in the vein of 1994 though not as dominating, it is early days yet but if all goes well then this will be a fragrant and detailed mid-weight that will offer more savory and intellectual pleasure than charm or allure, a useful wine for sure- the likes of which we have not seen in quite some time, but a tough sell at these prices- even for a burg geek like me who can find a perfect occasion to showcase just about any vintage.

(***)?, 2028+, this really needs some cellar time to harmonize and develop further

10/10/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

light gold with lime tinge, on opening the nose was almost tropical- gradually settling after a couple of hours into a profile akin to a fine Mosel Riesling- pear, a bit of peach, creamy limes, hints of pungent grass and a lovely waterfall of honeysuckle, on the palate the concentration at the core is massive and yet the wine remains overall quite deft and taut, hints of blood orange, grass, cream and coffee grinds tell the tale of a palate that promises to expand to dreamlike proportions in time- but for now on the palate this is focused, elegant and streamlined with mineral, racy lime and lemon notes leading into a fine long closed finish, after 6 hours of air finally a blaring burnt butter and cream note comes out, but still the core of fruit remains primary and tight, this for me is one of the greatest wines in the world; with so many facets to its personality, and each expressed in varying degrees across the vintages- it really takes a good 20 years of tasting experience to appreciate the breadth of moods and emotions with which Drouhin's Beaune Clos des Mouches tells its story, this is a power vintage like 2009 and 2020- and yet it has a tantalizing tension and carefully restrained opulence that make it most singular, an utterly fascinating vintage- and one I think will need 3-5 years in the cellar to begin to fully emerge.

*(****), 2028++

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

half bottle- decanted four hours prior to serving

bright gold color, intensely honeyed nose, fig, orange, marzipan, white flowers in lovely layers, top note of key lime, dense apricot jam, on the palate magnificent, almond paste note, with time in glass the lime acids on the tail end become more fiery and yet remain liberally coated with sweet fruit, splendid and with many years of development to come- but this is very approachable, indeed more approachable than the other great TBA in this style by von Schubert.

*****, approachable now but I would wait 5-10 years if you can.

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

light gold color, peach and pear on the ethereal nose, on the palate deft, succulent peach, rose petals and glimmering slate, blood orange note with time, lean and supremely elegant, almost ethereal, most attractive.

****, ready to drink with time in hand

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

light gold color, tropical nose with mango, pineapple and orange, seamless bright mineral band across the middle, on the palate fresh and bright, tropical fruit notes mirroring the nose and zesty lime acids, not as complex as some of its peers- but it more than makes up for it with its purity and joyful presence, fine length, a very beautiful wine.

****, ready to drink but should develop some with additional age

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

decanted 2 hours prior to serving

young deepish purple-red, on the nose youthful and robust, black pepper, cherry, berry, on the palate still very primary, rolling and rich, intense spicy oak (but in proper measure), huge on the palate but with seamless delivery into an elegant long finish with punch and cherry on the tail end, grilled meat notes with time, over the course of 6 hours it continued to slowly open and develop, this needs a few more years and will be well worth the wait.

(*****), 2030++

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

decanted 2 hours prior to serving

bright young red color, joyous nose of punchy cherry fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, on the palate a wonderment, massive and grand in scale, expansive and regal, and yet the fruit itself remains so very endearing- even charming, marvelously detailed with layers of spice already showing, strawberry note with time, still developing and not fully out there yet- but already it is evident this is a truly magical vintage for what is already one of the finest wines in the Drouhin line-up, they are a little different stylistically but from a qualitative perspective this is on equal footing with the other great Grands-Echezeaux- that of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, despite this evening's impressive showing I would wait 5 years or so to open another as it needs a bit more time to fully unfurl.

**(***), 2028++

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

decanted 2 hours prior to serving

maturing ruby color, rich nose of mulberry, cassis and intense bramble with a bit of mint- very lively, on the palate more serene- glowing, beaming red fruits with the subtle textures of age, a hint of leather, the mineral notes well defined, layers of forest floor and bramble, 5 hours after decanting still going strong but just starting to show a slight prune note on the tail end- the first indication I have seen that this may be turning the corner and entering into its final phase of life, still a beautiful wine with all the vibrancy of a young vintage but time to drink up I think.

*****, now to 2025+

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

medium gold color, piercing note of apple on the nose, intense almond cream, on the palate very sedate at present, good depth with a quiet core of fruit with zesty notes around the edges, fine length, dense mousse.

***+, ready to drink with room for further development

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

sample tasted in advance of release

black purple-red color, spicy nose with dark plum, blueberry and blackberry, moss, the start of forest floor, on the palate quite tannic and undeveloped, primary fruit with moss notes and a bit of greenness from the Cab Franc, intense coffee notes, very long finish, this still needs to come together (and to my understanding will not be released for some years) but if this harmonizes as I hope- in time it will be very compelling.

(****)+, 2032++

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

Sample in advance of release

inky purple red color, nose of cassis, dark chocolate, coffee beans and a hint of licorice, on the palate fine depth, broad ripe primary fruit still defining itself, sweet venison note with time, incredibly long finish where mineral and chalk notes appear, it will be some time before this is released and so it is understandably still sorting itself out- but the raw materials here are quite good and already this is showing signs it will be quite dramatic and lively when it comes to market.

(****)+, 2028++

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

inviting nose, apple, baked pears, a hint of spice, on the palate very showy in the style of the vintage, baked apples, streaks of mineral notes, good length.

****, ready to go and time in hand

10/4/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright light yellow color, floral and fresh, still with the firm structure it showed back in April- but filling out beautifully more quickly than expected, great length and very approachable.

My lengthy note in April still stands- with the above changes indicated. For my part, this is now clearly a 5 star effort and while I am not ready to say it is better than the 2012, I do have a slight personal preference for it at this time as it begins to behave more and more like the 1996 (if on a slightly lesser scale.)

(*****), now to 2045+

4/9/2021 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright deepish red color with no signs of age, the nose has become quite tight since I last had this showing only a piercing and haunting wave of pure cherry fruit, still a good bit of oak that is resolving, all of the dazzling complexity observed 6 years ago is now fully in hiding, on the palate much the same- a massive punchy and pure cherry fruit with all the details now in hiding as this wine as truly shut down, over the course of 3 hours it slowly opened revealing some game notes and a sexier presentation of the grand fruit- but still very much restrained by a flawless and stern structure, this was so pretty at release that I had hoped it would be coming around by now- but alas Burghound's very long term projection is clearly the more correct, still this will be worth the wait and in due course it is fair to think this could become one of the grandest and most hauntingly beautiful expressions of Clos St. Denis of our generation, even it its presently closed state the wine is that emotionally moving, as good as it gets but even by Jadot standards this demands much patience.

(*****), 2032++, I plan to check in again in the late 2020

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

young light red color, sexy nose of ripe cherries and sweet venison, blackberry liqueur, on the palate floral and lightly spicy, dry finish, very pure, oak still a strong presence- but in its proper place, a lovely wine that just needs some time to flesh out and harmonize.

(***)+, 2026++

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

light lemon color, citrus and fig on the nose with singular green leaf notes, on the palate very pretty with a fine zest and good mid-palate intensity, mineral notes, citrus and a bit of peach, good finish.

***, ready to go with time in and

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro wrote:

deep red color, aggressive nose of clove, black pepper, spicy ripe raspberry and eucalyptus, on the palate cherry and chocolate notes with good intensity and then on the back end all goes quiet leading into a light and slightly short finish, an interesting wine- but I do not know if this is maybe shut down or perhaps is starting to fade.

**?- 3-4 stars if it fills out with more age, hard to predict but I would say hold at this point.

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

medium red color, punchy nose with cherries and noticeable oak, on the palate the oak is dominant at present and a bit raw, light cherry fruit, the oak is a bit of a distraction from an otherwise pleasant wine, there is room for development here- but the big question mark is the eventual integration of the oak.

(**)+?, 2028+

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

decanted 20 minutes prior to serving,

bright red color, ripe cherry and dark plums on the nose, spicy with light floral notes, on the palate very ripe plum notes dominate- almost roasted but not quite to that point as are many 2020s, with time clove and rose petal notes emerge, great volume here but the wine is already shutting down and getting tight, very good length, time to let this one sleep a while.

(***)+, 2030+

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

small sample from a bottle that had been open for about 4 hours (not decanted)

deep purple red color, intense dark nose, black fruits, cocoa, a hint of polish, camphor and black thorny bramble, similarly dark and cool on the palate, ponderous, like Soldera's Brunello- there is great volume and much complexity but in this young stage it all rests below the surface of a dark wide tranquil pond, seamless, pristine, tannins well buried under the primary fruit mass, note of bitter chocolate, intensely mineral and with a good long finish, showing well now but this will need quite a long time to slowly age and gently open to its fullest potential.

(****)+, 2035++ a long wait ahead for the full measure, but unusually enjoyable now as well

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

young light red color, soft nose of strawberry and cherry with a bit of clove, on the palate tangy and lively, light in body, mineral zest, pure strawberry with a bit of cherry, moderate length, a simple and uncomplicated wine- but very attractive, best enjoyed young but this will hold.

**, ready to go

9/22/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

small sample from a bottle that had been open for 4.5 hours (not decanted)

youthful purple red color, substantial and welcoming nose of cassis, coffee, cherry, oak spice and brush, on the palate at peak, fine broad fruit, chalk notes, blackberry and a hint of chocolate, fine length with a seamless finish, still a bit rambunctious but the tannins are nearly resolved, layered, relaxed, just coming into its own, wonderful wine.

****, ready to go with time in hand

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright light gold color, nose of pure lemon custard with saline notes, on the palate lean and lengthy with a tight linear mid-palate of lemon and stone, hint of caramel, fine long finish with notable saline on the tail end, racy, steely, needs some cellar time but otherwise a very good outcome in a difficult year, a unique wine that merits its price tag.

(***)+, 2027++

9/9/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

lemon color, assertive ripe apple on the nose, almonds, on the palate slightly aggressive with medium body, baked apples, pears and rounded sweet mineral notes, good length, an attractive champagne ready to drink but with potential for further development, shows the sweet ripeness and well rounded character of 2012 to the fullest.

***+, ready to drink but worth cellaring a few years

9/9/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright yellow color, sedate nose of honeyed slate, peach and orange, lime sorbet, on the palate velvety and plush, creamy, orange notes, exotic, fine length, as with the 2020 Spatlese also tasted today- showing an admirable restraint and tension which bodes well for the long term.

(****)+, 2029++

9/9/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright young yellow color, stunning nose of mango, pineapple, blood orange and white flowers, on the palate succulent and persistent, slightly sweet ripe fruits in an array mirroring the palate plus white cherry, pear and peach, and wonderfully- in contrast to the late 2000s vintages- with a good firm structure to rein it all in, the overt sweetness of the past is no more- but all the exoticism and complexity remains, incredible length laden with floral notes, a spectacular wine with great potential.

(*****), 2028++

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

deepish red color showing some age on the rim, on the nose a splendid display of game and cedar, on the palate full bodied with plum and dark fruits, a bit of spice, ripe and a bit meaty in line with the vintage, iron, bitter chocolate, but for all its grandeur and power- this is seamless and still youthful in feel, great length and given today's showing I think there is still room for additional development.

**(**)+, now ++ but I would wait a bit longer myself.

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro wrote:

An atypical wine, so we were at a loss with the blind guesses, medium yellow color, smoky nose with barnyard and mushroom, on the palate orange and smoke notes, dark earthy cream, grass, long finish with some exposed acids, I suspect it would have fared better with a meal.

**, drink soon.

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

bright young red color, spicy plum and cherry on the nose, very ripe in keeping with the vintage, on the palate punchy and young, a hint of game and mineral, broad, ripe, good length, a bit of warmth on the tail end, attractive as this is- I think it really demands some cellar time to settle down and develop further.

(***), 2033+

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

opened 5 hours prior to serving

medium gold color, 5 hours - bright aged nose, light fruit with a wonderful array of spice notes led by nutmeg and cinnamon, on the palate orange cream with ample spice notes, good length but the palate slightly lean on the back end of the palate, 8 hours- finally coming around, aged spicy nose with rose petals, cassis note now on the palate, creamy and overall the spice elements have harmonized beautifully, great length, in a slightly inconsistent era this is a shining star, ready to go but decant, decant, decant.

***+, ready to drink with time in hand

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted 6 hours prior to serving

bright lemon color, at opening an enveloping nose of honeyed cassis and citrus, figs, blue slate, on the palate succulent and creamy with primary fruit in waves coating the substantial structure well, 6 hours later - super sweet on the nose with primary honeyed citrus, still too primary to show much nuance, on the palate a grand array of marmalade, dried apricot, blood orange and punchy ripe mango, dazzling length, and for all of this it has a light feel and deft touch that makes it otherworldly, a wine one could get lost in for hours on end, a serene night sky gently illuminated by a thousand stars, even by von Schubert's high standards this is very, very special- and it is almost impossible to imagine what will come in time as all of its subtle nuances begin to emerge.

(*****), 2033++ but I suspect it may be 20 years before we see the full detail this promises to offer

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted 6 hours prior to serving

palest champagne color, at opening a serene nose of peach and rose petals, on the palate digitally defined with a deft light feel but a persistence of fruit and acids that slowly and gradually overwhelms the palate - a contrast I have seen before with great young Riesling but not ever to this degree, 6 hours later - on the nose cascades of rose petals, peach, pear and sweet slate, on the palate a wonderment, huge and broad in scale but with digital definition at every point and light as a feather, incredible length with a degree of tension almost at the level of this estate's Kabinett, succulent peach, hints of blood orange, rose petals for days, a finish measured in minutes- not seconds, a good friend in attendance said it best, "a ballerina that could kick your ass", with time exotic tangerine notes and a riverbed of perfectly smooth and pristinely detailed stones, with such a beautiful and storied wine in which every vintage offers great wonder and a clear purpose it feels inappropriate to use words like "best"- but I will say this vintage stands out in particular for the sheer scale of its delights presented in such an effortless, elegant and refined manner, as good as it gets.

(*****), 2031++

9/1/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted for 6 hours prior to serving

pure lemon color, at opening intense tight nose of citrus and cassis with honeyed slate, on the palate painfully tight, incredibly tense with an unopened creamy midpalate leading into a fiery long finish, 6 hours later - sedate on the nose with blood orange and floral notes, on the palate juicy with orange and honeyed fruits, tense long finish of lime acids coated with honey, custard, great but still in hibernation, 10 hours - white cherry note and a racier feel as this finally starts to open, 30 hours - the nose remains reluctant but promising, on the palate the fullness of the fruit is more in evidence and now with very muscular notes of white cherry and a hint of cassis- but overall this remains very much in a primary state, signs of age around the edges and on the finish- but still very much in hibernation, it was worth having a look but I would suggest leaving this be for another 5 years.

(*****), 2028++

8/18/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:

pale gold color, on this third tasting two years since the first bottle - the wine has quickly harmonized beautifully, soaring nose of roasted walnuts, pear, apple and marshmallow, on the palate it is less obviously sweet than before and remains a magnificent Dom Perignon not for any particular characteristic as in vintages like 1982, 1985, 1996 or 2008- but rather for being uniformly and evenly excellent in all respects, in this it now clearly most resembles the 1990, mousse and floral notes emerging after 2 hours in glass, splendid, entering a very long and glorious drinking window but note that tonight's bottle really only began to sing after 2 hours, and so right now I would strongly advise either decanting this, or opening 2 hours ahead.

***(**), now++