2/14/19, 1:45 PM - I saw the Rajiv brought this for you to try. Given his love of singular and unique wines I’m not surprised that he’s hooked on this as well. The wine maker, Bob Bartlett attended UCDavis in the 70’s. These wines have a long life...the 2005 is in a great spot now. I think these are some of the true hidden gems in American wines. Glad you got to try it, and that you liked it.
2/4/19, 4:38 AM - @ THESTERNOWL - You picked a great vintage for the Blanc to start. The only prior vintage to the 2005 I think it as good as this is the great '95 which was the last vintage Serge had "complete" control over before taking a step back to allow family to start his transition out of the cellar. Glad you enjoyed your first bottle...these work really well with delicate and challenging dishes as a pairing as well. Thanks for the update on this vintage.
1/15/19, 6:08 AM - Keith, do you think the “weight” comes from the 100+ yo vines? I wondered this as I tasted the 2015...a wildly complex wine, for sure and fuller in body than I tend to like. Yet also unlike any other Riesling I’ve had on the market.
1/5/19, 6:16 AM - The wines from the 90's aren't even in the tertiary stage yet...you'd have to go back to the 80's for that. I'd expect that this 2004 might get there in say another 20(ish) years. This is a great vintage for Musar that I deeply regret not buying more of. Thanks for the note.
12/29/18, 8:02 AM - Mark, I certainly agree with you. These wines have started to cost more than the value they're bringing at this point in the game. I bought a pair of these at $75 on release and haven't bought Tig since the price went above $75 with the 2010's. Do you have a regular tasting group in the Portland area that you gather with over wine? If not would you want to join us up here in Bangor?
12/29/18, 7:51 AM - This note is really interesting to me...you note a flaw and then proclaim it's perfect? Later you mention the alcohol again, and then dismiss that it's not noticeable. Did it shift and no longer become perceptible as time passed? Count me a fan of these wines...there are times where I like them more, and times I like them less...but I do think they are among the best wines in California. Thanks for sharing!!
12/25/18, 11:41 AM - Awesome!! You’re wife clearly has exceptional taste!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
12/15/18, 6:10 AM - Sounds like the wine is shut down hard...It's nice that you got a chance to see what it's like now. I'm holding off on opening any of these until another 10+ years. An Italian wine merchant I was talking with during our trip in 2016 said that he thought that 2009 - 2012 would all be ready before the 2008's from Lorenzo.
12/14/18, 7:06 PM - No...the wine is lovely right now. I really wish I had bought more...and regret not buying the 2017's I was offered now. However, storage is king right now...so buying is reduced until I have room to put the wines I want to age in the Eurocave.
11/9/18, 6:45 PM - @BrentW1 - these wines do well in many instances where it makes no sense. Back in 2010 I bought a case of 94’s that were sold at very reasonable prices given that they all had signs of seepage and poor cork seals. Some had full levels as low as the middle of the label...and they were lovely. Thanks for sharing!! I hope you enjoy the rest of this case...
10/20/18, 4:29 AM - I've got 2 bottles of this waiting patiently in the cellar. Can I ask when you say massive, are you talking about the intensity of the nose and palate or is this a fuller-bodied Pinot Noir that seems like it's more new-world?
10/19/18, 6:04 AM - Can you help me understand your reference to White Burgundy?
10/19/18, 6:28 AM - Absolutely! I know past bottles of Dagueneau I've had can in some vintages be full bodied, so I was just wanting to check and see if there was something with the oak treatment or some other aspect that brought White Burgundy to mind for you. I really appreciate your note!
10/7/18, 9:50 AM - About 2 years ago I drank a 1964 Prince Florent de Merode Cohrton-Maréchaudes over 3+ hours and there still seemed to be a lot of life left in that bottle. Can I ask, what you noticed in this wine that leads you to think it will only last another 10 years? Was there something in the structure that was lacking? Did the wine fade over time? Thanks for sharing your note.
10/8/18, 5:26 PM - @ Poisey: That absolutely makes sense, and helps clear things up quite a bit. Thank you for sharing and for the insight to the wine...these are getting harder and harder to find since the land was leased to DRC.
9/18/18, 1:28 PM - I bought this through a secondary market...if your bottle is directly from the cellar of the wine maker I'd still be hopeful that it showed well. You could always open it on your next birthday and try to find something else from 1980 for your 40th...my SO is born in 1980 as well as my best friend. There are lots of good choices out there...good luck!!
9/11/18, 6:17 AM - This is probably about 10-15 years too early...hopefully you have another bottle you can check in on later. These wines are really special, but they demand time and patience. Thank you for sharing your note and impression...hopefully your next bottle is more enjoyable.
8/27/18, 4:55 AM - I'm in complete agreement with you. I think the problem has been that the '98 was followed by the '99 and the two vintages are so different that it may be hard for some to wrap their heads around the 98 when the 99 is so opulent and bold. The 98 has always strikes me as a wine of balance and your comment that with more air the wine became more harmonious is exactly what I recall of this wine in my past drinking experiences with this wine. Thanks for sharing the notes.
8/7/18, 8:32 AM - My understanding and experience with Corton is that wines from this vineyard largely do their best in their youth (release + 2 years) and don't show their complexity again until 25+ years post-vintage. A few years ago we had some from the 60's that were brilliant...if you have more of this wine hopefully you can check in on these when they get that old...thank you for sharing the notes.
8/1/18, 11:34 AM - Back in the day you could but them from the winery. I think I bought this in 2007 at the winery...if you haven’t been there you should go.
7/29/18, 1:20 PM - This note did such a good job of capturing my memory of the last time I had this. There's only 2 bottles left in the cellar...but this sounds like it's still going strong and may(?) have a long life still. Thank you for sharing and taking the time to type a note.
7/21/18, 3:10 PM - These wines really show their best once they've been open 24+ hours. The wines of Didier are magical...and these will likely be his longest-lived wines. I think 2007 was the last year where he handled every aspect of the Sauvignon Blanc...but assume that because these dessert wine take more time it may be the 2005's for this wine that were his last. Thanks for sharing the note. I only have four left and I'm trying to hold out for a few more years.
7/13/18, 12:19 PM - Wow, I’m surprised to see this is already showing so well. Can I ask, how long you decanted this or how many hours you followed the wine? It sounds like if you had multiple bottles you’d suggest drinking one now?
7/9/18, 7:46 PM - This is a producer I fell head over heels for back in the summer of 2007. All I can say is that they're special wines and I think you're spot-on with your note and just how fantastic these wines are. Not only are they versatile...but even with 20+ years on them they can last multiple days with cold storage in the fridge. If you can find/source the 1995 do yourself a favor and grab one. That was the last vintage that Serge handled exclusively before handing over the reigns...
7/7/18, 6:03 AM - @SLIMES - I think you're spot on. Not every bottle is going to age well and not every wine is going to improve with 2+ decades in the bottle. This was much more enjoyable to my taste back in 2015. So I think it's time to rotate them into the fridge for drinking...but only time will tell.
2/10/18, 7:04 PM - It's lovely now...it's a wine that I think I'm going to have a hard time not drinking in the near future. The more traditional Elio Grasso is going to require patience and commitment. This is just a lovely, elegant wine right now...I'm glad I have more. Yet, I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to cellar them. Because I already want to drink another bottle right now. I'm not sure this is worth the $100+ price take I'm seeing it fetch now...but at the $55 I paid for it, I sure do wish I had bought more.
6/2/18, 5:47 PM - I can’t wait to hear how the wine is showing now...I’ve been thinking about opening another bottle...but I’m starting to wonder if/when they might shut down and need to be left alone.
6/28/18, 4:07 AM - Will you post your notes/thoughts here?
6/28/18, 4:06 AM - I couldn't agree more...these wines are brilliant. If you ever have a chance to taste the Abts E® Riesling Großes Gewächs it's worth waiting in line, splurging on 1 bottle, and taking the plunge. I was only able to source 1 bottle of this vintage. Based on your note it sounds like opening it now is completely rewarding...but if you had another bottle in your cellar, when would you open it?
5/25/18, 3:55 AM - Sounds like you had a faulted bottle. Maybe TCA or it was cooked somewhere along in it's journey.
4/29/18, 4:32 AM - I think I'm there with you too. I've had some great ports...but nothing that has yet warped my mind like a '76 Sauternes, or 1863 Madeira can. I tend to find the alcohol gets in the way of the enjoyment for me on most of them...the exception I've found being a '66 Grahams & '85 Wares. You might be able to find an '85 for less than $100 but if you're more interested in Bordeaux and other wines...I have to say I think you're not alone. Thank you for the note...I've got one bottle just incase I ever change my position on liking Port and your note was really helpful.
4/19/18, 8:35 AM - Can I ask if you drank this with food? I've found some younger Barolo that are in a middle-age phase really need fat to balance out the tannin. Thanks...
4/15/18, 4:34 AM - Cam, these wines are just starting to turn the corner into old age...if there's any indication of the life on these from the 90's based on the bottles I've tasted from the 80's they still have a long, long life ahead of them. It does seem that there was also a minor stylistic shift around 2001 in Musar that I started to note the wines seem a bit "cleaner" which for Musar I have no clue how to qualify. Thanks for sharing the note. Based on what you've shared I'll probably leave my 99's alone and look back to the 95's the next time I'm ready to have a Musar.
4/8/18, 5:47 PM - Hannibal, can I ask if the wines were imported by Broadbent or if they were through other means? It is possible they were cooked in the shipping/storage process...but I've found a MAJOR discrepancy in Musar that is not imported by Broadbent. All the bottles I've had that Broadbent did not import I find to be lacking in the brightness and balance...I find myself wondering if other importers are not using refrigerated containers, or if it's something else...but I've tasted a fairly wide sample of vintages & wines from Musar. Hands down, the best bottles have all been imported by Broadbent.
4/9/18, 4:27 AM - Ah, yes...the SAQ has some great deals! I’m in Maine, so I take a trip up to Canada from time to time. It really does sound like potential heat damage...if that’s the case doesn’t the SAQ allow refunds? Can you return your remaining bottle?
4/6/18, 7:22 AM - How would you compare this against the 2014...which really reminded me of a super high-class California Pinot Noir? I hear you mention rustic notes...which sound positive to me...maybe this just needs a little more time to settle into the bottle?
3/24/18, 5:59 AM - 2014 really was so ripe for me that it stood out from this producer and was not what I expected when opening the wines. It reminded me of what I imagine a high-end California Pinot Noir might taste like. It sounds like you're saying that the 2015's are a return to the more typical Thomas style that I've found to be an essential wine that helps define what great wines from Oregon are. Thank you for such a detailed note.
3/4/18, 6:59 AM - Xavier, would you say that this is worth opening a bottle of this now? I've stashed away 6 bottles and a magnum of this; but I was expecting that it would be too tight and unyielding to open now. If you were to open this, how long would you recommend decanting?
3/4/18, 7:40 AM - @XAVIER AUERBACH Thank you, I'll be opening this with a friend that's opening a 2007 in another week and do a side by side with some friends based on your advice.
2/5/18, 6:30 AM - What do you mean when you say “modern tannin”?
11/10/17, 5:01 AM - Rajiv, Have you noticed a difference in the Musars that are not imported by Broadbent yet? I have started to notice a strong difference between the Musars imported by Broadbent and anyplace else...if you have a Broadbent bottle and a non-Broadbent bottle it might be informative to open them side by side. Please post on this in either WB or WLTV forums if you feel up to it...I think there's a HUGE difference (similar that I find to wines imported by Kermit Lynch) with the impact an importer may play on these wines.
11/15/17, 3:57 PM - I think what I've found with the non-Broadbent imported wines is that they seem somehow flat, lifeless, and less-than (what I've come to love in Musar). So far I've had bottles from UK & an importer in Sonoma, CA where the wines were sub-par and completely un-drinkable. It's reached a point (for me) where I'm now only buying wines imported by Broadbent. What you talk about the wines needing an extended decant to come alive...I think is just a process of where they are in their life. Right now (and for at least the last 8 years) the wines from the 80's have all been ready to go immediately when I open them. I suspect that in another 4-5 years we'll start seeing that with the wines from the early 90's as well. For now, if they show best with 8 hours in a decanter it seems like opening them in the morning is the only way around it...
11/10/17, 5:02 AM - Yes...they're in a great spot.
10/25/17, 4:42 AM - With the escalating price of their Monfortino I would expect that you'll see the price of these to climb quite steeply in the next 3-5 years.
10/14/17, 6:48 PM - Do you know if this an original or re-release from the chateau?
9/9/17, 9:29 AM - Thanks so much for posting this note. I snagged some of these so I was thinking about cracking one soon to check in on...but your note saves me from pulling the cork. This wine is a thing of beauty with a little bottle age...but your note really hits it home about how special this wine is.
9/9/17, 10:18 AM - Thanks! I don't have as much experience with Keller as you, but the '07 G-Max might just be the best Keller I've had. I also loved his 2010 Frauenburg Spätburgunder. Thanks again for the note!
9/9/17, 9:23 AM - Thank you so much for posting this note. I snagged a bottle of this while I was in Lucca on vacation and had nothing to gauge this wine on other than the high praises from multiple people while I was in Castiglione Falletto the week prior. I'll open my bottle of this sometime in the next year or so when there's a chance to actually get some fresh truffles for a Taleggio risotto.
8/26/17, 4:29 AM - MIDMAR, if you have 5 bottles left you may want to wait a little longer. I'm still sitting on 2001 as it's not quite ready and 2007 is a wine that seems to me like it might start drinking well around 2022. Patience is a virtue with these wines, unless the wines you have were exposed to heat...I'd strongly encourage you to wait as long as you can. The 1990 I had a few years ago was still "young" based on what others with more experience than I thought. These are wines that seemingly, in good years...you can drink in retirement.
8/20/17, 4:35 PM - Luke, awesome to see you posting here! This is such an awesome wine...so glad you got a chance to taste this. Did Doug open this for you?
8/6/17, 5:38 PM - I'm up in Bangor...can I ask where your bakery is? It's always fun to support locals that also have an interest in wine. Can I ask also...did you notice the 15% abv? For me, the 2008's are going to need another 6-8 years sideways to start coming out of their shell...do you usually drink them this young? I've found that (for my taste) there's about 1-2 years from release then I need a whole lot of patience if I'm going to enjoy a Barolo or Barbaresco. Thanks for the notes! Great to see someone else from Maine here in CT
7/29/17, 6:10 AM - MIDMAR - My understanding of Bonnes Mares is that this vineyard (more the many other GC's) needs time. Like 25+ years or more for a 750ml. I tasted a 1993 a few years ago that was only just starting to open up. If you have 5 bottles of this wine, I wonder if you give them more time in bottle if you might not be getting the experience you're looking for?
7/19/17, 6:56 AM - It sounds like your bottle could have benefited from a decant so the wine wasn't cloudy...I love this wine. It sounds like you enjoyed it too; thanks for typing the note.
7/10/17, 8:29 PM - Thanks for sharing!! It was a beautiful wine, and I'll gladly buy again in the future as long as it stays in the low $30's price-range.
5/25/17, 11:09 AM - Sounds like it could also be heat exposure...last time I had this I put in my private notes to not even open another bottle until 2018. If your other wine is similar you may want to return them to the store that you bought them from.
5/16/17, 11:59 AM - I was wondering what you think about this making "old bones" 40+ years? I have an ex-Chateau bottling like you and thought that their choice to recork it might mean it's a wine they expect to last. To this day a '66 Mouton (375ml) & '66 Lascombes (750ml) haunts my memories of what old Bordeaux can be. I'm hoping this can get there too...but would love your thoughts on this wine with at least another 10 years in the cellar. Thanks!
5/5/17, 3:29 AM - Rajiv, I could be wrong...but double check the label. I believe this is more like 11.5% than 13%. Either way...I couldn't agree more. This is a special wine that few will be lucky enough to stumble onto. So Glad I have a magnum of this for the long-haul.
5/5/17, 4:00 PM - I'll ask him later this summer...I suppose it could be higher, but Bob is a stickler for accuracy. So I'd be surprised if it wasn't spot-on. However, I also do not know State laws about alcohol %'s and how they're recorded.
4/26/17, 4:34 PM - Can you explain your note a bit more please? You mention white wines & white blends...for a red wine. Is it possible that this is a note for another wine?
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