2/1/2024 - bobsabayesian Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. M+ intensity of aroma, developing with cedar, vegatal and menthol notes, black fruit, vanilla, red blossoms, hints of chocolate, and spices

Pronounced intensity of flavor, full body, tremendously complex but still balanced, and just lasts and lasts.

I had a shitty day at work and I don't mind the email I'm writing at 9pm. That's how good this wine is.

Still, I hope to wait a year before I drink another. Drink or hold.

1/9/2024 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:

Was earthy, with a hint of berry fruit on first pour. It had some light florals and plenty of mineral. It was velvety of texture and finished with ripe tannins and was expansive.

12/31/2022 - sboyle Likes this wine:

Black cherry and roses with a light bell pepper note in the background. Black cherry with floral notes on the palate with a stronger expression of bell pepper than on the aroma. Medium-plus body with medium-plus acidity and tannin with good length. Overall, its a pleasant right bank Bordeaux.

11/26/2022 - df1962 wrote:

PnD.

Tasty approachable with tons of life ahead.

10/13/2018 - Ben F Likes this wine:

Opened at Coast Camp, Pt. Reyes. From 750ml. Acquired from Flatiron wines, SF

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three + hours. A dense, solid and rather four square expression of cabernet. It could have used a long decant or better treatment (it had a bouncy but upright transport to the campsite the day before). Not unlike some other '85 Napa wines in its full fruited unyielding character.

6/28/2023 - Putnam Weekley Likes this wine:

This presents at first like a young, <5 y.o., grippy ink-colored wine. Scented of grape, iodine, and stone. Fascinating is how it expands and tests sensitivities. Breezy mountain lithic energy drives forward a seething, naive ink. It resembles porcini, cut stone, bay leaf coulis, French roast coffee beans, and maduro cigar wrappers. Green resin infused with terracotta keeps the base grounded. This wine is still pupating! If I had another bottle I would consider opening it 2025-2030.
TIME: 24 hours left open in a decanter produced a grander aromatic front. It's evenly balanced with sensations of earth, meat, and fruit. The drink is now silk-textured, with tempered tannic edges and room for the passive choral amplification of blackberry and juniper. Cast iron, crusted with tapenade and pork. Wild mushroom. In a fit of exhaustion, the finish reveals a fine stitching of fresh berry skin acid. I'm surprised by how this developed and refined. If I could find more, I would aerate thoroughly before serving.

10/27/2023 - ckwrites2 Likes this wine:

Still going strong

6/23/2023 - j3oomerang Likes this wine:

Big oak and cedar at first, after a few hours I started to get more fruit (strawberry) and the oak subsided.

Not super high quality, but really can't complain for $7.

9/5/2023 - red freddy Likes this wine:

Impulse Purchase @ Costco
13.5% abv - $7

Served (aerated, 1 hr decant) with Stuffed Bell Peppers, Green Beans and Fruit Salad.

Dark ruby red on the pour, clear in the glass. Nice aroma of Dark red fruit, Cherry, Blackberry and Cassis. Medium-bodied, with Cherry, Cassis, and Chocolate notes on the palate along with some earthiness. Moderate tannins and nice acidity. Tart, pleasant, lingering finish. Not a hearty wine, more refined than rustic; an enjoyable, inexpensive Bordeaux. Spouse enjoyed; I'll get more.

6/8/2023 - Magnum PI Likes this wine:

Brookie and I drank this bottle from her birth vintage, on her birthday, at V. Mertz, prior to the Matchbox 20 concert. I purchased this bottle many years ago, and have been looking forward to drinking it on a special occasion, which this certainly was. This bottle has been touted as a "wow" experience, a "future legend", and other superlatives. I found it to be nothing of the sort. Very good, enjoyable, but nothing all that remarkable. Very balanced and well-integrated, with a very dominant note of green pepper, which just didn't work for me. The class was undeniable, the finish was above average. There was nothing about it that took it from a very good bottle to the next level. Brookie thought it was exceptionally good, and perhaps the best bottle she has ever had. Ah, Brookie. Happy birthday.

6/29/2022 - csimm wrote:

An obvious youngster, but with the heralded 2010 vintage backing an already top-notch first growth classification, the 2010 Lafite was destined to offer an A-lister performance. On the first pop of the cork, this presented as unsurprisingly straight and level, but ultra-refined in a way that makes you feel like your palate is a complete moron. Its execution is a twelve-year-old in a tuxedo with a perfectly cut jib who is one of those child genius virtuoso Russian violinist types who is so stuffed with discipline and exceptional brainiac-talent endowment-ness that even making eye contact with him makes you instantly feel like you’ve wasted your complete life, what with your squandered college party days that eventually led to your current place in the world as a two-time divorced dad still clinging to your assistant supervisor position at your parent’s travel agency (You studied to be a court stenographer but that fell through because it was too stressful for you). Black cherry, currant, cedar, and some pebbly notes are placed ever so correctly in fitting formation so that each flavor is exactly 3.14159 cadence sensor units from the next. It’s like watching Jeopardy! and not knowing any of the answers, or rather, question-answers. So, basically, like watching Jeopardy!...

In the decanter it goes in hopes it gets even more smarter-er than you and makes you feel even worse about yourself. Self: Why do you drink wine? Me: So it can shame me and make me feel stupid. Self: You’re an idiot. Me: Yes, exactly.

Whereas the first sips are like trying to drink a perfectly built robot, but one of the coolest and most famous robots around – think HAL 9000, “This mission is too important Dave” – but after a few hours in the decanter, this starts kicking out an ED-209 vibe (though less dumb, but equally as driven), and then further morphs into Ex Machina’s Ava (let’s see how you sci-fi geeks fare on those references, eh?!). Sans analogies and rando references, I’ll simply say the first hour or so mainly reminds you, 1.) it’s too young, and 2.) it’s better than you. From hour-two on, it reminds you, 1.) I’m about ready to solve the meaning of life while running a marathon in the Tibetan Changtang, and 2.) I’m better than you…still. The refinement is off-the-chain hypnotizing, as is the exactitude in which the flavors configure and effect their influence on the palate. And be not concerned, this is not just an academic exercise here; it’s a class you actually enjoy taking with the best teacher you’ve ever had. There is a spirit that makes the experience here uplifting as well as scholarly. The balance of tension, acidity, core fruit and accompanying flavorings, composed concentration, and gently engulfing finish all total up to a wine that imparts astute acumen as well as charming consumption (AKA: drink more of me not just because I’m special, but because I taste mega outstanding – like in a classical and composed way, not like in your Uncle on Thanksgiving way).

Hold this for another 5-7+ years minimum and be rewarded with additional depth and complexity. This sample was an enormously generous offering from the renowned LiteItOnFire. A definite treat to try this wine and an absolute quality reference standard for those wanting to be both humbled and learned by a wine of this caliber. 97-98+ points, with the potential to skirt triple digits when we get WiFi on Venus.

9/23/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

The winery is apparently in Pessac itself. And smells of oak, or at least the gravel / oak character. And not in a bad way. And a bit of green. SO there is some winemaking going on here ontop of under ripe fruit.

2/14/2020 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:

From the wine list at Legacy Records. Decanted and served - consumed over the course of dinner. Quite earthy and a bit herbaceous with green stemmy notes on the finish, red berries, medium weight and savory. Not the most riveting vintage, but still quite enjoyable particularly with beef tenderloin.

1/26/2022 - BVal wrote:

Performed much better than the 2005 from this producer I tried last March but still not what I would expect given the price, vintage or pedigree here.

Color/App: medium deep translucent ruby core -> diffuse garnet rim. Reasonably concentrated bouquet of roasted cherries, leather, garrigue, mushrooms and a bit of balsamic reduction. Highly acidic palate of leather, forest floor, roasted meat and a good lashing of bitters. Short, short finish. I think this bottle is showing a wine in a nose dive and I lucked out enough to see it before the inevitable crash landing. My advice -- if this bottle is representative -- is to drink it now. If you wait another year or two (or 15 minutes) it's only going to get worse. Why are you still reading this? Go pull that cork and drink it! NOW ! !

2/25/2023 - JCMenendez Likes this wine:

Classic, old school Napa Cab. Neither overripe, nor over extracted, nor over oaked. Drinking really nicely now; however, as with most 2013s Napa cabs there's a tannic spine that could use another couple years of taming or simply an hour in a decanter. Really food friendly, perfectly balanced, truly really nice and if you bought on release then it's a great QPR for age-worthy cab.

12/6/2021 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine:

A reliably good, basic Rhone every year-probably the best in this price range. Good dark fruit, balanced between the fruit/the acidity/the elegance. These typically are best consumed in the 4-5 year old age range and the drinking window has just opened. I'd give it some air, though.

3/1/2023 - Pedroel Likes this wine:

Showing really well.

2/25/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Catching up with close friends always makes a great excuse to dive deep into the cellar.

Menu: Roasted beets, spring mix, feta, pistachios & balsamic vinaigrette, select cuts of prime filet, tomahawk & wagyu ribeye with a side of roasted mashed sweet potatoes.

Mousse Fils Perpetuelle BdN L'OR D'Eugene & 2021 Cornell Chardonnay.

Side by side 2005 Domaine Jean Louis Chave Hermitage & 1995 Abreu Madrona Ranch.

2010 Vieux Chateau Certan

2009 Dolce Winery Late Harvest

2005 Chave Hermitage-Btl No. 8357 First impression is that this a more powerful vintage of JCL. Medium Garnet in the glass with some tawny edges. Dark red fruits on display but more pronounced is aged leather, grilled meats, cracked black pepper and dried red fruits. I enjoy the vintages that have a bit more finesse, acid driven with Burgundian lift. This is a more series vintage displaying power at this stage. Coin flip on Abreu vs. JLC.

14 ABV

95 today

2/26/2023 - Cote d'Or Likes this wine:

Tasted over 4 hrs
-translucent med gold
-ripe apple wet stone faint iodine
-med/med+ acidity, light/med- weight sweet-ish apple juice and faintly pineapple tropical dripping with mineral extract, very good length
-more orchard fruit and tropical than usual though the light weight and minerality keep this a Briords, early in a long lovely drinking window

12/24/2022 - Vinum Deorum wrote:

Very young and very impressive. Enormous wine, with perfectly integrated tanins, impeccable structure and a lovely mouthfeel all about tension and focus. A potentially perfect wine. Time will tell.

11/4/2022 - dcwino wrote:

2022 Excellent Burgundy Adventure; 10/31/2022-11/6/2022 (Burgundy): The first of the two 2010 Rayas in this trip. Explosive nose displaying incredibly concentrated opulent black fruit, black cherry, blackberry pie, lavender, licorice, grilled NY strip, strong tobacco, garrigue, black olives, white pepper and earth. Unbelievable concentration, layers upon layers of explosive black fruit, rich and unctuous but also fluid, perfect balance, and the finish that never ends. Absolutely stunning wine.

12/21/2022 - ShadowIII Likes this wine:

Huge wine, cassis, currants, blackberry, cedar, graphite, tobacco, firm tannins, long, long finish, still very unevolved, decades to go

8/1/2022 - Topper wrote:

Always a great wine. Tasted side-by-side with the '10 Clos de Beze and the contrasts were apparent. Both great wines but in very different styles. The CSJ was full of flavor but accompanied by a delicate, almost lacy quality. The flavors were of chamomile and sandalwood but there is so much going on, that it is hard to pinpoint particular flavors. It is drinking very nicely but can withstand 10-20 more years. The Beze was a different animal altogether. It was darker in color, aroma and flavor. Darker red fruit, almost compote-like with big brooding flavors underneath that seemed to be straining to come out. This needs at least ten more years and probably more to show at its best but don't pass up an opportunity to try it, whenever that presents itself. It is remarkable wine.

11/23/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This was first slightly closed, took a good 2-3 hours in the decanter to open up but wow was this great. First austere, but layered, deep and complex, with notes of red and darker red berries, some dark graphitey/mineral notes, animalic notes, some rose petals, violets, also some underwood, spices, some smoke. It‘s medium-full bodied, super silky, with some medium+ tannin that is incredibly silky, some medium-high acidity and excellent overall balance and complexity. Long finish with fantastic complexity that is building up. Great Burgundy of the very highest level. This could use another 5 years or so in the cellar.

5/2/2020 - Paulliac Likes this wine:

Plush deep purple robe. Quite a lot of sediment for its age.
Very expressive nose; Chocolate, violets, cherry and raspberry liqueur, the full spice box and and some of the medicine cabinet too.
Port-like structure, warming, with nice powdery entry and welcome juicy acidity. Rich dark fruits on the palate, spiced almost like from a rumtopf. I like the wine but found it a little tiring to drink.

1/7/2023 - sdr Likes this wine:

Latour, Latour, Latour (WineWatch, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): Very young, bold sweet cassis fruit framed by oak. Give it a lot more time to let the magic develop. Will be great since it’s a beauty now and it’s clean and built to age.

3/8/2022 - Cailles wrote:

Bordeaux 2012 - 10 Years On - 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind. Not decanted. A few observations: 1) 2012 is a good quality vintage without the depth/length of great vintages. Still, one of the better “off-vintages”. 2) Many but not all wines are drinking well today. They are generally open, round and fleshed out. 3) Further cellaring is advised as there are hardly any tertiary aromas yet and that extra complexity will render the wines more interesting. The wines generally have the structure and fruit to age gracefully. 4) The level of ripeness/alcohol are not a concern (09, 10, 15, 18 have more problems in that area). 5) Left bank (avg. 92.2 pts) beats right bank (91.0) (group has right bank a notch ahead). The overall group avg. score is at a good 92.1, but unsurprisingly below past retrospectives of better vintages (00, 09, 10). 6) There are highlights on both sides: my best wines today were Ausone (96 pts), Mouton (96), Cheval (95) and Margaux (95).

TN: Medium expressive nose with ripe dark fruit and blueberries, herbs, minerality. Strangely, also some heat. Quite complete nose although not that expressive. On the palate this drinks quite well with an impeccable structure, fine, ripe, good sweetness, good concentration, fine tannins, high but well-integrated acidity. Good length. Overall solid but it pales in comparison to the Mouton in the same flight. Mouton is a charmer, open, singing and sexy, while Latour, unsurprisingly, is a more structured not yet 100% open and ready claret. It is quite obvious that this has the structure and fruit to age gracefully, become more open and add a few more points with 10, 20, 30 years in the cellar. Today this is drinking on a 92/93 pts level.

Decanting: My guess is that with a solid two hours in the decanter, this would have been more open.

Group rank: 12th out of 33 reds
Group average score: 92.6

More information, vintage comparisons, top and worst 10 list, appellation rankings from the group in the story link.

3/31/2019 - Jammy Wine Likes this wine:

2008 Vogue Musigny is brutally rich and concentrated, sophisticated, beautiful densely layered. Very ambitious tannins and muscular backbone, big potential. Young but showing minor signs of prematurity like many 08 reds. I am not 100% sure whether this 2008 Musigny has the potential to age for decades, time will tell. (94/100)

4/15/2021 - OenoEd Likes this wine:

A follow up taste, after my February 2019 note. Consistent notes from this well stored bottle, evolving a little faster than I imagined it would when it bowled me over 3 years ago. Now, it blooms in the glass after 10 minutes, only to close up, and shorten 20 minutes later. As it does that, palate evolves from sweet black and red fruit, black cherry, raspberry and light cigar wrapper with a long finish to burnt popcorn, fireplace oak, white pepper and a thin, tight 20 second finish. So, for 20 minutes or so this is a thrilling 95 point exemplar of how great gamay can be, then it reminds you to drink up. Ten years old, 3 or 4 to go, but rarely has a $20 bottle brought such pleasure!!

1/18/2023 - llink wrote:

Burgundy Night (A collector's home): Wine D. Stems, red cherry, sandalwood on the deeply fruited flavors. The palate shows ripe and rich, flamboyant and deeply fruited with a chewy, saline infused texture. The long finish is slightly tannic and bitter, with some orange rind elements. I ranked this wine 3rd, and the group had it last. Some thought it showed VA on the nose, but I did not get that.

11/30/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote:

Massive, powerful, concentrated, intense, frightfully tannic and still young. Yet, once you dig your way through its youth, the wine screams to get noticed. The textures are like molten syrah that oozes all over your palate, teeth and gums, staining everything in its path. Extreme patience is required here. Based on previous vintages, this should require, if not demand another 20-25 more years before it sheds its youth, and morphs into the mature stage of life.

12/27/2022 - Philip67 Likes this wine:

Just perfect fully mature claret. Lots of tertiary leather, spice box, cedar, along with fruits of the forest, hedgerow and forest floor. This is elegant but presents a pleasingly full mouthfeel, the essence of Bordeaux. Acidity and tannins still provide good grip and interest. Long and complex. Drink now and over the next decade or two.

9/18/2021 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote:

What's not to like here? Big, round, gorgeous Gigondas with a lovely nose of dark berries, bramble, tobacco, spring garden. Great balance and just as good as the 2007. Would definitely go another round with this lovely stuff if I can find it.

10/2/2017 - dcwino wrote:

One of the pleasures of posting TNs is trying a wine that I find to be very special and share the experience. This is one of those wines. Pop and pour, incredibly mineral nose which is rare in red wine, ripe yet pure blue fruit, blueberry, blueberry liqueur, a slight hint of ash and blood, wet stone, lead pencil, ink and lavender. There is a hint of Lafitesque/Bordeaux lead pencil. For my palate, one of the key signs of great young wine is the silky/airy palate and this is one of the silkiest young northern Rhones of my life. Very airy and silky, feels almost slightly lean and light, beautifully layered blue fruit, good acidity, unbelievably mineral, strong presence of very fine tannins and a seamless long finish that resonates with mineral and cool blue fruit. Two hours later, even silkier and gains density and sweetness, a bit of black fruit emerges and no longer showing much ash but still remain incredibly mineral.

The second and third night, gains even more weight and becomes sweeter, incredibly dense blue and black fruits. The finish is incredibly long. It is enjoyable in a very youthful way but will require another decade or two to reach the peak. At this stage, it is not as nuance driven and showing a lot more black fruit than the Chave. Some may find it a bit too straightforward. I am confident that this will develop like the 90 but less “fruitcake like ripeness”. I will definitely try to source a case or more. In the current market where the top wines are heading north of $500, this represents a great buy if you like the 78 or 90 Chapelle.

3/26/2021 - dharrison93 Likes this wine:

Extraordinary. Drank BYOB with friends after a splash decant.
Entering its 35 year drinking window now so no need to wait further for sublime guilty pleasure.
Exhilarating kaleidoscopic nose of red berries, black fruit framed by mocha.
Easily my favorite bottle of 2021 thus far
If a date, this was a 35 year old Harvard MBA weekend triathlete: Killer body + brains to match.
Drink anytime before 2050 and fill your life with wonderous adjectives

8/26/2020 - deschnoll wrote:

From the winemaker:
“The Reserve Cabernet is an expression of our favorite blocks within the gravel streak to the Eastern section of our vineyard. At first glance, this is a subtle, woodsy wine. Aromas of black pepper, cut pine, and dried herbs open up into more pronounced blackberry notes.”

8/27/2021 - tomlee wrote:

Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. Sensational nose of red fruits, roasted herbs, wet stones and garrigue. Medium body with exquisite acidity and perfect balance. Incredible power and concentration. Kirsch liqueur, plums, blood and cracked black pepper on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long with silky tannins. Stunning Chateauneuf-du-Pape that is aging brilliantly. Well stored bottles will drink well for another decade.

5/6/2021 - robmatic wrote:

Decanted, still quite young, but showing very nice fruit and structure.

9/1/2021 - wlsch Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. It's in a really nice place now. Tons of berry fruit (as per previous notes), but with underlying mineral, a touch of earthy funk, and bright acidity. Fresh and juicy, but with depth and lovely earthy character supporting the fruit. Bumping the score from 89 to 90 this time since it seems to have evolved from my previous notes. Bought a few more recently, and likely should buy a few more on top of that. I think it should drink well for a several more years.

8/7/2022 - Harley1199 wrote:

By the glass. CC. After a splash of cherry on the nose there is not much more. Again a concentrated and unbalanced personality, tannic and persistent. Obviously there is a market for such bottles but far from my personal taste.

Por copas. CC. Tras el golpe de cereza en nariz no hay mucho más. De nuevo de una personalidad concentrada y desequilibrada, tánica y persistente. Evidentemente existe un mercado para este tipo de botellas pero muy alejado de mí gusto personal.

4/28/2012 - Maznoc Likes this wine:

Needed 2+ hours to decant - after that . . . excellent! Dense nose, rich mouth-feel with layered fruit. Well integrated. Medium-long finish. Well done!

12/5/2020 - ilee Likes this wine:

The moment I walked into VK's home, I spied from the corner of my eye this little fellow standing on the dining table, capsule still on and looking unsure if it was meant to be opened. (Though my wine geek days are behind me, and my eyesight less than perfect, like most of you I can still spot a wine from 50 feet.) Where did you get this??? I demanded to know, as I grabbed hold of a corkscrew.

I thought it might be young and alcoholic, rustic even, but it was nothing of the sort. The wine was deep ruby, with a darkly joyful fruity floral herb bouquet so finely etched and faultless I thought for a moment a scientist in a white coat, working out of some 22nd century AI-assisted wine lab might have concocted it. On the palate, it was rich in texture and flavor, with such robust fruit yet so very clean and precise it's hard to believe the stuff I've read about old barrels and moldy cellar floors at this estate. I'm not sure how long it will last, but it seems silly to ask given how enjoyable it is now. A revelation.

5/27/2021 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Blind tasting next to 2016, 2015, 2005, 2001, 1998, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1983. This wine was incredible and stood out. Glorious. Perhaps richer and more impressive, but so youthful, was the 2016. Surprisingly the 2015, which I liked so much earlier, was not a standout wine in this line up.

7/12/2022 - kfrench150 Likes this wine:

Minimal soakage on the cork and only a small amount of sediment in the bottle. Decanted for about an hour. Deep plummy red with just the beginnings of some garnet starting to appear at the rim. Stunning nose of red plums, meat jus, spice, garrigue (especially fresh lavendar and bay), ink, sandlewood, warm dusty stones, licorice, and more. Very complex, sweet/savoury and inviting! I'm speechless over the mouthfeel! Full, round, rich, sweet fruit extract, supple tannins, fresh but not overt acidity and pleasantly warming alcohol on the finish. Palate follow the nose - lots of spice, garrigue, minerals and more, fully enveloped in a robe of sweet, meaty, dark red and black fruit. Finishes just off dry, long, clean and fresh with everything perfectly in balance and in its proper place. Much more integrated, supple and approachable than last year's. Stunning!!

10/11/2018 - shadow wrote:

Busy day here in the woods of Newbury.
Back in the barn, petcock failed on Mr. Shadow, so I still smell of gasoline.
Crew came to insert a new under ground cable, knocked out computer, tv, phone, said they were sorry, we just lay cable.
Two crews latter, all fixed.
Than FedX and UPS made their drops.
Could not wait to pop the Deus.
Nose is French perfume, not overpowering, very inviting.
First sip, wet, dry, leather dust, drops of cool juice, tannin wave comes and fades.
Not heavy or alcoholic, no heat, Burgundy body with CdP flavor.
Cross between 2007 and 2010.
A lick of glycerin away from perfection.

6/7/2021 - Alykhan V Likes this wine:

2 hour decant
Very closed off at first. Showing extremely well at 3 hour mark
Herbal and black tea aromas, black cherry, gingerbread, pantry spices, stone/very mineral, some feral/iron notes
A very polished wine with medium tannins and medium+ acidity
Excellent to outstanding length
This will last decades
Elegant, fresh, and balanced despite warmer vintage

11/3/2020 - watcheslover Likes this wine:

Fabulous tasting yesterday of the 2018 Grand Crus of Dujac. Unfortunately, I don't have time to comment on everything these days, I will come back to it in the coming weeks. I put you the scores below only.
Bonnes Mares 98-100
Clos de la Roche 98-100
Vosne-R Malconsorts 97-99
Echezeaux 96-98
Chambertin 95-97
Saint-Vivant 95-97
Charms Ch. 95-97
Clos St Denis 94-96
Vosne Beaux-Monts 93-95
C. Musigny Gruenchers 92-94

5/8/2021 - originalverkorkt Likes this wine:

Until a few years ago, only very few Savigny specialists knew about the 1er Cru site Aux Serpentières in Savigny-lès-Beaune. The reputation of Aux Serpentières grows year after year with the work of the Guillemot brothers, who are in the process of moving it to the forefront of Savigny-lès-Beaune. The site, which is very rich in marl, is located above the Rhoin river, in the middle of the sites of Aux Clous, Aux Gravains (where there is also a very good wine of the Guillemots), Aux Pointes and Aux Guettes. Most of the vines there on the 1.27-acre parcel are around 65 years old and were planted by Pierre Guillemot, the grandfather and founder of the winery, who died in 2019.

Color
Deep cherry red

Nose
The wine balances the ripeness and dark fruitiness of the vintage with tremendous density, gossamer tannin and deep minerality. This "1er Cru" again shows that so fantastic balance of an earthy pithiness and the floating light elegance and freshness. And the pithiness is a guarantee for quality and longevity, especially in the interplay with the lively acidity. The nose reveals notes of raspberries and wild strawberries, sweet cherries and beet, but also dark chocolate, some pepper, blood orange, tobacco and a little charcoal smoke.

Palate
On the palate, a subtle sweetness and a contrasting earthy and tinty note combine with the herbal notes of the co-fermented raps. All of this is wrapped up by the fine tannin already mentioned and the lively, electrifying combination of acidity and minerality. It has greatness and is almost unique in this price segment.

2/3/2010 - urga wrote:

13,50% alc., cherry red, very young color; very closed after opening, after 2-hour-decanting a lot of sour cherries, very tart; also on the palate sour cherries, some tannins, high acidity, nothing else; after another hour the wine became better, the components came more together, but I was somehow disappointed. Nice food wine, but not what I look for in burgundies.

11/10/2017 - Ramberg wrote:

Disappointing bottle indeed.
I had a bottle of this about 7 years ago, that was actually really good, especially given the so called ”qpr”.
That was however then..
This bottle is just tiered and over the hill.
Nose is okay, with some dark fruits and sous bois.
Palate however is almost defect, as it is totally over the hill with completely dead fruit and mainly earth and acidity left, and perhaps some mushrooms and residues of cherries .
Still, better than many new world pinots will ever be.