4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Such a contrast to the brilliant '96 Calon Segur that came before, clearly a Parkerized, over-extracted wine from a hot vintage. Guessed '05 or ‘09 left-bank modern producer. Agree whole-heartedly with the previous note that said this was soupy and muddled.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Beautiful, expressive nose with tobacco, leather and a hint of pyrazines. Regal and classy on the palate, had a superb restraint and understated nature which I love in wines. Acidity, tannins and fruit were in perfect balance at this stage of its development. Guessed 1996 Montrose and when revealed to be a Saint-Estèphe but not Montrose, could only be Calon Segur who knocked it out of the park in this vintage. This wine was on my list to try, and happy that it was firing on all cylinders. A fantastic old-school Bordeaux at its peak

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Most guessed right-bank because of the soft, plush fruit but I thought this was a 1990 left-bank because of the firm tannins and vibrancy. Unlike the magical ‘95 Lafite that I tasted in February, this felt reticent and lacked greatness but a generous share from a friend.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Strange showing for a 2011 MSD. Candied, jammy fruit that lacked structure and acidity, picked too late or the problematic Ponsot seal?

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Thought this had to be a Gevrey; iron, meaty savoury notes, but still quite delicate and light. Lacked the stuffing to be a great BM but very well-balanced with good acidity. A resolutely traditional, old-school Burgundy from a cooler year.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Primary, Syrah-like hue that made it obvious that it was a young Burgundy from a warm vintage, guessed ‘18 Gevrey. Blue-fruited but still retained elegance and good acidity; not too heavy for a 2020. Excellent potential but the gentle extraction surprised me, a complete change in style compared to the older Lafon reds.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: My extra. Guesses were mostly in CdN from the early ‘00s. Started off elegant and precise, but became more oxidative and earthy with air. High acidity of '08 present.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Not blind. Another house-style champagne with rich yeasty notes but with fresh, pure strawberry fruit. Loved the clarity and depth on this, nice saline streak on the finish. Have enjoyed all the Bollinger 2014s despite not being a fan normally.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Not blind. Austere and at the same time lacking focus and concentration, also a bit austere? Think Savart is overpriced now after tasting so many good growers in Champagne at more affordable prices.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Clear label from a later release. Guessed '95/96 house from the brioche and autolytic notes. Rich old-school style, slight caramel and honey notes. A little tired for me and this bottle was probably on the gentle downslope.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: My contribution. Another natural-leaning champagne but thought this was very good. Fresh, energetic red apple fruit; clearly ripe but with a good acidic spine.

4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Pre-Labour Day drinks: Brought for a friend. Bracing at first but became more delicate with air, wild strawberry fruit that could have been more refined.

4/28/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Clearly way too young but wanted to do a side-by-side with the Saint Pierre after a friend said she hasn't tasted Labet before. Crystalline, zingy citrus fruit, but the acidity on this was enamel-stripping. Clearly a top quality wine, better than the 2019 Chalasse I tasted in France two weeks ago, but so taut and punishing at the moment.

4/28/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Syrah-like colour that made me think this was a recent warm vintage Burgundy, but was clearly a non-Burg Pinot after tasting it. Didn't get any candied strawberry fruit so I guessed German Pinot. When revealed to be new-world it could only be a cool climate region so thought NZ. Surprisingly elegant given the colour, not much complexity but pleasurable enough to finish a glass of this.

4/28/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

I was hesitating between Loire Chenin or a Macon Chardonnay, but in hindsight Jura Chard should have been the obvious guess. Slightly cloudy in colour, obviously natural but in a controlled way. Crisp green apple and orchard fruit, slight lactic note. Good tension and much more giving than the Labet today.

4/28/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

A friend said that she has never been convinced by old Bordeaux and after a faulty bottle of a '89 Magdelaine on Friday, there was only one producer that I wanted to open. '86 is known to be a tannic vintage and I was surprised to find how approachable this was. Soft, plush red fruit with a velvety, sensual elegance. So precise and understated for a Bordeaux. Magdelaine is always a wine that you can drink endlessly. At its apex.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Was sure this was a modern Supertuscan abomination but when revealed to be a Piedmont, I said this should be a producer that is to be avoided at all costs. Worse than a generic supermarket wine.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Resolved, sweet fruit that made me think that this was Italian but the Bordeaux pyrazines emerged with air. Had some mustiness that blew off, an approachable and charming wine that is on the gentle downslope.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Was quite sure this was new-world because of the minty/eucalyptus note but oscillated between US and Australia. Similar to the '89 Baron - remarkably youthful colour, very structured with drying, unresolved tannins that made it difficult to drink at first but softened with air.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: My extra. Unfortunately cooked but showed some signs of life on the second day.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: My contribution. Vibrant ruby colour, so youthful that everyone was in the mid-00s. Actually was more approachable when I tasted on opening, but retreated into its shell after an hour. Unintegrated and incredibly brooding on the whole; unresolved oak, fruit cake notes, a wall of tannins and acidity. Crazy to think that a 35 year old wine is too young, but regret not keeping this for

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Brought for a friend. Burgundian nose but palate was a little tannic and alcoholic than I would have liked, most guessed northern Rhone possibly because of the hint of herbaceousness. Became more elegant with air but still too much cherry kirsch and garrigue for me. Badly in need of more time.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: The savoury, smoky bell pepper notes made it obvious that this was another northern Rhone, guessed cool vintage Jamet or Allemand like '04. Pleasant and resolved, but lacked the oomph to be a top wine.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Cloudy colour with unacceptable levels of VA, jammy and candied nose with high acidity and sweetness. Guessed Jura red but when revealed that it wasn’t, could only be a Rayas stable wine. Similarly high alcohol levels to the Fonsalette that gave kirsch liquor notes, but the complete opposite in terms of structure.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Guessed an international northern Rhone international producer like Chapoutier - probably the most damning verdict that I can give. Too alcoholic and dense with impenetrable black fruit, and a bitter finish. Apparently this was opened since 7am in the morning before dinner!

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Clearly northern Rhone with spicy, strawberry and dark blackcurrant fruit. Superb purity and elegance that made me guess '99 Chave or Jamet. Wonderful balance and incredibly energetic for one of the worst vintages of the era, better than the previous ‘93 La Landonnes that I have had before. Standout WOTN for me.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Sweet dark blueberry fruit that made me think ‘09 MSD, the vibrancy made it clear this was from a warm vintage. A more stern Chambolle that became more tannic and closed with air, opposite of the last time I had this when it took time to become open. From these two data points, seems like this wine is still in its infancy.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Unresolved oak on the nose and palate, tannins were astringent and drying that I thought it was a Nebbiolo. Dark, slightly spicy fruit that didn’t excite. Haven’t been impressed with Grivot from this era.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Another silky, elegant wine but this was more easily identifiable as Burgundy. Tannins were a little more resolved than the ‘91 that came before; quite lush and sensual so I guessed Vosne. Put on more concentration and earthy soil notes with time to become more Gevrey-like. Agreed with someone who said Latricières is always the most ready out of old-school Faiveleys.

4/26/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Jason's birthday: Lovely autumnal dark berries, excellent purity of fruit and structure such that I was guessing a strong vintage from the late ‘90s. Some smokiness that made me think northern Rhone, in fact the delicate fruit reminded me of the Chave I had last year! Great wine - this producer’s ‘99 Vosne 1er was my epiphany Burgundy back in 2016.

4/24/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: By the glass at Montee. New-school style with explosive floral aromatics and juicy red fruit, but still had good structure. Good restraint from the cooler vintage. Big fan of what this producer is doing and think this is a step up from his 2017s, as he has evolved to a more red-fruited, less rustic style.

4/23/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Off the list at Le Baratin for 51€. Similar to my previous bottle in Singapore but felt fresher - think that natural wines drunk in France have more energy, which made this fun and serious at the same time.

4/23/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Off the list at Caves Legrand for 217€, a little on the high side compared to some bargains on the list but I've been searching for this for some time. A filigreed, balanced champagne with precise red fruit. Started off round and rich with slightly oxidative and yeasty notes, but with time it gained elegance and became more vinous. A very contemplative champagne which I liked a lot.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Off the list at Tan Dinh. Fantastic selection but prices here were mostly marked to market, glad to have found this for 185€. Sweet, autumnal dark red fruit on both the nose and the palate; agree with a previous note that mentioned surmaturité. Oak and tannins quite resolved with delicate (but not tertiary) floral notes. Always a great feeling to drink a good Burgundy at its peak. On a side note, the owner was really friendly and said he has been collecting wine since 1968!

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Lucky to take the last bottle of this at Bistro Volnay for 175€. Similar to the ‘17 Chaignots last week - started off dense and a little rustic, but with time the silky structure emerged. More refined than NSG but would benefit from more time.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Alas we were not done, I asked for the wine list and saw this and immediately asked for it - thankfully Hide was willing to let go of his last bottle. Barely any bubbles and didn’t feel like a saignée, in fact the fruit was so pure, fresh and weightless it reminded me the texture of the best Burgundies. Chiselled, precise and elegant, absolutely outstanding and the best champagne that I have drunk on this trip.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: This was shared alongside a 1930s Muscat (which was a generic negoce wine) to end off the dinner. I thought this was a Sauternes from the colour until the rest said that there wasn’t any Sauternes marker. Eventually, someone managed to impressively nail this as a sweet Mâcon white because of the white truffle note. Honey and apricot notes but with higher acidity than a Sauternes, this was very enjoyable. Not produced anymore, leaving Bongran as the other famous producer that still makes a sweet from this region. As for the older Muscat, it was completely brown but with still surprisingly vibrant fruit.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Bought a couple of cuvees from Vin d’Anges in Lyon for 30€ and wanted to share a bottle with Laurent who tipped me off about this producer. Cloudy in colour, lots of VA and acidity but not offensively so - think I could drink this as a casual, fun wine. Reminded me of the Overnoy that I’ve tried so I said we could just buy this, but was shocked at the current WS prices for the few bottles that are being sold.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: The higher alcohol on this made it an easy tell that this was a CDP instead of Burgundy, but had fresher red fruit compared to the Lafon. Still very much alive and kicking, and unrecognisable from the CDP of today. Think all of us preferred this to the Burgundy.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: The collectors in France kindly wanted to do a side-by-side comparison of old Burgundy and Rhone since I mentioned they converged with age, but this pair was easy to tell apart since the Burgundy had higher acidity and cooler red fruit. Guessed both to be from the 1970s and was shocked that they were two decades older, I felt this was autumnal rather than tertiary. Apparently this Lafon should have showed even more youthfully!

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: From a bottle that has been cellared by a collector in France. Unfortunately completely shot, tasted like sherry.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Was lucky to buy this in Lyon for a great price. Unlike Les Meix Chavaux from the same vintage tasted a few days ago, this was good to go with all the signature Roulot markers of stony, mineral notes with a hint green apple.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Bought at Caves du Forum in Reims. So much foam on the mousse that we wondered if the restaurant didn’t wash off the soap from the glass properly! A powerful, vibrant, but structured champagne that needs food. Tannins were more obvious on this one. Even split on the table between the Lancelot and Brochet.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: 100% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay, disgorged May 2023, 4.4g/l. Only 1102 bottles made so was lucky that Phil let me take two! Brought to compare with the Brochet, this had more delicate raspberry fruit and elegance (which was surprising as Phil said this was structured when he tasted it). Tannins were managed very well to have a saline drive as the focus of the wine.

4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Bought at Caves du Forum in Reims. Serious, powerful champagne with red-fruited notes whilst remaining elegant at the same time. Some baking spice notes, texturally rich and pleasurable with a superb finish. Someone at the table impressively managed to nail everything except the vintage.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Very Burgundian, Vosne-like with spicy dark fruit. Some new-school stem use and crunchy dark red fruit with a solid backbone.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Slightly cloudy, dark yellow in colour. Rich, honey notes with the typical Ganevat high-acid, high-octane citrus fruit. Ganevat in warm vintages is always a winner.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Off the list at Septime La Cave while waiting for Clamati. 100% Carignan, seems like they haven’t made this cuvee for some time. Serious and structured, grippy tannins. This producer makes some of the most serious natural wines

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: One for the road before we left Champagne at L'Assiette. Very typical PYCM - ripe mix of tropical and citrus fruit but completely outclassed by the stunning Dureuil-Janthial.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Two weeks in France; 4/12/2024-4/24/2024: Saw this on the wine list and there was no way I could pass this up, glad it was uniformly a hit with everyone. Again, generally agree with Benoit’s note below. Intense, expressive aromatics of white flowers and citrus fruit with very well-judged oak use. A very complete wine on the palate with all the individual components dialled up in terms of concentration and intensity, but so seamless at the same time. tylistically reminded me of a top Meursault. Another white with a lot of everything like the Ramonet and Ente earlier in the trip, and I think this was the best white that I’ve had on this trip among some tough competition.