10/4/2019 - Cailles wrote:

Yes, this wine has a powerful, slutty Napa side but that is well balance with the strong herbal component and elegance and sophistication from the large Cabernet Franc portion (40% of the blend). All that made this wine my WOTN in a 13 bottle lineup including some stars (Screaming Eagle 2013). Complex, well-defined and just great to drink.

TN: Intense and sexy nose displaying ripe dark fruit, spearmint, coffee, some meaty notes and a nice fresh herbal component. Same on the palate with a very well balanced aromatic profile showing some red fruit, coffee, spices, earthy notes, riper dark fruit and again a lot of herbs. Intense, powerful but embedded in a very soft and silky structure and a good freshness which keeps is elegant. Cannot be served to warm as some heat might show. But overall a really nice, balanced, well-defined showing.

Decanting: No extensive decant. My impression is that 2 hours in the decanter might do good things here.

1/13/2019 - chablis28 wrote:

Another great 2006 Tete' level champagne. I've drank other people's btls of this from prior vintages but this was the first plunge on my own with the 2006. Good idea! Specifically bought this with our 40th Anni in mind but was tempted by a Tait Comte & Dom P too. Said to be 60% Pinot Noir mix of Premier & Grand Crus from Montagne de Reims / Grande Vallée de la Marne along with 40% Chardonnay from Côte des Blancs. This was killer tonight and uniquely different from the more feminine Comte I often go to for special occasions. This showed tremendous power and intensity while still delivering refined elegance. The palate is a zesty, bright & driven mix of; mineral dominated citrus, trace stone fruit, spice and brioche. Racy & intense and at the same time richness and expansive fruit. And,not remotely oxidative, yea! Ultra fresh and alive. Just fantastic! Going back to this well again for a couple more. Paid $145 and amazingly, completely worth it. Buy a few less sub $70 champagnes in favor of one or two of these. Loved it!

7/9/2019 - Jeongyahn Likes this wine:

Vivid Fruit
(Lemon, Orange, Red Apple, Pear, Quince, Peach)
White Flowers, Mint
Brioche, Biscuit, Yeast
Almond, Ginger
Mineral like Crushed stone
Moss(likely to develop into a forest floor or truffle scent)

Sleek & Elegant
Opposite Oxidative Style Champagne
Still young

9/7/2019 - Jammy Wine wrote:

The 1990 Chateau d’Yquem is bold and voluptuous, one of the richest and brightest d’Yquem I have tasted. This 1990 is fresher than the excellent 1988, offering plenty of fresh mango, peach, citrus peel, pineapple, honeycomb and white blossom. Luscious with very well integrated oak spices. Full bodied with Tokaji Essencia characteristics but fresher acidity and fragrant botrytis. Immortal wine. (94/100)

4/21/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

Newton Johnson is one of good SA producers in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in
Hermanus, which is SE about an hour and forty minutes from Cape Town.

The nose reminds me of Sonoma Chardonnay without being hammered by new oak. Green apple, lime edging towards candy, pineapple, green melon, blended tropical fruit mix, white peach, butter but, not overdone, honeysuckle, light herbaceous notes, touch of saline, beautiful soft chalkiness, limestone minerals, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies & spring flowers.

The body is full, heavy and waxy. It’s rich. It also has a sense of tannins. The fruits are nicely ripened. Green apple, lime edging towards candy, pineapple, green melon, blended tropical fruit mix, white peach, vanilla, butter but, not overdone, honeysuckle, light herbaceous notes, touch of saline, beautiful soft chalkiness, palate penetrating volcanic minerals, limestone, some flinty notes, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies & spring flowers. The acidity is quite perfect. The finish is the definition of; rich, lush, elegant and well balanced. It’s persists for two to three minutes. Really nice! Also, appreciate the 13% ABV.

3/30/2019 - Norwegian Commandeur Likes this wine:

Typical, but albeit a bit subdued Palmer. Beautiful in the glass. Moderate nose, powerful at the start, but weaker after a while. Velvety, integrated tannins. Lots of punch, with a smooth, long finish. How is this not everybody's favorite producer? Palmer seldom disappoints.

11/15/2011 - bonedocnine wrote:

This is by far the best and oldest wine i've ever had. The sauterne was less sweet than i expected with wintery spices. really a stunner! What a nite!!!!

2/11/2019 - carstenf wrote:

Jammy, big, vanilla , chocolate and oak.
Good ? If you need a wine at that kind , than well done.

11/1/2013 - deverett wrote:

Still a very primary wine at 10 years of age. Seems reasonably balanced but you have to like the full throttle extracted style to enjoy, however Noon does do this style particularly well. Oak, coffee, liquorice, cloves - it is all there, including a good whack of alcohol but it isn't overly obtrusive. Still a very deep and dark red / black in colour there was only just the start of some secondary hints coming through. Can't see it falling over, just a bit less my style now.