5/2/2024 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Much better in bottle than when I tasted from the barrel in May last year. Back then it was green and mean with extremely harsh tannins. One year later this ugly duckling has completely transformed. Opens reductive, showing massive chocolate notes that I don’t prefer. Given some air, the classic Gonon blue fruit and violet aromas emerge. After 2 hours in carafe, the wine opens on the palate. Really beautiful acidity coupled with low alcohol (12.5%) and a saline streak makes for an extremely fresh Northern Rhone. That said, it is still unmistakably Rhone. Not ready yet, but if you must, decant ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

5/2/2024 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Classical white burg, significantly richer and more rounded than his Macon bottlings. Acidity kept in check by ripeness of fruit and oak influence. Prefer this over his Macons. Only thing lacking is the finish but this will certainly improve with age. Best bottle I’ve had from Fabien Duperray thus far.

5/2/2024 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Opens dark, dense and oaky. After 2 hours in carafe, firing on all cylinders. Incredible purity of red cherry fruit and cola, perfectly balanced which surprised me given the vintage. New oak signature is definitely there but not excessive. 12.5% alcohol in 2018, just fantastic. Tonight, this performed similarly to a 2009 Clos des Lambrays once it had some time to get going.

4/23/2024 - chngpw wrote:

First bottle from a case of 6. Labels badly damaged but cork was in great condition, came out intact. No bricking at all, dark purple almost violet in the glass. Surprising colour given the age. Very shy nose and little fruit on the body but the tannins are powerful and rustic. The general flavour profile is reminiscent of sandalwood and Provençal herbs, rosemary, garrigue. Very long finish, splitting image of Ribena. Despite the age, this showed much better after some aeration with more blackberry coming to the fore.

4/18/2024 - chngpw Likes this wine:

From a case of 12 - fill into/base of neck. Medium to dark ruby, no bricking, seems like a well stored bottle. A ton of barnyard on the nose, some light cherry fruit, with a little graphite trailing behind. Very elegant on the palate, good example of typical aged Bordeaux: largely musky notes with dominant Merlot characteristics. Finish is long but fragile, unlikely to improve from further age. Fun and easy bottle.

3/4/2024 - chngpw wrote:

I agree with Soyhead’s June 2022 review on this wine. My bottle also seemed advanced considering the age. It was the biggest “label” on the table but certainly didn’t deliver the goods tonight. Floral on the nose but flabby on the palate. Slightly disappointing.

1/28/2024 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Completely different taste profile compared to just 8 months ago. This can no longer be confused with a typical Chablis, definitely a ringer for a Cote de Beaune white. The oak influence is obvious now with generous buttery, marzipan, almost sweet notes on the nose. Enters the palate creamy, broad and round but balanced throughout by a striking acidity. Extremely fine overall despite the slightly prominent alcohol on the finish. These magical 110 year old vines create what I believe is currently the best value white under the burgundy sky.

1/20/2024 - chngpw wrote:

This is slightly disappointing compared to his other cuvée, ”Juliette et les Vieilles de Chavigne”. You get a hint of what Jean Marie Guffens’ wines are capable of on the nose with a trace of his signature opulence and oak influence, but this is where the similarities end. Slightly shrill on the palate, lacking the richness and concentration found in his other cuvées. Alcohol content, although reasonable at 13.5%, feels considerable without the generous fruit usually found in his wines. Finish was decent but not enough to live up to the admittedly high expectations I had for this wine. Maybe it was in a dumb phase (certainly hope so) but I would rather look for his other cuvées in any case. Still a good wine, but in my opinion falls slightly short of the Guffens name.

8/12/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

One of the best wines from not just the Maconnais but Burgundy as a whole. Previous tasters mentioned Coche and Lafon, I’d say a mix between the two. Similar to Coche in its flint, but rich on the palate like a Clos de la Barre. So much extract and power, yet impossibly balanced. Prices aren’t cheap, but when you compare it to the competition, these are a steal.

11/18/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Coincidentally, I purchased this wine from the same restaurant as the previous taster, but I liked this significantly more than he did. For me, this was incredible. The nose was unique in its smokiness and meatiness but yet retained an underlying florality. On the palate it was tannic - the structure was rigid and the wine felt extremely young. Despite this, it still had beautiful round solar red fruit which held until the last pour several days later. I found it immensely fresh with only the tannic structure hinting towards the hot vintage. It is difficult for me to describe this wine because I’ve had nothing like it. It was tasted next to an 02 Chave Hermitage and an 03 Liger Belair Les Chaumes but both were outclassed by this. This might very well be the greatest wine I’ve had in my lifetime

11/17/2023 - chngpw wrote:

My first Vatan. I was not sure what to expect but it was interesting to say the least. Surprisingly chiselled when cold but the moment it warms up, it becomes massive on the palate. Strangely, I felt that the palate profile was similar to Pinot Blanc. Definitely not an archetypal Sauv Blanc, really alcoholic on the finish too. That said the finish is incredibly long which saves this wine. Not sure I’d pay the current premium though.

9/4/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

These days it seems like any Japanese winemaker in France will have some form of following simply by virtue of being Japanese. Sometimes this is justified, sometimes not. For me, Jintaro Yura’s wines firmly belong in the former category.

This is a brilliant effort, a wine that manages to combine the brilliant acidity characteristic of riesling with the depth and richness of white burgundy. Drinking it chilled and drinking it warm provides two completely different experiences. Chilled, it retains more of the German riesling signature, chiselled, not completely dry (tastes similar to kabinett levels of sweetness), razor sharp acidity and so so fresh. Warm, the oak influence comes through, lending a buttery note and adding density to the mid-palate. The acidity when warm is also buffered by a mix of citrus and orchard fruits, giving incredible roundness that makes this wine so moreish. Two completely different taste profiles in the same wine.

It’s a shame that his production is so small. These should easily age a decade or more. Quite exceptional.

8/3/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

I didn’t take any notes, but what was truly memorable was the texture of this wine. It was like drinking liquid silk. Unbelievable. You couldn’t imagine the look on my face when I saw it was Merlot. One of the rare wines that I would gladly pay market for. Just crazy.

7/31/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Agree with Ricard. This is a fantastic morey which punches way above its mere “village” status. Savoury nose with dark cherry fruits, plums, figs, some stems influence (little bit of spice). Great depth on the palate, layered, meaty, you can almost chew on this wine. Still shockingly tannic despite 18 years of age. This can easily go another 10 years, no rush to consume at all. Great stuff.

7/31/2023 - chngpw wrote:

Powerful gevrey, rather rich and heavy on the nose, with liquorice, coffee liquor, some sweetness. On the palate, surprisingly more elegant but still concentrated. Quite tannic on the finish which gives the wine very serious structure (a little too hard at this stage). Needs several years at least.

7/31/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Ripe for sure but not over extracted at all. Plush dark fruit with some spice. Tannins are incredibly fine and accessible which is very surprising given the age. One of the nicest 2020s I’ve had recently, outshone a duroche gevrey tasted next to it.

7/29/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully now. Incredible nose, earthy, saline, meaty, complex and rather lifted. Lighter on the palate, could do with more depth but very quaffable. Hope to have more in the future. Simply delicious!

7/23/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

09 has a reputation for being a ripe vintage but this was incredibly pure and balanced. The distinct cola note on this reminded me of a Grand Cru from Gevrey more so than Morey. On the palate there is beautiful dark red fruit, purity in spades. Incredible fine tannins which seem almost resolved at this stage. Hint of vanilla on the oak shows itself on the finish. Beguiling complexity. On day two, the herbs show themselves. Similar in aromatics to Rayas actually, but less hawthorn and less sweet smelling. Pretty fantastic wine.

7/23/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

This is probably the smallest cuvee from Franck. It is not his flagship, and it is not the most expensive, but it is my absolute favourite. The nose is explosively floral. Lavenders, Roses, Violets. Blueberry compote galore. This follows through on the lush palate, accompanied by a striking mineral backbone. At this stage, the tannins are fierce, and extremely coarse, limiting the performance of this wine. It is already incredible now, but with time, this wine will surely develop elegance and the tannins will tame. Hold for the long haul. Score is conservative with huge upside (due to the tannins).

7/23/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

To me, Vincent Dureuil has cemented his place as one of the great winemakers of Burgundy. Round, complex, buttery popcorn (like Coche but without the flint.) Incredible concentration and broadness across the palate. Perfect amount of acidity to keep everything in check. Stunning, stunning wine.

7/23/2023 - chngpw Does not like this wine:

I read the positive reviews for this wine and I hoped for a good experience. Unfortunately, what I had was a dense, over-extracted, toasty oak mess. It is pretty damning when this wine is darker in colour and more tannic than a Cornas of the same vintage tasted next to it. Where’s the elegance, purity and finesse? Very disappointed.

5/6/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Simply exceptional. This is easily the same level as a good Cote de Beaune Grand Cru. Tasted next to a Roumier Les Cras and though they are different colours entirely, this was the star of the night. You would be lucky to have this in your cellar.

7/15/2023 - chngpw wrote:

This is very dense for a Bourgogne. The fruit is dark and the style here seems extracted, in line with the reputation that this domaine needs time. There is quite a fair bit of oak influence too. The label reads 12.5% alc but blind I could call this 13.5 or even 14%. A very serious Bourgogne which to me does not offer much pleasure, but could just be not my style.

6/9/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Brilliant light ruby in the glass. Ultra floral, candied strawberry and raspberry on the nose. In the mouth, not powerful in the usual in-your-face manner, but deceptively layered and soft. Taste profile switches between herbal and sweet, but remains super fresh throughout. On the finish there is an interesting hoppy aroma, almost beer-like. Really great wine, such a pity I have no more.

5/15/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Best Bourgogne Blanc I have ever tasted. Incredible concentration and density on the palate but a lazer sharp acidity cuts through everything. In my opinion, closer to GC level than Bourgogne. Bravo.

6/2/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Better than expected. Pale ruby in the glass. Quite pretty on the nose with sweet strawberries, hawthorn and a hint of dried rose petals. On the palate, dominantly red-fruited with raspberry, strawberries and only a tinge of blue fruit. Some brambly undertones, a little bit of violet, not overly complex but quaffable. Tannins and oak are already well integrated, very fine but not so polished. Extraction here seems light, in line with my previous experience with the domaine’s 08 wines, which sometimes seemed a little anaemic. This however has benefitted from the vintage as well as MSD characteristics lending just about enough palate density and concentration. Thoroughly enjoyable on a hot day, in drinking window now, unsure if it will improve further.

91

5/27/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Incredible value for money. Nose opens flinty with slight reduction, but this clears very quickly. Smells almost like a Chablis, but on warming, some nice buttery, marzipan notes but nothing overwhelming. On the palate, this was lean, tight and compact with a great acidity providing an amazing freshness reflecting the vintage. The deft use of oak only shows itself on the finish, lending some richness to the wine. However, I was expecting a bit more palate density given the 110 year old vines here, that would really push this to stratospheric levels. Perhaps with some age, this could put on more weight but even now, this is the best Montagny I have had. Ridiculous QPR, easily outdrinks many Puligny without the heavy price tag. Buy.

91+

3/28/2023 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Drank over 3 days. Great nose on day one, no whole cluster characteristics but very pretty, with well judged oak. On the palate, lithe and extremely elegant, balanced acidity, perhaps lacking a little mid palate depth. Actually quite a large amount of tannins but very fine. On day two this shuts down hard. Completely closed on the nose, hard to read with alcohol fumes dominating. Palate has gained weight, taking on a darker fruit profile. Becomes slightly astringent. On the third day it opens up again but not to the same extent as day one. Nice nose which has lost some complexity, in exchange for more body on the palate. My personal preference was for the wine on the first day. Great value, well made wine with upside. Consistently long finish. 90+

12/11/2022 - chngpw wrote:

Pop and poured over 3 hours. The fruit seems to be handled well considering the vintage, not overly extracted showing some red fruit but still mostly blue/black. Unfortunately the use of new oak here seems excessive. Very toasty and sweet vanilla aromas mask what otherwise could be a very expressive gevrey. The tannins are fairly rustic and grippy. Blind I could almost mistake this for a Nebbiolo from Northern Italy. I’m not sure if the oak will integrate but time will tell. Do not open for 5-10 years.

12/31/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2hrs. This was closed and tight on the nose with dominant aromas of sandalwood, tobacco, good barnyard funk. The fruit aromas were very reticent but had great purity. It was slightly more generous on the palate with notes of mulberry and blackberry, with substantial crushed granite and salinity. There was also large amounts of fine chalky tannin which would take some years to resolve. The searing acidity helps to round out the palate, and is a pleasant surprise considering the hot vintage. That said, this wine seems to be starting to shut down, would advise against opening now. Well made with finesse, needs long term cellaring to unlock its potential. Less generous and ready than the 2015, but has more elegance and restraint.

11/10/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Even better than the 2017. Floral, with violets and crushed blueberries. Fresh with vibrant acidity. Very good for the price.

12/17/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Wow, this was special. Whenever I taste Schaefer I get a very distinct, unique nose of smoke, wood and straw. That was present here, and I also got the classic stone fruit aromas of peach, apricot as well as honey. Where this wine really shone was how it seemingly combined the best of Donnhoff (its rich, oily, complexity) with the elegance and acidity of Prum. The wine was so balanced that it felt dangerously chuggable. This was a revelation, and ranks among the best Spatlese I have tasted.

12/24/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

This is a massively concentrated wine, super dark fruit (black cherries, plum), mocha, tobacco, some buttery notes. Sweet toasted oak, viscous mouthfeel, very much Parker style. Tannins are smooth and integrated at this point. Can age further but unlikely to improve.

12/11/2022 - chngpw wrote:

No formal notes but this tasted sweet for a pinot and was slightly lacking in freshness. The oak however is managed well, already quite integrated. This was relatively expensive for a village pommard at ~80usd and I feel that there are better options out there

12/24/2022 - chngpw wrote:

Tasted twice on 2 different occasions. Opens extremely sweet, a little too much so for a Spatlese. Quite reductive with a ton of Sulfur and Tar. Needs time to develop for sure. Could do with a little more acidity.

12/26/2022 - chngpw Does not like this wine:

Terrible. Metallic, tastes so chemical. Feels like they added some sugar post-fermentation but forgot to stir the mix. Would not recommend

12/24/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Screwcap. Jammy dark fruit but not overly so. Less extracted than the 2008 Penfolds 407 I had a year back. Oak is well integrated but you can definitely pick up the vanilla and liquorice. Very moreish, well made Aussie wine. At peak and will likely remain so for the next 5 years.

12/12/2022 - chngpw wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours. Very tight and austere, fruit is ungenerous. Gravelly mineral note on the palate. Hard to read, alcohol not integrated. Tannins surprisingly polished, but still astringent. Personally, I felt that this was not ready.

12/17/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Slow-oxed for 3 hours prior to tasting. On the nose, sweet blackberry jam, dark cherries, some garrigue. On the palate, immensely concentrated, with the sweetness following through. There is a vibrant acidity that keeps everything balanced, allowing the wine to be powerful yet impossibly elegant. Notes of toasty oak and vanilla show up on the long finish, with a huge amount of rustic tannins that sneak up towards the end. If any criticism, the nose can get hot due to the alcohol and the jammyness makes the palate slightly one dimensional. Though this already drinks well, further cellaring should help the alcohol & sugar integrate better and allow the wine to gain more complexity. 3 hours of slow-ox was insufficient.

91-93 with future upside

8/27/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Drunk over 3 days. Aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, graphite & incense. Palate is dominated by sweet dark fruit on entry, with well integrated but plentiful tannins. Finishes short, oaky and slightly astringent. This is a fruit bomb, obviously made in the style of a “big” wine, but while it lacks complexity, it’s plenty of fun. It barely changed over the 3 days, so I’d say it can take a few more years in the cellar.

8/20/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

My first ever Gonon and it did not disappoint. On the nose, light barnyard notes persist throughout hours of decanting. The dominant aroma alternates between cassis, cola and dark chocolate. On the palate, deliciously woody and meaty, full bodied with chewy tannins. Finish is very long and the wood lingers for ages. There is so much here already despite its age. Irresistible!

7/30/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Decanted in carafe for 3 hours at lunch. The wine’s character changed endlessly over the course of the meal. A brilliant bdx, surprisingly approachable and open after some aggressive aeration. On the nose, almost completely primary fruit aromas, with a perfect amount of vanilla and coffee, black pepper and gravel. On the palate, medium+ body, delicious salinity not unlike an isotonic beverage, with the most polished tannins I have encountered in any bdx. The finish, which is the best part of the wine, lasts for what seems like hours, with lingering notes of green apple and cocoa. This wine has decades of life ahead of it but already delivers immense drinking pleasure.

3/9/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

At ~35 USD this offers incredible value, and with just 3 years of age it is already showing great potential.

Nose is complex with typical red fruit, a hint of violet and almost a candy-like sweetness. On the palate, the wine is dry. Pomegranate is dominant, with strawberry on the finish. Strangely it is medium to light bodied and the tannins not as harsh as expected. However, the alcohol definitely seems disjointed and unintegrated, leaving a burning sensation on the finish. This makes me think that this bottle can do with a good deal of cellaring.

92-, brilliant QPR, highly recommended.

2/5/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

When I first opened this bottle there was a pungent aroma of horse and barnyard.

Thankfully the brett mostly blew off after 15 minutes in the glass. Nose was complex with red cherry, a slight menthol aspect, and a base barnyard note.

The palate is decidedly less complex than the nose, with a rather simple profile of red fruit. Not the most ripe, almost a coolness to the fruit. Very dry with little sugar at all, medium minus acidity, medium body and low tannins that were soft and supple.

Finish was medium in length with a lingering note of strawberry and cherries.

I much preferred this bottle to the 2018 Lucente I had recently, and this was cheaper! All in all, decent, but not something I’d specifically look for.

89 - 90

2/1/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

Good wine, decanted 1hr prior to tasting.

Plums and prunes on the nose, definitely an emphasis on dark fruit. Unfortunately, alcohol seemed rather high and disjointed from the rest of the nose.

On the palate, medium to full bodied. Sweet and beefy, almost like cherry jam. The star of the wine is certainly the texture. Amazingly soft and velvety tannins integrate perfectly with the wine delivering a layered, yet silky mouthfeel. Finish is medium in length

92

1/29/2022 - chngpw wrote:

Corked…unfortunate as beneath the cork taint there seemed to be fruit of decent quality

1/29/2022 - chngpw Likes this wine:

What a pleasant surprise! For 30 usd from the supermarket I was not expecting much, but this wine was singing.

Beautiful nose of cassis, violets and oak. It’s really a baby cornas! Medium-bodied, dry palate with tremendous length. Notes of wild dark berries exploding on the tongue, tobacco and leather towards the end. Plentiful tannins show themselves midway through.

Finish is exceptionally long, definitely the highlight of the wine.

Rare to find such good wine at this price point where I am, glad to have tasted it! Will certainly be adding more to the cellar

12/31/2021 - chngpw Likes this wine:

90-91. Very good! Paid 60USD for it, I feel that it delivers for its price. Certainly better than the 08 Chambolle Les Fuees from Siguat I had some time back.

Initial nose was nutty and slightly saline, which blew off after a few hours to reveal fruity notes and a light scent resembling fresh bread.

Medium to light body, medium acidity, good balance. Red fruits, pomegranate, simple but very enjoyable.

Tannins are almost completely resolved, just enough to coat the tongue but not the rest of the mouth.

If any criticism, it lacks intensity and body to take it further.

12/4/2021 - chngpw Likes this wine:

A great wine overall

Strong aromas of violet and blueberries jump out of the glass. On the palate, a nice sweetness, but not excessive. Amazing blue and dark fruit, sufficient acidity to keep everything in balance. Tannins are plentiful but well integrated. Short on the finish

This wine deserves many more years in the cellar, but is already delicious now. Was certainly better many hours after opening.

On the second day this wine became something truly special. Showed so much more on the palate and nose, truly a treat. Possibly one of my wines of the year.

93++

11/29/2021 - chngpw wrote:

Having tasted a 2009 Gevrey Chambertin just last week I was hoping this would be a similarly positive experience.

Unfortunately I was let down by the lack of concentration and balance. This wine was extremely pale ruby, which hinted to its character.

On the nose, candied raspberry with a hint of cotton candy. On the palate, very dry with high acidity, amounting to a rather mouth-puckering experience. Simple red fruit with chalky tannins, no perceptible oak and not much complexity, perhaps due to the sourness masking most flavours. Medium length finish.

I expected more from a 1er cru Chambolle Musigny, even though this bottle was very reasonably priced.