October 9, 2019 - This bottle was in splendid condition. It had a youthful colour and just a hint of toasty development on the nose. There were exotic fruits including paw paw, custard apple and mango. It was rich, layered and heady, with an unctuous, waxy feel and great presence and drive. Length was imposing.
March 25, 2019 - Chave and cassoulet: Not sure what to make of this - it's very waxy and butterscotch-y with gentle white fruit beneath, but also seems a bit tired. Others at the table seemed to like it much more than I did, but I struggled to really drink or enjoy this and found myself returning to the reds by this point.
March 25, 2019 - The King in the North! (Chicago, IL): Another head-scratcher for me. I think I liked this a little more than the really caramelly but not sweet 2006, but this wasn't anywhere as good as the truly compelling 1988 that I had two weeks ago. There's some beeswax or honey on the nose here, as well as a slight bit of floral expression. Seems just a little clumsy, even though the acid is relatively high. I will add that this worked really well with cassoulet; I think the fatness in the dish works with this wine quite nicely here.
February 5, 2019 - Good for what it should be, with honey notes across the palate. Some soil tones, but otherwise quite light given the overall heft of the wine. Rich dark honey on the finish. 91-92
December 2, 2016 - Twelfth Annual White Truffle Dinner (Chez Weber - Chicago IL): Corked. In 87/89/91 vertical.
August 29, 2016 - A pristine bottle and cork. This wine was very young, bright yellow and very different from previous bottles. It took a long time to open up, but really gave the impression of being in a "dumb" phase. This has been in my cellar for awhile and perhaps had been in a cold cellar previously.
March 12, 2016 - Livelier and spicy, imo, than the 89, with a really interesting, subtle nose.
January 6, 2015 - nothing like the great bottles I had 3-6 years ago. Rapidly declining
November 18, 2014 - Tasted 2013 white from cask and 1991 and 1992 from bottle in Chaves cellar. The 91 was extremely clean and well preserved. Nose of white truffles (extreme!) and champignons. Medium body with the tell tale bitterness. The fatness had gone and it was finely grained. The 1992 was totally different, much more oxidized nose with orange zest and rubbery notes. The palate however was fully alive with a long fresh finish. According to Chave "this is how you should play with oxidization".
July 8, 2014 - Fantastic wine. Luscious, viscous, perfect!