February 15, 2020 - Fully mature red fruit with sweet spice and plenty of cooked mushroom and forest floor. More air brought out a greater sense of madeirization that seems to add weight and certainly complexity. I think this was better when fresher a few years back, but still good today. Happy birthday, Katie!
March 30, 2015 - Jean/Michel Gros Vosne-Romanee 1er Clos des Reas Dinner (RPM Steak - Chicago IL): Shockingly good for the vintage, I'd never think this from 1987 of tasted blind. All red fruit, fresher than expected with good textures, moderate spice and moderate length.
August 7, 2010 - Better than the last bottle by far; a nicely aged wine, fruit still structured and robust, with wonderful floral and earthy notes.
January 2, 2009 - Stunning purity on the nose with a fine, crisp Vosne spice. Beautiful, yet austere fruit. A wine that offers much to think about; Not for quaffing.
June 13, 2008 - A superb older Burgunday with lots of fruit and bouquet still going for it. Not a sign of any brown around the edges. All in all, a delght.
July 17, 2006 - Vosne-Romanee Grand Cru and Premier Cru Dinner (Kevin Restaurant, Chicago IL): Tasted single blind. Dried strawberry with some very exotic spice. Really good harmony with balanced energy and tannins, particularly surprising when we saw this was the 1987. Good length. Very good, but surely not getting any better.
July 1, 2006 - Pale red garnet. Wow, towering aroma of red cherry with some heat and sappiness. Big ripe, almost jammy, fruit with hints of licorice and spice. Long finish. Surprisingly good for an 87… 7/06
April 28, 2006 - Ok, this wasn't at the level of the Leroy 1964 or 1966 Grands Echezeaux from my dinner earlier in the week. But for something a bit more quotidian, this was sensational. Flavors of dried plums with some great earthy character. A touch of exotic spice gives the wine a jolt of vibrancy. Sweet tannins linger on the palate. Wonderful with roasted duck breast.
Would I hold this wine much longer? No. But for fun, I just looked at critics' "drinking windows." Spectator suggested this should be consumed by 1995 and Mr. Parker suggested by 1997. I'm glad I didn't listen.
August 28, 2002 - Starting to brick on edge. Exceptional nose of dried red fruit, forest floor, fennel and dried thyme. Good balance of red fruit and earthy flavors through moderate finish. I didn't decant, which is good because this started fading after an hour and was far less interesting after two hours.