April 2, 2021 - Ah So freed a cork imprisoned for 20 years and only a worm of cork found its way in to the balloon. When poured appears ruby red with a sheen but wait- hold it up to the light and the red magically turns lighter. Hold glass to sunlight, clear uncolored liquid.
Nose is spice, alcohol, is it well fermented fruit, oxidation or smoke?
The taste follows the nose; tasters will find what they find. A fresh spicy Pinot that cannot possibly be 1998. A warm fruit medley of well matured wine with a lingering exotic spice aftertaste. Or, a delicate alcohol fumed ripe Madeira like wine.
One of the most complex, unique, enjoyable Beaux Freres wine I've
tasted over the last 30 years. Upon release, given high scored as a formidable Pinot to be aged. Some years later one publication set the drinking window to 2010, this bottle may have out lived that reviewer.
Still hold a 1994 which was labelled a blockbuster.
March 15, 2020 - The Last Supper (Before the Covid-19 Shutdown) (El Ideas): Magnum. Black and red cherry aromas with some autumnal character. Palate is still fresh with good attractive fruit, but not showing much depth or nuance. Not as compelling as a bottle of 2005 drank two nights prior.
March 15, 2020 - Dark color, extracted berries for me no distinction that this was a Pinot. Glad to share for the last supper.
March 15, 2020 - Last Wine Dinner Before the Coronavirus Shutdown (EL Ideas - Chicago IL): From magnum. Black and red cherry with Baking spice and good depth, even if still showing a hint+ of new oak that never fully integrated. Still, this is very pretty and still nicely fresh.
July 29, 2018 - Lighter color, decanted for 30 minutes, developed complexity in the glass over another 30 min. Very enjoyable after 20 years.
May 28, 2018 - I had 6 bottles in the wine cellar since relese; last one here. Tasting the evolution has been thrilling. I think we are four or five years past peak here. On opening, this was tight and tart, and I was pessismistic. After working the wine for 20 minutes, aromas of wet cedar, cigar wrapper, magic marker, black cherry skins, and shiso leaf came through. There was a 20 minute window of almost balanced complexity, leaning toward too much acid: fine black plum skin and pits, and a hint of chocolate mint. But, 30 minutes after opening, the finish was flat cola with a squeeze of lemon, and the wine was basically gone. This is a common timeline with great old burgundies, ten or fifteen minutes of bliss, then gone. I still loved this bottle, the last chapter of a memorable novel.
December 4, 2017 - Floral and cooked fruit on the nose. More of the same on the palate with spice cake. Hot.
August 27, 2017 - Lamy Sundays (Chicago, IL): This bottle didn't strike me as alcoholic and blowsy as the last time I had it. In fact, it seems as if this had come into itself quite a bit, although it did feel just a slight touch advanced. The nose had a nice mix of red and black fruit, as well as a good amount of earth (without too many funky aromas either!). The palate is a bit heavy and shows a bit of flashy fruit in front of some more interesting earthy elements.
February 25, 2017 - DOA. Nothing but alcohol and some tannin. Fruit was gone.
October 8, 2016 - Really enjoyed this bottle. Took about 30 min to open up but went well with our Canadian Thanksgiving meal!