Epic night at Capasso. Drank in Grassl Cru. Cork soaked 3 quarter way up, but otherwise in great condition, removed using Durand. Reasonably high ullage. Appearance is murky, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose pronounced intensity, absolutely captivating with intoxicating scents of smoky meat, sexy ripe brown stemmy spices, black cherries, dark red cherries, incense, hawthorn. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol, medium tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of smoky incense, lovely ripe brown stems, black cherries, dark red cherries, hawthorn. Very long elegant yet spicy finish. Top notch wine. A nose to die for. Palate constantly begging you for another sip to draw out all its elements. Just a Clos Vougeot (some very much more special than others) and not even a hallowed Musigny, but I do get a feel of some "iron fist in a velvet glove" here. Simply fantastic. Just when I was in a bit of a funk struggling to discover more special wines (not necessarily expensive ones) to feel excited about, along comes my first experience of Domaine Leroy to steamroll all that and bring the mojo back! Absolutely worth it to open my Rousseau Chambertin 07 as tribute, to have a taste of this.
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Off-Track Leroy BYO (Manhatta): 3351/7752, next to and arguably so different from the 97 Pommard. Much cleaner, red and dark fruit, spice, lightly medicinal, pure, lifted, great power. 94
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1996 Rhone and Burgundy (Bronte): pure red with a faded rim essence of cherries, damson, refined spice, lifted floral perfume a simply beautiful wine. Elegant and refined yet also with flavour intensity, fruit and a gentle dark spice define it, there is great length and a long peacocks tail of a finish with silky but persistent tannins. seems ageless, and hard to fault in any way.
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We gave it too much aeration, the acidity, tannin, intensity and structure were still there. But flavor became monotonous。 Served as blind, I even guess it's a Leroy Maison new release mature vintage. It's too matured as a 1996. Don't think it has upside for further aging.
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Musty cork but an Ah-So did the extraction. Cork fully soaked. Light red color but no browning. Nice nose that opened up right away. The wine was in fine shape. Tannins appear to be fully resolved. Excellent with a long finish. Not as good as a special bottle five years ago but fine and the last one of three so bye bye. By the way for my taste, this was fully mature and I would drink up.
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Medium garnet. Predominantly primary fruit on the nose, but more cooked and dried. Strawberry and black fruit, plum on nose. Some hints of forest floor, woody, stems and wood spice. Moderate acidity, still quite well structured for the age. More red fruit on palate with dried floral notes, spices and hint of leather. Still firm tannins, especially for age. Amazing length and complexity. Elegant.
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Rusty colour, soft rim. Earthy, underbrush, Red and black berries, cherries and damsons. Lots of fine tannins, good acidity. Still mainly fruit but with nice background spice and gentle earth. Still has a decade in it.
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1996 Burgundy Retrospective - The Third Session (Clarity - Vienna, Virginia): Beautifully mature expressive nose displaying ripe slightly dry red fruit, cherry, strawberry jam, dry cherry, sous bois, grilled cep, roasted coffee bean, stem, sap, cinnamon and limestone mineral. Fully integrated palate, nicely layered concentrated red fruit, unctuous and rich, bright acidity, good mineral presence, a hint of fine tannins and a long sweet red fruit driven finish with a hint of roasted coffee bean and sous bois at the end. Drinking beautifully.
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Winefields Pre-Sale Tasting and Lunch (Wijnkasteel Genoels-Elderen, Riemst, Belgium): From the Wijnmakelaarsunie Museum Collection. Fully mature colour, almost no red left; complete, mature and warm nose, glowing, vinous and slightly nutty, opens up to macerated red berries; masculine, firm and spicy palate, fresh and lively, quite tannic, vestiges of fresh fruit; excellent length.
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Richer, smoother and deeper than the 95 served alongside. Really classy, elegant and persistent. Plenty of focus but no unbalanced 96 acidity here. Clear WOTN for me and most others present.
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Decanted for 45 minutes. Medium ruby, nice floral nose, mouth coating fruit, very elegant with a long, long finish. Prime time and at least another five years at this level.
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Birthday Celebration (Paris Club - Chicago IL): Open and decanted approximately 30 minutes before serving, which really helped. Floral, nicely perfumed start with great spice. Alluring start with red berry and forest floor hints. Also exciting flavors, just slightly more exciting and enticing start vs middle and finish. Like other times I've had this wine, it doesn't quite show the power and structure of the best 1996s, but is very accessible and enjoyable today. Others liked this more than I did tonight.
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At a great place to drink now, the usual Leroy red flowers, ripe dark red fruit with spices and damp earth. Medium plus palate with great balance and energy. A very well made 96, not so lean like many others.
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Sun Wah: Great showing and one of the best wines of the night. Dark rich brooding black and red cherry fruit with nice earthy quality. Good density and verve. Still seems somewhat young, but so enjoyable. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice add complexity.
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Dinner at Cory's. Drank over 6 hours. Bold nose of dark fruit, lots of spice, meat, red fruit and minerals. Vibrant, young and fresh on the palate. Became sweeter and creamier with more time in the glass. Outstanding, not quite as bold as usual from Leroy, but in keeping with the vintage this needs more time. Long finish with great grip. Excellent.
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Leroy Dinner (Grace - Chicago IL): Lots of black fruit, moderate spice, seemingly restrained for right now. Energy and concentration really show through on finish.
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La Paulée de New York Gala Dinner (New York, NY): Brief Paulee tasting note. Reticent aromatic start, unusual for Leroy. Red and black cherry flavors, good spice, also seemingly a little backward right now, certainly slightly more sedated than I'd expect from a Leroy 1996 Grand Cru.
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1999 Bollinger 94/100 1990 Dom Perignon 98+/100 2006 NSG 1er Cru VV : Prieure Roch 93/100 1996 Leroy Clos Vougeot 96/100 1978 HLC 100/100 1989 Haut-Brion 100/100 2008 NSG Les Saint Georges : Thibault Liger-Belair 94/100
It's not my day...Leroy is very beautiful at the moment but to drink with these legendary wines is too difficult to get over it...
The nose is clean, red fruit, nice earth, very beautiful and fragrant with the satin texture, gorgeous structure, moderate tanin, superb balance. Aftertaste is mild-blowing, soft impact and good length. This can be the wine of the day but not today for sure.
I love the way of its aftertaste...Leroy 1996 is always very very good...
But please accept my mistake to over-estimate this wine compares with two of the legend.
Drink beautifully now - 2035............96-97/100..................
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This wine has great presence and concentration. Dark cherry fruit and spice in the nose and following through on the palate. Good length but lacks some elegance and complexity for a higher rating.
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Post Insignia Dinner at Siggy's: I found this wine fascinating and a bit perplexing. The nose delivers masculine aromas of dark cherry, briar and earth. All power no grace. On the palate this delivers extremely concentrated fruit yet it is not expansive on the palate -- and even seems to be lacking structure. If anything more grace than power. It's a bit low on acidity, but I wouldn't call it fat. It does deliver tons of flavor (dark cherry and earth) from the attack through the finish. Tannins are present but not obtrusive. In the final analysis I enjoyed this quite a bit, but was left frustrated by my inability to understand where it is today and where it might be going. Maybe Chris will pop another bottle for us sometime!
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Post-Insignia Burgundy Dinner (Our House): Very dark color. The nose oozes power and concentration - brooding black fruit. The palate is slightly more restrained, but still shows plenty of concentrated black fruit with nice minerality poking through on the finish. Gorgeous texture. Incredibly young.
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Top Flight Burgundy in DC - Respects to President Ford (Washington DC - Cafe 15): Signature Leroy intense fruit of cherry, kirsch, and oak only reveal the first cloak. Tons of spice, cinnamon, and nori fill out the inner core. The intensity of the fruit and spice create an textural sensation, and the finish lasts for longer than I could wait to take the next sip.
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3/5/2024 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 98 Points
Epic night at Capasso. Drank in Grassl Cru. Cork soaked 3 quarter way up, but otherwise in great condition, removed using Durand. Reasonably high ullage.
Appearance is murky, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose pronounced intensity, absolutely captivating with intoxicating scents of smoky meat, sexy ripe brown stemmy spices, black cherries, dark red cherries, incense, hawthorn. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol, medium tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of smoky incense, lovely ripe brown stems, black cherries, dark red cherries, hawthorn. Very long elegant yet spicy finish.
Top notch wine. A nose to die for. Palate constantly begging you for another sip to draw out all its elements. Just a Clos Vougeot (some very much more special than others) and not even a hallowed Musigny, but I do get a feel of some "iron fist in a velvet glove" here. Simply fantastic. Just when I was in a bit of a funk struggling to discover more special wines (not necessarily expensive ones) to feel excited about, along comes my first experience of Domaine Leroy to steamroll all that and bring the mojo back!
Absolutely worth it to open my Rousseau Chambertin 07 as tribute, to have a taste of this.
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10/7/2023 - hprphf wrote: 94 Points
Off-Track Leroy BYO (Manhatta): 3351/7752, next to and arguably so different from the 97 Pommard. Much cleaner, red and dark fruit, spice, lightly medicinal, pure, lifted, great power. 94
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8/5/2023 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 98 Points
1996 Rhone and Burgundy (Bronte): pure red with a faded rim
essence of cherries, damson, refined spice, lifted floral perfume
a simply beautiful wine. Elegant and refined yet also with flavour intensity, fruit and a gentle dark spice define it, there is great length and a long peacocks tail of a finish with silky but persistent tannins. seems ageless, and hard to fault in any way.
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7/9/2021 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Floral aromatics, but bit muddied on palate. Good not great Leroy.
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7/5/2021 - vetty wrote: 93 Points
We gave it too much aeration, the acidity, tannin, intensity and structure were still there. But flavor became monotonous。 Served as blind, I even guess it's a Leroy Maison new release mature vintage. It's too matured as a 1996. Don't think it has upside for further aging.
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7/5/2020 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 94 Points
Musty cork but an Ah-So did the extraction. Cork fully soaked. Light red color but no browning. Nice nose that opened up right away. The wine was in fine shape. Tannins appear to be fully resolved. Excellent with a long finish. Not as good as a special bottle five years ago but fine and the last one of three so bye bye. By the way for my taste, this was fully mature and I would drink up.
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12/18/2019 - marcellonegro wrote: 97 Points
Medium garnet. Predominantly primary fruit on the nose, but more cooked and dried. Strawberry and black fruit, plum on nose. Some hints of forest floor, woody, stems and wood spice. Moderate acidity, still quite well structured for the age. More red fruit on palate with dried floral notes, spices and hint of leather. Still firm tannins, especially for age. Amazing length and complexity. Elegant.
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12/17/2019 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 96 Points
Rusty colour, soft rim.
Earthy, underbrush,
Red and black berries, cherries and damsons. Lots of fine tannins, good acidity. Still mainly fruit but with nice background spice and gentle earth.
Still has a decade in it.
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6/21/2019 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
1996 Burgundy Retrospective - The Third Session (Clarity - Vienna, Virginia): Beautifully mature expressive nose displaying ripe slightly dry red fruit, cherry, strawberry jam, dry cherry, sous bois, grilled cep, roasted coffee bean, stem, sap, cinnamon and limestone mineral. Fully integrated palate, nicely layered concentrated red fruit, unctuous and rich, bright acidity, good mineral presence, a hint of fine tannins and a long sweet red fruit driven finish with a hint of roasted coffee bean and sous bois at the end. Drinking beautifully.
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3/24/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Winefields Pre-Sale Tasting and Lunch (Wijnkasteel Genoels-Elderen, Riemst, Belgium): From the Wijnmakelaarsunie Museum Collection. Fully mature colour, almost no red left; complete, mature and warm nose, glowing, vinous and slightly nutty, opens up to macerated red berries; masculine, firm and spicy palate, fresh and lively, quite tannic, vestiges of fresh fruit; excellent length.
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12/21/2018 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
Leroy night. Floral, classic nose. Very integrated and nice sweetness. Right in the drinking window. (3930/7752)
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7/18/2017 - DAN BAILEY Likes this wine:
Richer, smoother and deeper than the 95 served alongside. Really classy, elegant and persistent. Plenty of focus but no unbalanced 96 acidity here. Clear WOTN for me and most others present.
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9/28/2016 - johnh1001 wrote:
This was much more restrained than the last bottle
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9/24/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote:
La Paulée Meets Chicago - Dinner (Blackbird - Chicago IL): Late night, brief note. Floral and spice start with red fruit. moderate weight and intensity. Not quite a much fun as the 1998 opened even later in the evening.
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6/27/2015 - johnh1001 wrote:
This was excellent to start, but got crazy tannic after 4 hours. I hadn't left the prior bottles go that long.
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6/10/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 95 Points
Another outstanding bottle. Dark fruit, meaty notes and beautiful spice on the nose. This carried through to the palate. A very forward 1996
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2/27/2015 - Sonoma Duck wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 45 minutes. Medium ruby, nice floral nose, mouth coating fruit, very elegant with a long, long finish. Prime time and at least another five years at this level.
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8/5/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Birthday Celebration (Paris Club - Chicago IL): Open and decanted approximately 30 minutes before serving, which really helped. Floral, nicely perfumed start with great spice. Alluring start with red berry and forest floor hints. Also exciting flavors, just slightly more exciting and enticing start vs middle and finish. Like other times I've had this wine, it doesn't quite show the power and structure of the best 1996s, but is very accessible and enjoyable today. Others liked this more than I did tonight.
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8/3/2014 - Pacalet Likes this wine: 93 Points
At a great place to drink now, the usual Leroy red flowers, ripe dark red fruit with spices and damp earth. Medium plus palate with great balance and energy. A very well made 96, not so lean like many others.
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4/17/2014 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 95 Points
Doing Well by Doing Good: A Private Dinner for a Wonderful Cause (A Private Home in Bel Air): In a beautiful place, youthful but balanced. Spiced cherry on the nose, and maybe some forest floor notes. Concentrated layers of ripe, dark berries on the palate, and well-integrated oak. Firm grippiness on the lengthy finish.
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9/23/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 96 Points
Another outstanding bottle. Love the completeness, energy and the spice.
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8/30/2013 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sun Wah: Great showing and one of the best wines of the night. Dark rich brooding black and red cherry fruit with nice earthy quality. Good density and verve. Still seems somewhat young, but so enjoyable. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice add complexity.
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7/23/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Cory's. Drank over 6 hours. Bold nose of dark fruit, lots of spice, meat, red fruit and minerals. Vibrant, young and fresh on the palate. Became sweeter and creamier with more time in the glass. Outstanding, not quite as bold as usual from Leroy, but in keeping with the vintage this needs more time. Long finish with great grip. Excellent.
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6/6/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Leroy Dinner (Grace - Chicago IL): Lots of black fruit, moderate spice, seemingly restrained for right now. Energy and concentration really show through on finish.
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3/9/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote:
La Paulée de New York Gala Dinner (New York, NY): Brief Paulee tasting note. Reticent aromatic start, unusual for Leroy. Red and black cherry flavors, good spice, also seemingly a little backward right now, certainly slightly more sedated than I'd expect from a Leroy 1996 Grand Cru.
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10/24/2012 - noppakit s. wrote: 96 Points
One of the great night !!!
1999 Bollinger 94/100
1990 Dom Perignon 98+/100
2006 NSG 1er Cru VV : Prieure Roch 93/100
1996 Leroy Clos Vougeot 96/100
1978 HLC 100/100
1989 Haut-Brion 100/100
2008 NSG Les Saint Georges : Thibault Liger-Belair 94/100
It's not my day...Leroy is very beautiful at the moment but to drink with these legendary wines is too difficult to get over it...
The nose is clean, red fruit, nice earth, very beautiful and fragrant with the satin texture, gorgeous structure, moderate tanin, superb balance. Aftertaste is mild-blowing, soft impact and good length. This can be the wine of the day but not today for sure.
I love the way of its aftertaste...Leroy 1996 is always very very good...
But please accept my mistake to over-estimate this wine compares with two of the legend.
Drink beautifully now - 2035............96-97/100..................
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7/17/2012 - winecowboy wrote: 92 Points
Dusty. Quite acidic.
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2/18/2012 - burgbob wrote: 94 Points
This wine has great presence and concentration. Dark cherry fruit and spice in the nose and following through on the palate. Good length but lacks some elegance and complexity for a higher rating.
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10/14/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 93 Points
Post Insignia Dinner at Siggy's: I found this wine fascinating and a bit perplexing. The nose delivers masculine aromas of dark cherry, briar and earth. All power no grace. On the palate this delivers extremely concentrated fruit yet it is not expansive on the palate -- and even seems to be lacking structure. If anything more grace than power. It's a bit low on acidity, but I wouldn't call it fat. It does deliver tons of flavor (dark cherry and earth) from the attack through the finish. Tannins are present but not obtrusive. In the final analysis I enjoyed this quite a bit, but was left frustrated by my inability to understand where it is today and where it might be going. Maybe Chris will pop another bottle for us sometime!
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10/14/2007 - Siggy wrote: 93 Points
Post-Insignia Burgundy Dinner (Our House): Very dark color. The nose oozes power and concentration - brooding black fruit. The palate is slightly more restrained, but still shows plenty of concentrated black fruit with nice minerality poking through on the finish. Gorgeous texture. Incredibly young.
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12/28/2006 - lars1014 wrote: 98 Points
Top Flight Burgundy in DC - Respects to President Ford (Washington DC - Cafe 15): Signature Leroy intense fruit of cherry, kirsch, and oak only reveal the first cloak. Tons of spice, cinnamon, and nori fill out the inner core. The intensity of the fruit and spice create an textural sensation, and the finish lasts for longer than I could wait to take the next sip.
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