Nose: red fruits, smoke Notes: Tasted from a 95/96 Mongeard Mugneret dinner featuring Echezeaux VV, Grands Echezeaux and Les Suchots from the respective vintages. The 1996 GE was a late boomer, it started to taste a lot better towards the end of the dinner (by that time the wines have breathed for more than 4 hours already) but I still feel that it has failed to open up fully and wasn't showing its best self that night. Considering the fact that the Les Suchots was already quite aromatic and adorable it remains questionable why the GE was unable to perform. It could be bottle variation or it simply could be due to the fact that the wine needs to be cellared for a couple more years? It is difficult to find another bottle so this could remain as a mystery forever. Nevertheless, based on its current performance it will be hard for me to justify a very good rating for the wine. Drink: 2025+ Rating: 90
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Lovely nose with VR spice, dark fruit, herbs, and stem. Grand cru weight on the palate. It had no signs of the 96 tart fruit that can be found in some 96s VR. A very good example of MM GE. First runner up in a 80s/90s VR blind tasting within 300-450usd price range.
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This was not doing what I'd hoped, but given the OK vintage, it may not be that surprising. Even after a long decant, the nose never really found the level of depth and intrigue you'd expect from GC Burgundy. This was more one-dimensional and a bit hard. The palate was almost New World for me, with some solid structure, but lacking any real nuance. I think the only remedy for this wine would be more time in the bottle in the hopes that it will soften and develop more interesting notes throughout. If I had another bottle, I'd wait 2-3 years before trying it again.
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First of a case. Opened and consumed over ~90 minutes. Gorgeous, full and deep nose of maturing red fruit, clay, spice with emerging notes of iron. Initially on the palate the acid-driven structure pokes out a bit, but this smooths out as the palate gains concentration and richness with time. Terrific. Just entering a zone.
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Grands Echezeaux: Served blind. So soft, this is velvet. Dark color, intense, and a slightly more rustic palate that seems on the young side. I guessed '99.
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found this still too young, tannins to the fore and the acidity still at the "shrill" level. Still, there is plenty of underlying fruit to suggest this will be a great wine in another 5-10 years. If you need to drink one now, then decant (and i don't like to decant Burgundy)
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Amy's Semicentennial Birthday "Season"; 7/21/2017-7/23/2017 (La Jolla, California): From an impeccably cellared bottle, this 21-year-old Grand Cru sings like Pavarotti. Deep garnet and packed with red fruit, it is everything that aged red Burgundy should be. Accented with allspice, leather, tobacco and earth which reside in a medium-bodied, freshly acidic frame, it stays luscious from the get-go. The alcohol (listed as 13.5%) is nicely integrated and the tannins have long been resolved. Dense in the middle and very long on the finish, this is a classic-quality bottle. The disclaimer is always (especially with Burgundy) that there are no good wines at this age, only good bottles. Those holding well-cellared specimens should be pleased with this one. It seems to have enough stuffing to provide pleasure for a minimum of 4-5 more years. Drink now-2022.
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Tasted blind against mainly red Burgundies, a lovely, spicy, expressive nose, with some reduction. Aromas of raspberry and other red fruits, some underbrush, game meats and earth, I guessed Gevrey. Clearly with some age, but quite primary on palate. Ripe fruit with impressive Grand Cru level structure, weight and power. Lovely acids, nicely in balance, tannins well integrated and fine. Flavour turning and finishing savoury. Seemed a few years younger than its age, coming into its drinking window now. 94.
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i have been holding this for a long time and curiosity has got the better of me. the nose is long, powerful meat scents with gevery on my mind, and then i realize this was all asian spices, the wine is dark, but the robe is orangy on the rim, you can see the color change a bit with air.
big bold taste, complex dark flavors wtih a return of the vosne spice box, this is beautiful, i would say any oak has integrated and this is a joy to drink. but it is very much on the dark fruit side. i like it. certainly has time, but no shame to drink. the 96 acidity shows a bit still.
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Lovely, at its peak I think. Nose was absolutely beguiling. Palette was elegant and moderately long with perhaps a tad less intensity than I had hoped from the wonderful nose. Medium length on the finish. Had this with some appetizers at dinner and I suspect would have shown better with slightly more neutral food like roast chicken. Still, a fine bottle.
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12/6/2023 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Grand cru concentration with more earthiness / mushroom than spice. Still plenty of fruit and structure.
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11/1/2023 - saschul wrote:
much better second day...drying fruit
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10/17/2023 - hprphf wrote: 92 Points
In a good spot, haunting spicy woody VR perfume, large, a bit short and thin. 92-93
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8/5/2023 - alittle wrote: 93 Points
Very perfumed and expressive, although the palate fails to follow suit; a bit thin.
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12/20/2021 - TWSA wrote: 90 Points
Nose: red fruits, smoke
Notes: Tasted from a 95/96 Mongeard Mugneret dinner featuring Echezeaux VV, Grands Echezeaux and Les Suchots from the respective vintages. The 1996 GE was a late boomer, it started to taste a lot better towards the end of the dinner (by that time the wines have breathed for more than 4 hours already) but I still feel that it has failed to open up fully and wasn't showing its best self that night. Considering the fact that the Les Suchots was already quite aromatic and adorable it remains questionable why the GE was unable to perform. It could be bottle variation or it simply could be due to the fact that the wine needs to be cellared for a couple more years? It is difficult to find another bottle so this could remain as a mystery forever. Nevertheless, based on its current performance it will be hard for me to justify a very good rating for the wine.
Drink: 2025+
Rating: 90
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11/27/2019 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely nose with VR spice, dark fruit, herbs, and stem. Grand cru weight on the palate. It had no signs of the 96 tart fruit that can be found in some 96s VR. A very good example of MM GE. First runner up in a 80s/90s VR blind tasting within 300-450usd price range.
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9/22/2019 - H2OMansLibrary wrote:
This was not doing what I'd hoped, but given the OK vintage, it may not be that surprising. Even after a long decant, the nose never really found the level of depth and intrigue you'd expect from GC Burgundy. This was more one-dimensional and a bit hard. The palate was almost New World for me, with some solid structure, but lacking any real nuance. I think the only remedy for this wine would be more time in the bottle in the hopes that it will soften and develop more interesting notes throughout. If I had another bottle, I'd wait 2-3 years before trying it again.
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3/15/2019 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
First of a case. Opened and consumed over ~90 minutes. Gorgeous, full and deep nose of maturing red fruit, clay, spice with emerging notes of iron. Initially on the palate the acid-driven structure pokes out a bit, but this smooths out as the palate gains concentration and richness with time. Terrific. Just entering a zone.
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10/26/2018 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Grands Echezeaux: Served blind. So soft, this is velvet. Dark color, intense, and a slightly more rustic palate that seems on the young side. I guessed '99.
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6/30/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Musique & Vin Festival BYO Dinner with Musicians (1243 Bourgogne Society - Beaune): Small glass, brief note. So much great red fruit here, just more tannins. Like many 1996s, this needs more time, and I am cautiously optimistic.
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3/25/2018 - felixp Likes this wine: 90 Points
found this still too young, tannins to the fore and the acidity still at the "shrill" level. Still, there is plenty of underlying fruit to suggest this will be a great wine in another 5-10 years. If you need to drink one now, then decant (and i don't like to decant Burgundy)
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7/23/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amy's Semicentennial Birthday "Season"; 7/21/2017-7/23/2017 (La Jolla, California): From an impeccably cellared bottle, this 21-year-old Grand Cru sings like Pavarotti. Deep garnet and packed with red fruit, it is everything that aged red Burgundy should be. Accented with allspice, leather, tobacco and earth which reside in a medium-bodied, freshly acidic frame, it stays luscious from the get-go. The alcohol (listed as 13.5%) is nicely integrated and the tannins have long been resolved. Dense in the middle and very long on the finish, this is a classic-quality bottle. The disclaimer is always (especially with Burgundy) that there are no good wines at this age, only good bottles. Those holding well-cellared specimens should be pleased with this one. It seems to have enough stuffing to provide pleasure for a minimum of 4-5 more years. Drink now-2022.
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1/25/2016 - scamhi wrote:
showing great- acid and fruit balanced. Just starting secondary development.
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2/26/2014 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind against mainly red Burgundies, a lovely, spicy, expressive nose, with some reduction. Aromas of raspberry and other red fruits, some underbrush, game meats and earth, I guessed Gevrey. Clearly with some age, but quite primary on palate. Ripe fruit with impressive Grand Cru level structure, weight and power. Lovely acids, nicely in balance, tannins well integrated and fine. Flavour turning and finishing savoury. Seemed a few years younger than its age, coming into its drinking window now. 94.
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11/17/2012 - beachbum wrote: 93 Points
i have been holding this for a long time and curiosity has got the better of me. the nose is long, powerful meat scents with gevery on my mind, and then i realize this was all asian spices, the wine is dark, but the robe is orangy on the rim, you can see the color change a bit with air.
big bold taste, complex dark flavors wtih a return of the vosne spice box, this is beautiful, i would say any oak has integrated and this is a joy to drink. but it is very much on the dark fruit side. i like it. certainly has time, but no shame to drink. the 96 acidity shows a bit still.
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12/24/2011 - Luvwine1 wrote: 93 Points
Lovely, at its peak I think. Nose was absolutely beguiling. Palette was elegant and moderately long with perhaps a tad less intensity than I had hoped from the wonderful nose. Medium length on the finish. Had this with some appetizers at dinner and I suspect would have shown better with slightly more neutral food like roast chicken. Still, a fine bottle.
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10/17/2008 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Musigny, Les Amoureuses, Grands Echezeaux and friends Burgundy Dinner (Martin Weiner's, Los Angeles, California): Bricking orange red color with pale meniscus; tangy, beef gravy, sherry vinegar, very mature nose; tart entry, advanced palate with the remains of some cherry, chaptalization and sweet tannins; short medium finish
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1/22/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 86 Points
Pre Auction Wine Tasting w/ lots of Burgs (NYC): Fecal, with some volatility? Funky and unusual, but not bad.
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