Aged Drouhin wine dinner at Hua Ting. Tasted blind. Drank in Gabriel Standart and Rona. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, yellow gold colour. Legs. Nose pronounced intensity, with aromas of honey beeswax, rocky stony minerality, tangerines, yellow stone fruits, slight herbs. Developed. On ther palate, dry, lovely high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of honey beeswax going slight caramel, rocky stony minerality, tangerine orange pulp, yellow peach stone fruits. Herbal background. Bruised apple with more air. Long finish. Nicely developed. Time to drink up.
This is the best, and sadly, the last, of 3 bottles purchased at auction. Based on my experiences with two previous bottles, I opened this mid-day, recorked and stored in the fridge for the rest of the afternoon. At dinner time, there is citrus and soft herbs on the nose, on the palate, we have light sunshine, citrus, green fruit, more herbs, minerals, and a gentle finish. Very graceful. As my experience (and other CT reviewers) can attest, this wine is a crapshoot, in terms of bottle variation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oak, citrus, toasted almonds on the nose. The palate has creamy oak, more almonds, lemons, round mouthfeel. This is interesting, balanced, maybe a tad over mature for my taste buds, which is a shame given the price. It's good, but that good? I'm not so sure. Definitely benefited from 1-2h of air time, it was not impressive (to be kind) after PnP. I gave this a score of 89 on Day 1.
In the fridge over night and it is like an entirely different wine on Day 2. Wow, *much* *much* better, I'm getting the "harmonious integration" now, salinity, melon, limestone, butterscotch, oak, round mouthfeel, meyer lemons, really fantastic. For me this is more muted on the nose, citrus, hints of oak, and that's about it. I scored this 91 on day 2.
I will have to remember to give this a really long (3-4h) decant before serving the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine had seeped into the capsule on this bottle; medium gold color, oxidative notes of apricot, ripeness, honey and pineapple. Certainly drinkable but over the peak and rushing to ruin but I suspect not a representative healthy bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another excellent showing for this Grand Cru at last night's wine group dinner at Two Chefs. Several people thought it was a California chardonnay because of the subtle oak flavors. Led to a discussion about how French Chablis today is so different from the steely style of Chablis of yesteryear
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
For a 2008 Chablis, this was very disappointing. Quite flabby on opening, and it went down hill from there. Some green apple and citrus notes on the palate. This does not have any structure to speak of, and there is no minerality or finish.
This is a very disappointing grand cru wine in a great vintage. A 2008 Billaud Simon Vaillons a few weeks ago was sublime compared to this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unfortunately, a real disappointment. I had four bottles that I purchased over a year or two ago and stored perfectly and opened at different times throughout this past year. 1st bottle was ok, second was corked, third and fourth were very advanced with honeyed flavors, low acid, and just off balance. 2008 is such a great vintage for Chablis which just makes this all that more disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped an hour before serving. This was not my cup of tea. This wine had a funky cheese and oaked nose. Lacked Chablis typical minerality. Fat and lacking cut. Others liked this more than I did.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine group dinner at Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club. Another amazing line-up, starting with 2003 and 1999 Don Perignon (they were really different in color and taste, but very good); my 2008 Drouhin Les Clos grand cru chablis with diver scallops app; 1989 ZH Clos St. Urbain Rangen reisling snd 1989 Yquem with the foie gras app; then the reds with the entree (short ribs, strip steak or lamb chops) - 1996 Latour, 2001 Harlan, 2000 Clos Eramus priorat, 1986 Gruaud Larose and 1989 Chave Hermitage; ending with a great port (cant find my notes or temember).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birth-year Wines at Bacchanal (SoHo, NYC): Pale straw. The nose is lemony and clean, but muted at this stage (due to youth and it being a little too cold); mineral. The palate is clean and very fresh; quite rich, ripe, and long, but primary; shows a little custard, lemon, and orange rind. Terrific balance, but this will be a medium-term wine; it doesn’t have the structure to make old bones. Nice length. Very much in the cool, reserved Drouhin style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taste of Chablis: Pale straw yellow color with intriguing apple, white flower, and a hint of spice aromas. On the palate, it's medium bodied, and elegant with a wonderful creamy mouth feel and green apple, pear, citrus and mineral flavors. Long finish. Average age of vines = 37 years. Hand harvested. Aged in French oak barrels weathered for 3 years (0% new wood) for 12 months
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really surprisingly good wine! (firts time tonight I’m trying this wine from this producer, had 2007 and 2008) White flowers on the nose, creamy citrus and wet rocks. Typical saltiness & minerals, with Le Clos terroir present. Very nice fruit, with lemon and citrus, stone fruits and green apples. Fresh! This is actually very good, and I will try to find some. Le clos is a beautiful vineyard, and Drouhain makes a great wine here. Still young with lots of potential, but I really loved this wine in this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Reductive? nose with cabbage along citrus fruit and minerals. Broad and buttery on palate packed with pronounced acidity cutting through medium full body. Not particularly long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Joseph Drouhin Les Clos Vertical at Genius in Gastronomy) Restrained nose, sweet smoked (?) lemon hints (also heavy herbal notes?!?!). Powerful citrus notes in the palate, acidity breaks the balance, medium afteraste, still young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chablis Tasting; 12/1/2012-12/17/2012: A stunning Grand Cru Chablis from 37 year old vines, farmed Biodynamically since 2000. Medium yellow color. Expressive nose of lemon zest, wet stone, citrus. Complex & elegant on the palate; expressive pure fruit, saline, with a long finish. Still a baby, with many years ahead to develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/19/2024 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Aged Drouhin wine dinner at Hua Ting. Tasted blind. Drank in Gabriel Standart and Rona.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, yellow gold colour. Legs.
Nose pronounced intensity, with aromas of honey beeswax, rocky stony minerality, tangerines, yellow stone fruits, slight herbs. Developed.
On ther palate, dry, lovely high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of honey beeswax going slight caramel, rocky stony minerality, tangerine orange pulp, yellow peach stone fruits. Herbal background. Bruised apple with more air. Long finish.
Nicely developed. Time to drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
4/1/2021 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Salin et citronné avec une certaine vivacité.
Un peu simplet et pas très long.
Pas méchant mais au prix demandé c`est
pas très convainquant, hélas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2020 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is the best, and sadly, the last, of 3 bottles purchased at auction. Based on my experiences with two previous bottles, I opened this mid-day, recorked and stored in the fridge for the rest of the afternoon. At dinner time, there is citrus and soft herbs on the nose, on the palate, we have light sunshine, citrus, green fruit, more herbs, minerals, and a gentle finish. Very graceful. As my experience (and other CT reviewers) can attest, this wine is a crapshoot, in terms of bottle variation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2020 - skurtz wrote:
I really tried to like this, admittedly it tastes better with air. But I think this is over the hill. Drinkable but needs food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2020 - skurtz wrote: 91 Points
Oak, citrus, toasted almonds on the nose. The palate has creamy oak, more almonds, lemons, round mouthfeel. This is interesting, balanced, maybe a tad over mature for my taste buds, which is a shame given the price. It's good, but that good? I'm not so sure. Definitely benefited from 1-2h of air time, it was not impressive (to be kind) after PnP. I gave this a score of 89 on Day 1.
In the fridge over night and it is like an entirely different wine on Day 2. Wow, *much* *much* better, I'm getting the "harmonious integration" now, salinity, melon, limestone, butterscotch, oak, round mouthfeel, meyer lemons, really fantastic. For me this is more muted on the nose, citrus, hints of oak, and that's about it. I scored this 91 on day 2.
I will have to remember to give this a really long (3-4h) decant before serving the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2020 - jmoore431 wrote: flawed
Wine had seeped into the capsule on this bottle; medium gold color, oxidative notes of apricot, ripeness, honey and pineapple. Certainly drinkable but over the peak and rushing to ruin but I suspect not a representative healthy bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2019 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
In fine form, drinking window has opened; still tight with minerals and a clean cut acidity. Ends with a bit of smoke ... in complete harmony
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2018 - JamesSanders wrote: flawed
Premoxed
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2016 - lepetitchateau wrote: flawed
Nope...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2016 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
Another excellent showing for this Grand Cru at last night's wine group dinner at Two Chefs. Several people thought it was a California chardonnay because of the subtle oak flavors. Led to a discussion about how French Chablis today is so different from the steely style of Chablis of yesteryear
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2016 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin Dinner (The Otesaga Resort, Cooperstown, NY): First bottle was off, perhaps slightly premoxed or corked? Second bottle was terrific. Crisp, clean with a long complex expansive finish of sweet lemons and slate. A joy to drink, esp. with the Chevre Soufflé.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2015 - COWineLover wrote:
For a 2008 Chablis, this was very disappointing. Quite flabby on opening, and it went down hill from there. Some green apple and citrus notes on the palate. This does not have any structure to speak of, and there is no minerality or finish.
This is a very disappointing grand cru wine in a great vintage. A 2008 Billaud Simon Vaillons a few weeks ago was sublime compared to this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2015 - flyinburrito Does not like this wine:
Unfortunately, a real disappointment. I had four bottles that I purchased over a year or two ago and stored perfectly and opened at different times throughout this past year. 1st bottle was ok, second was corked, third and fourth were very advanced with honeyed flavors, low acid, and just off balance. 2008 is such a great vintage for Chablis which just makes this all that more disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2014 - Keith Levenberg Does not like this wine:
Doesn't taste much like Chablis. Doesn't taste all that good either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2014 - EhrlichDY wrote: 86 Points
Popped an hour before serving. This was not my cup of tea. This wine had a funky cheese and oaked nose. Lacked Chablis typical minerality. Fat and lacking cut. Others liked this more than I did.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2014 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine group dinner at Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club. Another amazing line-up, starting with 2003 and 1999 Don Perignon (they were really different in color and taste, but very good); my 2008 Drouhin Les Clos grand cru chablis with diver scallops app; 1989 ZH Clos St. Urbain Rangen reisling snd 1989 Yquem with the foie gras app; then the reds with the entree (short ribs, strip steak or lamb chops) - 1996 Latour, 2001 Harlan, 2000 Clos Eramus priorat, 1986 Gruaud Larose and 1989 Chave Hermitage; ending with a great port (cant find my notes or temember).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2014 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Very nice bottle of wine. Well made and look forward to drinking another bottle in about 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine:
Birth-year Wines at Bacchanal (SoHo, NYC): Pale straw. The nose is lemony and clean, but muted at this stage (due to youth and it being a little too cold); mineral. The palate is clean and very fresh; quite rich, ripe, and long, but primary; shows a little custard, lemon, and orange rind. Terrific balance, but this will be a medium-term wine; it doesn’t have the structure to make old bones. Nice length. Very much in the cool, reserved Drouhin style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2013 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Taste of Chablis: Pale straw yellow color with intriguing apple, white flower, and a hint of spice aromas. On the palate, it's medium bodied, and elegant with a wonderful creamy mouth feel and green apple, pear, citrus and mineral flavors. Long finish. Average age of vines = 37 years. Hand harvested. Aged in French oak barrels weathered for 3 years (0% new wood) for 12 months
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2013 - Ramberg wrote: 93 Points
Really surprisingly good wine!
(firts time tonight I’m trying this wine from this producer, had 2007 and 2008)
White flowers on the nose, creamy citrus and wet rocks.
Typical saltiness & minerals, with Le Clos terroir present.
Very nice fruit, with lemon and citrus, stone fruits and green apples.
Fresh!
This is actually very good, and I will try to find some.
Le clos is a beautiful vineyard, and Drouhain makes a great wine here.
Still young with lots of potential, but I really loved this wine in this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2013 - Dokken wrote: 89 Points
Reductive? nose with cabbage along citrus fruit and minerals. Broad and buttery on palate packed with pronounced acidity cutting through medium full body. Not particularly long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2013 - kostaslonis wrote: 86 Points
(Joseph Drouhin Les Clos Vertical at Genius in Gastronomy) Restrained nose, sweet smoked (?) lemon hints (also heavy herbal notes?!?!). Powerful citrus notes in the palate, acidity breaks the balance, medium afteraste, still young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2012 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Chablis Tasting; 12/1/2012-12/17/2012: A stunning Grand Cru Chablis from 37 year old vines, farmed Biodynamically since 2000.
Medium yellow color. Expressive nose of lemon zest, wet stone, citrus. Complex & elegant on the palate; expressive pure fruit, saline, with a long finish.
Still a baby, with many years ahead to develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
The Verticals at La Paulee de San Francisco (Westin St. Francis - San Francisco CA): Rich and fat-styled, slightly surprising for the vintage. Aromas and flavors of tart apple with modest spice. Slightly sweet towards long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2012 - xwine wrote:
La Paulée de San Francisco 2012 Verticals Tasting (The Westin St. Francis, San Francisco): Beeswax/honeycomb, minerals, oyster shells, intensely structured, long finish, powerful yet lithe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2011 - Gob wrote: 90 Points
Almond notes, citrus, very defined and elegant, long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2011 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
La Paulee de NY - Grand Tasting (2008 Vintage) (Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC): i loved this. med(+) acid. nice nutty notes. full finish is delightful and surprising. nutmeg prominent on finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2010 - hubas wrote: 85 Points
A good chablis with some apple flavor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment