Savoie, France

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2015

A high quality champagne just not the style of DP I seek out. I found this vintage hedonistic versus serious. Obviously very young. I wish I had the skill set to speculate on how this will turn out with time. — 3 days ago

Tyler, Jan and 28 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Across many of my favorite producers, the 2015 vintage isn’t my favorite expression. It’s good, but like you said, it’s pretty flashy.

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Medium ruby , hint of garnet , slight narrower rim , more garnet hue . Quite mineral , herbal tinged blackcurrant, seaside scents . Slightly aloof and austere, though this improves with time in the decanter . However on the palate this opens up with classic cedar tinged dark fruits , blackcurrant, grafite , sea shell and saline tinged. Complex , complete , classic , grafite and mineral tinged with pretty long length finish . Still slightly grippy tannins but these are well integrated and quite polished , fresh balanced acidity. This shows very well and is just coming into its prime drinking window, this also held up very well in decanter for the 4 hours we had it open , always retaining great freshness and verve. From now and over the next 10 to 15 years perhaps . — 14 days ago

Jan, Anthony and 8 others liked this
Shay A

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Had this last night (only other time was 4-5yrs ago) and both showed extremely green aromatics. Classical Lafite elegance on the palate.
Andrew Cullimore

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Yes @Shay A i think it showed better on the palate , as you say very classic Lafite , aroma was really quite discreet and austere , just wonder whether this will step up a gear with a little more time in the cellar

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Excellent fill and halfway saturated cork. Used a Durand but surmise a regular waiter's friend, wielded carefully, could have done the trick with the cork. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins, one hour and two hours. Some obvious sed but not troublesome or overtly noticeable. Original owner-château direct on original release. Super cold cellar because this was lagging noticeably behind other '90's and LB's. Bigger tannic structure (for a generally feminine-styled house) than anything save a Latour, Mouton, Ducru Left Bank property. Even more guts than Lynch-Bages or Pichon-Baron '90's currently stored above 55 or so degrees. Surprising but made sense. Light-medium body. Appropriate color. 3-4 years left in this stage unless larger format in play. Slight, fleeting burst of richness in the frontal palate and a tad brickish and then it just flowed on, without speed bumps. A little cocoa powder and cedar/tobacco. Suspect 750ml specimens not stored as cold/religiously will be showing more in the 9.0-9.1 range and farther down the backside of the bell curve. 10.26.24. — 17 days ago

Ira, Jan and 17 others liked this
Ron R

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Good notes, mate.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

@Ron R Hey there! It's been a spell.

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2001

Without doubt the greatest sticky I’ve ever tasted. I nosed it for 30 mins, it was so clear and bright with tropical fruit and light stony minerality. The apricot and mango were lifted over my palate by actual angels who may’ve swiped a taste on the brief journey. Wish I could’ve sat up with a last glass all night, thank you Lenny. 🙏🏼 — 5 days ago

Daniel, Jeroen and 23 others liked this

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2016

Raveneau really nailed this vintage. A difficult growing season and minimal yields have nonetheless produced a stunning MDT, immensely generous, expressive and multidimensional wafting a floral, citrusy-spice inflicted bouquet layered in pastry cream and stony Chablisen minerality. The palate is magnificently textured, concentrated, long and voluptuous, slightly lower in acidity as 16’s can be, but still with plenty of power, tension and balance that belies the vintage norm. MDT is a tremendous success in 2016. Raveneau is king. 💛 — 10 days ago

Jan, Shay and 9 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2020

David T
9.3

What a pair w/ Crostini, Chervil Sheep Cheese & Duck Confit. 👌

Dark, juicy, lush to mid fruit core, dark cherries, strawberries, hues of blueberries, raspberries, limestone, softened granitic earth, deeper red cola, black & red licorice, baseball card bubble gum, understated fresh herbs, dark, rich, sweet earth, hints of maple syrup, tree bark w/ sap, dark & red florals for days, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, relaxed tension, polished, lush finish that lasts 90 seconds. Delicious.

This is better than some premier cru red burgundies for far less $.

Absolutely one of the top three producers of Grand Cru Gamay.
— 18 days ago

Bob, Ceccherini and 17 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Yvon is worthy to be in that group…but his wines are so difficult to come by.
David T

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Deliberate.
Yvon embodies the humble and proud vigneron, a man who would rather tend his vines than host appointments, and sell to close friends than foreign markets.He has long farmed what are sure to be among the oldest vines in the entirety of the region, predominantly centered in Fleurie. Undoubtedly, these are some of the most pure, fresh yet unctuous wines that have ever come from the Beaujolais region. Never sulfured, they are the pinnacle of freshness and drinkability upon release, yet benefit from long cellar aging as well.
Jay Kline

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I’ve had L’Ultime once. It was worth the hype.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. This was my second time enjoying the 1990 vintage and, much like my previous experience, this was rather quiet early and then came on with the business, late. As before, a mix of red and black cassis, ripe and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. After two similar experiences, I believe this vintage needs a lot of patience and a lot of air to wake up. Without either, it will be misunderstood. Drink now through 2040+ — 10 days ago

Jan, Ira and 12 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

Another great btl from a vintage I have had many times. This was fresh and drinking much younger than its age with red, black fruits, currant, cedar, leather, earth, sweet spices, tobacco & cigar ash — 3 days ago

Tom, Shay and 8 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

First time with this wine. PnP and probably could have used a decant. Great weight. Lots of black olive, herbs. Good but missing something (touch of acidity?) to make it great — 2 days ago

Ira, Jan and 7 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 2 days ago

Bob, Tom and 14 others liked this