Nicolas Joly

Les Vieux Clos Savennières Chenin Blanc 2019

9.2

Presented to me blind at Tasting Group. The wine appears bright yellow with medium viscosity; no signs of sediment, gas or particles. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe orchard fruit: stone fruits, lemons, white flowers, lanolin and minerals. On the palate the wine is off-dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of character. The alcohol is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Chardonnay from France, Germany or the United States. But I didn’t get any petrol so I eliminated Riesling and I don’t think you could get the balance of fruit and high acid from California Chardonnay (and the oak would probably be so pronounced). So I called Chenin Blanc from France, from the Loire, Vouvray Demi-Sec. Well…I should have known this could be Joly! Close…but some miles away from each other and I’d like to have the confidence to call producer in this case. Drink now through 2034. — 11 days ago

Jan, Ira and 11 others liked this

Jay Kline

@Daniel M one of my favorite white wine producers on earth

Jay Kline

@Ceccherini Cristiano thank you!

Ely Cohn

Well done!

Château Cantenac Brown

Margaux Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Flight 4 , wine 2. This was quite a difficult wine to read at first , again quite closed , mineral and tobacco edged . Dark fruits. On the palate rounder than expected , good richness and balance , dark cherry , blackberry fruit . Good rounded tannin and ok length . Quite obviously Bordeaux in the context of this tasting , though I had this as the Lynch Bages 1982 when it was actually the Brane Cantenac 1986 …..I give up ! 90

This was an interesting , though challenging tasting , all served blind in flights of 2 wines , 3 flights of 1 Napa and 1 Bordeaux and 1 of 2 Bordeaux; served in a random sequence . The fact that at least a couple of wines were not pristine didn’t help , though if you will taste 8 , 40 year old wines that is probably par for the course . I found it relatively easy to spot whether what was in the glass was Napa or Bordeaux but didn’t actually get a single wine completely correct ! Probably overall the winner of the tasting was Napa (won the 3 rounds 2-1) as they had more suave polished , rounded personalities. Many put the wines the wrong way round , imagining that Napa was Bordeaux etc. The 1982s in general showed poorly too much funk and brett on the Lynch and Talbot but the Duhart showed surprisingly well . The 86s both showed pretty well and equalled the Dominus (even though I didn’t think we had a pristine bottle) . The Montelena was enjoyable , though was the first to oxidise whilst the Inglenook was the biggest positive surprise , still drinking surprisingly well at 47 . — a month ago

Anthony, Jan and 8 others liked this

Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Refined and drinking well. -a 2000 that lives up to its reputation. Hickory and anise and hint of tobacco on the nose Well balanced and well rounded on the palate. Classic. Could hold for years!! — 9 days ago

with David

Ted, Jan and 8 others liked this

Vieux Château Saint André

Montagne-St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Yan Gagnon

9.0

Robe: Profonde et concentrée, reflétant la richesse du millésime. Nez: Superbe bouquet où dominent les fruits noirs intenses. Des notes de graphite et de crayon à mine apportent une élégance minérale caractéristique, signature d'un vin de grande classe. Bouche: Attaque riche et structurée. La matière est dense avec une belle longueur en bouche. Les tanins, légèrement râpeux, témoignent de la jeunesse du vin tout en promettant un beau potentiel de garde. L'ensemble est harmonieux et parfaitement équilibré. Finale: Persistante, avec un retour des arômes de fruits noirs et de minéralité. Remarque: Ce vin s'inscrit dans la lignée des grands vins bordelais, d'autant plus intéressant quand on sait que Jean-Claude Berrouet, ancien maître de chai de Pétrus, a apporté son savoir-faire à l'élaboration de ces cuvées. Son expérience dans l'un des domaines les plus prestigieux du monde viticole se ressent dans l'équilibre et la finesse de ce 2019. — 14 days ago