2020 | Chardonnay
Patrick Piuze; Terrior de Chablis
Burgundy; Chablis, France
(Montmains adjacent vineyards)
(90-92; Drink 2026-32)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor is Anna Rakitina (BSO assistant conductor), leading Ellen REID (When the World as You’ve Known It Doesn’t Exist), PAGANINI (Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Opus 6) with renowned soloist Joshua Bell, and PROKOFIEV (Suite from Romeo and Juliet; Suite No. 1, Opus 64-bis / Suite No. 2, Opus 64-ter / Suite No. 3, Opus 101). — 3 years ago
A fantastic bottle of Chablis-adjacent, just great a year since our last bottle. Please see prior notes on the vintage. (A touch more salty than before, but doing fine.)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Karina Canellakis is leading WAGNER (Prelude to Lohengrin, Act 1), CHOPIN (Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Opus 21) with one of our local treasures, Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano and then RACHMANINOFF (Symphonic Dances, Opus 45). A fantastic night is ahead of us! — 4 years ago

Nose has fresh lemon slice, cut green & yellow apples, Italian bread, vanilla cremé and wet slate.
Palate has fresh pineapple, cold yellow apple, white flowers, sandstone and mild vanilla notes. Great acidity (as expected in the most youthful of stages, current vintage) with some drying, chalky aspects.
Decanted 90m. Another great Boillot Bourgogne Blanc to stock the cellar with for enjoyment 2023-29.
+
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our Conductors Andris Nelsons and John Williams will be leading a very engaging program of Jessie MONTGOMERY (Starburst), John WILLIAMS (Violin Concerto No. 2, world premiere featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter!), COPLAND (Quiet City) and STRAVINSKY (Suite from The Firebird, 1919 version). We're getting the luxury of enjoying Mr. Williams two nights in a row...what a great weekend of Contemporary music! — 5 years ago
Lighter merlot. But really tasty. — 6 years ago
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading GERSHWIN (Piano Concerto in F), GERSHWIN (Variations on “I Got Rhythm,” for piano and orchestra) and STRAVINSKY (Petrushka) with the amazing Jean-Yves Thibaude as the piano soloist on the two first works presented today. Jean-Yves is by far among our favorite pianists to grace the Koussevitzky Shed stage, so graceful, yet poignant!
Hot days call for cool wines, today there are some fun ones planned for sharing.
Nose has crazy apricot flesh, orange blossom, grapefruit zest and pineapple.
Palate has pleasurable acidity with citrus bias, sweet impressions but dry finish, glass coating viscosity. — 7 years ago
NV | Champagne
(100% Pinot Noir)
Marie Demets; Tradition
Extra Brut-Blanc de Noirs
Côte des Bar; Gyé-sur-Seine, France
Tirage 5 March 2022 / Disgorged 7 June 2023
Lot No. T-22/2
(90-92; Drink 2024-30)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (the overly talented youth!). Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading IVES (Three Places in New England, Orchestral Set No. 1), BEETHOVEN (Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Opus 37) and STRAUSS (Also sprach Zarathustra, Opus 30...aka 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick❤️).
One of our local treasures, Emanuel Ax on piano for the Beethoven Concerto! — 2 years ago
NV | Champagne
(80% Pinot Noir / 20% Chardonnay)
Champage Drappier; Charles de Gaulle Brut
Côte des Bar; Bar-sur-Aube, Urville, France
(92-94; Drink 2025-32)
LH 09210; Disgorgement July 2022
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For Opening Night 2023 our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading Wynton MARSALIS (Herald, Holler, and Hallelujah), PROKOFIEV (Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Opus 26) with pianist Daniil Trifonov and then TCHAIKOVSKY (Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Opus 36). — 3 years ago
From a special person. — 5 years ago
Prior notes still apply, delicious bottle.
Nose has toasted brioche, grilled lemon, warm lemon creme, lemon zest, oxidized pear slice and fresh, rising bread dough. Palate has lemon pound cake, cold toast, limestone chips, dried lemon slice and (light) candied orange.
Great mid-palate, a restrained richness is all elegance, acid balance is perfect and not pulling you one way or another. At 15 years past vintage, a great example of finesse in Champagne.
+
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our Conductors Andris Nelsons and John Williams will be leading a very engaging program of Jessie MONTGOMERY (Starburst), John WILLIAMS (Violin Concerto No. 2, world premiere featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter!), COPLAND (Quiet City) and STRAVINSKY (Suite from The Firebird, 1919 version). We're getting the luxury of enjoying Mr. Williams two nights in a row...what a great weekend of Contemporary music! — 5 years ago
Dry yet fruity. Ends with a nice berry aftertaste that isn’t too sweet. — 5 years ago
Although often decent - I found that little red village Burgundies possess the unique elements of their superstar siblings. This one did - albeit in subtle hints, like the silent yet essential intro to a full blown concerto. This was very very good, yet most of all it made me long for a “normal” New Year’s Eve. — 6 years ago
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor, and violin soloist, Leonidas Kavakos is leading an BEETHOVEN (Violin Concerto in D, Opus 61) and then concluding with DVOŘÁK (Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Opus 70). It is a rare treat to have a combination conductor/soloist leading the Orchestra, only the second time I can recall in about 12 years of attendance. The other instance was with Anne-Sophie Mutter, also a violinist, a few years ago now.
Nose has cut yellow apple, bag full of lemons, light vanilla, light oak and limestone paste.
Palate has cold butter, sugared lemon, lemon pith, quince, yellow cherry and creamy oak lingers on the medium-long finish.
Quite Chablis-like, except the touch of wood notes are a little heavier, but the caveat, this wine is very young, likely drinking great 2021-23.
24 Hour Update: Oak has subsided, just a great bottle today. — 7 years ago
2010 | Chardonnay
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix; Vaillon 1er Cru
Burgundy; Chablis, France
(90-92; Drink 2025-33)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading John WILLIAMS (Violin Concerto No. 2, written specifically for the intended soloist this evening) featuring the violin virtuoso, Anne-Sophie Mutter, STRAUSS (Death and Transfiguration, Opus 24) and then RAVEL (La Valse). — 3 years ago
NV (2018 fruit); Last bottle! 🙁 Still delicious and prior notes apply.
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons and pianist Paul Lewis collaborate on the third of three concerts encompassing all five of Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano concertos in one weekend. Today's program includes OGONEK (Starling Variations, 2022; world premiere), FARRENC (Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Opus. 36) and BEETHOVEN (Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, Opus 73, Emperor). This weekend has been an auditory pleasure, enjoying all five of Beethoven's piano concerti, and what a finale today! — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Love Huey Lewis on piano, but he’s a little better with the Harmonica.No notes, a quiet celebration for my wife and me as I have successfully ticked another box in the years-on-planet category today. Feeling older...I think.
Cailleze-Lemaire Eclats, Lot No. 0514; A newer bottle than what was previously in the cellar. I'll capture notes on a future bottle. Palate seems a little subdued from prior lot, perhaps more time in bottle is deserved.
+
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our Conductor Anna Rakitina (BSO’s Assistant Conductor) is leading Elena LANGER (Figaro Gets a Divorce, Orchestral Suite), RAVEL (Piano Concerto in G) and ELGAR (Opus 36, Enigma Theme). The soloist for the piano concerto tonight is none other than Jean-Yves Thibaudet, our absolute favorite pianist (or piano-player as Emanuel Ax has been noted to say because he thinks the traditional term sounds funny when spoken), a never-to-be-missed event for us whenever he plays these hallowed grounds. (In 2004 Jean-Yves served as president of the Hospices de Beaune, factoid for any wine nerds who are also classical music nerds.) — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Last time I saw them John Legend was on piano 🎹🤔 if I remember correctly
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Could of been Ozzy Osborne🤷🏼♂️Tasting E&M since 2009 & visited a couple of times. 10 years later they are still at the top.
Challenging to taste and evaluate. This wine needs hours/days of air. Classic E&M perfume,
red currants, pine tree sap, white pepper on the nose. Looks like a light weight- Well? Underripe strawberries, later dark 🍒 , crushed marble, hint bitter, orange zest, prune skins, My suggestion pop drink for hours and listen to Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto in E-Minor - it is that good. — 5 years ago

Earthy minerals bright berry fruit. Some vanilla. Great! — 7 years ago
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading GERSHWIN (Piano Concerto in F), GERSHWIN (Variations on “I Got Rhythm,” for piano and orchestra) and STRAVINSKY (Petrushka) with the amazing Jean-Yves Thibaude as the piano soloist on the two first works presented today. Jean-Yves is by far among our favorite pianists to grace the Koussevitzky Shed stage, so graceful, yet poignant!
Hot days call for cool wines, today there are some fun ones planned for sharing.
Nose has blackberry jam on toasted brioche, violet,
bruised Tai basil, blueberry seeds and crushed ripe black currant.
Palate has peppered black raspberry, black cherry, tomato leaf and well concentrated blueberry jam.
@Carla Hine Thanks for sharing, top candidate for wine of the afternoon, along with the Minges Scheurebe!!! — 7 years ago


Anthony De Blasi
In an excellent spot. Serious step forward compared to last years bottle.80/20 Sangiovese/Cab Sauv — a year ago