Context
Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg
Les Chaignots Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2010
Less dense and minerally compared to the 09' d'Eugenie Clos Vougeot, but it was my preferred red Burg on the table. It just had more energy! Pure and pretty bouquet of red and black fruits (leaning on the latter), florals, savory spice, and earth. The same can be said of the palate, with quite a bit of power in the back-end. Finishes weighty with a drawn out fruit sweetness that's perfectly in tension with the saline, tangy elements. Dissipated quickly over dinner. Another win for the sisters and 2010!
NB: An episode on Wineking got me thinking about the way I rate wines. Totally "unprofessional". Haha. The hosts were talking about how wine professionals have to forgo preferences and put on their thinking hats to judge wines, which makes perfect sense (and is taught in WSET too) but I just rate wines here based on how "drinkable" it is to me (and in context of the occassion). Scores wise, I'm sure this was the "lesser" of the two red Burgs we had. Just had less "substance". But "drinkability" wise, clearly everyone thought this was better. — 5 years ago
Bodegas Alejandro Fernández
Tinto Pesquera Crianza Ribera del Duero Tempranillo 2015
Deep ruby, stewed red fruits, white and black pepper, clove, herbaceous, some vegies. Medium + tannins, high alcohol, full bodied, medium acidity. Medium finish. Very nice. On to an older competitor...
Please read my subsequent notes in the Muga Prado Enea for more context.
@Antonio Galloni any thoughts?
92 points — 6 years ago
Azienda Agricola il Borghetto
Bilaccio Sangiovese 2009
I’m partial to Sangiovese. I bought a few bottles of this on a whim with no context. Shipment arrived recently and I cracked open a bottle to accompany turkey and fixin leftovers. It’s awesome, and even more so considering $12/bottle. OMG. Need to cut this review short so I can go find som more. There’s another review below on a 2014 that gives much detail and indicates how good it will be with more time in the bottle. I’m having the 2009 and he was spot on. Cheers — 8 years ago
Domaine Thomas Morey
Morgeot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2013
This is an utterly delightful white Burgundy that was a little understated to start but in the glass opened up to be complex, rich, slightly tropical, yet focused and, perhaps most importantly in this context, very good friendly. — 8 years ago
Nikka Whisky Distilling Company
Miyagikyo Single Malt Whiskey
People are harsh on the ratings here. This is a light whiskey with an apple finish. It’s exactly what you would expect from a Japanese whiskey. Not heavy power. Light. Easy to drink. The apple finish is absolutely there and is delightful. This is any drink for those who want something that doesn’t knock you over and has a fruity taste. I’m a fan with the right context. — 2 years ago
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2017
The 2017 Les Carmes Haut-Brion comprises 45% whole bunches and matured for two years in 80% new oak plus foudres and amphorae. Complex on the nose, this offers black olive and brine tinged black fruit, crushed stone and light minty aromas, quite intense in the context of the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit on the entry, quite Rhône-like in flavour profile, hints of fennel and thyme interwoven into the red fruit, persistent on the finish. Delicious and distinctive. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— 4 years ago
Château Cantemerle
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Not the team’s I wanted to see, so I’ll just stick to the basics. Went well with some A5 coffee crusted New York Strip, the steak 🥩 is so rich you don’t want to waste it on a fruity wine
The 2010 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. The vineyard is situated on deep gravel deposits in the Macau and Ludon villages of the appellation and has 9,600 vines per hectare.
Vinious 93 The 2010 Cantemerle is vigorous and open on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit with cedar and humidor scents. I admire the focus and detail. The palate is rounded in texture on the entry. This is a plumper, richer, more fruit-driven 2010 with a lush finish on the context of the growing season. You could broach this now, although I would prefer to leave it another three or four years. This is another excellent wine and candidate for most over-performing cru this vintage. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. — 4 years ago
Bodegas del Palacio de Fefiñanes
Rías Baixas Albariño de Fefiñanes 2019
Limpid, green-tinged yellow. Sharply focused, mineral-driven lemon pith, pear skin and tarragon scents pick up a floral nuance with air. Shows distinct saltiness and sharp focus as well as depth on the palate, offering sappy Meyer lemon, pear and honeycomb flavors and a touch of herbacity. Finishes long and chewy, with the floral and tarragon notes repeating. This wine's intriguing, savory and briny character is pretty wild, and I can vouch for how well it works with raw oysters and clams. In the context of world-class white wines, this one delivers simply amazing value. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, June 2021)
— 5 years ago
Comm. G.B. Burlotto
Aves Verduno Barbera d'Alba 2017
The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Aves is another attractive wine in this range, although the greater impact of small wood does place it entirely in a different stylistic context relative to the other wines in this range. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, licorice and new leather infuse the 2017 with notable plushness and textural depth. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2020)
— 6 years ago
Domaine de la Begude
Bandol Rouge Mourvedre Blend 2010
Got a little age on it. It is a dirty one. Not Tempier was a note I received,
But out of that context, who really is? — 8 years ago
North Gate Vineyard
Cabernet Franc 2012
Sooo delightful! This vintage was a blend of three lots… Combined they made a nuanced Northern Italian/burgundy-esk Franc that really speaks to Mark’s skill and the potential of classic vintages (weather) in VA. When it’s not too hot, the acids can stay in balance. This can lead to producing real aromaticly complex Francs. To put in context, we pair this with beautifully prepared salmon. Glad I still have one more bottle! — 8 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Substance Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
2001 base
Disgorged 2008
The hallmark oxidative note but not strong in the context of Selosse. Lots of complexity. A very interesting mixture of almonds, peaches and citrus scents and flavors. Felt a little heavy in the mouth. Almost felt like I was drinking a still wine rather than champagne. — 2 years ago
Grace Family Vineyards
Blank Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly elegant and refined. Just starting to enter its plateau of maturity, the 2001 is distinctly medium in body - especially within the context of the year - with captivating aromatic presence and superb balance. What a gorgeous wine it is. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2023) — 3 years ago
Cameron Winery
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2018
Pop and pour, 1hr slow ox. Third btl from a half case. No brett or reduction on this btl, go figure (see previous notes for context). Lovely Cameron mushroomy funk, sandalwood, dark wild strawberry..fantastic purity. My favorite btl so far aromatically. On the palate: very good acidity, nice and savory with some earthy bark notes, maybe thinner than I would like, but very finely grained tannin on the finish. This btl is drinking very well now. — 5 years ago
De Toren
Fusion V Stellenbosch Red Blend 2017
The 2017 De Toren Fusion V, the Left Bank Bordeaux-based blend, 90% raised in 50% new French oak, is deep garnet in color. It has a well-defined blackberry, bilberry and soy-tinged nose, touches of pencil shaving coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, almost Médoc-like tannins, quite structured and more austere compared to older vintages that I have tasted, especially in the context of a ripe growing season. Noticeably bitter toward the finish. Personally, I would afford this a couple of years in the cellar just to shave the edges, but it is a commendable Stellenbosch Bordeaux blend, one that cohered nicely after two or three hours. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2021)
— 5 years ago
Chateau Haut Théron
Cuvée Prestige Cahors Malbec 2016
One of my close friends and I aged a bottle of this French Malbec upon his leave from NYC.
It’s not a particularly great bottle. It can be bought for $11. It is exceptional because of its context. We forget that wine is an opportunity. A moment of memory and gratitude to create. If we use this excuse to gather with friends, then we’ve already elevated the wine.
We aged it for just 1.5 years and so it met its 5 year mark. It was light, resembling the composition of a Pinot Noir. It was airy and, now, after tasting the bottle this weekend again, new, without the extra aging, we can tell that the chemical, sugary aftertaste disappeared.
Great out of the store, even better after personal aging in a walnut veneer bar, and exceptional if drunk with friends, especially close ones.
Two bottles, across two weeks, aging one for almost two years. For the cornerstone experience, a 9.3.
— 7 years ago
Pakravan-Papi
Cancellaia di RiparbellaCabernet Sauvignon
This is one of those lucky finds that just don’t come around very often. Sorry for the backstory but I think the context helps explain my excitement. There’s a small wine and spirit shop in a little beach town I drive through about 2-3 times a year and I’ll usually stop and get a bottle or two because they had a great and unique selection. Sadly, the last few stops there have been a bit disappointing as their variety seems on the decline. What was once a great range of wines with a lot of unique bottles, is now a lot of cheap high volume offerings on one end and on the other a nice selection of super high end bottles that I’m not picking up on a whim. While the high end selection is commendable, the magic of the shop seems to have faded. And if I am going to go high end I would rather do it with a shop I frequent in Charleston. Anyway, browsed a bit and didn’t really find anything I was interested in. Was on the way out and came across a 50% off rack and found this marked down to 9 dollars. Grabbed this and a few others thinking 🤷🏻♂️.The second it hit the glass it was beautiful on the nose, continued with deep richness on the palate. Great clarity and balance. My research suggests a 70/30 Cab/ Cab Franc blend. Have to assume this a nod to the famous Cab/Cab Franc blends in the region, and it’s a heck of nod. Have a half bottle left and I can’t wait to see how it held up for night two. — 8 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
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 year ago