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Paul @bbott

Gilman used “The Very, Very Ripe, Very, Very, Very Tannic 2010 Vintage In Bordeaux-Miraculously, Some Great Wines Found Alive On the Battlefield” as his title when he reviewed the 2010 vintage. I therefore ignored the wines for around a decade before checking their development. A fair few corks have...

Paul @bbott

There are plenty of merchants here in the UK that are/will be making offers. You should be able to download the previous years offers from places like the Wine Society to get an idea of what is usually available. I have read comments from Jancis that being a hot year there are some overripeness issu...

Paul @bbott

6 x 2014 Chateau Meyney St. Estephe I have 6 of those as well and high hopes for them. They excelled with this vintage, and I am a long time fan of the Producer. Recently missed out on some aged bottles, told myself I'd go and grab some of the more recent. I have high hopes as well. I'll probably p...

Paul @bbott

So many spaces to fill after Christmas and the New Year. Some 2009 Grand Puy Lacoste was purchased today to help fill the gaps.

Paul @bbott

Rich K0rz€nk0 wrote: ↑January 8th, 2021, 10:08 pm 6 x 2014 Chateau Meyney St. Estephe

I have 6 of those as well and high hopes for them.

Paul @bbott

6X 2019 Batailley, I decided to top up my EP purchases.

Paul @bbott

As someone from the UK I would suggest looking at membership of the Wine Society, they offer Burgundy, Rhône, Bordeaux and others EP each year. Regarding styles of Burgundy, I would suggest buying some of the basic burgundy from producers to get an understanding of their styles. These should also be...

Paul @bbott

The comparisons of 2016 and 1982 seem weird to me. 2016 seems like a very good vintage but not a historic one. How many people would confidently say that the 2016s stand head and shoulders above 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2019? To say nothing of 2000 and 2005. As I understand it 1982 was just &quo...

Paul @bbott

Just tasting a 2018 Peique Bierzo, light purple red, nose of cherry fruit and what I call grassy, but my wife says is cabbage tones. Positive acidity and light structure. A refreshing red that for me fills the same niche as Cabernet Franc.

Paul @bbott

I quite agree about older Cantemerles, which were marvellous - and I'm delighted to read that the legendary 89 is still going strong! But I'm not so sure about more recent ones. The youngest I've tried was the 09, which was enjoyable, but not as good as Citran 09 at half the price. The style swings...

Paul @bbott

I find that mencia/Bierzo has more in common with Cabernet Franc than those suggested, it is normally not too heavy, can be pleasingly aromatic, and unless Reserva can have a grassy crunchy flavour profile that reminds me of something from Saumur.

Paul @bbott

14 in particular strikes me as a vintage that will reward patience (but then I think I generally like wines more aged than Jeff) I agree totally, Neal. The 2014 vintage is one where I went deep, it hit my mark as my kind of vintage. Calling it “early drinking” - IMHO, of course - misses the vintage...

Paul @bbott

Cotes du Rhône Village, and mencia.

Paul @bbott

As long as we are all happy with our choices doesn’t this show diversity of tastes is a wonderful thing.

Paul @bbott

Mostly Medoc appellations, some Loire, Burgundy, and Rhône. I really was brought up on French reds.

Paul @bbott

Russell Faulkner wrote: ↑December 31st, 2020, 1:44 pm Local supermarkets here had masses of crap at €10-12.

However big house prices remained very solid.

In the UK prices are down considerably. I have been picking up Laurent Perrier for £27 Rather than £40. Pleased to say I have been doing my bit to drain the surplus over Christmas.

Paul @bbott

I have enjoyed wines from these vintages back to the 1975, before that I cannot comment, but none of the above seem off to me in the same way as 1992 was.

Paul @bbott

We're never going to agree, as their are fundamental taste preferences, but the "sweet" term is too often misused IMO. The implication in both your posts is rampant, perceptible residual sugar in new world wines, and noble, absolute dryness, down to the last speck of sugar in Burgundy. It...

Paul @bbott

With the above talk of West Coast reds and Burgundy, I have to say I have always enjoyed Burgundy, but could never afford the top level hooch. I have had some West Coast Pinot at the same time and found it strangely/palpably sweet in comparison, to the point where I couldn’t drink it and haven’t tr...

Paul @bbott

With the above talk of West Coast reds and Burgundy, I have to say I have always enjoyed Burgundy, but could never afford the top level hooch. I have had some West Coast Pinot at the same time and found it strangely/palpably sweet in comparison, to the point where I couldn’t drink it and haven’t tri...

Paul @bbott

Be philosophical. Just think how many bottles in there must be corked, you have saved yourself a mass of disappointment by not having that collection.

Paul @bbott

The main impact for me will be on the personal consumption allowance, before it was theoretically limitless, from now on it will only be 18 litres of wine per person. No more filling up the car in France.

Paul @bbott

Interesting that this thread is focusing on the weight of standard 750 bottles where I wouldn’t go for heavier, and hasn’t, apart from a comment on500ml gone into size, eg the potential for 1 litre etc. I understand that for wineries the different sizes are a pain, but I would welcome more variety a...

Paul @bbott

All were NV as they were all lined up in the same shop.

Paul @bbott

With the lack of weddings and parties this year champagne has been around 30% cheaper in the UK, and we have taken the opportunity to drink a range of marques and see what they are currently producing. Laurent Perrier was the house favourite, with fairly creamy, rich brioche flavours. Pierre Mignon ...

Paul @bbott

With French wines over represented in my cellar I am quite happy with limited diversity. I do try to get out of my rut occasionally though, this year I have tried all the mencia/Bierzo I can get my hands on and the year before it was nero mascallese/Etna. Like some others I have decided fruit bombs ...

Paul @bbott

We have a Phillips which is great for chips(fries?) and wedges, but I haven’t explored other options with it.

Paul @bbott

The Cave de St Mont specialises in rediscovering the rare grapes of South West France, you may find researching them of interest.

Paul @bbott

AstridKG wrote: ↑December 27th, 2020, 1:30 pm Talk about lack of diversity... But I am trying to reduce my cellar, and most of the French wines need some time.
France 86.7%
USA 12.0%
Spain 1.3%

Mine is not dissimilar, with the vast bulk of France being Bordeaux.

Paul @bbott

Lots of interesting questions here, and you may find that the answers vary with who is responding as this is a personal choice to a great extent. The French tend to drink everything young, the British tend to age everything. Personally I think each vintage has its own character, 2015 is fairly frien...

Paul @bbott

Pierre Mignon NV, premier cru, very pleasing brioche flavours.
2010 Chateau Cissac from magnum, ready to go, but no hurry to drink.
2002 Real Companhia Velha Colheita, delightfully figgy tawny.

Merry Christmas.

Paul @bbott

France 90+% Mostly Bordeaux,Burgundy, Loire, Rhône, Champagne, SW France in descending order.
Spain 5%
Portugal 4%
The odd Musar, Morelino, Nebbiolo Tokaji, Etc.

Paul @bbott

Adam G wrote: ↑December 24th, 2020, 7:02 pm Scores: useless
Detailed tasting notes: very useful

Something like this, the scores follow the heard quite often but the notes can be usefully descriptive. Apart from the drink/keep recommendations.

Paul @bbott

Christmas Eve, 2010 Fourcas Dupre and 2010 Croizet Bages. The Fourcas was less hard and tannic than previous bottles, but the Croizet was the more attractive and interesting of the two.

Paul @bbott

At the risk of being trolled, the responses to this thread are a reflection of the reason I haven’t signed up for grand cru yet, I’m still not sure if I like it here.

Paul @bbott

12X375 Cantemerle 2010 @£20 each.

Paul @bbott

The 1982 edition of Anthony Hanson's Burgundy 'Great Burgundy smells of shit.' Perhaps this guy loves Pinot?

Paul @bbott

Pedesclaux has had some rave reviews from Decanter, especially the 05 and 09 vintages.

Paul @bbott

Enjoy, I drank mine a while ago, but think it should still be alive and kicking.

Paul @bbott

Do you mean southern Provence? Or (the few) Mourvèdre heavy wines from southern Rhône? Domain St Anne in St Gervais is one of my favourites. It was mentioned in passing on page 5. I have bought several vintages since the 1998, and with about 8 years under its belt it turns into a beautifully perfum...

Paul @bbott

Love Mourvedre! The Aussies are doing interesting Mourvedres. But, Home base for my taste is the southern Rhone!!!!!! Do you mean southern Provence? Or (the few) Mourvèdre heavy wines from southern Rhône? Domain St Anne in St Gervais is one of my favourites. It was mentioned in passing on page 5. I...

Paul @bbott

I decant 90% of a bottle and if there is visible sediment I filter what’s left through an unbleached coffee filter. I’ve been doing it for years and am consistently happy with the results.

Paul @bbott

Chateau Pey la Tour by Dourthe is half the price of the Senejac and is usually drinkable if you want to go as far down as generic Bordeaux, rather than a cru bourgeois superior.

Paul @bbott

I have previously cooked a coq au vin with a corked wine, and ended up with corked coq, foul fowl. I will never do it again.

Paul @bbott

2005 Chasse Spleen, still a good deep colour red at the rim, oak and dark fruit on the nose, tannins well integrated, but for me, the figgy aftertaste was slightly disappointing as it came over as a little over ripe. No need to rush this, but I don’t think I will rush back to the rest of my bottles ...

Paul @bbott

[*] 2008 Chateau Musar - Lebanon, Bekaa Valley (25.10.2019) The first few months of 2008 weren't particularly good with rain and snow, but after the late February no rains reached Beqaa for the rest of the season. The March was moderate followed by sunny spring, keeping the humidity (and the amount...

Paul @bbott

I always enjoy Léoville Barton, Lagrange, and Batailley, and would be happy to have more of all of them in more vintages.

Paul @bbott

Paul Miller wrote: ↑December 5th, 2020, 9:28 am So what’s the technique people employ? Use it as a funnel? Dunk it into the glass? How long and how much contact?

I have put it into a carafe and poured the wine in, but it is only marginally effective.

Paul @bbott

I have found it to reduce the level of TCA if a wine is lightly affected, but for most cases it hasn’t resolved the problem.

Paul @bbott

There is a lot of information on Jancis’s site. It reads like there is some good stuff about, but cote rotie was considered superior.

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