Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Ramon C

Very nice line-up. Thanks for the notes.

Ramon C

This is a list I made in 2006 on another forum, I haven't tasted enough recent vintage Bordeaux to know about recent changes. This is probably based mostly on wines produced between 1996-2003. John Gilman's VFTC would give a pretty good idea about who is traditional now. This list might be dated, a...

Ramon C

There's now global demand for these wines, so they're just being priced at what the market will bear. Heck, Rougeard has always been easier to find stateside than in France. The reason why this is allocated and harder to source in France. French restaurants get first dibs and stumble over each othe...

Ramon C

I don't recall having had the 2014 Clisson, myself. Good to see the breadth of Domaine de la Pépière's impressive wines in this vintage.

I've had a few times, and still have more in storage, the very good 2014 Briords.

Ramon C

A comparo TNs between 2019 Baudry Chinon Rosé and the 2019 Olga Raffault Rosé. Well, I'll have to agree with Marc. The Baudry was richer, with some oiliness, and became quite cloying after a few. Relatively, the Olga provided the extra mineral punch, a touch lean that went with the total structure, ...

Ramon C

I can't claim to have had more Faustino than the board staple biggies from Rioja. Even as Faustino wines had always been regarded here as lower in hierarchy than, say, LdH, La Rioja Alta, Muga, and even Riojanas, I will say that the few Faustino I've had all veered toward the positive experience met...

Ramon C

Just accepted delivery on a few 2019 Baudry Chinon Rosé and, to a lesser extent, the 2019 Olga Rosé, and so I've got both styles covered. I'll have Marc's notes in mind when I start to drink these during the upcoming heawave

.

Ramon C

Paolo Bea doesn’t make the Il Censo wines, despite the similar labels. It is made by the Gargano family in Sicily. They are friends, of course, and Giampero Bea introduced the Garganos to their shared US importer, Neal Rosenthal. Similar story with the Monastero Cistercensi wines. I was at the Bea'...

Ramon C

Neal.Mollen wrote: ↑
July 1st, 2020, 1:17 pm

Ramon C wrote: ↑
June 28th, 2020, 6:29 am
2000 Ch. Du Tertre, Margaux

D00A612F-2B05-420B-8D57-8A7E578AF378.jpeg
And?

I've had 3 or 4 of these since release and I'd have rated them an average of B+. Last one was about 5 years ago.

This bottle, from same lot as earlier ones, I would have rated at B.

Ramon C

Happy Birthday!

1985 Bordeaux are drinking well these days.

Ramon C

What a coincidence with the Olga Raffault mention. I also happen to have ordered a couple of the 2018 Olga Rosé, my first with this label, to test out with Baudry's. It's expected to be heatwave level most of next week, so I'll expect to try these out.

Ramon C

Bought online a 6-pack, while still available.

In time for the upward summer heat.

Ramon C

Gonon is cult? Secondary pricing is regularly more than 2X, and often more like 3X release pricing so it would seem to fit the criteria. It's not unobtainable though, if that's something you'd consider to be necessary. Increased pricing makes it a cult? Even then, with the stuff that I read here, t...

Ramon C

Lots of offers of 17 chaillot at 90-100/btl. Glad I have cases of 15-16 Balthazar as the next Gonon ... in terms of what? Gonon's wines are from Saint Joseph. I've little experience with Balthazar, but as far as I know all his wines are grown in Cornas. Are they comparable to you? Next cult produce...

Ramon C

Never disappointed with prior vintages I had.

Even in my market, they go fast. Small production?

Ramon C

Didn't open much wines worthy of noting in this list. But, had the following that provided best experiences so far.

1985 Ch. Haut Bailly

then

2000 Ch. Clerc Milon

Ramon C

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
July 1st, 2020, 11:21 am
Lots of offers of 17 chaillot at 90-100/btl.

Glad I have cases of 15-16

Balthazar as the next Gonon ... in terms of what?

Gonon's wines are from Saint Joseph. I've little experience with Balthazar, but as far as I know all his wines are grown in Cornas.

Are they comparable to you?

Ramon C

Will have the 2000 version pulled from the remote storage to check up on.

Ramon C

2000 Ch. Du Tertre, Margaux

Ramon C

The friend who provided the 2000 said he had the same experience with an earlier bottle which is why he opened this one now. And given how well it's drinking I'll probably pull my two bottles this Autumn. You can pull. I can hold. It all works out! I've an '82 or '96 (not a brag vintage for the pro...

Ramon C

Weird that it would be early maturing as this has not been the experience with 2000s in general. Are you sure it's not a matter or storage, or perhaps it has just attained its plateau and will stay there for a while? My experience was mostly similar to Jay's note. https://www.wineberserkers.com/for...

Ramon C

I guess there you have the difference between NYC and Napa Valley. Restaurants here are at full capacity on weekends, and doing well during the week. And there you have the difference in Covid19 positive cases. CA positivity rate is double + that of NY. George No, not a good thing to compare Napa V...

Ramon C

I haven’t had the 1995, but a few 1990 that were shared my way from a big lot auction win several years ago are my 2nd favorite CFEs.

The 1983, from a 3-pack purchase and with the last bottle consumed 4 years ago, remain as my best to date.

Ramon C

Great notes, only '75 Bordeaux I've had was a 1975 Mouton, which doubles as my only first growth. It was delicious, dominant notes of mushrooms to an extent I've not before experienced; only problem is we drank it next to a 1964 LdH Tondonia which just absolutely blew it out of the water. I do have...

Ramon C

After the recent 2014 vintage, the 2017 vintage comes next to "welcome you to the HAPPY side".

A muscadet that can out-muscadet other muscadet.

Ramon C

With dinner of mugifuji pork belly slices, stir fried with fresh mushrooms, flavored with soy sauce. 2018 Laurent Fayolle ‘Hauterives’ Crozes-Hermitage Blanc I don’t drink much Rhone whites, most instances would be in offlines and certainly very rarely at home by myself, but this medium-low acid win...

Ramon C

Nice read and photo.

I can't recall having had the 75 Ducru Beaucaillou, but have had successes over the last several years with same vintage Magdelaine, Malescot, Talbot and Gruaud. Not blockbusters, but enjoyable.

Ramon C

+1 on Jamet CdR Blanc.

Will add Pierre Gonon’s very good whites.

For dinner this evening, I’ll either have (both freshly-delivered):
2018 Laurent Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage blanc
or
2018 Lurent Fayolle St. Peray blanc

Ramon C

Personal preference will obviously matter on how young or how old you prefer in drinking your wines. I don't have experience with any of the specific wines you listed, but in any case here's my take given my preference for wines with a fair amount of age. None of the 1996 big Nebbiolo from Piedmont ...

Ramon C

This. Really anywhere on the northern coast of Spain. Visited 4 times in the last 10 years, at different months of the year. Terrific foodie place. But, the frequent rain, in that part of Spain, is always a pain. But doesn’t it fall mainly on the plains? It's the constant rain and wind from the Nor...

Ramon C

Interesting that the 96 hs softened up to that degree. Wish my 86 would! 86 is, well, 86. Yes, the 96 had drunk better at this point. I've had a couple and Sociando 86s had not stepped up to the plate just as the other good 86s had at this point, imho. Here's some comparative views on the wines whe...

Ramon C

Had a tasting in the end of January this year, where the 2003 was very fine as well! https://cdn.ct-static.com/labels/d6d719c8-f365-41a1-ba25-07b3f671c9cb.jpg The 2004 (3 bottles tried) were all too advanced. The 1998 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc was amazing, the 1999 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc was f...

Ramon C

Ramon C wrote: ↑
June 17th, 2020, 5:18 am
I just received delivery of the '19 Les Granges, hoping to try a bottle this weekend.

Popped a bottle and drinking it now, a little earlier than my weekend.

Greg's TN pretty much described this. The last Les Granges I liked was the 2014 vintage and this one slayed that.

Ramon C

Scott Spears wrote: ↑
June 17th, 2020, 1:18 pm
.... Even at this age, it has not faded a bit. ....

This.

OK, maybe just a tad bit (when compared to very young Bordeaux), but for a 24 yo wine, the freshness is still very much there. Even with re-corked, fridged half on day 2.

Ramon C

Thanks, Patrick.

Anything the outside windows can provide to entertain me in 3+ months of stay@home is a plus.

Ramon C

1983 Ch. Margaux 3 times and none impressed nor were close to the high expectations they came with. LOL, I guess this qualifies as the most disappointing great wine I’ve never had. Back around 2005 I had a boss in a startup who was really into wine and liked to drink with customers. He was arrangin...

Ramon C

1983 Ch. Margaux

3 times and none impressed nor were close to the high expectations they came with.

Ramon C

Man, I was in the region in early February pre-Covid19 and was looking for a winery visit in lieu of Chateau Simone who did not respond back to my last-minute email request. I wished this TN happened much earlier and I could have tried for a visit at Bonnaud's. In any case, nice notes and will now b...

Ramon C

Thanks, Greg. Yes, that '00 (non JG) is also within my wheelhouse.

Ramon C

I just received delivery of the '19 Les Granges, hoping to try a bottle this weekend.

Ramon C

Not dissuading from purchasing, but personal experiences with the property's wines, mostly from vintages 80s/90s/70s is that they are slow to evolve and drink-ability at a satisfactory level occur after a long optimal cellaring. Although I'm excited for having some 2000s (and 95s/96s) in my remote ...

Ramon C

1. 2016 - has best reviews on CT at 98+ rating. Only thing that gives me pause is that I have 2018 already 2. 2000 - good age on it, good reviews. I can have it slowly over the next 5+ years. 3. 2010 - in between 2000 and 2016 both in terms of age and reviews. It would be great to get any inputs. T...

Ramon C

Troy Stark wrote: ↑
June 15th, 2020, 4:30 am

Matthew King wrote: ↑
June 14th, 2020, 1:24 pm
San Sebastián area ... the food, the surf, the lifestyle
This. Really anywhere on the northern coast of Spain.

Visited 4 times in the last 10 years, at different months of the year. Terrific foodie place.

But, the frequent rain, in that part of Spain, is always a pain.

Ramon C

Robert.A.Jr. wrote: ↑
June 14th, 2020, 5:53 am
Yea Claus, that ‘96 Cuvee JG is quite special. Have either of you tried the ‘95 JG?

Sounds like I would wish I did, but no, I haven't tried the '95 JG.

Ramon C

Cinque Terre.

I wouldn’t mind waking up every morning with the fantastic view and within 1 hour or so from Tuscany.

Ramon C

1996 Ch. Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Medoc With Saturday stay@home dinner of medium rare reverse-seared NY shell steak, it was back to basics with a reliable Bordeaux. Stood upright for a week and double splash decanted just before the meal, dumping out a spoonful of sediment. Ruby-red fresh in color. Bo...

Ramon C

Arv R wrote: ↑
June 12th, 2020, 3:56 pm
was that all graciano? i didn't know that they could bottle up monovarietals and still call it rioja

I wondered, too. Apparently, yes, but with whites only. Even LdH has a single varietal white.

Ramon C

Subu Ramachandran wrote: ↑
June 12th, 2020, 4:37 pm

Greg K wrote: ↑
June 12th, 2020, 4:22 pm
A couple bottles of 16 J. Carillon Referts.
Good snag. Chambers? Was tempted, but am way over the budget!

Saw that. Eyed it for long. Didn't pull trigger. Enjoy!

Ramon C

'04 Levet is grand! Drinking well, as are most '04s from the Northern Rhone. We didn't have '04 Jamet C-R during that dinner. Any thoughts if it is drinking well? I had a bottle in April (recent release from the domaine, with the new label). Wide open and highly enjoyable [cheers.gif] Thanks. Good ...

Ramon C

Zachary Ross wrote: ↑
June 9th, 2020, 5:32 pm
'04 Levet is grand! Drinking well, as are most '04s from the Northern Rhone.

We didn't have '04 Jamet C-R during that dinner. Any thoughts if it is drinking well?

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