Notes from a (single) blind tasting. I was able to follow the wines over about 2 hours. A very fun tasting, nothing corked, and only one wine showed even a hint of oxidation (certainly not premox at this age). I know, not very exciting notes, I don’t normally post from these blind tastings. But this one was so good, and fascinating for the quality of these older white Burgs.
1986 Dancer Lochardet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanée - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/4/2019)
Starts with a slightly skunky nose, not obviously oxidized, but a bit off, and just slightly unpleasant. Never really recovered.
1985 Madame François Colin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Demoiselles - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/4/2019)
Light on the nose, decent depth and intensity, good acidity, slightly woody, pleasant but a bit unexciting. (88 pts.)
1982 Jean Noel Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru (9/4/2019)
Light on the nose, some nice floral notes appear with air, fairly rich, floral, just a tinge of honey, there’s some obvious age here, but nothing oxidized or over the hill. Quite beautiful, really. (93 pts.)
1986 Michel Colin-Deléger et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/4/2019)
Slight signs of oxidation on the nose, but there is so much rich fruit on the palate, nice intensity, maybe not the most pristine cork seal, but still a very nice wine. (91 pts.)
1982 Madame François Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/4/2019)
Nicely medium rich, very fresh and youthful, with air this gets more interesting and complex, with fabulous minerality. Really delicious, a wonderful bottle. (93 pts.)
1985 Madame François Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/4/2019)
Next to the 82, this is even better, with similar medium richness, excellent overall balance, nice minerality, wonderful flavor and intensity. Beautiful. (94 pts.)
1986 Madame François Colin Chassagne-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet (9/4/2019)
Opens with a little sulfur skunk on the nose, though that cleans up with some air time; quite rich on the palate, still youthful for its age, strong minerality, just a slight hint of bitterness on the finish that may have been due to the initial skunk. (90 pts.)
1988 Jean Noel Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru (9/4/2019)
This took some time to open up, initially somewhat reserved, even a bit woody, but with air becomes beautifully medium rich, with subtle minerality and complexity, very elegant and fresh. The wood notes are still there, but have subsided a bit, a lovely, youthful wine. (93 pts.)
1985 Michel Colin-Deléger et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet (9/4/2019)
Bit of toast on the nose initially, nicely rich fruit, touch of wood, some slight bitterness, but solid for a 30+ year old Chardonnay. (90 pts.)