David E. organized another lost Friday lunch. As usual, the chef did an excellent job creating a tasting menu that complemented the wines really well.
Taittinger CDC
The 00 can be light but delightful. This particular bottle was slightly more mature than typical. The 06 was singing as usual.
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2000 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne
Fully mature nose displaying lemon curd, apple pie, honey, light caramel, sweet spices, cedar and medium mineral. Medium concentration, subtle ripe yellow fruit, fine medium abundant mousse, light and elegant, medium acidity and mineral, and a medium to long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with caramel and cedar at the end. This is a fully mature elegant CDC with medium weight. (94 pts.) -
2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne
Expressive nose displaying concentrated ripe yellow fruit with a hint of white, lemon curd, granny smith smoke, brioche, sweet spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, nicely layered concentrated yellow fruit, fine abundant mousse, rich yet harmonious, bright acidity and mineral, and a long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with brioche and honey at the end. This is drinking beautifully but can last for a few more decades. Another excellent showing. (96 pts.)
2006 Raveneau GC
The fruit expression is difficult to describe a la Chave Hermitage. Slightly lack of acidity is compensated by strong limestone mineral.
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2006 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Medium expressive nose displaying slightly coiled citrus fruit, wax, a hint of mint, honey, rainwater, acacia and medium mineral. Excellent concentration, nicely layered oily yellow fruit, rich yet cool, medium acidity and mineral, and a medium to long ripe yellow fruit driven finish. At the end of the night, the sommelier comments that she finds a fascinating note of gardenia and I agree. The fruit is concentrated but indistinguishable. However, there is a beautiful floral note a la Chave Hermitage Blanc, i.e. concentrated fruit but hard to pinpoint which fruit. I recommend a few hours of decanting time. (94 pts.) -
2006 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Expressive nose displaying cool white fruit, pear, apple, a hint of lemon curd, beeswax, honey, cool mountain stream and limestone. Excellent concentration, nicely layered concentrated white fruit, rich and dense without losing precision, medium acidity, strong limestone mineral and a long concentrated cool white fruit driven finish with beeswax and honey at the end. Although it slightly lacks acidity, strong mineral expression provides nice precision. This is one of the better ’06 white Burgundies. A few hours of decanting is recommended to improve precision. (94 pts.)
Dauvissat and Raveneau
The 04 Clos showed a lot of the 04 LBT. A couple of the guys didn’t mind.
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2004 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Fully mature example. The 04 LBT is pretty strong, one or two guys seem to like it a lot more. I am not a big fan. Once again, I find it difficult to discuss the LBT as most wine lovers are not bothered by it. (90 pts.) -
2009 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Corked. The palate is really impressive, rich and concentrated yet also precise and cool. NR (flawed)
2002 Richebourg
All showed well but the Meo and Grivot were more polished and pure.
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2002 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
The nose that expresses the first stage of youthful maturity. Expressive nose displaying perfectly ripe rich red fruit, strawberry concentrate, raspberry preserve, light caramel, sap, a hint of Vosne spice, sweet spices, cedar, a hint of sous bois, iron and earth. Perfectly integrated youthful palate, layers upon layers of perfectly ripe concentrated red fruit, rich yet precise and fluid, medium acidity, earthy mineral and a long sweet red fruit driven finish with Vosne spice and sap at the end. Another decade of cellaring will be required for fully developed tertiary notes and sous bois. Already showing exceptional complexity, balance and harmony. (97 pts.) -
2002 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
Just like the 02 Meo version, this too has reached the first stage of youthful maturity. Intoxicating nose displaying perfectly ripe black fruit, blackberry, a hint of black cherry, cappuccino, floral perfume, Vosne spice, black truffle, dark spices and limestone. Beautifully integrated youthful palate, very finely layered perfectly ripe black fruit, rich yet incredibly precise, detailed and fluid, perfect amount of acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a long concentrated black fruit driven finish with cappuccino and Vosne spice at the end. This is not as rich but more polished than the Meo version. Drinking beautifully in a youthful way. (96 pts.) -
2002 Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
Expressive youthful nose displaying concentrated ripe red fruit, strawberry jam, blackberry jam, stewed tomato, strong soy, sap, sous bois, Vosne spice, tree bark, dark spices and earth. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated ripe red fruit, dense and concentrated, medium acidity, earthy mineral and a long concentrated red fruit driven finish with soy and stewed tomato at the end. Just like the last bottle from 2016, I find it a bit chunky and muddy compare to the other to Richebourgs. IMO, M Mugneret wines from the 80s to early 00s are a bit rustic and chunky though impressively concentrated. Nevertheless, it is drinking beautifully in a youthful way. It can easily improve for another decade or more. (95 pts.)
Richebourg and DRC Echezeaux
I really liked the 94 DRC Echezeaux. The 00 Anne Gros was a bit disappointing for a Richebourg.
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1994 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Perfectly mature nose displaying sweet black fruit, essence of blackberry, a hint of strawberry candy, strong DRC stem, caramel, Chinese medicine, tea, cedar, cinnamon, fully developed sous bois and earth. Perfectly integrate palate, layers upon layers of subtle sweet black fruit, silky and fluid, medium acidity, earthy mineral and a long sweet black fruit driven finish with tea and Chinese medicinal herbs at the end. What I love about DRC, which I typically do not get in other Burgundy, is the haunting smell when there is only a drop left in the glass. It clearly expresses all the components, sous bois, Vosne spices, cinnamon and etc. Absolutely gorgeous showing, all the telltale signs of the domaine. (95 pts.) -
2000 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
Medium expressive nose displaying sweet red fruit, strawberry and raspberry, there is a hint of green, still showing cedar/oak, sweet spices and earth. Medium concentration, slightly hollow middle, silky, medium acidity and mineral, and a medium to long subtle sweet red fruit driven finish. Very enjoyable but a bit disappointing for a Richebourg. (92 pts.) -
1999 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Richebourg - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru
I was really looking forward to enjoying it again. Unfortunately, corked. NR (flawed)
2003 Rousseau Chambertin
Roland generously opened his back up bottle. Although it showed the 03 ripe fruit initially, it became a beautiful wine with incredibly polished palate.
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2003 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Initially showing the 03 ripeness. Expressive nose displaying very ripe slightly dry black fruit, blackberry jam, strawberry jam, licorice, caramel, spicy spices, a hint of sous bois, tree bark and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated black fruit, rich and opulent yet also unbelievably silky and polished, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long opulent black fruit driven finish with licorice and sous bois at the end. The 03 ripe expression subsides with air. What is remarkable is the palate, which is incredibly elegant. Excellent showing. (96 pts.)
A great time was had by all!
Posted from CellarTracker