TN: Fontaine-Gagnard, Ponsot, Montevertine

Dinner with friend here locally:

2007 Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
It had been two years since the last bottle of this I had. The prior bottle was pretty great albeit young and I looked forward to this one. Unfortunately this is going the way of many F-G wines as of late…aging far too quickly towards an early death. This was gold in color with a moderate plus nose of wet stone, baked orchard fruits, lemon curd and toasted nuts. Pretty rich and ripe this was full in body with moderate plus acidity and long length and depth. This was extremely enjoyable and tasted like a nicely mature white Burg. Of course the problem is that it’s an '07!!. While I won’t sell off the rest of these it is slightly disappointing that these are so developed and will drink the rest up soon.

2001 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
This was opened after the Montevertine (brought as an extra bottle) after we ran put of wine with food still on our plate. This could have used a lot more air then it had, but even so it exhibited a ruby core with a high toned nose of pure, sappy and spicy red fruits with a hard stone, damp leaf and smoky back end. Moderate plus in body, it had moderate tannin and moderate plus acidity. Fine and smooth on the palate this caressed it and flowed along undisturbed. My friend thought it had some VA that I didn’t pick up, I thought it did seem to have a slight, slight hint of brett on the back palate. This was mighty fine and next time we hope to air it out a little more so before hand. Drinkable at this point, but still in need of a little more time.

1986 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte
A relatively healthy ruby core with a nose that shot from the glass. Dried meat, tomato leaf, black tea, bergamot, fennel, dried and fresh cherry and raspberry. This was a mixture between and brute palate hinting at elegance and a palate that followed through with the same traits. The acid was crisp on this and tannin was moderate this flowed beautifully since when it was purchased we weren’t sure what we were in for. absolutely delightful.

had the same problen with 02 FG Criots & Cailerets - definitely at their best a year or two after release. I am off the F-G train now.

We have a '02 F-G Montrachet that I’m not sure at this point whether to sell it or pop it and hope for the best. Even if it was good, that is just far too young too be popping one.

Me also.

Stopped after '06 and glad I did.

Drink right now or sell (I would sell).

I have had one semi recently, was pretty much oxidized, barely drinkable and very caramel flavoured. Even the '04 we had last year was extremely forward and ready to go, right on the verge as well…