WINES WITH DAVE AND HAPPY - (25/11/2024)
Glad to have finally met Dave and Happy who were visiting from KL with some good friends. Also always happy to discover new producers, a couple of names which I haven’t heard of in the line-up which is rare!
- 2011 Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Extra Brut Orizeaux - France, Champagne
Citrus fruit with hints of wildness and creamy lactic notes. Ripeness that gave an impression of sweetness, so guessed a warmer vintage like '09/12. Said that if it was a PN it had to be C-T, Meunier then Prevost because of the natural slant so pleased with my guess. Didn’t pick up on any greenness that the others mentioned, loved the intensity and balance in spite of its large scale. (94 pts.) - 2013 Le Brun-Servenay Champagne Exhilarante Vieilles Vignes - France, Champagne
Chiselled green apple fruit, slightly oxidative style that reminded me of Bereche. First time trying this producer and quite impressed. (93 pts.) - 2020 Paul Pillot Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Pitangerets Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru
High-class vibes to the wine; reduction mixed with well-judged oak use. Ripe and precise citrus fruit that was Puligny-like to me. Thought it was a maker that handled a warm vintage like ‘15 well. My second favourite of the dinner, this used to be such a steal at S$70. (93 pts.) - 1995 Robert Ampeau & Fils Meursault 1er Cru La Pièce-sous-le-Bois - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
Didn’t have the fruit profile of a Chardonnay so wondered if it could have been a Chenin, petroleum on the nose with austere fruit that was neither citrus nor tropical. Definitely oxidised for Ampeau which usually are so fresh even at this age. NR (flawed) - 2020 Domaine Pierre Naigeon Gevrey-Chambertin En Pallud - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Syrah-like purple fruit that made me immediately guess 2020 Gevrey; stylistically similar to Duroche but softer. Some candied fruit but not overdone or dense for ‘20. Heard about the pricing after and have to say that it’s ambitious. (91 pts.) - 2018 Domaine Nicole Lamarche Bourgogne Passetoutgrains - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains
Red-fruited, guesses were all over the place from feminine Gevrey (me) to a more muscular Vosne. Stylistically I thought this was similar to Georges Noellat but the guest nailed the producer correctly. Enjoyable floral red fruit that wasn’t the most complex, much better than the '16 Bourgogne that I tried previously. (91 pts.) - 2012 Domaine la Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pure Rouge - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Almost everyone was in Burgundy for this, but when revealed to be a Rhone it had to be a southern Rhone with the kirsch and rhubarb notes. Very supple and elegant red fruit for a CdP without any excess, not a producer I am familiar with but very impressed. (92 pts.) - 2012 Domaine Robert Sirugue Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Guessed MSD with a mix of red and blue fruit; spicy, stemmy notes that reminded me of Dujac. Liked the nose a lot more than the palate which was thin and green that made me guess ‘11 for the vintage. (91 pts.) - 1985 Joseph Drouhin Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbé - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
Brought for a friend. Much better fill than the last bottle but performed much worse, go figure. Generic old wine that was all acid and no fruit. Rather disappointed. (88 pts.) - 1999 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
My contribution. Similar to last bottle, advanced with an unpleasant metallic note and earthy, rustic tannins. Not representative of ‘99 Girardins I suspect which I’ve read to be very good. NR (flawed) - 2018 Petit-Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune
Brought for a friend. Firm tannins and structure with juicy dark red fruit, more transparent and restrained than the '19 that I tried a couple of weeks ago. (91 pts.)
- 2009 Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly (27/11/2024)
Noticeable VA without any carbonic notes on the nose, attractive dark red fruit with high acidity for the warm vintage. Could see why my somm friend guessed Nebbiolo. The most balanced wine of the night even as it got plummier with air, at its absolute peak. A pleasant surprise and a steal at S$60 from auction. (92 pts.) - 2017 Pierre Morey Meursault Les Tessons - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (27/11/2024)
Had some honey notes on the nose that suggested the first stage of premox; palate had sharp acidity that the citrus, red apple fruit didn’t balance. Rounder and classier than the Skyaasen alongside but the tartness made this another unbalanced wine. Shame, as this is usually one of my favourite makers. (89 pts.) - 2022 Maison Skyaasen Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses (27/11/2024)
A little candied with an artificial popcorn note on the nose, but palate was a little herbal and green. Quite sleek without much body or depth, the make-up to attempt to make a more polished wine didn’t manage to mask the fact that this wasn’t from the big 3 villages. Based on this, not sure why this is getting so much hype. (89 pts.)
