Quick notes on some wines but the star of the show was undoubtedly the array of smoked meats by Jason.
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2020 Cazé-Thibaut Champagne Naturellement Extra Brut - France, Champagne
Very austere and showed little fruit. Not ready or off-bottle? -
2017 Domaine de Galouchey Le Vin de Jardin - France, Bordeaux
From magnum. A big fan of this producer after trying the 2016 and this vintage proved to be just as good. A delicate and restrained kind of Bordeaux, almost Burgundian. No oak signature masking the purity of fruit here. Good to go now. (92 pts.) -
2017 Alter Ego - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Big contrast to the Galouchey of the same vintage. Forgot I had this wine before but just as bad as the last time I had it. Modern, confected mess. Also had a strange lactic note. (76 pts.) -
2016 Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet Bourgogne Les Prielles - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
A little brooding at first but opened up to show delicate, but slightly sweet and one-dimensional red fruit. Still undoubtedly met expectations for the price point and classification. (90 pts.) -
2002 Pierre Damoy Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Tamisot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Generously shared by the host. Roasted coffee on the nose and some traces of alcohol that made me think Gevrey from a warm year like 2015. Surprisingly it turned out to be much older as the fruit was still vibrant and youthful. Old-school, muscular sort of Burg. (91 pts.) -
2005 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Pommard Les Vignots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard
Generously shared by the host. I think old Girardin reds are underrated and this was a case in point. Very pretty dark red cherries on both the nose and palate, so light and seamless that made me think Chambolle! Saw that previous notes weren’t so positive so maybe this just awoken from the slumber that many 2005s are in. (92 pts.) -
2017 AR.PE.PE. Valtellina Superiore - Sassella Stella Retica - Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Valtellina Superiore - Sassella
Generously shared by the host. Lovely delicate, transparent red cranberry fruit, a little tannic bite of a classical Nebbiolo on the finish. Very approachable now and another producer that is always a winner. (92 pts.)
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PART 2 - (28/10/2023)
Time for others to bring the wines in return for part 1 where I opened everything haha.
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1976 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
So vibrant that I thought this was a strong vintage 80s left-bank from 89 or 90. Some greenness but the vibrant, savoury fruit dominated. Tertiary, balsamic notes emerged after a couple of hours. (92 pts.) -
2014 La Pousse d’Or Clos de la Roche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Almost nailed this wine, except the maker was off. Thought this bore a lot of similarities to the 2008 Dujac CDLR that I tasted a couple of weeks ago so I guessed 2012/14 Dujac CDLR when others were in Chambolle. Beautiful ruby colour with pretty fruit that straddled between the blue and red ends of the spectrum, but with an underlying Morey sturdiness. A wine that surpassed expectations when on reveal. (94 pts.) -
2001 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Thought this was from the early 90s but when revealed that this was younger I guessed this was a 2000 Gevrey. Slight greeness but with dark, roasted fruit. Took time to get going but when it did it gained a lovely elegance that brought the wine into balance. Very quintessential old-school Burgundy that did not bear many similarities to the more opulent style today. (93 pts.) -
2002 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Guessed 2005 masculine Vosne or Chambolle. For all its naysayers I do like Vogüé and thought this was showing superbly. Rich, powerful dark cherry fruit, truly an iron fist behind a velvet glove sort of wine. Evolved throughout and got silkier with air. (95 pts.) -
2005 Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru En Orveaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
This wine was a reminder to give Burgundies plenty of air. This was opened by the person who brought it at 1pm for dinner but was unbelievably primary and jammy with creamy vanilla oak at first - so much so that I guessed 2018 Rouget Vosne! On reveal we decided to give it a couple of hours and what a difference it made, still very much a masculine wine but the oak receded to reveal a incredibly heady mix of deep, spicy red fruit. Gained a laser-like precision and focus that only the best makers can achieve, so much so that I didn’t want to finish my last sip. (95 pts.) -
1998 Dominique Laurent Grands-Echezeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
Cloudy with spicy and sweet red fruit so guessed 2002 Laurent Vosne 1er. Sweet fruit didn’t quite gel with the tart acidity and tea-like notes. Not as seamless as I expected from the stature of the plot, agreed with another taster that the fruit was quite muddled. (91 pts.) -
1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
Wasn’t supposed to bring anything but decided to bring this to stump the experience tasters - someone actually managed to nail this as a Rhone. Pungent manure on the nose but the palate had surprisingly vibrant dark roasted red fruit with the classic smoked meat marker of northern Rhone. Liked the elegance of this but probably 5 years past peak. (89 pts.) -
1990 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Mildly corked but the sweetness managed to mask it well. Pleasant creme brulee and apricot notes but lacking a little acidity. (90 pts.) -
1989 Château La Conseillante - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Slightly corked, more apparent on the palate than the nose. NR (flawed) -
1993 Louis Latour Romanée St. Vivant Les Quatre Journaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
Corked to oblivion. NR (flawed)
