Under-appreciated here- or under-the radar- or whatever- but the Chards are always impressive. They show really well blind against other more pedigreed wines. In my experiences.
Oh my, that’s a good note!
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This particular bottle reminded me more than a little of Ramey.
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High praise as I think of Ramey as a top of the mountain Chard producer.
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I just now went to decrement my inventory, and saw my 2020 note on the same wine. I compared it to Ramey back then as well.
It remains consistent.
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2016 Villa Calcinaia Chianti Classico
I bought a heap of 16 Chiantis and this reinforces my view that with a bit of age these wines shine. Still sour cherry, herbs, calssic Sangio profile but now the edges are shaved off, it has gained richness and mid palate sweetness. Delish.
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I’ve got this one decanted and waiting right now. 
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2015 Olga Raffault Chinon La Singulière - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (4/11/2024)
Attractive nose with some VA, no pyrazines at all with some tannic bite, even as the tannins were refined. Could see why my friend guessed Nebbiolo. A very elegant and seductive expression of Cab Franc, a step up from the ‘17 Les Picasses a couple of days ago. (92 pts.) -
2018 Domaine J. Chamonard Morgon - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (4/11/2024)
Plummy and sweet raisined fruit, high in alcohol so I guessed southern Rhone. Awful Beaujolais. (85 pts.)
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2021 Rall Red - South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland (6/11/2024)
70% Syrah 12% Grenache 10% Carignan and 8% Cinsault, raised in used French oak. Reductive burnt tyre notes at first, blew off to reveal some wild strawberry and savoury notes. Light-bodied in terms of texture but at the same time had tannic purple fruit. Strange combination but just about worked for me. (92 pts.) -
2022 Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Les Gautronnières - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (6/11/2024)
Bought off @Julian_Marshall positive notes of previous vintages, unsurprisingly turned out to be a winner. Going to reproduce part of his note here - ‘typically taut Muscadet structure and a rich second wave’ of ripe, tropical fruit. Fantastic value. (92 pts.)
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Something terrible happened a few days ago. I’m relatively new to wine - mid 30s, usually a beer drinker, tried a good Spanish red a couple of years ago and it flipped a switch. I’ve always respected Burgundy, but never loved it. I’ve seen flashes of what it could be, but never was bowled over. I always thought, “Hey, that’s for the best. My generation can’t afford Burgundy anyway.”
But a few days ago, something terrible happened. I had the best bottle of my life, and it was red Burgundy.
2015 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Estournelles St Jacques by Lucien Le Moine
Opened with dinner in Lyon. Initially was tight, tannic, muted. After 1.5 hours, it soared. Lush red fruit, graphite, earth, whiff of leather. Palate was impeccable, focused. Beautifully integrated acidity and tannins. Just supremely elegant, beautiful. Was practically a religious experience for me.
So now I have to chase that feeling…
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High up the slope in Gevrey, so I can imagine it showing so well in a warmer vintage. And I assume that the bottle hasn’t travelled far.
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Glad you enjoyed the Bonnet-Huteau…and the Singulière! I’ve been pretty impressed by the vintages tasted of the latter so far.
@Julian_Marshall I just read your notes on the Singuliere, pretty much agree as well. This was spot on for me - ''The long and the short of it is that the Singulière has the fruit which the Picasses lacks.".
No oak signature for me either unlike what other notes said (and I usually notice the oak!).
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Thanks for the kind words - and yes, I don’t get the oak criticism at all!
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A bit off topic but I just listened to the I’ll Drink to That podcast episode with David Ramey and it was incredibly informative on the winemaking side, the process, the chemistry, etc.
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Robert-Denogent Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Vers Cras VV 2021
So the last great Robert Denogent I had was the 2017 Les Cras Cuvée Claude Denogent VV. The 2021s are good and different. Lacking age maybe but a change in winemaking as well. I like the new stuff for sure: bright, acidic, slighly natty and good texture but it doesn’t scratch the same itch. After a few bottles I can now say that they’re good but flying away from what I liked in them. And the Climat bottling scratches the same itch as this 1er Cru at a lower price point. I’ll keep revisiting them but I’m thinking that I’d rather have a Guffens-Heynen. This might be my last vintage. Too bad because I loved going to the domaine to get my alloc. Good not great.
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2011 Congruence-this continues to get better and better. The green bell pepper has settled down, dark fruit, some leather, this has turned into a beautifully balanced and smooth cab. So savory!
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Ten years on, this is a phenomenal bottle of Beaujolais. More savory than fruity, just lip smacking good. Structure is still firm, has a long runway in front of it. France delivered in so many regions in 2014, and this is one of them. No wonder I love this vintage so much in France. Whether it is Bordeaux, Northern Rhone, Beaujolais, Chinon, et al, the hallmark to me just seems to be impeccable balance. I wish I had multiple cases of this wine right here.
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Copenhagen sparkling tea company LYSEGRØN. Poured by the importer at a natural wine dinner last night, and it blew all the glou glous away. An utter revelation and the most compelling NA wine substitute I’ve had. Complex, floral, lifted, a hint of green apple and citrus, with a soft caress of tannins. So moreish - I’d rather drink this than almost any BTG champagne. Immediately ran to their bottle shop to get a few bottles.
@LasseK have you ever come across this?
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