Archetype Chateau des Jacques MaV, could also be mistaken for a Morgon. Big earthy and dark fruit presence, dark chocolate dust coating, tangy berries. Lots of soil in this wine. Really outstanding and could run for a very long time.
(93+ pts.)
3 Likes
Yes the 2011 should be better to drink now than the 2012.
Sadly, this bottle was past it. Let this evolve over 3 days, and it was certainly improving, but not enough.
The nose is alluring with some nice florals, hints of red licorice, and smoked meats. The palate brings red and black currant, mushrooms, some cedar, hints again of red licorice, and smoked meats, but then finish takes this turn to charcoal that lingers in the worst way.
May be better with a steak. I have 1 more bottle that I will give a run in the coming months with some Morgan Ranch or Flannery. May even revisit the last pour in the bottle on day 4.
2 Likes
Most of them do. There was this restaurant in Bretagne (Carnac) that used to sell old Château de Jacques for almost nothing. I had a corked one once but never a tired bottle. This stuff got structure!
Forget-Brimont 2016
50% PN, 50% Chard. Malo completed. 8 to 10 years sur lattes. Dosage of 4g/l.
The nose is somewhat rich with flaked pastry, hazelnut and slight spices (I thought this saw some oak but I can’t find any info on it). The palate is somewhat surprising considering the nose: youthful, fresh but more so from fruity acidity than minerality or salinity. Some length. Good wine.
Duncan Savage Follow the Line Cinsault 2018
Nice sweet savoury combo of red berries, dried herbs and earthiness. The palate shows good balance with plenty of red-berried acidity to go with the tannins and earthy tones. It finishes on dried herbs and some minerality. Good.
Xavier Monnot Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Fussière Monopole 2016
Last time I drank one was in 2021 and comparing notes, it didn’t change much. Cherry, plenty of acidity, grippy fine tannins, some green character on the palate. This feels too young and hopefully time will bring in some tertiary markers to add complexity and length to this. Average.
2 Likes
Crushed ripe strawberries, bit of that nice Pinot funk. Nothing shy, this is more Bette Midler than Audrey Hepburn, (or Seth Rogan vs. Timothee Chalemet?) but it’s an easy-drinking glass on a Monday night.
Touch of rough edge in the finish, but still delicious. Better in a year or three.
92 for me, based on gulpable pleasure more than cerebral complexity.
12 Likes
Not Brodie but we just did a Rayas and affiliate dinner. All wines were opened and double decanted 24 hours ahead. We did not do 12 but I’d expect it to be huge.
Fulldraw Hard Point from Paso Robles. Great tannin structure, medium body, nice acidity, well balanced but still a big wine, made to age but I opened this one young. Not overly extracted like some Paso wines. One of top Grenache wines right now.
Figured I should try one of my Rioja bottlings hiding in the cellar. Didn’t taste right after uncorking, eventually poured into a decanter and after some air this is ok, but not anything special. Been a while since I’ve had Tempranillo.
Battle of the Sonoma Chards tonight.
• 2017 Kistler Cuvee Cathleen
• 2016 Ladd Chardonnay
Well, objectively the Kistler was the better wine. Something has gone well when your wife takes a sip and says “what’s the occasion for this?” Lovely balance of tropical fruit (mango, grilled pineapple, meyer lemon) and a firm but expansive acidic spine. Lush without being tiring or overbearing.
The Ladd, however, had this racy vinous / stalky drive to it, and a chalky minerality that in the Kistler was just absorbed in the body of Landru. On its own terms, it’s great. Another great case of, well, the score is the score, but that really doesn’t tell you much.
5 Likes
Consumed the remainder of the bottle last night, it picked up more brooding and meatier tones. I would likely have mistaken this for a burgundy over a Beaujolais. I’m probably a point higher on this one than the prior night, this is an outstanding bottle of wine.
1 Like
I love that RR Aubert. I brought a bottle of the 2019 to Kauai in October and it was stunning. I wish I had gotten a truckload of that 23. Bet it will be even better in three or four years.
1 Like
Aubert RR is my boujee weekend Chardonnay. Got a good chunk of it as a cellar defender when I want to open up super killer chards and shouldn’t. Ramey RR is also a great one too.
1 Like
Big Ramey fan also. Poor man’s Aubert 
Albert Grivault Bourgogne Blanc 2016
Not as much concentration as the 2017 but still very enjoyable. Good state of evolution: slight vanilla cream on the nose, touch of caramel, citrus and oak spices. The palate is still lively with enough acidity and decent mid-palate on fresh pears. Somewhat chewy but less than 2017. Good length with nuttiness and chalk. This used to be a very good value.
Masi Brolo di Campofiorin Oro 2014
This was given to me 5 or 6 years ago I figured I would re-gift it. A friend wanted to try this tonight so I pulled it out of the cellar. Corked. I assume not a big loss…
Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2015
Good. Red fruited, strong acidity, some oak peeking through. The tannins show up but not overwhelming even on pop and pour. This could still benefit from a few years laying down.
4 Likes
This was ordered at a work dinner last night. I had never had Opus One before.
Amusingly, the person who ordered it lined up the price incorrectly with another bottle on the list. Only an $800 difference. Oops.
2 Likes
Easing back in after a gerds-induced hiatus.
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2010.
My last bottle and while very nice, this one was one the downslope so glad I drank it now. Faint cherry, earthy on the nose. The fruit has faded but still a nice cherry streak with more earthy, savory, tobacco notes. Quite lovely with lasagna. I should check in on the 2018 as I bought several based on @F.Daner notes.
3 Likes