By billn on December 21, 2007
Bouyed by my recent visit to the domaine I bought a few 2005′s for ‘testing’. Unfortunately the onset of a head-cold left me only with an impression of nice texture and balance but little in the way of a flavour profile. Seems a decent buy, but I shall have to come back to this one in the future…Rebuy – Yes
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on December 4, 2007
Domaine Robert-Denogent is a domaine whose wines I’d never tasted. Given that they also lie outside the ‘true’ Côte d’Or – way out in Pouilly-Fuissé – I’ve never felt the need to travel that far afield. But a couple of weeks ago I had the chance to taste, and the wines were really excellent – even more-so when factoring in the value versus a Puligny or Meursault. I started without my pen, but the wines were so good I had to find it, hence, the notes gradually get longer! 2005 Robert-Denogent, Mâcon-Fuissé Les Taches Very impressed by the length here – this is very nice. Rebuy – Yes 2005 Robert-Denogent, Mâcon-Solutré Clos des Bertillonnes Slightly more tropical nose – gives a similar impression on the [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007), Rebuy - Yes (2007) |
By billn on November 24, 2007
Thursday was just your average evening: me gatecrashing a dinner in Beaune with 3 former ‘harvest (07) mates’, plus two winemakers and someone ‘ITB’ (in the business) from Australia… Prompted by an earlier Henri Boillot bottle that was more than a little tired I had decided that I had to open a 2001 Corton-Charlemagne. I hadn’t tasted this in the last couple of years, but the first three bottles of a six-pack were seriously (and serially) stunning – I never had a better Charlemagne. I took the same occasion to try another (as yet, recently untasted) 2001 Charlemagne from Dubreuil-Fontaine and added a little Mischief & Mayhem 2005 Puligny Caillerets to oil the wheels: 2005 M&M Puligny-Montrachet 1er Les Caillerets: Light colour. With the first [....]
Posted in Degustation, p.ox, Rebuy - Maybe (2007), Rebuy - No (2007), Rebuy - Yes (2007) |
By billn on November 9, 2007
A nice piece from Eric to start us off. This is the last note from my small sojourn into the world of 1997′s – I’m sure that’s probably enough for this year – so tonight I begin dipping into the younger 2004 and (mainly) 2005′s that are newly populating the cellar. But back to the Damoy – this was actually a bit of a surprise; unheralded producer, relative underperformance of the cru, weak vintage – yet overachieving versus expectations. Almost enough to become a ‘buy’. 1997 Damoy, Chapelle-Chambertin Wide and interesting, just a little diffuse but there’s plenty of complexity and a little earth. Relatively fresh, starting wide and narrows/concentrates into the finish – and it’s a good creamy finish. The overall stance of this [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on November 8, 2007
1997 Lambreys, Clos du Lambreys A forward nose, leafy, tobacco. The palate is subdued, relatively balanced but shows a nice little burst of interest in the mid-palate before fading. It’s quite nice, but not more. Rebuy – Maybe
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on November 7, 2007
1997 Jean Grivot, Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots A wide, slightly diffuse, earthy, mineral nose with fruit shaded to the red. Some reasonably fresh notes that overlay a dense, tight core – almost separated from the rest of the wine – comes together more in the glass. Some grainy tannin and a reasonably long finish. This is almost good – not as dense but fresher and more interesting than his Richebourg in this vintage. Rebuy – Maybe
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on November 5, 2007
1999 Denis Pommier, Chablis 1er Côte de Lechet Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Worryingly deep colour. The nose, however, is restrained, waxy and showing only the merest suggestion of oxidation – in short it’s a nice, older and ready wine. The palate is balanced and mineral, without showing obviously mouthwatering acidity. The old-timer’s oxidation is there on the finish but it’s very, very mild. A nice wine that is more advanced than a 99 should be, but is not ‘dulled’, or ‘tired’ – it is tasty now and should be drunk quickly – we also drank (and enjoyed) the second bottle quickly! Rebuy – Maybe
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on November 3, 2007
1998 Joseph Drouhin, Beaune 1er Clos des Mouches Medium ruby-red colour. The nose is soft, wide and red – perhaps with a hint of mint to go with many layers of fruit. In the mouth there is plenty of ripe, red-shaded fruit which shows an excellent length – I do, however, find the acidity sticking out just a little. There’s still some well-grained tannin that has plenty of balancing extract. Only the less than perfect acidity means that I don’t unreservedly recommend this. Still a more than interesting wine. Rebuy – Maybe
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on October 28, 2007
The first from a six-pack, opened one hour before pouring: 1999 Faiveley, Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Medium-plus ruby-red. Faint higher tones over mineral coated pure red cherry that plums a good depth if not much width – give it another hour and there’s a lovely piercing red note. In the mouth it starts narrow, slowly widening as it heads for the mid-palate. The acidity is forward and more than just a little tart but the tannins are well hidden. Everything remains tight going into the finish but I have to say there is a sneaky extra dimension of creamy flavour that expands further in the finish – certainly the most compelling part. Time gives a little more fat and interestingly a little more astringency [....]
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on September 22, 2007
2005 Bouchard Père et Fils, Mercurey Medium, medium-plus cherry-red colour. The nose is high toned and very, very pinot with a faint oaky undertone. The palate is fresh with a faint astringency coupled to some grain from the tannins. Not so dense, but flavour-packed, though perhaps the acidity is just a little to the fore. A nice red-fruited complexion with a reasonable finish. Almost good, though factor in the price of 22 Swiss francs and it also stays only at ‘almost good’ value stakes – there are many bargains to be found in 2005, this doesn’t qualify. Rebuy – Maybe SF Gate yet another interesting article – this time by Alice
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on September 7, 2007
1998 Antonin Guyon, Corton Clos du Roy Medium ruby-red colour. The nose is wide and quite forward, some diffuse higher tones and faintly spiced red fruit. The palate is lithe and muscular, good acidity too complimenting tannin that’s forward, but ripe and well under control. There’s a small burst of intensity before the finish – which is not bad, but could be longer. Muscular, interesting and balanced – if not stunning. Rebuy – Maybe
Posted in Degustation, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
By billn on September 6, 2007
2004 Château de la Crée, Santenay Clos du Château A ‘monopole’ I never heard of. Lots of attention has been made to the upmarket packaging, but how do the contents reflect the producer’s aspirations? Medium-pale ruby-red colour – looks older than the label suggests. The nose shows plenty of medium-toast, deep oak, above is a herbal potpourri element rather than the more common cedar of the vintage. Light-bodied but light on it’s feet too and with very good texture – the tannins have quite a fine grain. The acidity is fresh and even intense in the mid-palate, lingering into a good finish. Actually this is very well made – plenty of expensive oak, but well integrated and no heavy-handed extraction. The oak is just a [....]
Posted in Degustation, Other Sites, Rebuy - Maybe (2007) |
