Medium-plus colour – not exactly a spring chicken but doesn’t look its 20 years old either. Some forest floor notes, impressive depth too, some of the notes hinting at old wood. There’s still an undercurrent of chewy tannin, and very good acidity – all the wine’s texture coming from the tannin. You have the impression the flavour will be only medium length, before a powerful reprise of old vanilla and other barrel notes erupts from the depth – becomes exceptionally long, even showing a little dark red fruit. Impressive, indeed compelling stuff, though arguably not that friendly, I might even say young – a wine for the next 30 years…
Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
2007 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
Medium, medium-plus colour. Slightly herbal araomas. In the mouth there’s a higher level of concentration and intensity. It’s starting to show some sous-bois and savoury notes. A little bitter chocolate on the finish and plenty of astringency that clings to your gums. Certainly quite interesting, but way too young.
1999 Faiveley Georges 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 to ‘balance’. Okay now, but I won’t open another in the next 5 years…
1988 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
1999 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
Medium, medium-plus cherry-red – looks young. Powdery fruit but with real creamy depth on the palate – completely primary. The palate is likewise very primary, showing a tour-de-force of tannin, more than adequately balanced by the fruit and acidity – super balance. Hard work on its own, but more than palatable with food. I’m so glad that someone else opened this as it means that my own should be safe for at least another 2 or 3 years before curiosity prevails. Give it a decade and it will be super!
1999 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
From the Rognet area of Corton. This is medium-full in colour, with a gorgeous mixture of pure blackberries and cherries on the nose. Really full, mouth-filling, velvetty tannins and excellent acidity. It’s very rich and long with the black fruit clinging to the inside of your mouth with the tannin. Excellent, but really needs many years in the cellar.
1997 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
Deep ruby colour – still looks very young. Lovely fruity nose of damson and black cherry – some coffee too – a blend of aromas to wallow in. Structured and fat, with big, still grainy tannins and plenty of acidity. Really excellent, creamy concentration. Hardly budged since last tasted 2 years ago – lovely now and has real potential to stay lovely for the next 15 years.
1991 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
Deep ruby colour almost to the rim. The nose sucks you in with damp soil, marmite, cooked fruits and a ‘top-end’ of kirsch. In the mouth it’s fat and sweet – still with mouth-wrapping tannins. Good acidity too. Medium-plus length. A few more seconds on the finish and I would have said ‘superb’, now I’ll just have to stick with ‘almost superb’. Still years ahead of it.
1988 Faiveley Joseph Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley
Lovely deep ruby colour, just bricking a little at the rim. This looks younger than many a 1997. Nose – what nose? then oops: can that really be creosote? The note is halfway between creosote and corked, floating over a sweet base. It comes through on the first part of the palate too – such a shame as this wine is big bodied and exceptionally long in the background. Just in case this was some type of devilish bottle stink I vacuvin’d it overnight. Next day we still had creosote, just a little more subdued, but not much. Tainted