It is exactly the wine, which drunk 6 or 7 years ago, switched me onto the quality renaissance at Bichot – let’s see what ten years brings.

2001 Albert Bichot, Vosne-Romanée
Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose is still interesting, if with a slightly heavy emphasis on coconut-oak but a nice acid-red fruit bubbles below. In the mouth this is slightly narrower and sharper than its youth but despite a little coconut flavour there’s good acidity and a nice dimension of fresh finishing flavour with fine length. Half the bottle was left overnight in the fridge. Next day the aromas are more interesting; the coconut is gone and it’s replaced with a little ginger-cake. In the mouth the wine also seems rounder and again no coconut – less narrow, more generous. I’d definitely rebuy this based on the day two performance, as for day one, I’m not the greatest fan of coconut!
Rebuy – Yes

This was beautiful two years ago – still as good now?

1996 Maison Leroy, Bourgogne
Medium colour. The nose starts a little disappointingly with something that reminds me of brett – this is backed-up with a metallic taste – my first bottle like this. Time in the glass and the aroma is less overt, eventually showing a baked tart red fruit. In the mouth the metallic taste is transient, leaving a smooth, nicely acidic wine with decent intensity of warm round fruit and a mouth-watering finish. My last bottle was much finer but if brett is the culprit, all or none of my remaining bottles could have it. Still as the character faded this was very drinkable indeed.
Rebuy – Maybe

1999 Ghislaine Barthod, Chambolle-Musigny
Medium, medium-plus colour. There’s a depth of really super dark red and black fruit – quite glossy and initially very primary – given time there’s a floral dimension, rather heavy but not to worry, it’s young. Wow; swirl this around in your mouth and there’s a hint of silk but more importantly there’s an intensity that soon rebels – you have to swallow. Okay the acidity is reasonably bright, but the intensity is really about flavour and the depth of that flavour is enough to balance. An impression of tannin remains and a little bitter edge to the long flavour too – eventually the mid-palate takes on an extra dimension of higher-toned, pretty fruit. This really will become one of those sweet and delectable mature wines. Very impressive – you might think was only four or five years of age – not 12; unfortunately that means you should still wait another 4 or 5 years! Super.
Rebuy – Yes

2007 Mischief & Mayhem, St.Romain
This showed very well indeed when first bottled, but shortly afterwards (after I had bought!) it seemed a little sharp and sherbety – waiting 18 months has really paid dividend. Medium yellow colour. Hints of yellow fruit overlay a denser core of fruit too. In the mouth there is plenty of acidity but there is real balance here too – no sense of thin or sharp – with a slightly creamy impression in the mid-palate there now seems to be a little padding similar to an 08, but without that tropical element. Very decent length too. I think I’ll work my way through these during the heat (hopefully!) of the summer.
Rebuy – Yes