Larmandier-Bernier Vielle Vigne de Cramant Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut 2005
". . . offers up a deep, complex and lively nose of green apple, intense smokiness, fresh-baked bread, orange peel, a beautifully complex base of terres blanches and a nice, gentle touch of leesiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and perfectly balanced, with a fine core of fruit, bright, well-integrated acids, elegant mousse and outstanding length and grip on the young and poised finish. Larmandier-Bernier is clearly one of the absolute masters of lower dosage bottlings of Champagne and their 2005 Vieilles Vignes de Cramant is a stellar example of Extra Brut that is already quite tasty, but which will clearly improve with further bottle age."
92+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Vincent Dauvissat Chablis La Forêt 2012
"Here it is the wine's phenolic weight and vertical sense of structure that stand out. Lemon oil, ash, smoke and petrol are some of the many nuances that inform a tightly-wound finish that never really opens up. The 2012 Forest is a wine for the patient, but it is shaping up to be a gem."
95+ Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos de la Barre 2009
“The lieu dit around the cellar is one of the best in Meursault and 2009 was noexception. Jasmine-scented, with a hint of chalky limestone, vanilla oak and aminerally, fresh finish.”
95 Tim Atkin MW, TimAtkin.com
William Fèvre (Domaine) Chablis Valmur 2008
"The reflections are the classic light gold-green hues of a fine Chablis. The barest touch of oak highlights the green fruit, menthol, saline and iodine aromas that precede the extremely stony, concentrated and driving flavors that are also blessed with ample amounts of dry extract that provides a much needed balancing element to the ripe acid backbone on the chalky and sappy finish."
95 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Michel Gros Clos de Vougeot Le Grand Maupertuis 2012
". . . comes from the top of the Clos and sees 50% new oak, has a very pure, quite floral bouquet with hints of dried rose petal infusing the redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit. The palate is ripe and sweet on the entry . . . it is singing from the same hymn sheet as the fruit. With fine delineation and focus, plus impressive length, this is one of Michel’s finest Clos de Vougeot.”
92-94 Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
Dubreuil-Fontaine Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Île de Vergelesses 2012
"As pretty as the Pommard is this is even more refined with its airy and elegant nose of red currant, spice and mineral nuances. There is a generous, even fleshy mouth feel to the mineral-inflected, vibrant and well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that possess fine intensity on the saline, balanced and solidly persistent finish. Good stuff."
90 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Georges Roumier Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière 2011
“Flavors of violet, cherry, currant, spice and mineral render this red complex and expressive. A tightly wound yet intense version, leaving a saturated finish, this features an aftertaste that unwinds with dark fruit and mineral notes.”
93 Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator
Nicolas Rossignol Volnay 1er Cru En Chevret 2011
". . . sexy, sweet and attractive, with succulent fruit and good structure."
94 Tim Atkin, TimAtkin.com
Louis Jadot (Domaine Louis Jadot) Corton Grèves 2010
"The 2010 Corton Greves is fabulously textured and deep. Black cherries, spices, menthol and licorice are some of the nuances that emerge from the glass. The Greves is a vertical wine endowed with gorgeous depth and sheer richness. It is a big, powerful wine that needs time to come together, but its potential is enormous . . . . I tasted an amazing range of 2010 reds at Jadot with long-term winemaker Jacques Lardiere and his successor Frederic Barnier."
93-95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jean Marc et Hugues Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Gravains 2010
“The 2010 Gravains from Domaine Pavelot is a very closed and reserved wine at the present time, but with good underlying purity and promise. The deep, complex and refined nose offers up scents of cassis, black cherries, dark berries, coffee bean, fresh herbs, gamebirds and a complex signature of soil. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and quite pure on the attack, with a rock solid core of fruit, ripe tannins, fine focus and grip and a very long, reserved and promising finish. This will be lovely in the fullness of time.”
92-93+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Ponsot Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée des Alouettes 2007
“As good as the 2007 Chambolle Charmes is (and it is very good), the premier cru Morey is a notable step up both in terms of length and precision on both the nose and palate. This is a terrific bottle of premier cru, as it jumps from the glass in a mélange of blackberries, black cherries, violets, dark chocolate, a bit of venison, smoky notes and a complex base of soil tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep and very, very pure, with a sappy core of fruit, great, tangy acidity, brilliant focus and grip, and a very long, complex and perfectly balanced finish. A terrific wine.”
92 John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Ponsot Griotte-Chambertin 2003
"From a 0.90 ha parcel. This has changed dramatically in bottle as it was quite jammy from cask yet now it has both freshened and brightened. A ripe nose of cherry compote leads to juicy, rich and firm flavors that are also fresh and possess good lift on the long and sappy finish. This is quite firmly structured yet the tannins are buried beneath massive quantities of sap. A superb effort of marvelous complexity and the star of the show chez Ponsot in '03."
92 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée Aux Genaivrières 2000
“This closely resembles the '99 with its classic Vosne spice and black fruit aromas and stunningly pure pinot, medium weight, wonderfully complex flavors and a long, lingering, ultra fine finish. Velvet and silk in a glass in a very forward style.”
89-92 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance 2010
"The 2010 Cornas Renaissance may be the finest example of the cuvée I have yet tasted. This offering . . . tends to come from two well-known sites in the natural amphitheater of Cornas, Les Sabarottes and Geynale. This astonishing 2010 boasts a black/purple color along with gorgeous, explosive aromatics consisting of blue and black fruits and spring flowers, a full-bodied, layered texture and superb intensity. Very pure with sweet tannin, it was bottled unfiltered after 22 months in primarily foudre . . .”
96 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois 2009
"A blockbuster-styled effort, the 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de La Reine des Bois doesn’t pull any punches and gives up rocking aromas and flavors of black raspberry, cassis, graphite, spice-box, lavender and herbs. Possessing full-bodied richness, sweet tannin and thrilling purity, it can be enjoyed now for its exuberant character, but will also evolve gracefully going forward. As I wrote in the intro for this domaine last year, Domaine de la Mordorée is a reference point estate for Châteauneuf-du-Pape."
96 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
I. & R. Barbier Clos Mogador 2009
“A blend of Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah: Inky ruby. An explosive perfume of candied dark berries, potpourri, woodsmoke and cola, with a strong mineral overtone. Sappy and penetrating, offering sweet cherry compote and cassis flavors and bracing minerality. Puts on weight with air and finishes with firm tannic grip and lingering floral and spice elements.”
93 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajanà 2007
"This is amazing on the nose with roses, plums, raspberries and currants. Full bodied, with beautiful balance and finesse and depth. What gorgeous fruit and texture."
97 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Rioja Señorío de P. Peciña Vendimia Seleccionada 2006
“The 2006 Rioja “Vendimia Seleccionada” from Señorío de P. de Peciña is excellent, with depth and complexity on both the nose and palate and great structure for long-term and stellar evolution in the bottle. The bouquet is pure, refined and a tad younger in its evolution than the 2007 Reserva, wafting from the glass in a blend of black cherries, red plums, cigar ash, excellent soil tones, cloves, a bit of bonfire, toasted coconut and just a whisper of cedar. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and still quite youthful at age nine, with a lovely core of fruit, great soil signature, moderate tannins and excellent complexity and grip on the very long, pure and classic finish. I would tuck this away for at least another three or four years before starting to drink it in earnest, for though it is quite approachable already, it is still very clearly climbing and its true apogee is many years in the future. Great juice!”
94+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Château Hosanna 2005
"This is an absolutely spectacular effort from Christian Moueix’s tiny jewel in Pomerol – Hosanna. An extraordinary nose of blue and black fruits, floral notes, licorice, and truffle soars from the glass of this dense purple wine. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this wine often has the most complex set of aromatics of any Pomerol. Velvety tannins, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and stunning finish give this full-bodied, extravagantly rich wine accessibility now, but it is certainly capable of lasting 25 or more years. Sadly, there are only 1,200 cases of this."
98 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 2004
"This starts perfumy, displaying lots of sandalwood, black tea and roasted chestnut notes, turning taut and iron-filled, with layers of black cherry, currant and braised fig fruit filling in the background. Licorice root, black tea and cedar round out the finish, which has tons of grip and cut, but also manages to stay elegant. [Bonneau released] no Réserve des Célestins in 2003."
96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
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