Séguinot-Bordet Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2009 "Mostly from L'Homme Mort. This restrained effort is also notably ripe but with plenty of Chablis character with its layered nose of yellow orchard fruit, sea breeze and lemon peel. Like the old vines cuvée, this is quite rich, dense and powerful with an opulent mouth feel and excellent complexity on the vibrant and solidly long finish. Worth a look." 91 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale 2007 "The 2007 Clos de la Maréchale is really a lovely wine that is now quite approachable (like so many top examples from this vintage), but still has a bit of ripe tannin to resolve on the backend and will be happiest resting comfortably in the cellar for another three or four years. The bouquet is superb, delivering a complex aromatic constellation of red and black cherries, nutskin, gamebirds, a superb base of soil tones, incipient notes of summer truffles and a dollop of fresh thyme in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and quite soil-driven in personality, with a lovely core of fruit, bright acids, lovely focus and balance and a long, moderately tannic and very refined finish. A lovely wine in the making . . ." 92+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Rochioli Pinot Noir East Block 2001 "My favorite 2001 here (as well as the most expensive) is the Pinot Noir East Block. Forest floor, flower, raspberry, and gamy, meaty notes bring to mind a great grand cru Burgundy from Flagey-Echézeaux . Dark plum/ruby-colored, concentrated, and deep, it offers great fruit on the attack, a multilayered mid-section, and a heady, sumptuous finish. This [is] dazzling Pinot . . ." 95 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Galets Blonds 2009 "Far superior is the 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Galets Blonds, which is always one of Lesec’s finest wines, and this particular cuvée, which is largely Grenache blended with small amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre, is aged in tank (70%) and one to two-year-old Burgundy barrels (30%). It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as classic Provençal notes of licorice, garrigue, black currant and kirsch. Broad, savory, multilayered and full-bodied, this [is an] impressive selection . . ." 93 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 2009 "This is wonderful to taste, with plums, berries, strawberries, and flowers. It's full and creamy textured, with gorgeous ripe tannins and a long, long finish. Such balance. Amazing tannin quality. Second wine of Château Margaux. One of best Pavillon Rouges ever." 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
Auguste Clape Cornas 2008 "Dense, with a impressive tannic coating to the chestnut, tobacco, pastis, mulled currant and blackberry fruit flavors. There's a smoldering charcoal note on the finish, with the grip nicely integrated . . . . A terrific effort for the vintage. [Only] 163 cases imported." 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 2004 ". . . boasts staggering depth and explosive intensity from the very first taste. One of the most brooding, backward 2004s . . . . Hints of sage, tobacco, menthol, rose petal and graphite open up in the glass, recalling just how mesmerizing the 2004 was in cask. At once silky, while at other times virile, the 2004 Cascina Francia is constantly changing in the glass. The multiple shades of nuance and complexity are those of Nebbiolo from a great site as expressed by one of the region's historic families." 98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Château Pontet-Canet 2003 ". . . still incredibly young and vigorous. This full-bodied classic boasts a dense purple color as well as a superb nose of graphite, crème de cassis, forest floor, licorice and a hint of truffles, low acidity, and extravagant richness. Most of the tannins have been resolved in this superstar of the vintage." 95+ Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Rotllan Torra Tirant 2001 "A prodigious effort, the 2001 Tirant is . . . made from 30% Grenache (90-100 years old), 25% Carignan (90-100 years old), 25% young-vine Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 10% Merlot. Fermented in large oak foudres and aged 12 months in new French oak, it will be bottled with neither fining nor filtration. Inky/purple-colored to the rim, it boasts a spectacular bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, and the region’s classic crushed stone minerality. This full-throttle yet remarkably elegant 2001 possesses tremendous intensity and texture as well as layers of flavor . . . . The 60-second finish reveals more noticeable tannin than the other cuvées . . . . The 2001 Tirant is indeed a special wine." 96-98 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Château L'Église-Clinet 2001 "A brilliant effort (one of the vintage’s most substantial wines), proprietor Denis Durantou has turned in a tour de force in 2001. Sadly, there are only 1,500 cases of this 85% Merlot / 15% Cabernet Franc blend (from vines averaging 40 years of age). This beauty boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a glorious nose of red and black fruits, flowers, sweet oak, and hints of licorice as well as truffles. Opulent, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, tannic, and persistent on the palate (the finish lasts 40 seconds) . . ." 94 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Château Lynch-Bages 2000 "Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully over the last eleven years, this wine is still an adolescent, but it exhibits admirable purity, texture, mouthfeel and power combined with elegance. One of the all-time great examples of Lynch Bages, the 2000 is just beginning to drink well yet promises to last for another 20-25+ years." 97 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 1999 "The 1999 Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis is a knockout bottle of wine that gives up gorgeously mature aromas and flavors of kirsch, blackberry, game, olive and spice in its medium-bodied, seamless and elegant profile. It’s a rock-star effort that’s drinking at full maturity. One of the reference point estates for top quality wines in the world today, the family run Guigal operation . . . are without a doubt producing some of the most singular, sought after wines in the world . . . . I don’t know anyone who tastes mature examples of these wines on a regular basis that still has any doubts about the genius going on here. In short, these single vineyard (and their blends as well) Côte-Rôties are some of the greatest wines money can buy." 95 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Clos René 1998 Intense aromas of very ripe fruit, with toasted oak, tobacco and coffee notes. Full-bodied and very, very fruity, with loads of berries, raisins and velvety tannins. Long." 91 James Suckling, Wine Spectator
Château Pichon Baron 1990 "A remarkable vintage for Pichon Longueville Baron, 1990 is one of this estate’s two or three finest wines made in the last 40 years. Still inky/blue/purple-tinged to the rim, it reveals an extraordinary bouquet of charcoal, incense, creme de cassis, blue and black fruits, and a hint of licorice as well as an impressively long finish. While drinkable, its evolution is extremely slow, and I would not be surprised to see it last another two decades or more." 97 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Château Le Gay 1989 "Tannic monster. Full-bodied, with masses of super-ripe fruit and mouth-puckering tannins . . . . Age it for decades to come." 95 James Suckling, Wine Spectator
Müller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Schlossel Rieslaner Beerenauslese 2005 "Rich golden yellow. Smoky bouquet loaded with caramelized peach, fig and bacon waft over a bed of brown spice botrytis. Rich, even viscous, in texture, with a candied apricot flavor and a bright minerality that explodes on the palate. The long, almost caramelized finish is kept alive by sweet herbs. An excellent beerenauslese." 94 Joel Payne, Vinous |
