Jay Kline

9.6

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core and some moderate rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of ripe and slightly dried black and blue fruits: dark brambles, plum, fig, purple flowers, leather ball glove, something spicy and green that has me debating between rotundone or pyrazines (but which?), rocky earth and fine baking warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. What a beautifully made wine.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend with associated Bordeaux varieties), Cabernet Franc, Merlot (blended with associated Bordeaux varieties) or Syrah from France, the US or Australia. This is older; probably 20+ years of age based on the secondary characteristics or dried fruit and old leather. While the fruit plays a starring role here, the alcohol seems almost modest so I can’t place this in Australia or the US. The problem I’m having, are there pyrazines or rotundone? I don’t get a lot of black pepper or animale, or olive for that matter…so I’m leaning towards this being Bordeaux. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine with a blend of Bordeaux varieties, from France, Bordeaux, Pulliac, from a classified growth, 2004. Whoa!!! 2005 Clape?! What a treat! I feel like I should have nailed this wine. Alas…I still have to get better at differentiating between pyrazines and rotundone with age. Drink now with a decant, through 2045+ — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2010 pours a hazy garnet/purple color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart, ripe and desiccated fruits: blackberries, black licorice, horse blanket, some animale, mushrooms, forest floor, rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. It has been eight years since I last enjoyed this vintage of the VV and it continues to age with a lot of grace. Drink now through 2030+. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

A rich crimson in colour. Initially a note of Animale (Barb thought a brief note of cow yard) amongst the dusty cherry, dark fruits, violets and mushroom notes. Great balance between the 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Medium bodied with smooth supple tannins. The next day: Elegance with length - shows the quality of the fruit IMO. My first Lafleur, I think, and it was excellent as expected. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 2 years ago

Jack Petras

9.4

2020 Grand Cras, have had it several times a hint of animale dark stones concentrated red fruits, tannic and taut. Mouthwatering acidity. Incredible value at $21 retail. A standard bearer Morgon. Just also had 2021 equally as satisfying, a remarkable wiine. — 4 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

Cherries, strawberries, spices and a glimpse of animal aromas. Palate is open, fresh and elegant but with a bit of grippy tannins that is not without merit. Decent length and very good. 91-92

Nez de cerises et de fraises assez mures avec des épices et une touche animale. La bouche est avenante, ouverte, fraîche, assez élégante avec des tannins de grains assez fins, malgré un petit côté asséchant qui est quand même agréable, sur la finale de longueur moyenne plus. 91-92 — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of ripe and tart, mixed brambles, blueberries, figs, lavender, a touch of animale, black pepper, rocky earth and fine, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(?) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This seemed to get younger the longer it was exposed to air. The Benjamin Button of wine, lol. Might even rate it higher down the road. Lovely with kofta on a Thursday. Drink now through 2045+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2016 pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly dark fruit: black cherry, plum, purple flowers, animale and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Tasty stuff. Drink now through 2041. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

From a bottle that had been opened earlier in the evening. The 2016 “La Clos des Chênes” pours a ruby color with a slightly watery rim and a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart red fruit: strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, sous bois, red flowers, some animale, mushrooms and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with a medium+ finish. A Volnay of good character. Drink now through 2036.
— a year ago

Doug Powers

9.5

Nearly 100% Syrah cuvée from the Languedoc, this is an amazing wine still, meaty, gamey, animale, garrigue, and surely topped off with some Brett, deep and complex, with layers of flavors, this seems close to mature, though I wouldn’t bet against further positive development in bottle, good acid balance, only minor nit is just a tad of dryness in the long, lingering finish, and only 12.5% ABV as well — 2 years ago

with Jim

Jay Kline

9.6

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days. Special on Day 1. Sensational on Day 3. The 2018 pours a deep purple color moving towards a magenta rim with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. There appears to be some fine sediment as well. On the nose, the wine is developing with fascinating notes of blackberries, smoked blueberry crisp, lavender, animale, bacon fat, new leather, black olives, iron-like minerals and some faint spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity and it’s laden with purple flowers, fruit and minerals. This is a thrilling Cornas with enormous energy and character. While it’s a delight to enjoy now, I expect a long life. My next bottle will be after 2028 and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to get thrills through 2038.. The last glass had loads of fine sediment coating the glass; just something to keep in mind. — 2 years ago

Fredybeans

9.5

Robe noire
Bouche ultra ample avec une pointe animale
Coeur de bouche énorme matière presque dans un registre d hermitage et finale très très savouer usé mais plus sur la force que sur la finesse
Vin superbe mais j en attendais peut être trop — 4 years ago

with Pico

Mario Vaillancourt

9.0

I miss the tastings with this semi-confinement we are still in and stole the idea of @Benoit Duhamel here, so we made one at home with my son and my wife who are both wine fanatics as I am too. We chose 6 red Burgundies Villages 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune and 3 Côte de Nuits and we tasted these blind, each of us giving ranks and points for each wines. Tasting blind usually doesn’t lie and it can bring numerous surprises which it did in that case. All wines were fo a good level here, no bad wines and all were fun and good indiviually but the results were pretty clear cut in terms of the Côte de Beaune winning this battle.

1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

DelaGrange: spices and a touch animal too on the nose. Vivid acidity with a nice medium bodied structure, very balanced, good length and delicious finish. My number 3. 90-91


On s’ennuie des dégustations et j’ai bien aimé l’idée de @Benoit Duhamel , merci Benoit. Alors s’en est fait une à la maison à trois (en respectant les règles bien sûr). Nous avons choisi 6 Bourgogne Villages Rouges 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune et 3 Côtes de Nuits, nous avons dégusté à l'aveugle et accordé des points à chaque position, il n’y avait aucun mauvais vin dans le lot et tous étaient très bien si bu individuellement, mais la dégustation à l’aveugle ne ment pas et les résultats peuvent être surprenants, les vins de la Côte de Beaune ont remporté la palme facilement ici, alors pour s’amuser un peu, voici le classement que cela a donné :
1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

DelaGrange: Fruits noirs, épices, une touche animale aussi. Belle structure de corps moyen avec une acidité vive, bel équilibre et assez long en bouche. Mon no 3 personnellement. 90-91 — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed alongside Texas BBQ on the plane home. The 2005 “Hommage a Jacques Perrin” pours a deep purple with a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly dark fruits: mixed brambles, black cherry, animale, star anise and black pepper, garrigue and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This continues to be ever so dense but paired admirably with the BBQ. Drink now through 2055. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a brilliant, deep ruby color with a transparent core and some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a heady perfume of mostly ripe and some tart fruit: mixed brambles, black cherry, purple flowers (lavender?), animale, some pepper, a touch of olive, a touch of leather, some green herbs, fine warm spices and rocky earth. I believe this has seen oak and it’s beautifully balanced and smells expensive. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium+. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is grippy. This is delicious.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Gamay, a Grenache-based blend or possibly Syrah; from Italy, or France. Immediately after I was presented the glass, I liked this being Sangiovese, however, there was too much new French oak for me to feel comfortable. Besides, the florals were too purple to be Sangiovese anyway (never mind Grenache or Pinot Noir). Then there were the non-fruits: it could be justified by whole cluster Pinot or Gamay…or was this a really impressive Syrah? This wine seemed familiar to me. This could be Chave. I did think this had some age based on color and rim variation. Final conclusion: I’m calling this Syrah, from France, from Northern Rhône, Hermitage, with 20+ years of age, from a decent vintage like 2004. And for the hell if it, I called producer: Jean-Louis Chave. Boom. Bottle No. 3981 — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This is the standard Côte Rôtie from Agnes Levet that’s a blend of different parcels. However, the philosophy and approach remain the same as “La Chavaroche” and “Les Journaries”. In the past, this bottling was known as “Améthyste” and only recently became more widely available in the US. “Widely” is a relative word, lol.

Opened about an hour prior to service. The 2021 pours a deep garnet/purple with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a gorgeous bouquet all of the different varieties and colors of brambles your heart could possibly desire along with all of the seeds and stems, freshly cracked black pepper, dried herbs, some of the animale, purple flowers some hints of old wood and yes, perhaps a kiss of brettanomyces. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long, drying and loaded with even more black pepper. This is giving me total 2014 vibes and if you liked that vintage in the Northern Rhône (as I did), you’re gonna absolutely love this. Drink now through 2036. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous notes here on Delectable. Mid to pale ruby in colour. Pale yet powerful. Great aromatics of pansies, rose petals and violets also stalkiness. As Barb said the aromas of a beautiful garden. After a while an Animale, feral note not unlike some Burgundies we’ve had. Medium bodied palate - dried red fruits with a sweet yet savoury twist. A very polished new World Pinot by any measure. Tasters often identify with Central Otago and Martinborough for quality NZ Pinot Noir. Don’t forget about Canterbury in the South Island not far from the city of Christchurch. Luckily I have 2 left. Bob Campbell MW says drink through to 2025. — 3 years ago

Fredybeans

9.1

Robe noire
Nez de prune, frais, précis
Bouche ample gourmande et fraîche
Finale fruit noire et légèrement animale — 5 years ago

Riccardo Arrigoni

9.3

Elegantissimo. Tannino setoso. Ancora bella acidita e freschezza. Equilibrato. Pronto ma l'apice è ancora da raggiungere, almeno un anno.
Frutti rossi, spezie, vegetale, animale. Bellissima bottiglia — 6 years ago

Tegan Marriott

9.1

Morgon that has some added funk to it. I rather like that taste , it's enjoyably wild. A gamey Gamay that has a timid animale present in the back end, full fruit profile in the front. — 6 years ago