Bailly Lapierre
Marcel Lapierre
Morgon Gamay 2023
Marcel Lapierre
Raisins Gaulois Gamay
Bright and cloudy with a slight funk finish — 3 months ago
Château Haut-Bergey
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
I need to start w/ a little preamble.

For me, Pessac-Leognan was a late comer Bordeaux region. The last one I gravitated to in my 26 yr Bordeaux experience.
Nearly all the previous 2000 Bordeaux’s I’ve had up to this point needed a lot more cellaring. Mostly 1st & 2nd Growths, some 3rd. This 2000 started lean…lacking depth & a bigger tannin profile. But that is not entirely uncharacteristic for older Pessac’s. It seemed slightly more late in its drinking window. It picked up weight in the decanter at 2 1/2 hours and then showed more weight & depth w/ my Ribcap.
This started elegant w/ soft Bordeaux characteristics. Beauty & elegance as I understand it in Bordeaux’s from this region and this kind of age. But lacked 2000 earthiness & depth. For me, this is a 3rd tier Pessac producer, my terminology. Not up there with Haut Bailly or Pape Clement and of course Haut Brion.
2000’s up to this point have shown great depth & deep characteristics. Most needing longer than anticipated aging.
This was beautiful, elegant but lean based on previous definitions. Early on it seemly felt like it was a drink up in the next 3 yrs w/o the steak. With a longish decant & steak, more 7-10 yrs.
The nose shows muddled to slightly stewy; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, some mushroom notes, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles-top soils with dark, red, withering flowers.
The palate shows beautiful elegance with nothing that bites back. Perfectly resolved velvety tannins. Ripe, juicy, somewhat ruby fruits. Yet, have slightly stewy characteristics. Dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, softly layered & even baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid, dark, Asian spices, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened, nearly sweet graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, charcoal, volcanic ash, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles, dry top soils with dark, red, withering flowers, near perfect acidity, well balanced w/ softened structure/tension, great length and an elegant finish that goes on and on and long sets on spice & clay.
Almost new cork and little to no sediment.
92-93 with a long decant & a rich, fatty steak-Ribcap. First taste after pouring into the decanter, 90.
Photos of; Haut-Bergey, Paul Garcin-Managing Director and Francois Prouteau-Cellar Master. — 5 days ago
Château Haut-Bailly
Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Beautiful on its own. Outstanding with an aged chuck turned into traditional gulash (braised). Just exploded together with the meat. — 2 months ago
Caves Bailly-Lapierre
Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc 2023
My first Saint-Bris! Pale lemon yellow color. Plush aromas of citrus fruit, white flowers, chalk and abundant fresh herbs. Flavors of unripe peach, all those savory herbs, green apple and lemon zest. Noticeable mineral backbone on the long and drawn out finish. Lively and crisp acidity. Medium-minus body and wonderful freshness. Vibrant and harmonious! There are Chablis comparisons here. Another example of outstanding white burgundy! — 2 months ago
Marcel Lapierre
Morgon N Gamay 2021
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 “N” (Sans Soufre) is identical to the standard Morgon except it’s bottled without the addition of, you guessed it, sulfur. It pours a slightly dull ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of fresh and funky dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, red flowers, some horse blanket, green herbs and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with lovely minerality. In a year that is often maligned (not by me), this was absolutely gorgeous. You just kept wanting to go back to the glass and smell it. Drink now through 2036, probably. — 5 months ago
Jay Kline
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — a month ago