Cellar Classified

Haut-Condissas Prestige

Médoc 2009

Robert Cunningham
9.0

Really surprisingly good wine. I would have guessed it to be a classified St. Julien. Complex and approachable. Excellent value. — 10 years ago

Luciano Sandrone

Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d'Alba 2003

2003. For a de classified wine. This thing rocks. All the hallmarks of a classic Barolo without all the $$$ — 11 years ago

Anthony and John liked this

Michele Chiarlo

Cerequio Barolo Nebbiolo 2007

Andrew Lampasone
9.2

They make 1000 6 packs of this wine from one of the most famous vineyards on the piedmont which was classified as a cru in 1880 very pretty bouquet of dried flowers red licorice spice truffles a complex array of spice earth and red berry fruit. Fine grain tannins with silky velvety texture vey fresh and bright cherry fruit red licorice spice and pretty floral notes very spiced and long finish tongue tingly acidity. — 12 years ago

Amy and Alan liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Andrew Lampasone
9.4

1990 wild herbs fresh earth very complex array on the nose still some fruit menthol camphor smooth and silky texture some tannins still here lovely freshness. Most excellent 55 cab cf mr the rest 1998 a greatrightbank so Palmer jas a lot of merlot more than Antofagasta the classified growths similar nose fresh herbsandrhat month camphor smooth and another all and earthy soft tannins finish 40excellent +. 2010 currant and red cherry fruit with sweet tobacco spice a gravelly mineral note big and chewy with an earthy musty note but lots of everything structured and fresh finish 50+ most excellent+ — 13 years ago

Raventos i Blanc

L'hereu Conca del Riu Anoia Macabeo-Xarel-lo-Parellada 2012

Non-classified cava ... Stunning, streets ahead of the standard garden variety cavas — 10 years ago

Château de la Louvière

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Classic left bank. Herbal, complex, balanced. Total sleeper, held up well against the classified growths. — 11 years ago

Kamau Coleman
with Kamau

Domaine Vincent Prunier

Meursault Chardonnay 2008

Located in Cote de Beaune, south of Volnay and north of Puligny Montrachet. Meursault ("Murr-so") has historically been Burgundy's center for white wine production. In fact, nearly all of the 2.5 million bottles produced from 440 ha (1,090 acres) are whites. The soil is a mixture of marl and chalk and is perfectly suited to the production of chardonnay. Meursault wines are known for aromas of hazelnuts, honey and vanilla for its aromas and creamy, almost olive oilllike texture. There are no grand crus in Meursault, though Les Perrières, Les Genevrières and Les Charmes produce remarkable wines. Further, some of the most well-known vineyards of Meursault such as Narvaux and Limozin are not premier cru but Villages-classified vineyards. Recent top vintages include 2008, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1996, 1993, 1990.


With 437ha. of vineyards dedicated to Villages wine or Premier Cru, Meursault has the largest area permitted to be planted in white wine in the Cote-d'Or. Furthermore, despite the fact that the village lacks even one grand cru, Meursault has historically been Burgundy's center for white wine production, in the past even more so than Puligny-Montrachet or Chassagne-Montrachet. While much of those two villages had in the past been planted to red grapes, Meursault has always been white wine territory. In fact, the modern day vineyard of Les Combettes in Puligny-Montrachet, which forms a continuous chain with the premier crus of Meursault, was once considered part of Meursault and not Puligny, where the many nearby vineyards produced red wine. There are several important factors that determine the reputation of Meursault. Primarily, the soil throughout most of Meursault is perfectly suited to the production of chardonnay; it is a mixture of marl and chalk, that when combined with a largely east or southeast exposure creates healthy grapes that are full of character. Another factor correlates to geology, though in a very different way. Meursault's high water table allows its residents to carve deep, cold cellars "perfect for the production of wine" into the chalky, stony soil. So, while large negociants from Beaune dominated the production and marketing of Burgundy throughout time, Meursault remained a wine of its own citizens. Contributing to this, since red wine has been more prized throughout time, these same negociants looked elsewhere for sources because the wine of Meursault has always been white.

What makes the wine so special? The most common descriptors attached to Meursault are hazelnuts, honey and vanilla for its aromas and creamy for its texture. However, this simplifies things quite a bit. In most cases, Meursault despite an almost olive-oil texture is countered by a precise mineral character, stoniness and a more refined overall palate than, for instance, Chassagne-Montrachet. It's the unique stony/mineral character that often gets lost when tasting Meursault, as many concentrate on the ripe, hedonistic primary flavors and aromas. It's the bipolarity of the wine, the interplay of both factors, that makes Meursault one of the most sought after white wines in the world. As mentioned above, there are no grand crus in Meursault, though many would argue that Perrieres, Genevrieres and Charmes can attain these lofty heights in the hands of the best producers. Further, some of the most well-known vineyards of Meursault such as Narvaux and Limozin are not premier cru but Villages-classified vineyards, though again, the best examples are clearly of higher quality. source: http://www.burgundywinecompany.com/wines/display.php?subregion=Meursault
— 12 years ago

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Very nice bottle, a great wine matching very well with all the other classified. — 10 years ago

Eric liked this

Amiral de Beychevelle

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Bob Bryden
9.2

2010 dark ruby with ripe blackberry, tart cherry. Earthy with gripping tannins. Fairly typical 2nd wine of classified growth in great year. — 11 years ago

Château Lynch-Moussas

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

I am excited to try this Bordeaux for it is the original Lynch Bages before Lynch Bages became Lynch Bages. Lynch Moussas was split into two in the 18th century to form Lynch Moussas and Lynch Bages. Lynch Moussas was Classified as a Classed Growth by the 1855 classification. I believe it is considered a Fifth Growth. This wine is made up of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. The aromas are of ripe plum, bakers chocolate, deep dark fruit. A totally beautiful bouquet. Big black currants, smooth ripe tannins, a nice smokiness, and well balanced. Medium + body, full mouth feel, with good dark fruit on the palate. This is a joy to drink and am very pleased with what I have found. — 12 years ago

Thomas and Saman liked this