Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Don’t drink a ton of spirits, but I do sample them when the occasion arises. This was pretty good, very balanced and of course smoothish.

Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025-From The Cellar Event. — 23 days ago

Xinqi Miao

9.8

Private Collection. Keeping 5 year plus. — 2 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

Orange peel. Sweet liquor. Marnier lapostolle grand marnier colton, curaçao @2783, AD, 240921 — 8 months ago

Andrew Liguori

9.5

Passionfruit, honeysuckle, lychee, white flowers. Ethereal; Napoleon and Washington nailed it — 2 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.3

Wow, what an earthy, nutty powerhouse. Smooth, sweet, acidity, balance. This is great. Maybe I should rethink my Sauternes addiction. — a month ago

Matthew Cohen

9.0

Nose: slightly oxidized. Floral. Apricot.

Palate sweet fruit. Spice. Some heat (18%). — 2 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.4

Excellent. Long, toasty caramel. — 7 months ago

Yury

10

Великолепный коньяк. Лучше всоп не проблвал — 8 months ago

Sean Lyons

9.3

Smells of dark cherries, Coke, vanilla, some apple pie, cinnamon. The initial taste is really great - loads of rich, fruity (prunes) and vanilla sweetness, offset with an interesting tannin. It has a medium finish where the oak becomes more pronounced. Best brandy I’ve had in a while. — 2 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

Here’s to exploring Fixin AOC, the northernmost appellation of the Côte de Nuits in the Côte d’Or of Burgundy!

Fixin is home to 6 premier cru climats including Clos Napoléon. It’s primarily known for its Pinot Noir (approx. 96%) but also produces Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc.

Fixin rouge wines are sometimes compared to its neighbor to the south, Gevrey Chambertin AOC, but with a lighter body and profile. It can be a great source of value in an increasingly expensive region.

Tonight, we’re enjoying the 2019 Pierre Gelin Fixin rouge 1er Cru Clos Napoléon.

Clos Napoléon is also a monopole, owned exclusively by Domaine Pierre Gelin today. It’s a small but prestigious vineyard, situated on a hillside slope, with old vines dating back 70 years!

This property used to be owned by Claude Noisot, the surgeon to Emperor Napoléon, and the vineyard was formerly called “Aux Cheuzots.”

Claude Noisot renamed the property “Clos Napoléon” in honor of his famous patient and hired a renowned sculptor to create "Le Réveil de (the awakening of) Napoléon” – a nearby statue, featured on this label.

As for this particular wine, it’s beautiful! It’s medium ruby in color. Its bouquet is perfumed and layered with notes of black cherry, mulberry, boysenberry, pomegranate, red plum, fennel seed, fennel fronds, chervil, licorice, clove, cooked morel mushroom, wet earth, vanilla, and saddle leather. The palate is lively with bright acidity and smooth, polished tannins. The alcohol has a delicate warming presence and the finish lingers. — 4 months ago

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