French Peak

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2013

Again I had this at a friends tasting last Sunday afternoon. No notes taken but I recall more honeyed and mature than Chablis oyster shell characteristics. I should add that Penfolds 1990 707 in the image to the right was exceptional. Drinking at its peak from a good vintage with still some years to go. 97 points for the 707. — 19 days ago

Jan, Tom and 23 others liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

An older Krug Cuvee purchased in 14 showing a rich apple, pear with a toasty, honeyed, brioche, pastry dough & mineral — 11 days ago

Jan, Tom and 8 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Last tasted 9.25.23 (9.2) after 1.5 hours decanted. Popped and decanted this for lunch. Great fill and solid cork. Throwing a bit of sed but less than anticipated. Meh nose. Medium body initially. Started off on the rich side of the ledger but not plush. Had some smoothness afoot. Tasted after 45 mins open, 1.75 hours open and 8 hours open. First two were unspectacular. After lounging in the decanter 8 hours, wine had firmed up, thinned out, picked up plenty of secondary flavors and had that previously missing grip. If you're gonna open this during the holidays or anytime soon, do it very very early...otherwise, it'll be a total waste. Wine has miles to go. No rush to crush but just air it out in advance properly. 10.16.24. — 15 days ago

Ira, Jan and 20 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Nice long description!

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Cocoa, leather, black fruit; surprisingly bright with soft tannins. Great to drink with our best friends and a 32 oz. Bone in prime rib. — 6 days ago

Vino, Joe and 2 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Medium ruby , hint of garnet , slight narrower rim , more garnet hue . Quite mineral , herbal tinged blackcurrant, seaside scents . Slightly aloof and austere, though this improves with time in the decanter . However on the palate this opens up with classic cedar tinged dark fruits , blackcurrant, grafite , sea shell and saline tinged. Complex , complete , classic , grafite and mineral tinged with pretty long length finish . Still slightly grippy tannins but these are well integrated and quite polished , fresh balanced acidity. This shows very well and is just coming into its prime drinking window, this also held up very well in decanter for the 4 hours we had it open , always retaining great freshness and verve. From now and over the next 10 to 15 years perhaps . — a day ago

Jan, Anthony and 8 others liked this
Shay A

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Had this last night (only other time was 4-5yrs ago) and both showed extremely green aromatics. Classical Lafite elegance on the palate.

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Excellent fill and halfway saturated cork. Used a Durand but surmise a regular waiter's friend, wielded carefully, could have done the trick with the cork. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins, one hour and two hours. Some obvious sed but not troublesome or overtly noticeable. Original owner-château direct on original release. Super cold cellar because this was lagging noticeably behind other '90's and LB's. Bigger tannic structure (for a generally feminine-styled house) than anything save a Latour, Mouton, Ducru Left Bank property. Even more guts than Lynch-Bages or Pichon-Baron '90's currently stored above 55 or so degrees. Surprising but made sense. Light-medium body. Appropriate color. 3-4 years left in this stage unless larger format in play. Slight, fleeting burst of richness in the frontal palate and a tad brickish and then it just flowed on, without speed bumps. A little cocoa powder and cedar/tobacco. Suspect 750ml specimens not stored as cold/religiously will be showing more in the 9.0-9.1 range and farther down the backside of the bell curve. 10.26.24. — 5 days ago

Ira, Jan and 16 others liked this
Ron R

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Good notes, mate.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

@Ron R Hey there! It's been a spell.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2013

2013 vintage. Both excellent fill and cork. Decanted with infinitesimal sed. Slightly silvery color. Tasted after 1.5 and 2.5 hours open. Medium body. Nose slightly reticent during both tastes. Black tea and eucalyptus prominent first go round with both those still present but minimized second pass. Sprinkle in some cracked black pepper and white sage for round two and we have a winner. Finish lasted over a minute and the concentration was as expected given the decent street cred. No rush to crush but open waay early/decant this if enjoying in the next handful of years. 10.24.24. — 7 days ago

Ira, Bob and 24 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2013

A well balanced wine offering ripe apples, pear juice, yellow cherries, lemon peel, roasted and grinded hazelnuts, sourdough, cream, butter, white roses, white tea with jasmine and a complex mix of mushroom, earth and stemmed ginger. Super delicious — 12 days ago

Joe, Ericsson and 5 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2020

David T
9.3

What a pair w/ Crostini, Chervil Sheep Cheese & Duck Confit. 👌

Dark, juicy, lush to mid fruit core, dark cherries, strawberries, hues of blueberries, raspberries, limestone, softened granitic earth, deeper red cola, black & red licorice, baseball card bubble gum, understated fresh herbs, dark, rich, sweet earth, hints of maple syrup, tree bark w/ sap, dark & red florals for days, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, relaxed tension, polished, lush finish that lasts 90 seconds. Delicious.

This is better than some premier cru red burgundies for far less $.

Absolutely one of the top three producers of Grand Cru Gamay.
— 6 days ago

Bob, Ceccherini and 16 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Yvon is worthy to be in that group…but his wines are so difficult to come by.
David T

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Deliberate.
Yvon embodies the humble and proud vigneron, a man who would rather tend his vines than host appointments, and sell to close friends than foreign markets.He has long farmed what are sure to be among the oldest vines in the entirety of the region, predominantly centered in Fleurie. Undoubtedly, these are some of the most pure, fresh yet unctuous wines that have ever come from the Beaujolais region. Never sulfured, they are the pinnacle of freshness and drinkability upon release, yet benefit from long cellar aging as well.
Jay Kline

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I’ve had L’Ultime once. It was worth the hype.

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1997

Love this vintage for Yquem, one of my favorites in this time period along with 88, 90 and 01. Halfsie tonight to pair with the foie gras and then dessert! Nectar of the gods 😚 — 5 days ago

Yair, Jan and 8 others liked this