Eric Urbani

9.0

Ten Grand and 1er Cru Chablis from the 2007 and 2008 vintages, both considered classic years. Very reductive/matchstick. Those who like that style rated it much higher than I did. So did Allen Meadows - BH92 — 4 years ago

Brian Franke

9.4

Holy French cannoli! Ten years later this grand cru is smooth as can be, and there is a depth to the wine that is hard to surpass. — 5 years ago

with Sara

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Felt it was a good ten year in bottle check on the 08 Pavie Macquin. I wasn’t expecting the wine to blow my hair back but, I expected a little something better.

The 2008 Bordeaux growing season was one of difficult weather through August. Then, grand weather in September & October saved the vintage. Well...with this one, it likely made a bad vintage into just a good one.

The nose reveals classic Merlot based nose, nice Claret. The fruits are ripe, slightly ruby & candied but, a little dull. Blackberries, black raspberries, baked, dark cherries, black raspberries & stewed strawberries. Dark fruit cola, vanilla, black licorice, dark, rich earth, stones, touch leather, cinnamon stick, some graphite, light herbal quality with candied dark, red, & a touch fresh of blue florals framed in violets.

The body is just full & very velvety. The tension & structure are a little soft. The balance is good as is the length. However as it continues on the palate is just never pops. In fact, leaner & somewhat hollow. It lacks depth & complexity. The fruits are ripe, slightly ruby & candied but, a little dull. Blackberries, black raspberries, baked, dark cherries, black raspberries & stewed strawberries. Dark fruit cola, vanilla, black licorice, dark, rich earth, stones, soft, velvety leather, cinnamon stick, some graphite, light herbal quality with candied dark, red, & a touch fresh of blue florals framed in violets. The acidity is really nice, fresh. The finish is, soft, elegant, the same wire to wire but, just never dazzles.

I am afraid this is not showing any signs of being in a dumb phase. Nor, is it showing any earmarks that it is going to improve, just evolve.

Photos of; Chateau Pavie Macquin, signage tell you are close, Winemaker - Nicolas Thienpont & their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 'Cuvée 1911' is an absolutely thrilling bottle of Champagne from winemaker Jean-François Clouet. Composed of 100% Pinot Noir, this wine was sourced from Clouet’s ten best lieux-dits in the Grand Cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay. This Cuvée is a blend of vintages, primarialy consisting of the 2008 vintage, with ’07, ’09, ’10 vintages rounding out the blend. The wine spent more than 6 years aging on its lees before its disgorgement in November, 2017. This non-vintage Champagne is simply remarkable, as it displays great intensity on the nose, with aromatics of Pazazz apple, toast, florals and kumquat all instantly drawing you in. Even more captivating is its combination of weight, tension and gorgeous textural compisition. Wonderful flavors of orchard fruits and citrus continue to impress as they come together with a beautiful salinity character which persists through the pretty finish. This is an absolutely striking Champagne, which will continue to evolve gracefully for decades. Drink 2019-2035- 95 — 7 years ago

Pam Hoadley

9.8

Smooth and light but rich flavor (TalentConnect2018) — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

Full red with virtually no amber. Inviting aromas of strawberry, woodsmoke, tobacco and earth, plus a cedary balsamic note. Large-scaled, thick wine with sappy pungency to its flavors of redcurrant, tobacco and saline minerality. The wine's fatness is perfectly cut by brisk acidity. Shows sexy notes of evolution but this grand cru finishes with remarkable energy--in fact even a bit clenched. Fans of fully mature Burgundies might want to wait another six to eight years before pulling the cork. Incidentally, Marie-Christine Mugneret singled out 1999 as the year when the estate's wines began to change, as their vineyard work through the '90s bore fruit. The year also witnessed the estate's longest fermentations to that point, due mostly to very high grape sugars. This wine was de-cuved with ten grams of sugar, and the fermentation finished slowly in barrels. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

One of the more intriguing Champagnes I had the pleasure of tasting while in Champagne is J de Telmont's 2002 Brut Champagne O.R. 1735. A delicate mousse preceded by lemon curd that unfolds to something more distinctive, like Meyer lemon and a very pretty top note of white flowers, chervil and chalk. Telmont uses natural cork rather than crown cap during tirage, a method that introduces slightly more oxygen to the bottle and thus, increases the yeast population—the attack is dense, creamy, and mineral-driven. This lovely prestige cuvée is assembled from 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay and has been aged ten years en tirage prior to disgorgement. Sample — 9 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.4

Ten Grand and 1er Cru Chablis from the 2007 and 2008 vintages, both considered classic years. This was my #1 — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.2

A fabulous wine from an average vintage, the 2014 Saintayme, the late Denis Durantou’s Saint Emilion Grand Cru bottling from rented vines, provides plenty of enjoyment with enough AOC character to offer interest.

Not far off the 2016 in quality, the wine sports a rich and decadent nose with a classic profile of dark red fruits, along with subtle wafts of cedar, liquorice, vanilla and a touch of five spice. Very expressive.

The palate is medium to full bodied, and follows on with a gorgeous mouthfeel of supple ripe fruits - the sweetness of which is quite well matched by cherry acidity and lingering tannins.

All in all, this is really knockout stuff from 2014. Though immensely likeable now, I could actually see this going strong in another five to ten years. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

So, if it’s my birthday celebration, there is a juicy ribeye & some old(er) Claret.

My only disappointment with this bottle is as good as it is, there are better things still down the road.

The nose reveals classic Claret. There are earthy, funky fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets.

The body is medium full with rounded, nicely resolved, tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance are really singing. It would be good to have another 2001 LMHB in ten years. While 2001 wasn’t a critically acclaimed vintage, I think LMHB over performed the vintage. As well, it followed a grand 2000 vintage which, handicapped it from the start. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries, bright cherries, rhubarb, figs, with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry top soil, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice with soft heat, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets. The acidity is excellent...like a gentle rain shower. The long finish is elegance defined, extremely well balanced ending in soft, round, dry, dusty tannins with beautiful spice.

Photos of; Chateau La Mission Haut Brion & estate vines, beautiful barrel room, pond & Roman columns and the back vow of the Chateau.

Please indulge me while I post some history on this grand producer. As much as I love the wine, I love the history & people that do the hard work to bring us such great wines.

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is not quite as old as Chateau Haut Brion. However, they are opposite side of the road neighbors. La Mission Haut Brion dates back to the late 16th century. The property came into being after it was purchased by Jean de Pontac in 1533. US winery history is a baby compared to France.

In 1607, the estate changed hands. It was inherited by Ms. Olive de Lestonnac. What an inheritance!

In 1815, something rare happened. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion became the property of an American owner, the Chiapelle family. At the time, the family was already involved in the Bordeaux wine trade. In fact, they knew about the business as they had managed a myriad of different estates including Chateau Cos d’ Estournel.

La Mission Haut Brion continued to change hands until it was finally sold to another American family, the Woltner’s. Frederic Woltner purchased La Mission Haut Brion in 1919. The also became owners on Howell Mountain.

It changed hands one final time in 1983 when it was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon, the owner of neighboring, Chateau Haut Brion. They renovated the entire property, starting with replanting the vineyards which, was completed in 1987.

The 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is planted to; 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.8% Merlot and 10.4% Cabernet Franc. 3.5 hectares of vines are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux.

To produce the red wine of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, the wine is vinified in large, 180 hectoliter, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new, French oak for an average of 22 months. The annual production of La Mission Haut Brion averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year. — 6 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.7

Infanticide but oh so good. Full Cherry nose. Powerful, great acidity but very drinkable young. Super long finish, this is a monumental effort. Will easily keep another 30 years and will only get better and more complex over the next ten years. Can not wait to taste the 2016. — 7 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.8

Cinnamon said this was a ten- and I couldn't ask for more with duck confit & lentils. It had a lot of exotic fruit, great density, almost sweaty white Bordeaux like oak framing and acid cut for days... What a peacocks tail of a finish! Thanks to all the Burgundy collectors for not wanting 2004's... I will keep snapping them up! — 9 years ago

Vijay Parikh

9.5

The1998 Clos De La Roche from Maison Roche De Bellene was a simply amazing wine! Opened and poured into wine glasses from wine bottle. Within ten minutes it was offering a great perfume of roses, cranbeerry, red berries and on the palate solid acidity, back be and complexity in flavor profile. The wine kept getting more complex for the first thirty or so minutes. We are so looking forward to our next bottle! — 10 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

Ten Grand and 1er Cru Chablis from the 2007 and 2008 vintages, both considered classic years. This Droin was the group’s #1. BH91. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”

The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.

The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.

Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,

Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.

The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.

All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2008 ‘La Grand Dame’ by Veuve Clicquot is a revelation at more than ten years old. At this stage the Champagne is a tightly wound, monster of a wine, displaying deep diatomaceous earth tones that marvelously mingle with lemon oil and hazelnut aromatics that all are woven together in the glass. Rich, round and highly satisfying on the mouth, the palate shows shades of roasted pineapple, Japanese pear, kumquat, salted praline and suggestions of freshly baked sourdough bread. This is massive now and really needs a few years of bottle age before enjoying. Drink 2020-2040- 95 — 6 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Spicy peppery pyrazines. Delicious. Boldly green yet ripe with body. So young in fruit yet mature with structure. Lay down for up to ten years to enjoy. — 7 years ago

Dan Michael

9.3

Ok so in a flight of cult Napa cabernets this wine stood out as austere, but if you look beyond the acidity what I found was an incredible tannin structure and complexity. A shame to open it so early, just a baby, but with the patience of ten years of aging will be a remarkable wine. — 8 years ago

Adam Jacobs

9.6

Ok always a classic cali blend for me. Over the past ten years it's stayed true to its style. It's a big rich blend, but very harmonious on the palette. On the nose citrus and tropical fruit with brown sugar and river stone. The blanc and gris combine flavors to make a very strong Alsatian grand cru style blend. A lingering finish seems to Drift on and on with medium+ French oak treatment. Definitely a winner for the alt white section. The river stones really come back on the finish. Yum — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.4

In adolescent mode right now. All about the fruit and there is lots of it. Will be fun to have this at least ten years from now. — 10 years ago