If you want to impress a Somm with a bottle of wine, bring a Grand Cru Gamay. I hate using the term Beaujolais. It gives a lot of people the lesser impression of Beaujolais Nouveau which, equates to the impression left by Blue Nun in the 70’s/early 80’s and Yellow Tail in and around 2000.
This is one of my favorite producers of Gamay, a member of the “Gang of Four”; Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard & Breton. There is a fifth honoree member to the “Gang of Four”, Yvon Metras, who I enjoy equally. If you want to finally appreciate this varietal, look for one of these producers from Morgan or Fleurie.
The nose reveals; dark cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, blueberry hues, spearmint, granitic minerals/soil, dark berry cola, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, a whiff of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets.
The body is full, rich and guides over the palate. It shows some tannins. The structure & tension are still big. The length and balance are at the beginnings of truly rounding into butterfly form. Still will benefit from 5 plus years in bottle. Bright red florals are far more pronounced on the palate. Ripe/bright; dark tart cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, half baked rhubarb with lovely blueberry hues, blood orange & dry raisins. Spearmint, tree sap, granitic minerals/soil pressed in to the palate, dark berry cola, orange peel, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, hints of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets. The acidity is like a warm summer rain shower. The long, rich, ripe, well balanced, elegant finish is nicely persistent for minutes.
12% ABV 👍
Photos of; Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Marcel Lapierre (may he RIP-2010), Marcel’s son and current Winemaker-Matheiu Lapierre and their Morgan Vineyard.
— 6 years ago
Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!
As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍
🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎
🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel
👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones
🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger — 7 years ago
One of my favs I love all of Dave Matthews wine — 9 years ago
Really special, still plenty of life, eternal tannins and acidity — 10 years ago
Bright, fresh, tons of life left in it. Great fruit, crisp acid, silky tannins. Yum! — 10 years ago
Amazing, still has a ton of life. — 12 years ago
This was the last bottle from a case I bought in about 1997. Over the 29 years since the wine was made, the noteworthy tar and tobacco notes that Pontet Canet is known for softened to an ashy-ness that is a softer version of a Mouton Rothschild. Still plenty of life left in this outstanding vintage, but the wine won't improve much (if at all) from this point. I enjoyed this bottle with Lucas Comfort, a day after his 29th birthday (1990). — 6 years ago
One of my favorites. Just the right amount of fruit, wood, and terroir. A bit acidic but not too much. Pairs nicely with cheese and charcuterie. — 7 years ago
Great now but plenty of life left#1000bottles2017 — 8 years ago
#KWN Wine 7. Obvious Bordeaux from the bouquet. Full of life and energy. Full-bodied and unctuous, bursting with blackberry, mineral, barnyard, Haro's gym socks, mushroom and leather flavors. So smooth. Like drinking liquid silk. Damn close to perfection. After much reflection, not just the #WOTN but the best wine I have ever tasted. Moff you have earned the right to attend another #KWN. — 9 years ago
The first vintage release from Harlan estate. Now I can say I have been lucky to try every vintage of this wine. Long finish, with a lot less of a ripe attack than anticipated. Long life ahead of this wine made in a different era in napa. #timetraveling — 10 years ago
1934 Château Margaux
Top shoulder fill. Semi-opaque at the core, almost like an old burgundy with its brownish hews. Beautiful and graceful bouquet of roses, raspberries that have been baked, very elegant and healthy nose. At first very dry, with the fruit barely hanging on for dear life, but after 15 minutes in the decanted it comes alive with sweet fruit, high acidity and just a kiss of tannin. This is very complex and sublime for about a period of 20-40 minutes, what else could you ask for from a 80 year old bottle of wine.
THANKS DAVE !!
50-5-12-13-5=85+ — 11 years ago
The 1982 Chateau Léoville-Barton red wine is a stunning bottling from this famed vintage in Bordeaux. Generously shared by some friends, and needing very little time in the decanter to evolve, the 1982 Léoville-Barton opens with a captivating nose of sour red cherry, cigar box with shades of white truffle and a striking herbaceousness. There is a wonderful, seamless quality to this wine that evokes a harmonious balance on the mid-palate. A bright saline streak dashes through this incredible wine. Showing a wonderfully soft mouthfeel, the wine slowly unveils layers of sour red fruits, exotic spices, red bell pepper, anise and hints of wild blackberry that all marvelously combine with the toasty oak. While absolutely delightful now, this stunning wine will has more than a decade of life left. Drink 2019-2035- 95
— 6 years ago
A delicious fineness wine...truly a California Bordeaux. Nice balance, great structure, and many more years of life left in this one... — 7 years ago
This has so much life left in it. Tastes like dark berries that got covered in dust after a rainstorm. Hints of vanilla and spices. Really well integrated tannins. An awesome wine. — 7 years ago
Best wine of my life thus far — 7 years ago
Without a doubt the wine of my life. Elegant, dried cranberries, cigar box, beechnut tobacco, great texture. A truly magnificent bottle. 1/100 that would be perfect. — 8 years ago
Very nice. Jus enough hint of sweet — 9 years ago
Lots of life left in this wine. What a treat. From 3 liter. #josephphelps biased review — 9 years ago
Tasted like it still has plenty of life left. What a graceful and elegant bottle. — 10 years ago
Still a lot of life! Nice fruit with smokey finish. Open that bottle night 2015 — 10 years ago
Fresh strawberry and rhubarb with a hint of spice; very smooth — 11 years ago
Raj Harb
A life affirming bottle of wine. — 5 years ago