M invited to a bbq dinner, opened some fine bottles, and some of the guest also brought bottles. All tasted double blind.
2006 Blanc de Blancs Vieilles Vignes Extra Brut, Le Brun Servenay
A cool, bread filled nose with notes of lemon licorice, smoke and dry fudge. A fine spicy note after a while.
The taste is finely tuned with a hint of maturity, a fine lemon cream note, a tad bitterness in the finish.
89p (tasted 2025/07)
2009 Rossj-Bass, Gaja
A mature, stifled nose with notes of yellow pears, oli cloth and dried flowers. A tad heavy.
The taste is warm and full with notes of fried spices, dried pears and earth. Again, a tad heavy.
85p (tasted 2025/07)
2019 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly, Philippe Colin
A young, focused nose with notes of tangerines, cap gun smoke and ripe flowers. Gorgeous.
The taste is structured and fine with notes of dry caramel, white pepper and sweet minerals. Very long and distinct. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2025/07)
2023 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Virondot, Domaine Marc Morey
An outgoing, lush nose with notes of grilled lemons, popcorn and spices. Some oak notes. Very young.
The taste is large scaled and nicely focused with notes of ripe peach, smoke and warm grass. Very long. 7+ years.
92p (tasted 2025/07)
1961 Barolo Riserva, Borgogno
A mature, earthy nose with notes of dry violets, meat stock, autumn leaves and stale Coca-Cola.
The taste is warm and fine with notes of dried up cherry jam, wet earth and dry tobacco. A bit past its best but a nice drink.
86p (tasted 2025/07)
1978 Barolo Riserva, Prunotto
A deep, layered nose with notes of dried cherries, dried flowers, paint and Langhe earth. Very fine.
The taste is racy and fresh for its age with gorgeous fruit, still some perky tannins and a long, structured finish. On top of its game but bottles like this will go on for 10+ years.
93p (tasted 2025/07)
2007 Giusto di Notri, Tua Rita
A rich, concentrated nose with notes of asphalt, sweet violets, plums and ripe flowers. Intense and very fine.
The taste is taut and large scaled with notes of fried herbs, blackberries, pipe tobacco and dark chocolate. Very, very long. Still needs time. Lovely.
94p (tasted 2025/07)
2000 Château Pavie
A deep, complex nose with notes of expensive leather, ripe plums, tobacco and graphite. Gorgeous.
The taste is rich and concentrated with velvety black fruit, seamless tannins and a minute long finish. Great wine.
96p (tasted 2025/07)
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Da Capo, Domaine Pegau
A high, pure nose with notes of fried herbs, ripe raspberries, licorice and scorched earth. Very concentrated.
The taste is upfront and seedy with sweet rasberry/chocolate flavours and additional notes of tobacco, forest floor and spices. Very, very long. Highly drinkable now and the coming 10+ years.
95p (tasted 2025/07)
2002 Astralis, Clarendon Hills
I had this beauty pegged as a truly fine Cali Syrah, but it comes from another continent. Probably the best wine tasted so far this year.
The nose soars up from the glass with intensity, complexity and focus. Stunning notes of grilled meat, tar, blackberries, leather and some stables aromas. Bottomless deep.
The taste is taut and impressive with every knot and bolt in place. Notes of sweet violets, meat stock, iron, ripe blueberries and leather. The finish goes on forever. Faultless.
99p (tasted 2025/07)
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