A couple of weeks ago we had our semi annual tasting dinner in our tasting group. As ususal the table was filled with stunning food and beautiful wines.
Flight I
2004 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
A fine, elegant nose with notes of tangerines, biscuits, chalk and fresh flowers. Very fine.
The taste is juicy and fresh with notes of chives, tangerines, toasted bread and chrushed rocks. A fine acidity. 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2023/11)
2006 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
A deep, willful nose with notes of ginger, candied lemons, smoke and freshly baked bread. Lovely.
The taste is tight and complex with boatloads of yellow fruit, a crisp acidity and a long, long finish. 8+ years.
94p (tasted 2023/11)
2014 Cuvée Minerale Blanc de Blanc, Agrapart
A restrained, delicate nose with notes of lemon peel, cement, hay and chrushed rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is high and tight with notes of assorted nuts, lemon peel and lots of minerals. Structured. A tad bitter in the finish, needs time, 8+ years.
2012 Cuvée de Goulté Blanc de Noir, Marie-Noelle Ledru
A fine, somewhat mature nose with notes of smoke, ripe red apples, undergrowth and herbs. Very fine.
The taste is ample and balanced with notes of apples, almond paste, dried flowers and herbs. A lovely finish, drinking great now but could improve with 4+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/11)
Flight II
2009 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne, Louis Jadot
A deep, smoky nose with notes of lemon cream, yellow flowers, butter cookies and cut grass. A very fine nose.
The taste is creamy yet tight with sweet yellow fruit, a fine acidity and a long, warm finish. Some oak in the finish. Gorgeous.
93p (tasted 2023/11)
2009 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillon, Domaine Leflaive
A round, earthy nose with notes of cellar apples, moist autumn leaves and old tobacco. Muffled.
The taste is fat and dry and old with dry fruit and a warm, sparse finish. Not an ok bottle but drinkable with the food.
82p (tasted 2023/11)
2011 Ermitage de L´Orée, Chapoutier
A deep, focused nose with notes of ripe flowers, sandelwood, peach, vanilla ice cream and iodine. Very complex and fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with lovely fruit, an impeccable balance and a long, giving finish. Great wine.
96p (tasted 2023/11)
2014 L´Hermitage, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
A young, crisp nose with notes of spicy lemons, smoke, peach and chrushed rocks. Deep and fine.
The taste is high and pure with notes of grilled lemons, biscuits, smoke and iron. Intense and very fine. 6+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/11)
Flight III
2004 Barolo Brunate, Marengo
A deep, and a touch meaty nose with notes of dried raspberries, licorice and Langhe earth. Very fine.
The taste is structured and a tad mature with notes of hard cherry candy, licorice, earth and tobacco. Long and fine. 5+ years.
93p (tasted 2023/11)
2004 Barolo Vecchia Vigne Brunate, Marengo
A very deep, multi layered nose with notes of moist earth, even some truffles, raspberry licorice, tobacco and smoke. Just lovely.
The taste is racy and refined with gorgeous fruit, a taut structure and a long, lingering finish. Wonderful. 7+ years.
95p (tasted 2023/11)
2004 Barolo Piet Franco, Cappellano
A deep, finely tuned nose with notes of dried cherries, moist earth, mushrooms, a hint of dog fur and violets. Very refined and utterly gorgeous.
The taste is pure and intense with a hint of maturity, stunning red fruit and a finish that just goes on and on. A beautiful wine. One of the highlights of the year.
Since the
late Theobaldo didn´t want his wines to be scored, I never do (tasted 2023/11)
2004 Barolo Margheria, Azelia
A deep, herbal nose with notes of ripe cherries, dark licorice, Lange earth and cold coffee. Very fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of dried cherries, tobacco, fir wood and sweet minerals. Long and fine. 6+ years.
93p (tasted 2023/11)
Flight IV
1977 Vintage Port, Fonseca
A deep, fine nose with notes of cocoa, toasted almonds, nougat and fried herbs. A tad restrained though.
The taste is big and fiery with notes of raisins, charcoal, assorted nuts and asphalt. Very good but not really coherent. A surprise when the bottle was revealed, have had extraordinary bottles of this.
89p (tasted 2023/11)
40 year old Tawny, Quinta das Lamelas
A high, ethereal nose with notes of assorted nuts, hay, raisins, candied orange peel and iodine. Very complex and fine.
The taste is rich, concentrated and very, very long. Notes of damsons, bakelite, nuts and diesel oil. Just stunning.
94p (tasted 2023/11)