Best wines since the beginning of 2019

3 classic wines from nebbiolo :
Barolo Massolino Parussi 2011 : 18/20
Barolo Burlotto Acclivi 2013 : 18/20
Barolo Rinaldi Tre Tine 2011 : 18/20

2 great cabernet-franc, with the producer, in his cellar :
Bourgueil Lamé Delisle Boucard 1959 : 18,5/20
Bourgueil Lamé Delisle Boucard 1947 : 17,5/20

5 spanish andalousian gems :
Jerez (Xeres) : Amontillado VORS Tradicion « 30 anos » : 18/20
Jerez (Xeres) : Palo Cortado VORS Lustau : 18,5/20
Jerez (Xeres) : Oloroso VORS Tradicion « 30 anos » : 18/20
Jerez (Xeres) : VORS Equipo Navazos « La Bota de Pedro Ximenez Bota 76 » : 18/20
Montilla Morilles : PX Hors d’Age Toro Albala « Don PX Convento Seleccion 1929 » : 18,5/20

A great idiosyncratic botrytis :
Sauternes Rousset-Peyraguey Sélection 2007 (vin de voile) : 18/20

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and people accuse me of starting WOTY threads too early! [grin.gif]

I think the clubhouse leaders so far are 2004 Dagueneau Pur Sang and 1981 Chateau Montelena Montelena Estate Cab. Add in a 2016 Pichon-Comtesse and a 2007 Chateau Climens, but those may get pushed out of the WOTY list before the end of the year.

My First Quarter

  1. 1986 La Mission Haut Brion
  2. 2016 Bosquet des Papes - chante les merle VV
  3. 2011 Carter O.G.
  4. 2015 K Vintners Beautiful
  5. 2002 Suduiraut

Montervertine Pergole Torte Riserva 1990 - mindblowing
La Mission Haut-Brion 1989 - not a perfect bottle but still close to mindblowing
Krug 1990 - extremely good bottle of this, so fresh

Best young wine - Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2016 - wow

08 Lambrays
08 Dom

04 JL Chave
Krug Cuvee 166 - and I’m not a bubbles guy
85 Cos D’

Top 5 so far:

  1. 2009 Dauvissat Les Clos
  2. 1998 Jamet
  3. 2008 Hirtzberger Riesling Singerriedel
  4. 1986 Margaux
  5. 2010 Jamet

1996 Verset Cornas
2006 Gonon Vieille Vignes
2008 Roulot Mei Chavaux

Three real standouts so far this year,

2016 Meo-Camuzet Echezeaux
2004 Krug Clos du Mesnil
2017 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling ‘Rotlay’

1/2 bottle MV Krug Grand Cuvee 1998 base.

Yesteray :

18/20 - St-Emilion Figeac 1998 : a great wine, smoky like a Pessac, starting its life.

18,5/20 - Bertani Amarone della Valopolicella 2009 : Pure, deep, a great Amarone (I remember the magnificent 1962)

18/20 - Jumilla Casa Castillo Pie Franco 2016 : a great monastrell, shisty, precise, fresh, thin, very long

Strong start so far…
1919 Clos des Lambrays
2000 Allemand Sans Soufre
1961 René Morey Meursault Perrieres
1955 Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre
1955 Chanson Vosne Suchots
1992, 2002 and 2008 Raveneau Clos
2017 Keller G-Max and Pettenthal auction GG

For me,

2003 Truchot Clos de la Roche
2003 Truchot Charmes Chambertin
2003 Truchot GC Combottes
1996 Taittinger Comte de Champagne
2008 Ramonet CM Ruchottes
1978 La Mission Haut Brion

Wow … How was the 1919 ? (you noticed that i very recently tasted an amazing Bourgueil 1911, stored at the domain)
Btw, I had an interesting BAMA 1955 in a verticale, in 2013

16. Margaux : Château Bel Air-Marquis d’Aligre Grand Cru Exceptionnel 1955 (report by Pierre Citerne)
DS17 - PC17 - PR16,5 - LG16,5 - MS(14,5) - MF16 - FM16. Note moyenne : 16,2
Grande finesse aromatique, sur un fond plus végétal, tapis de feuilles mortes, prenantes notes de bois précieux, de cuirs, de truffe… Matière dominée par la vivacité, vivante, distinguée, au grain tannique marqué mais fin, au fruit plus resserré que court, même si la finale marque une certaine amertume.

So far:
2013 Shafer Relentless
2014 B Cellars Beckstoffer GIII
2014 Duckhorn Merlot Three Palms Vineyard
2013 Turley Zinfandel Dogtown Vineyard

The Relentless stood out from the the other three, tie for second between the GIII and Three Palms.

2001 Gruaud Larose
1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon

Admittedly, I’ve been drinking quite well since the beginning of the year but these are definitely the standouts so far in the order they were drank:

1995 Krug from mag
2008 Comte Liger Belair Vosne Romanee
1993 Comte de Vogue Chambolle Musigny
2007 Vatan Sancerre Clos la Néore
1960 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Classic Claret
2003 and 2008 PYCM Meursault Genevrieres
1996 Vilmart Coeur de Cuvee
1996 Anne Gros Richebourg
1995 Bartolo Mascarello Monprivato
1983 Dom P3 from mag (Bubbles of the year so far and top 3 all time)
1945 Clos Vougeot from an unknown producer
1959 Leoville Las Cases (Red of the year so far)
1990 Marcoux V.V.
1995 Clape Cornas
2007 and 2013 Dauvissat La Forest
1955 Nervi Gattinara
2004 Recaredo Turo d’En Mota
1995 Dagueneau Pur Sang (White of the year by a country mile and easily in my top 3 all time)

I have been dilatory in writing tasting notes this year, so I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few, but since what I normally drink clearly falls outside the scope of the sweet spot of most of the rest of you. I feel compelled to make an effort at a list.

2009 Rivers-Marie Panek
2018 Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
2013 Sine Qua Non (Female)
2010 Saxum Paderewski
2004 Valdicava Madonna Riserva
2005 Soldera Pegasos
A couple of sherries at Pings with Jay Miller but I can’t find the list.
1999 Meo-Camuzet NSG 1er Aux Boudots (Hey, great wine can be made everywhere, even in Burgundy). [cheers.gif]

1980 Sorrel le Meal
1975 L’Evangile
1983 Chave Hermitage
2006 g max
1978 Mount Eden
1953 Domaine de Chevalier

The 1919 is one of the best old Clos des Lambrays vintages I have tasted. It is not as ethereal or elegant as the 1923, rather it’s in the style of the 37 or 47 - broad, powerful and multidimensional, with incredible depth and dimension. Still full of life at age 100. I adore those unreconstructed red Burgundies.

I think my '55 BAMA was showing better than yours, with more fruit on the nose and palate and more integrated tannins. It is the only time I have tasted it, but I can’t believe it gets much better than the bottle we had. It wasn’t far from the level of the '55 Mouton, and certainly better than every bottle of the '55 Margaux I’ve drunk.

I am envious of your old Borgeuil experience. I can imagine that those could be thrilling.