Five of us got together to share a dozen bottles.
Champagne
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2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne
Expressive nose displaying sweet yellow fruit with a hint of pale red, candied lemon peel, fresh apple, a hint of cherry soda, oyster shell, brioche and limestone. Harmonious palate, finely layered sweet yellow fruit, sweet and ripe yet energetic, abundant very fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with oyster shell at the end. This particular bottle has reached the youthful peak, i.e. still not showing a lot of oyster jus and smoke but drinking beautifully. (97 pts.) -
2002 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut - France, Champagne
Consistent with the July example, fully mature example. Medium expressive nose displaying ripe yellow fruit, dry apricot, apple, a hint of burnt sugar, brioche, cinnamon and earthy mineral. Excellent concentration, packed ripe yellow fruit, medium abundant medium fine mousse, deeply toned, medium acidity and mineral, and a medium long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with burnt sugar at the end. This is a heavier, generous and deeper Cristal. (93 pts.) -
2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne - France, Champagne
Delicate yet expressive nose displaying fresh pure white fruit with a hint of yellow, pear, granny smith, lemon zest, white flower and crushed rock. Perfectly harmonious palate, finely layered pure white fruit, very fine generous mousse, elegant, refreshing and energetic, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral and a seamless long pure white fruit driven finish with lemon curd at the end. This particular example is very fresh and elegant. There seem to be a slight variation in the fruit expression, i.e. pure fresh white vs fresh yellow citrus. Drinking incredibly well. (98 pts.)
Chardonnay
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2012 Aubert Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons - USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Perfectly mature nose displaying very ripe yellow fruit, peach, a hint of pineapple, butterscotch, oak/cedar, caramel, oyster shell, a hint of mint and sweet spices. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of dense ripe yellow fruit, opulent, unctuous and deeply toned, medium acidity, low mineral and a long sweet ripe yellow fruit driven finish with oyster shell and butter scotch at the end. This has develop since I last had it in 2015. Drinking nicely. (94 pts.) -
2012 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Medium expression nose displaying concentrated pure white and yellow fruit, lemon curd, candied lemon, a hint of white peach, sea breeze, mountain stream, beeswax and wet stone. Excellent concentration, slightly coiled concentration white and yellow fruit, dense and oily but also showing good precision and focus, medium acidity and strong mineral, and a long cool white fruit driven finish with honey and beeswax at the end. Clearly not the classic definition of Chablis coming from the 12, but a classic Raveneau. This is drinking well at the moment. (94 pts.) -
2012 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Classic Chablis nose displaying slightly coiled citrus fruit, lemon oil, white flowers, rainwater and strong wet stone. Excellent concentration, coiled concentration, a lot of dry extract, dense yet cool and focused, bright acidity and strong limestone mineral, and a long coiled citrus fruit driven finish. I have had my fair share of premoxed Dauvissat. This is fresh, a classic Chablis. (94 pts.)
Pinot
The Marcassin was technically flawed.
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2012 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Directly sourced from the winery. I hope this is not a representative bottle as it is technically flawed and undrinkable. Totally suppressed fruit and stewed. Need to try another example but I am in no hurry. NR (flawed) -
2012 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton
Very clean nose displaying ripe Pinot fruit, cranberry, grape candy, Welch’s, tree bark, dark spices and earth. Good concentration, medium acidity, earthy and a medium long finish with grape candy at the end. A bit straightforward but showing good Pinot typicity. (90 pts.) -
2012 Aubert Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Expressive nose displaying ripe red and black fruit, blackberry jam, strawberry candy, tree bark, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, packed candied black and red fruit, opulent and sweet, medium acidity, medium earthy mineral and a medium to long ripe black and red fruit driven finish. Only a slight hint of heat. Pretty nice showing, certainly best wine of the flight. (93 pts.)
Ferrando Carema
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2007 Ferrando Carema White Label (Etichetta Bianca) - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Carema
Beautifully mature nose displaying warm sweet red fruit, cherry, strawberry, cinnamon, cedar, rose and earth. Fully integrated palate, shy sweet red fruit, warm and round, soft tannins and a medium to long warm red fruit driven finish with cedar and anise at the end. Drinking well. (93 pts.) -
2007 Ferrando Carema Black Label (Etichetta Nera) - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Carema
Expressive youthful nose displaying mostly black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, a hint of strawberry, dark spices, licorice and earth. Very good concentration, nicely layered concentrated black fruit, sweet and dense, medium acidity and mineral, fine tannins and a medium to long ripe black fruit driven finish with licorice at the end. This is bigger and darker than the white label. (94 pts.)
Clos des Lambrays
This is coming together beautifully.
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1999 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru
Expressive nose displaying intense ripe black fruit, blackberry concentrated, raspberry, starting to show a hint of sous bois, dark spices and earthy mineral. Impressive concentration, layers upon layers of ripe black fruit, unctuous, deeply toned and rich, bright acidity and earthy mineral, and a long ripe concentrated black fruit driven finish with sous bois and dark spices at the end. This bottle is starting to show sous bois/maturity. This can easily improve for two more decades. (96 pts.)
Beerenauslese
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1971 Weingut Gustav Gessert Niersteiner Auflangen Riesling Beerenauslese - Germany, Rheinhessen
Beautifully mature nose displaying slightly dry yellow fruit, apricot preserve, dry peach, dry apricot, caramel, nutmeg, sweet spices and honey. Beautifully integrated palate, layers upon layers of dry yellow fruit, intense yet silky and airy, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with sweet spices at the end. Really exceptional palate. (95 pts.)
A great time was had by all.
Posted from CellarTracker