WOTY: My first Yquem. Starting out with my cellar, I said “NFW would I pick up a half bottle of dessert wine at that price… not matter how good it was”. One tasting later and my Visa card is the proud owner of more than a couple…
DOTY: I’m gonna need to age my newly purchased burgs a decade more than I planned for…
Tiberio’s whites: Was at a tasting of stellar white burgundy producers’ 2015 early this year. Range of wines across from village to Premier Cru. Tiberio’s wines were served to start the evening and was the standout! Just wow!
Discovery of the year… it’s late breaking actually: we actually kind of “get” Italian wine now! It was hard won! Second place is that we found an Aussie wine we like that isn’t Riesling: Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz for $25 is decidedly not terrible!
Our WsOTY:
1998 Les Vins de Vienne Sotanum
1997 Drouhin Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes
2010 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvee 3.14
2007 GH Martel Champagne Victoire
2008 Vilmart La Coeur Cuvee
2015 Guigal Condrieu La Dorianne
2011 Sine Qua Non The Moment
1991 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
2002 Maison Champy Beaune 1er Cru Grèves
2014 Alain Verset Cornas
2012 Dom Laroche Chablis GC Les Clos
2014 Dom Laroche Chablis GC Blanchot Reserve de l’Obedience
2008 Larmandier Bernier GC Vieilles Vignes du Levant
2015 Camille Giroud Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaut St. Jacques
1991 Camille Giroud Beaune 1er Cru Les Greves
2012 Owen Roe Syrah Chapel Block
2013 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
2015 Evening Land Seven Springs Pinot Noir
2013 SVV Uriah
WOTY: I tasted the 2005 Yquem, but picked up '81, '01, '09, '10, '11, '15. '05 will be when credit card gets reset to zero.
DOTY: 1989 Faiveley Cazetiers, among other very aged burgs, has demonstrated to me my favorite burgs this year have been closer to 30 years aged versus 15.
WOTY - 1999 Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin. Still relatively new to exploring Burgundy, and wow, have never had anything like this.
DOTY - 2001 Chateau Montelena. I’ve mostly tasted modern/ripe/oaky Cali Cab, so tasting a classic producer with some age was a revelation. A core of delicious fruit that has the acidity to keep it fresh, and is surrounded by a lot of nice complexity (leather, soy, tobacco).
2014 Bouchard Montrachet
2014 Drouhin Montrachet
2010 Drouhin PM Folatieres
2014 Bouchard Meursault Perrieres
2001 Truchot Clos de la Roche
2014 Climens
2007 Taittinger Comte de Champagne
2010 Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtropfen GCA
2013 Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole
2000 Philipponnat Champagne Brut Clos des Goisses
1970 Chateau Latour
2017 Hudelot-Noellat Richebourg and Romanee St. Vivant
2017 Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux, Ruchottes Chambertin and Clos Vougeot
2002 and 2006 Dom Ruinart and 2004 Dom Ruinart Rose
Discoveries of the year. When in Burgundy this summer, I tasted at three estates where either I had not tasted any wines before. These were Heitz Lochardet, Clerget (at least I had not had any wines from Thibaud Clerget - the new generation) and Pierre Amiot. Amiot is an established small producer that is and has long been under the radar apparently making understated but top notch Burgundies in and around Morey St. Denis. Heitz and Clerget are run by young men who are on their way to becoming stars. Visit to Burgundy and Champagne - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers
2008 Shafer Hillside Select
1978 Rodney Strong Alexander’s Crown Vineyard Cabernet
NV Pol Roger from Salamanzar (simply for the delight of a 9L champagne bottle)