California |
Sine Qua Non |
2006 |
11 Confessions Mixed Case (4xSITD-S, 2xITCH-G)
|
3 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£4,200 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2013 |
Alma
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Alma
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Alma
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£180 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Jonata |
2015 |
Alma
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£100 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Jonata |
2015 |
Alma
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£600 |
|
|
94 |
Italy |
|
2010 |
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£185 |
Rating
93
Release Price
$65
Drink Date
2017 - 2028
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
28th Feb 2017
Source
229, The Wine Advocate
Altesino is now celebrating the release of its 40th harvest. In fact, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is inscribed with the words "our 40th Harvest" in gold letters on its front label. This is a truly delicious wine that exceeds my expectations. I love the way it takes full command of the slightly bolder and more opulent dark fruit aromas produced in this hot vintage. Black cherry, plum and crème de cassis converge on the bouquet. Grilled herb, forest floor, licorice and exotic spice play supporting roles. The finish offers moderate acidity on the Sangiovese scale. This means the wine is mush fresher and more tonic than most Tuscan reds. The finish is long and silky.
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
Spain |
|
1994 |
Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita
[Duty Paid] |
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£400 |
Rating
97
Release Price
$150 - 200
Drink Date
2003 - 2020
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
30th Apr 1998
Source
116, The Wine Advocate
For L'Ermita, the 1994 is the current vintage in the marketplace; quantities are absurdly small. The color is a saturated inky/purple, and the soaring nose provides thrilling levels of sweet blackberry and cherry liqueur-like fruit. In spite of being full-bodied, massive, and huge, it manages to not taste heavy despite its gargantuan proportions of fruit, glycerin, tannin, and extract. This chewy, glycerin-imbued, phenomenally intense wines possesses all the component parts necessary to become a modern-day legend. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020.
Tasting Notes |
|
97 |
Red Bordeaux |
|
2000 |
Angelus
|
1 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£4,920 |
Parker Score - 97 The finest effort since the 1989 and 1990, this dense purple-colored wine has an extravagantly ripe, concentrated style. The 2000 (in a new engraved bottle) offers up aromas of blackberry liqueur and vintage port. As the wine sits in the glass, graphite, wet stones, smoke, barbecue spices, and olives also make an appearance. It unfolds on the palate in layers, is full-bodied, big and rich yet incredibly poised, well-balanced, and pure. Quite backward, this is one of the greatest Angelus made to date. Yields were a modest 35 hectoliters per hectare. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030. Bravo!
Tasting Notes |
|
97 |
Red Bordeaux |
|
1989 |
Angelus
[Duty Paid] |
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£360 |
A great Angélus and one of the two or three best wines of the vintage made under the talented young Hubert de Bouard, this wine still has a youthful, saturated ruby/purple color and a sweet nose of melted licorice intermixed with crème de cassis, tapenade, cedar, spice box, and vanilla. Very full-bodied, opulent, and rich, it is one of the 1989s that justifies the lofty reputation of the vintage. Extremely thick, this wine can be drunk now or cellared for at least another 10-15 years.
Score: 96 Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003
The 1989 possesses a huge finish, with more noticeable tannin than in the 1990. Picking a favorite between these two fabulous examples of their respective vintages is - for me - presently impossible. I will probably end up drinking the 1990 before the 1989, but both are 25-30 year wines, with the 1989 possibly reaching full maturity in 5-6 years and the 1990 needing several more years of cellaring. Last tasted, 11/96.
Score: 96 Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (3), November 1998
Tasted at Farr Vintners’ vertical from ex-chateau magnum. One of the finest vintages made at the estate, the Chateau Angelus 1989 has a very intense, powerful bouquet with blackberry, cedar, cooked meat and a little Christmas cake. Whereas the 1990 gives you everything up front, the 1989 is far more coquettish and takes time to unfold. The palate is very smooth on the entry, beautifully balanced with filigree tannins. There is an edginess to the 1989, much more feminine with a touch of truffle, coca and pepper on the finish. Wonderful, a wine at its peak, although it shows no signs of flagging. Tasted October 2011. Drink 2015-2035.
Score: 97
Tasting Notes |
|
97 |
California |
Ramey |
2012 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£140 |
|
|
95 |
California |
Ramey |
2013 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon
|
3 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£300 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Ramey |
2013 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon
|
5 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£110 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Ramey |
2014 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£330 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Ramey |
2014 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
150cl |
£720 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Verite |
2008 |
Assortment
|
3 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£690 |
|
|
|
California |
Verite |
2012 |
Assortment
|
2 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£590 |
|
|
|
Red Bordeaux |
|
2014 |
Ausone
|
1 |
Case |
3 |
150cl |
£2,050 |
Rating
95
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2022 - 2045
Reviewed by
Neal Martin
Issue Date
31st Mar 2017
Source
Interim End of March 2017, The Wine Advocate
The 2014 Ausone, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, was matured in barrel for 20 months with 85% new oak. Compared to the Chapelle d'Ausone, this Grand Vin demanded gentle coaxing from the glass. It eventually unfurls to reveal mineral-rich red berry fruit, oregano, orange blossom and later on blackcurrant winegums. It displays superb delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin. There is an almost sorbet-like freshness conferred upon this Saint Emilion by the growing season, very harmonious and poised with one of the most precise and tensile finishes that you will find this vintage. One of the stars of the vintage, this may merit a higher score with bottle age. This is a great success.
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
California |
Penville |
2013 |
Ballard Canyon Grenache
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£50 |
|
|
|
Italy |
|
2010 |
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
150cl |
£5,850 |
Rating
96+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2017 - 2038
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
26th Jun 2014
Source
213, The Wine Advocate
The 2010 Barolo is a singularly elegant expression that benefits from extremely long maceration time (up to 54 days) and a non-interventionists’ winemaking philosophy. The wine is superb in its elegance and finesse that caresses the palate in the most delicate and ethereal manner imaginable. Small fruit tones are enhanced by ash, crushed mineral, licorice and dried mint. Because of changes in how Barolo can be labeled, the wine no longer carries the names of the four single-vineyards that make up the traditional blend for this wine (Canubbi, San Lorenzo, Rue and Rocche di La Morra). Instead, this historic wine is now labeled straightforward “Barolo.” Drink: 2017-2038.
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Armagnac |
|
1910 |
Bas-Armagnac Dumoureau, Ets Alexander
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£1,850 |
|
|
|
White Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2016 |
Batard Montrachet
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£1,275 |
Strong reduction masks the fruit at present. On the plus side there is lovely verve and freshness to the rich and full-bodied yet, curiously, even finer flavors that are very tightly wound thanks to the firm core of citrus-tinged acidity shaping the serious, classy and hugely impressively persistent finish. This too is definitely going to require extended cellaring before it reaches its peak. Drink 2028+
Score: 91/94 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (71), June 2018
Cask sample. Oak more evident here than on the Corton-Charlemagne. More spice and cedar on the nose and palate. Has a definite sour/citrus creamy freshness but seems less subtle than the Corton. Just a touch sour on the aftertaste; big and long. Drink between 2024-2030.
Score: 17.5 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, November 2017
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
White Burgundy |
Verget |
1996 |
Batard Montrachet
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£160 |
|
|
|
White Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2019 |
Batard Montrachet
|
2 |
Case |
3 |
150cl |
£1,735 |
The 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a more nuanced and mineral-driven bouquet compared to the Bienvenues. It unfurls with green apple and dewy meadow scents, displaying fine definition. The well-balanced palate is quite spicy and vibrant, delivering a fine bead of acidity and more penetration than the Bienvenues on the finish. There is a captivating spicy aftertaste, too. Give this 4 to 5 years in bottle.
-- Neal Martin (92-94) Neal Martin 2024 - 2045
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
White Burgundy |
Leflaive V. |
2018 |
Batard Montrachet
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£1,100 |
Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a textural, elegantly muscular wine evocative of pear, toasted almonds, white flowers, peach and vanilla pod. Layered and powerful, it concludes with a long, saline finish. It's more dramatic and broader-shouldered than the suave, seamless Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet this year.
Score: 95 William Kelley, RobertParker.com, January 2021
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
White Burgundy |
Leflaive V. |
2018 |
Batard Montrachet
|
1 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£1,575 |
Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a textural, elegantly muscular wine evocative of pear, toasted almonds, white flowers, peach and vanilla pod. Layered and powerful, it concludes with a long, saline finish. It's more dramatic and broader-shouldered than the suave, seamless Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet this year.
Score: 95 William Kelley, RobertParker.com, January 2021
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
White Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2019 |
Batard Montrachet
|
2 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£855 |
The 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a more nuanced and mineral-driven bouquet compared to the Bienvenues. It unfurls with green apple and dewy meadow scents, displaying fine definition. The well-balanced palate is quite spicy and vibrant, delivering a fine bead of acidity and more penetration than the Bienvenues on the finish. There is a captivating spicy aftertaste, too. Give this 4 to 5 years in bottle.
-- Neal Martin (92-94) Neal Martin 2024 - 2045
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
White Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2015 |
Batard Montrachet
|
4 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£1,250 |
Tasting note: Notes of honey, petrol, white orchard fruit and various floral scents serve as an elegant introduction to the caressing and wonderfully seductive big-bodied flavors that display both excellent volume and power on the muscular, dense and superbly persistent finale. This is not an especially refined vintage for this wine but should mature into a real beauty if given a chance.
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Red Burgundy |
Drouhin Joseph |
2019 |
Beaune 1er Cru Cras
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£300 |
2019 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Beaune Cras 1er Cru
The 2019 Beaune Cras 1er Cru has a very distinctive bouquet ,with granite, almost flinty aromas infusing the red berry fruit. A strong marine influence emerges with time. The palate is beautifully balanced, displaying fine delineation, good firm structure and a solid, quite edgy finish that feels crunchy in texture. Abundant freshness here. This Beaune should give 12–15 years’ drinking pleasure. Excellent.
-- Neal Martin (91-93) Neal Martin 2023 - 2038 Not Available Dec 2020
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
Red Burgundy |
Hospices de Beaune |
2012 |
Beaune 1er Cru Cuvee Maurice Drouhin
[elevage by Faiveley] |
5 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£395£360 |
|
|
|
White Burgundy |
Drouhin Joseph |
2008 |
Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
300cl |
£375 |
Tasting note: A very subtle reductive character knocks down the expressiveness of the lemon and pretty white flower aromas so I would strongly suggest decanting this for 20 to 30 minutes first. The detailed, pure and lightly mineral-driven flavors possess really lovely balance and fine length. If there is a nit it is that this doesn't possess the complexity of the best 1ers here though the track record of this wine is such that I wouldn't bet against it developing materially more complexity in the bottle.
Tasting Notes |
|
90 |
White Burgundy |
Drouhin Joseph |
2019 |
Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc
[Due late 2021] |
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£500 |
Blanc Beaune Clos des Mouches 1er Cru
The 2019 Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc 1er Cru, which is a selection from six different tries through the vineyard, has an intense nose, slightly Alsace-like in style thanks to a hint of linseed oil intermingling with yellow plum and orange blossom. The palate is well balanced with a tensile opening. Lovely orange pith and nectarine notes here. Not a voluminous wine, but very focused on the finish. Excellent.
-- Neal Martin (91-93) Neal Martin 2022 - 2036 Not Available Dec 2020
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
White Burgundy |
Drouhin Joseph |
2018 |
Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc
|
3 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£460 |
Jancis Robinson - Total vineyard area is 7 ha and picked over several days. Some barrels declassified to Côte de Beaune this year. Cask sample.
Intense and lightly spiced nose. Gorgeously open mealy/lees creamy citrus. Fills the mouth with generous and creamy fruit. Moreish and fresh but with the rounded character of the vintage. Tight, precise and yet clothed in lees-rich texture and has power and depth – relatively soft though. (JH)
Tasting Notes |
|
17 |
Red Burgundy |
Bouchard Pere |
2019 |
Beaune Greves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus
|
2 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£1,030 |
Rating
(92 - 94)+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
NA
Reviewed by
William Kelley
Issue Date
14th Jan 2021
Source
January 2021 Week 2, The Wine Advocate
The 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus unwinds in the glass with notes of plums, cassis, loamy soil, black truffle, spices and incense. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with bright acids, ultra-refined tannins and a long, penetrating finish. This is the latest in a series of superb renditions of this cuvée, and it may be the finest of them all.
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Red Bordeaux |
|
2014 |
Belair Monange
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£315 |
Rating
92
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2020 - 2038
Reviewed by
Neal Martin
Issue Date
31st Mar 2017
Source
Interim End of March 2017, The Wine Advocate
The 2014 Belair-Monange was a slightly perplexing wine when I tasted it from barrel, so I was intrigued to discover how it would perform now in bottle. It has what you might describe as a "straight-laced" bouquet: very direct and nicely delineated, albeit without the frills and nuances of some of the best Saint Emilion wines this vintage. There is an attractive wilted rose petal aroma that emerges with aeration, but I was seeking more intensity. The palate is better than the aromatics: silky smooth in texture, well-judged acidity, genuine depth and gentle grip in the mouth. There is tangible mineralité here, great focus with a sense of tension and "bite" towards the finish. I was probably being parsimonious with my score in barrel, although that is partly vindicated by the nose that needs to get its act together and match the potential of the palate. Let's see how this develops over the next few years.
Tasting Notes |
|
92 |
California |
Peter Michael |
2005 |
Belle Fille Chardonnay
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£100 |
Rating 94+
Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date 28th Dec 2007
Source 174, The Wine Advocate
Again, orange blossoms, hazelnuts, brioche, smoke, and honeysuckle along with some peach notes are present in the full-bodied, beautifully well-delineated, pure, zesty 2005 Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille. There are only 1,600 cases of this wine, which has superb uplift and vibrancy. This 121-acre estate with 114 producing acres of vineyard all located in Knight’s Valley continues to be at the top of their game and I can’t recommend the wines highly enough. I was surprised when I showed up at Peter Michael to find both Nicolas Morlet, who replaced his brother Luc, and Luc Morlet himself, were at my tasting. It seems that Luc is still doing consulting work with his brother firmly entrenched at the winery. This is still one of the best-run wineries in the world, and one might quibble over the fact that there are so many different cuvees of Chardonnay, but they are all subtly different in style/personality. The Morlets proclaimed to me that essentially there is very little difference in the character of the Chardonnays in 2005 and 2006, except they thought the acid levels were slightly higher in 2005 and the 2006s were riper. In any event, these are sensational Chardonnays, and readers couldn’t go wrong no matter which one they buy. Previously recommended: 2005 Sauvignon Blanc l’Apres Midi (93), 2004 Chardonnay Point Rouge (95+), 2004 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir (94), 2004 Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille (94), 2004 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene (97), 2004 Chardonnay La Carriere (95), 2004 Chardonnay Belle Cote (95). Tel. (707) 942-3200; Fax (707) 942-0209
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Red Bordeaux |
|
2016 |
Belle-Brise, Pomerol
|
1 |
Case |
3 |
150cl |
£650 |
|
|
|
Red Bordeaux |
|
2016 |
Belle-Brise, Pomerol
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£650 |
|
|
|
Southern France |
|
1945 |
Besombes Rivesaltes Cuvee Amedee
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£55 |
|
|
|
California |
Bryant |
2012 |
Bettina
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£2,200 |
|
|
96 |
California |
Bevan Cellars |
2005 |
Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Showtek
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£280 |
|
|
93 |
Italy |
|
2001 |
Bibi Graetz Testamatta
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
300cl |
£480 |
Rating 93
Reviewed by Daniel Thomases
Issue Date 26th Apr 2004
Source 152, The Wine Advocate
The 2001 Testamatta, a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Colorino, is a very full and firm ruby, and its expansive nose of red currant and plum fruit, underbrush, Mediterranean herbs, and sweet oak, is matched by rich, round flavors of ripe red fruit, vanilla, and seared oak. Already quite approachable, it has the stuffing to last for another decade and a half.
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
White Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2012 |
Bienvenues Batard Montrachet
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
300cl |
£695 |
Tasting note: This is also quite elegant with its equally spicy nose of honeysuckle, yellow and white orchard fruit and citrus elements. There is a lovely vibrancy to the concentrated and relatively large-scaled flavors that possess good power on the markedly dry and somewhat compact edgy finish. As with the Combettes my predicted range offers the benefit of the doubt that the finish will flesh out and the dryness will dissipate with time.
Tasting Notes |
|
92 |
White Burgundy |
Bachelet, Jean Claude |
2015 |
Bienvenues Batard Montrachet
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£1,700 |
Domaine Jean-Claude Bachelet
2015
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet
Grand Cru White barrel
Score: 92-94
Tasted: Jun 11, 2017
Drink: 2023+
Issue: 67
Note: from a tiny .09 ha parcel
Producer note: Brothers Benoit and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet called 2015 an "easy and relatively straight forward vintage that gave us good yields in white but very small volumes in red. Overall, we had about the same volume as we did in 2013 and 2014 but the proportions are not at all the same. This is to say that the pinot came in between 20 and 25 hl/ha and the chardonnay between 40 and 45 hl/ha. We picked from the 2nd to the 8th of September and brought in ripe and beautifully healthy grapes that averaged between 12.8 and 13.5% potential alcohols in white with slightly lower amounts in red. The reds are really quite lovely and we picked early enough to have a good compromise between ripeness levels and freshness. They should age reasonably well yet be satisfying young." I found the quality of the Bachelet 2015 whites to definitely rise above what I found elsewhere in the Côte d'Or. (David Bowler Wine, www.bowlerwine.com, NY, Wine Warehouse, CA, www.winewarehouse.com, Classified Wine & Spirits, LLC, www.classifiedwine.net, TX and Elite Wines Imports, 703.339.8150, VA, all USA; Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, UK; Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com/hk, Hong Kong).
Tasting note: Once again the backward nose is largely dominated by reductive notes. Otherwise there is a lovely sense of refinement to the sleek, intense and concentrated medium weight flavors that possess outstanding depth and persistence on the citrus-tinged finale. This too should reward up to a decade of cellaring yet it's not so tightly wound that it could not be approached after only a few years of cellaring.
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
White Burgundy |
Boillot, Henri |
2009 |
Bienvenues Batard Montrachet
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£2,100 |
Tasting note: This is also quite ripe but less overtly so and remains notably more elegant with its expressive nose of honeysuckle, acacia blossom, pear and apple aromas. In accordance with the superior freshness, there is a bit more energy as well with a solid acid spine shaping the delicious and extract-rich medium weight plus flavors that possess excellent density on the vibrant, mouth coating and strikingly long finish. In a word, terrific.
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
White Burgundy |
Colin-Morey |
2009 |
Bienvenues Batard Montrachet
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£2,640 |
|
|
|
Champagne |
|
1996 |
Billecart Salmon Clos St Hilaire Blanc de Noirs
[individual owc] |
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£375 |
Rating
96
Release Price
$175
Drink Date
2008 - 2010
Reviewed by
Antonio Galloni
Issue Date
22nd Dec 2008
Source
180, The Wine Advocate
The estate’s 1996 Clos Saint-Hilaire emerges from a one hectare plot that was planted with 100% Pinot Noir in 1964. This golden-hued wine flows from the glass with extraordinary elegance. Delicate notes of biscuit, honey, acacia and roasted nuts are woven into a mousse of sublime refinement. Notes of white pepper, honey, pear and minerals appear on a finish that frames the wine with superb harmony. In 1998 the fermentations were extremely slow, and this wine saw no malolactic fermentation. This is an exceptionally fine, seamless Champagne that is a must-have wine for those lucky enough to find it . Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. Billecart-Salmon, based in Mareuil-sur-Ay, makes wines in a style that is all about timeless elegance. These Champagnes are characterized by their supreme balance. All of the 2008 vins claires I tasted showed remarkable harmony and transparency of site. Much of the aromatic complexity of the wines can be attributed to a preference towards cold temperatures in fermentation, which keeps the wines fresh. The domaine uses Burgundian oak barrels for a portion of the wines. The exact amount of batonnage and malolactic fermentation depend on the vintage. Prior to being bottled the wines are blended in a large steel tank to insure consistency, something the estate takes very seriously. In general the non-vintage wines receive 7-9 grams of dosage, while the vintage wines have 5-7 grams, depending on the year. Among current releases, I found the 1998s to be brilliant, while the 2000s, from a much more challenging growing season, come across as less refined. The estate does not disclose disgorgement dates, but a code on the foil wrapping can be traced back to a date.
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Italy |
|
1990 |
Biondi Santi, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Greppo
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£450 |
|
|
|
Madeira |
|
1977 |
Blandy's Bual
[original gift box] |
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£95 |
|
|
|
Champagne |
|
2007 |
Bollinger Grande Annee
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
300cl |
£295 |
Rating
94+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2019 - 2037
Reviewed by
William Kelley
Issue Date
30th Apr 2019
Source
Issue 242 End of April 2019, The Wine Advocate
From a bottle disgorged in March 2017, Bollinger's 2007 La Grande Année is showing brilliantly, offering up a superb bouquet of lemon oil, confit citrus, almond paste, iodine, walnut oil and freshly baked bread. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, broad-shouldered and powerful in this frequently rather slender vintage, with excellent concentration, a deep and tightly wound core and a precise, chalky finish.
There are plenty of projects afoot at Bollinger, as chef des caves Gilles Descotes explained to me during my early April visit—my first in some years to this important Aÿ-based domaine. One of the most important changes is that Bollinger has entirely abandoned the use of herbicides for four years now, an initiative that began with the impulse to rehabilitate their famed red wine monopole, La Côte aux Enfants, and which was gradually rolled out across all their holdings. Their facilities have expanded too, to make space for more barrels to insure a sufficiently abundant supply of wood-fermented base wine from the Special Cuvée in years when Grande Année is also produced. And the still red Coteaux Champennois from La Côte aux Enfants is returning to the range, from 2015 vinified separately from the red wines destined to rosé production, with some whole clusters added to the cuves. Descotes also has been working to better manage Bollinger's gently oxidative style, and while fermentation and maturation in old wood still lends Bollinger its strong and distinctive style, oxygen inputs at other stages in the winemaking process are more carefully controlled, resulting in more consistency and structural tension—a trend exemplified by the brilliant 2008 Grande Année (97+), which I reviewed last month. There's so much more to say about this house, but much of that can wait for an in-depth article in a future issue. For the time being, it's sufficient to note that all these recent releases come warmly recommended.
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Champagne |
|
2007 |
Bollinger Grande Annee
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£360 |
Rating
94+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2019 - 2037
Reviewed by
William Kelley
Issue Date
30th Apr 2019
Source
Issue 242 End of April 2019, The Wine Advocate
From a bottle disgorged in March 2017, Bollinger's 2007 La Grande Année is showing brilliantly, offering up a superb bouquet of lemon oil, confit citrus, almond paste, iodine, walnut oil and freshly baked bread. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, broad-shouldered and powerful in this frequently rather slender vintage, with excellent concentration, a deep and tightly wound core and a precise, chalky finish.
There are plenty of projects afoot at Bollinger, as chef des caves Gilles Descotes explained to me during my early April visit—my first in some years to this important Aÿ-based domaine. One of the most important changes is that Bollinger has entirely abandoned the use of herbicides for four years now, an initiative that began with the impulse to rehabilitate their famed red wine monopole, La Côte aux Enfants, and which was gradually rolled out across all their holdings. Their facilities have expanded too, to make space for more barrels to insure a sufficiently abundant supply of wood-fermented base wine from the Special Cuvée in years when Grande Année is also produced. And the still red Coteaux Champennois from La Côte aux Enfants is returning to the range, from 2015 vinified separately from the red wines destined to rosé production, with some whole clusters added to the cuves. Descotes also has been working to better manage Bollinger's gently oxidative style, and while fermentation and maturation in old wood still lends Bollinger its strong and distinctive style, oxygen inputs at other stages in the winemaking process are more carefully controlled, resulting in more consistency and structural tension—a trend exemplified by the brilliant 2008 Grande Année (97+), which I reviewed last month. There's so much more to say about this house, but much of that can wait for an in-depth article in a future issue. For the time being, it's sufficient to note that all these recent releases come warmly recommended.
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Champagne |
|
2012 |
Bollinger Grande Annee Rose
|
3 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£500 |
|
|
|
Red Bordeaux |
|
1998 |
Bon Pasteur
|
1 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£1,080 |
Rating
91
Release Price
$50
Drink Date
2001 - 2016
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
23rd Apr 2001
Source
134, The Wine Advocate
The dense purple-colored 1998 boasts a beautifully rich, complex perfume of blackberries, plums, lead pencil, cherries, mocha, and caramel. Powerful and rich, with a multilayered texture, and an opulent, viscous finish revealing enough sweet tannin for definition, this is a terrific, full-bodied, seamless effort from one of the world's greatest winemakers. Anticipated maturity: now-2016.
Tasting Notes |
|
91 |
Red Burgundy |
Bouchard Pere |
2015 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£2,350 |
|
|
|
Red Burgundy |
Dujac |
2013 |
Bonnes Mares
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£470 |
Deep red. Pungent cherry, licorice and wild herbs on the nose, lifted by exhilarating treble notes of blood orange and peony. Sharply delineated and tightly wound, dominated by its structure today. A more savory style than either the Clos Saint-Denis or Clos de la Roche, with dark berry, mineral and wild herb flavors carrying impressively on the extremely long, saline aftertaste.
-- Stephen Tanzer
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2005 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
300cl |
£1,950 |
Tasting note: A notably ripe red and blue berry fruit nose is nuanced by chalk, minerals and abundant spice notes that continue onto the toasty, rich, full and massively powerful flavors that are suave and superbly concentrated, all wrapped in a very Bonnes Mares style finish as this is chewy but not rustic. An impressive wine where the finish doesn't seem to ever end.
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2009 |
Bonnes Mares
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£1,250 |
Here the notably ripe nose offers up liqueur-like dark berry fruit aromas that leads to big, rich and overtly bold and still compact large-scaled flavors that evidence obvious muscle and power before culminating in a very firm, intense, explosive and driving finish that delivers outstanding length. This is a formidable wine with dense and mouth coating tannins that will require at least 15 years to fully resolve and 20 would not surprise me. Note that unlike some of these '09s, this is very definitely not for early consumption as it is presently almost aggressively austere.
Score: 93 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (46), April 2012
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
Red Burgundy |
Mugnier JF |
2012 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£675 |
The 2012 Bonnes Mares presents an intriguing push and pull between some of the more delicate notes that appear initially and its underlying, restrained power. This is another wine where so much is implied rather than overt. As always, the Mugnier Bonnes Mares is above all else a wine of restraint, although in this vintage, there is plenty of depth as well.
-- Antonio Galloni 93 Antonio Galloni 2022 - 2042 $455.00 Apr 2015
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2011 |
Bonnes Mares
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£750 |
|
|
|
Red Burgundy |
de Vogue |
2015 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£1,150 |
Domaine Comte de Vogüé
2015
Bonnes Mares
Grand Cru Red 750 ml
Score: 95
Tasted: Jan 15, 2018
Drink: 2035+
Tasting note: An extract of black cherry nose is interwoven with notes of earth, violet, spice and plum liqueur scents. The very dense and serious yet vibrant and relatively refined big-bodied flavors brim with dry extract that serves to mostly buffer the powerful and very firm tannic spine on the once again naturally sweet, sappy and massively long finish. As is often the case with the de Vogüé Bonnes Mares, this is a 'buy and forget you own it' wine.
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2017 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£690 |
Tasting note: Moderate wood/menthol influences can be found on the airier aromas that are composed by the essence of softly spicy red currant, lavender and a lovely floral hint. The succulent yet powerful larger-scaled flavors possess evident muscle while exhibiting excellent persistence on the extremely firm, serious and bitter cherry pit-inflected finish. This is a big 2017 and the most structured wine in the range.
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
Red Burgundy |
de Vogue |
2016 |
Bonnes Mares
|
2 |
Case |
3 |
75cl |
£1,200 |
Tasting note: Deep ruby. Once again there is an exuberant freshness to the nose of plum, violet, peony, spice and earth aromas where a top note of kirsch is present. There is outstanding density and power to the big-bodied and overtly muscular flavors that deliver fine complexity on the caressing, sappy and harmonious finish. This too is lovely and should drink well a bit earlier than it normally does if that's your preference.
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2019 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Case |
3 |
150cl |
£1,600 |
The 2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a floral bouquet of black and blueberry fruit infused with crushed violet and iris petal. This is completely destemmed, so it does not convey the same amplitude. The palate is medium-bodied, with light Earl Grey and ash notes tincturing the black fruit. Fine structure and focus here. Light on its feet toward the long, sustained finish. This is a superb Bonnes-Mares.
-- Neal Martin (94-96) Neal Martin 2024 - 2045 Not Available Dec 2020
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Red Burgundy |
Roumier, Georges & Christophe |
1990 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£2,850 |
What a fabulous wine the 1990 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru! Youthful in colour, it has beguiling complexity on the nose, secondary aromas percolating through the carapace of red fruit: truffle, smoke and a touch of peppermint. The palate is quite dense and voluminous, as you would expect given the growing season, yet there is sensational precision and poise. The final third delivers incredible tension and mineralité, hints of iodine and spice lending more complexity and the aftertaste continues on and on and on. I wonder if this is à point? Then again, there is so much substance that you can easily envisage this offering another two decades of drinking pleasure. Stunning. Tasted at the Roumier verticals in Hong Kong and London with consistent notes.
-- Neal Martin 98 Neal Martin 2018 - 2040 Sep 2018
Tasting Notes |
|
98 |
Red Burgundy |
Mugnier JF |
2005 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£10,500 |
Burghound Tasting note: The concentration and intensity has slowly but noticeably been increasing over the last few vintages as the vines begin to achieve a higher average age and it's particularly evident in 2005. Here the nose is unusually expressive rather than its usual brooding character with pretty, even elegant aromas of spicy red pinot and purple fruit and warm earth notes that can also be found on the powerful but detailed, indeed almost nervous flavors that possess excellent precision and a very attractive underlying tension on the explosive finish that delivers flat out incredible length. 2005 is the best vintage for this wine that I've seen since Mugnier took over.
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Red Burgundy |
Dujac |
2017 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£575 |
Burghound
Tasting note: An exceptionally pretty and, similar to the Malconsorts, somewhat sweet nose combines notes of lavender, rose petal, violet, red currant and a whiff of orange pekoe tea. There is good if not special mid-palate density to the overtly intense flavors that terminate in a dusty, austere and reasonably powerful finish where the tannins are a bit spiky. My sense is though that with a few years of age they will round off and render the finish more harmonious.
Tasting Notes |
|
92 |
Red Burgundy |
Dujac |
2018 |
Bonnes Mares
|
1 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£3,850 |
The 2018 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is blessed with one of my favorite aromatics from Dujac this year, featuring black cherries, raspberry, crushed stone and pressed iris flower, all quite restrained for a Bonnes-Mares but showing outstanding focus. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins, a fine line of acidity and a strict and quite linear finish that lingers long in the mouth. Outstanding.
-- Neal Martin (95-97) Neal Martin 2022 - 2050 Not Available Jan 2020
Tasting Notes |
|
97 |
White Burgundy |
Sauzet |
2016 |
Bourgogne Blanc La Tufera
|
2 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£295 |
Burghound Tasting note: An agreeably fresh nose combines primarily pear and apple notes with soft floral and citrus nuances. There is lovely detail to the attractively textured flavors that culminate in a dry, saline and chiseled finish. This is a quality Bourgogne plus it has the stuffing to age too.
Tasting Notes |
|
87 |
Red Bordeaux |
|
2009 |
Bouscaut
[Duty Paid] |
1 |
Case |
12 |
75cl |
£250 |
|
|
|
Italy |
|
2020 |
Bruno Giacosa, Roero Arneis
|
2 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£98 |
Dark, straw-yellow colour. Intense, fine and elegantly fruity bouquet reminiscent of peach, apricot, citrus, fruit and acacia flowers. Fresh, impeccably balanced and very drinkable, with a long, delicate aftertaste.
Tasting Notes |
|
|