Chris and James opened up a couple bottles during the Spain v. France game and grilled some burgers. Awesome afternoon.
- 2011 Wind Gap Wines Trousseau Gris Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Nice and herbal with great pear and white peach flavors. The palate was elegant and refreshing. Hard to find fault with much going on here. (90 pts.) - 2008 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Was very impressed by this bottle. Had beautiful aromas of spiced meats, jasmin, lilac and plum that grew with air. The palate was lithe with nice spice and dark fruit tones to it. This was open for about 6 hours and by hour 5, the palate grew very acidic and lost much of its fruit. I'd recommend a pop-and-pour for this. (90 pts.) - 2008 Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Just as good as the last bottle I had of this. Incredibly perfumed nose of lavender, dark spices, dark fruit and wet earth. The palate was a thing of beauty...incredibly powerful with the slightest of touches. Another example of Burgundy with an airy palate and its fruit and rusticity turned up to an 11. Such raw power. (93 pts.) - 2004 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Just a baby. The nose was sharp and tough with red fruit and an earthiness that was rough and edgy. The palate was inaccessible at first, but after 5 hours it began to loosen up. The florals were very nice and it had nice dark undertones to it - but this just seemed too young for today. The material seems powerful and edgy, so it should show well in another 10+ years. - 1989 Château La Vieille Cure - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac
A strange bottle. Had some wet leaves, graphite and dark fruit...but the flavors were muddled and simplistic. Seemed to be tired and at the end of the line. - 1985 Domaine Louis Trapet Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Killer bottle. This had one of those Burgundian noses to it that you can be happy just sniffing the entire night. Beautiful rose petal, damp earth, truffle, rich red fruit and spice tones wove together forming an enticing bouquet. The palate was full-bodied and complex - layer after layer of red fruit, floral and spice notes all with this haunting damp earth undertone to it. Lovely stuff that's drinking incredibly well. (95 pts.) - 1985 Domaine Louis Trapet Chambertin Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Drank alongside the 1985 Trapet Chambertin. It seemed that the Vieilles Vignes was just a touch toned down in almost all of the categories compared to the regular Chambertin. The funk was a little less exotic, the fruit a touch less rich. While it was a bit shy compared to its counterpart, this was still a phenomenal bottle of wine. Loved its earthiness. (93 pts.)