Louis Latour
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage Blanc Marsanne Roussanne 1989
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne 2008
Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 Magnum — 25 days ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage Syrah 2001
It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041. — 2 days ago
Beaulieu Vineyard
Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1975
Very pretty. Faded with a touch of balsamic. Poised and pretty. Very light but complete. Pristine for a 50 year old cab — 18 days ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1981
Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a dull purple/garnet color with a translucent core and significant rim variation, moving towards a rust color. The wine has medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, dried red and purple flowers, old leather bound books, tobacco, a touch of menthol, some earth, old wood and a sprinkle of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Super high quality but a touch thin.
Initial conclusions: Due to the observable characteristics of color, rim variation, sediment, smell and flavor, I think this wine has significant age; 30+ years. However, this is still very alive and showing more than enough markers to give an indication of place. Subsequently, this could be a Cabernet-based blend or a Tempranillo-based blend from the United States, France, or Spain. For me, I’m getting new French oak vibes instead of American so I’m eliminating Spain. I also think this leans more towards its fruit than its structure and since this comes across a little on the thin side, I’m going to say this comes from a tougher vintage. My final conclusion is this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the USA, Napa, 1981. Wow! This showed really well.
It never ceases to amaze me how analogous the 1981 vintage was in both Napa and Bordeaux. I find it equally amazing how well that vintage has held up; particularly when considering its poor reputation, mostly based on the prevailing thought at the time. From my perspective, well stored examples are not going to fall off of a cliff but I would drink now through 2031. — 8 days ago
Louis Roederer
Rosé Vintage Champagne Blend 2013
Magnum pour decanted was my favorite. Really hits with a punch of acid off the bat - pomelo, green citrus, hint of mushroom. Very fine bubbles, cinnamon roll glaze creaminess. Non-decanted version was more bitter, more grapefruit zest and pith. 70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay - though the color was quite light and leaned straw with just a hint of pink. — a month ago
Mark LaClair
Sadly, this bottle of 2010 Latour was found in my cellar far too long after its prime. Although it still had some fruit, it was covered up by the oxidation and was gaining tertiary aromas that were not beneficial. I’m rating it higher though, because the age of the wine is not the producers fault. This wine she be drunk young or up to a couple of years after release. Having visited this village in Bourgogne, I can tell you that the Chardonnay coming from here is perhaps the best in the world. I only wish I had opened this bottle in its prime. — 3 days ago