Peter Creasey
Peter Creasey
Mark, I have a good bit of the Pichon Baron '90.
Do you agree that I need not hurry to deplete my stash?
. . . . . Pete
Favorite Wines of 2009?
- Thread starter Steven Spielmann
- Start date
Mark, I have a good bit of the Pichon Baron '90.
Do you agree that I need not hurry to deplete my stash?
. . . . . Pete
Dan Donahue
Dan Donahue
Some highlights:
'02 Jermann Vintage Tunina
'96 J. Laurant BdN
'70 Taylor's
'98 Jadot Clos St. Jacques
'03 F. Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin (my new world wine)
and an intriguing '07 Biggio-Hamina Syrah XX Deux Vert (20% Viognier)
unfortuantely not all bottles showed well, most frustrating was an under-performing '91 Heitz Martha's.
'02 Jermann Vintage Tunina
'96 J. Laurant BdN
'70 Taylor's
'98 Jadot Clos St. Jacques
'03 F. Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin (my new world wine)
and an intriguing '07 Biggio-Hamina Syrah XX Deux Vert (20% Viognier)
unfortuantely not all bottles showed well, most frustrating was an under-performing '91 Heitz Martha's.
well, if you bought it from envoyer, keep in mind these wines are recent releases from the domaine and as such they are "younger" than what you might find in friends' cellars (even mine) - so more age might be appropriate.
And Mark, I'm interested in your take on the 90 mugneret ruchottes - I opened one of my bottles and found it closed at best - even with much air, it didn't show much.
on the other hand, Doug, I agree that the 98 jadot csj is a terrific wine, although my most recent experience with it (early December) made me vow to ignore my remaining couple of bottles for a bit.
It is from envoyer and it is good to hear that they are recent releases (although now that you mention it, I remember seeing that in his email announcement).
He seems to offer so many newly-acquired older wines I was wondering how reliable the provenance would be on all of them. But at least for the Morot it should be fine.
drank quite a bit of the following:
Texier '07 Brezeme, the most perfectly balanced early drinking No. Rhone wine I've ever had
Overnoy '07 Poulsard, just perfect
Vissoux '07 Cuvee Traditionelle, maybe as good as the '01
Baudry '07 Domaine Chinon (the "regular"), perfectly read to drink today
Montevertine '07 Pian del Ciampolo, halfway between the '99 and '02 in terms of style (and quality) and loved it
It was a great year to buy precise but fruit-filled wines from great producers to drink now.
Texier '07 Brezeme, the most perfectly balanced early drinking No. Rhone wine I've ever had
Overnoy '07 Poulsard, just perfect
Vissoux '07 Cuvee Traditionelle, maybe as good as the '01
Baudry '07 Domaine Chinon (the "regular"), perfectly read to drink today
Montevertine '07 Pian del Ciampolo, halfway between the '99 and '02 in terms of style (and quality) and loved it
It was a great year to buy precise but fruit-filled wines from great producers to drink now.
Steven Spielmann
Steven Spielmann
More reminders of good things from last year!
We did a night with S. Esmonin's wines - 2000 Gevrey 1er Cru, 2005 Gevrey Village (not ready), and 2006 Bourgogne Rouge - that was really special. Each wine had its champions among the assembled.
Also, that 07 Pian del Ciampolo was delightful - very precise as you say, with good nervosite - just had it a few weeks ago. I am looking forward to following up with an 04 Montevertine^2 and a 98 or 99 Pergole Torte when time and $ permit. First time with these wines. Excellent, if priced at my splurge rather than everyday level. Fortunately I splurge at least once a month.
We did a night with S. Esmonin's wines - 2000 Gevrey 1er Cru, 2005 Gevrey Village (not ready), and 2006 Bourgogne Rouge - that was really special. Each wine had its champions among the assembled.
Also, that 07 Pian del Ciampolo was delightful - very precise as you say, with good nervosite - just had it a few weeks ago. I am looking forward to following up with an 04 Montevertine^2 and a 98 or 99 Pergole Torte when time and $ permit. First time with these wines. Excellent, if priced at my splurge rather than everyday level. Fortunately I splurge at least once a month.
This was a bottle picked up at a charity auction in Indianapolis, so provenance is an issue, but... my bottle was quite open and very fresh considering the vintage. Here's what I wrote at the time:
This wine defied the stereotype of '90 Burgundies as roasted or overripe. Lovely fresh raspberry fruit and a spicy perfume to the nose were the dominant characteristics. It went fabulously with the rabbit and with the morels, though I had water after the asparagus to avoid clashes with the wine. A very solid if not transcendental Burgundy experience.
Mark Lipton
I drank a lot of those from Bwood's list, but he forgot one,
the 07 Langhe Nebbiolo from Produttori del Barbaresco.
It fits well with the rest John's theme.
I am going to go against the grain and say I enjoyed the '06 Overnoy Poulsard more than the 2007. It is a little riper, but hey its still Poulsard.
the 07 Langhe Nebbiolo from Produttori del Barbaresco.
It fits well with the rest John's theme.
I am going to go against the grain and say I enjoyed the '06 Overnoy Poulsard more than the 2007. It is a little riper, but hey its still Poulsard.
The Wine Mule
Dave Erickson
James Petit Cuve des Gallucher "Tradition" 2007: Possibly the most self-effacing wine I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying with a meal. It did not make me jump up and down or want to scream or pump my fist in the air. It made me appreciate how valuable a moment of peace and harmony could be in a world gone mad.
Like Zachary, I think the 2000 is a "better" wine, for whatever value of "better" you prefer to apply. I'm still holding mine, but eyeing it with a mind to move it to a more accessible rack. For what it's worth, as of mid-2009 the Trimbachs think it's nuts to hold it any longer, but they regularly recommend that others drink their wines younger than they themselves do, so take that as you will.
I can't really add more to what Maureen said about the performance of the last bottle I had. It's too sweet for Scott Wurcer, but a drinker of Boxler or Weinbach (and I'm not talking about VTs) probably wouldn't bat much of an eye at the sugar/acid balance. It's a beautiful apritif wine, but the structure is powerful enough that you'll eventually want some food with it, and that food shouldn't assume that it's dry.
Not the "best wines" in list form, but what really stood out over the past year (perhaps a touch longer):
Roumier 1969 Morey Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussire 1er Cru (Burgundy) -- in like a lamb, out like an entire fucking Colosseum full of lions
Peyraud Domaine Tempier 1993 Bandol Cuve Spciale La Tourtine (Provence) -- still way, way too young
Boxler 2001 Pinot Blanc L20B (Alsace) -- disproves stuff
Vodopivec 2003 Vitovska (Venezia Giulia) -- yes, a 2003
La Stoppa 2004 Ageno (Emilia-Romagna) -- my favorite from the orange dinner
Paul Cluver 2007 Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest (Elgin) -- there's hope
Kanonkop 1989 Pinotage (South Africa) -- no, really
Vergelegen 2005 White (Stellenbosch) -- and they haven't come close since
Tulocay 2001 Zinfandel (Amador County) & Tulocay 1999 Zinfandel (Amador County) -- I miss wines like this
Aggazzotti Nocino Notte di S. Giovanni Riserva (Emilia-Romagna) -- thanks, as ever, to Levi
Radikon 2002 Ribolla Gialla (Venezia Giulia) -- longest note of the year, which is always significant
Schoenheitz 2004 Riesling Linsenberg (Alsace) -- always fun to be surprised by a wine from Alsace I haven't heard of
Clape 1990 Cornas (Rhne) -- why, why, why didn't I buy more of this?
Puffeney 2002 Arbois Savagnin (Jura) -- the grabber for guests who didn't think they liked Jura wine
Domaine de la Terre Rouge 2003 RO2X (Sierra Foothills) -- Easton does sous voile...sorta
Barms Bucher 2004 Pinot Gris Rosenberg Calcarius (Alsace) -- strikingly better than the normale
Brumont 2007 Pacherenc du Vich-Bilh Sec Torus (Southwest France) -- liquid sunshine
Brana Eau-de-Vie de Prune Vieille (Southwest France) -- memories, distilled
Drappier Champagne Pinot Noir Brut Nature Sans Ajout de Soufre (Champagne) -- tasted within two days of the sulfured version, and to say that they're different wines is to note that Norwegians and the Senegalese don't look much alike
Lapierre 2009 Beaujolais "Nouveau" (Beaujolais) -- I'd like this to flow from a fountain in my backyard, under which to dip pitchers or grog mugs and chug away; putting this in a wine stem is just a waste
Pago de Carraovejas 2004 Ribera del Duero "Reserva" (Castilla & Len) -- an even bigger surprise than the marvelous Els Jelipins 2004, though I was more personally attracted to the latter wine
Roumier 1969 Morey Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussire 1er Cru (Burgundy) -- in like a lamb, out like an entire fucking Colosseum full of lions
Peyraud Domaine Tempier 1993 Bandol Cuve Spciale La Tourtine (Provence) -- still way, way too young
Boxler 2001 Pinot Blanc L20B (Alsace) -- disproves stuff
Vodopivec 2003 Vitovska (Venezia Giulia) -- yes, a 2003
La Stoppa 2004 Ageno (Emilia-Romagna) -- my favorite from the orange dinner
Paul Cluver 2007 Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest (Elgin) -- there's hope
Kanonkop 1989 Pinotage (South Africa) -- no, really
Vergelegen 2005 White (Stellenbosch) -- and they haven't come close since
Tulocay 2001 Zinfandel (Amador County) & Tulocay 1999 Zinfandel (Amador County) -- I miss wines like this
Aggazzotti Nocino Notte di S. Giovanni Riserva (Emilia-Romagna) -- thanks, as ever, to Levi
Radikon 2002 Ribolla Gialla (Venezia Giulia) -- longest note of the year, which is always significant
Schoenheitz 2004 Riesling Linsenberg (Alsace) -- always fun to be surprised by a wine from Alsace I haven't heard of
Clape 1990 Cornas (Rhne) -- why, why, why didn't I buy more of this?
Puffeney 2002 Arbois Savagnin (Jura) -- the grabber for guests who didn't think they liked Jura wine
Domaine de la Terre Rouge 2003 RO2X (Sierra Foothills) -- Easton does sous voile...sorta
Barms Bucher 2004 Pinot Gris Rosenberg Calcarius (Alsace) -- strikingly better than the normale
Brumont 2007 Pacherenc du Vich-Bilh Sec Torus (Southwest France) -- liquid sunshine
Brana Eau-de-Vie de Prune Vieille (Southwest France) -- memories, distilled
Drappier Champagne Pinot Noir Brut Nature Sans Ajout de Soufre (Champagne) -- tasted within two days of the sulfured version, and to say that they're different wines is to note that Norwegians and the Senegalese don't look much alike
Lapierre 2009 Beaujolais "Nouveau" (Beaujolais) -- I'd like this to flow from a fountain in my backyard, under which to dip pitchers or grog mugs and chug away; putting this in a wine stem is just a waste
Pago de Carraovejas 2004 Ribera del Duero "Reserva" (Castilla & Len) -- an even bigger surprise than the marvelous Els Jelipins 2004, though I was more personally attracted to the latter wine
Larry Stein
Larry Stein
From memory (and a little help from Cory's list):
1996 Joguet la Dioterie
1989 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero
2002 Thevenet Morgon Vielles Vignes
2005 Lapierre Morgon
1988 Raveneau Chablis "Blanchots"
1976 Georges Mugneret Clos Vougeot
1997 Robert Weil Kiedricher Grafenberg Auslese (auction)
1914 Massandra Malaga
1923 Massandra Madera
1929 Massandra Tokay
1998 Juges Cornas Cuvee C
1999 Juges Cornas Cuvee SC
1989 Diochon Moulin-a-Vent
1989 Chave Hermitage Blanc
1990 Chave Hermitage Blanc (these two might have been tasted in 2008)
1995 Thunder Mountain Cab. Sauv., Bates Ranch
2002 Giroud Latricieres-Chambertin
2008 Faury Vins de Pays Syrah
1941 Simi Cab. Sauv., Sonoma County
I'm sure I can come up with more, but that would mean sifting through Richard Jennings' Cellartracker notes on the Ross Bott tastings and dinners/offlines we both attended.
1996 Joguet la Dioterie
1989 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero
2002 Thevenet Morgon Vielles Vignes
2005 Lapierre Morgon
1988 Raveneau Chablis "Blanchots"
1976 Georges Mugneret Clos Vougeot
1997 Robert Weil Kiedricher Grafenberg Auslese (auction)
1914 Massandra Malaga
1923 Massandra Madera
1929 Massandra Tokay
1998 Juges Cornas Cuvee C
1999 Juges Cornas Cuvee SC
1989 Diochon Moulin-a-Vent
1989 Chave Hermitage Blanc
1990 Chave Hermitage Blanc (these two might have been tasted in 2008)
1995 Thunder Mountain Cab. Sauv., Bates Ranch
2002 Giroud Latricieres-Chambertin
2008 Faury Vins de Pays Syrah
1941 Simi Cab. Sauv., Sonoma County
I'm sure I can come up with more, but that would mean sifting through Richard Jennings' Cellartracker notes on the Ross Bott tastings and dinners/offlines we both attended.
Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
Some highlights of 2009 (in no order):
Huet 2005 Vouvray Demi-Sec "Clos du Bourg"
Huet 1957 Vouvray "Close du Bourg" demi-sec
Huet 1964 Vouvray "Le Mont" moelleux
Thomas-Labaille 2004 Sancerre "Les Monts Damnee" Cuvee Buster
Peter Michael 1998 "Les Pavots"
Mondavi 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Diamond Creek 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon "Volcanic Hill"
Inman 2005 Pinot Noir "Olivet Grange Vineyard"
Dom. Bart 2006 Marsannay "Les Saints Jacques"
Burguet 2006 Bourgogne "Les Pince Vin"
Fourrier 1998 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er "Combe Aux Moines"
Clair-Dau 1983 Bonne-Mares
Dom. des Lambrays 1995 Clos des Lambrays GC
Roumier 2000 Chambolle-Musigny
Dom. Engel 1998 Grands-Echezeaux GC
Descombes 2005 Brouilly
Descombes 2006 Regnie VV
Foillard 2005 Morgon "Cuvee 3.14"
Ch. Rieussec 1988 Sauternes
Balbach 1986 Niersteiner Klostergarten Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Allemand 2001 Cornas "Chaillot"
Texier 1999 Hermitage
Verset 1999 Cornas
Cappellano 1994 Barolo "Gabutti"
Vajra 1989 Freisa della Langhe VdT
Leth 1985 Gruner Veltliner "Brunnthal"
Gravner 2001 "Breg"
La Stoppa 2004 "Ageno"
Pierre Gimonnet 2002 Champagne Brut "Fleuron" 1er
And special mention for:
Pepiere 2007 Muscadet
Huet 2005 Vouvray Demi-Sec "Clos du Bourg"
Huet 1957 Vouvray "Close du Bourg" demi-sec
Huet 1964 Vouvray "Le Mont" moelleux
Thomas-Labaille 2004 Sancerre "Les Monts Damnee" Cuvee Buster
Peter Michael 1998 "Les Pavots"
Mondavi 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Diamond Creek 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon "Volcanic Hill"
Inman 2005 Pinot Noir "Olivet Grange Vineyard"
Dom. Bart 2006 Marsannay "Les Saints Jacques"
Burguet 2006 Bourgogne "Les Pince Vin"
Fourrier 1998 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er "Combe Aux Moines"
Clair-Dau 1983 Bonne-Mares
Dom. des Lambrays 1995 Clos des Lambrays GC
Roumier 2000 Chambolle-Musigny
Dom. Engel 1998 Grands-Echezeaux GC
Descombes 2005 Brouilly
Descombes 2006 Regnie VV
Foillard 2005 Morgon "Cuvee 3.14"
Ch. Rieussec 1988 Sauternes
Balbach 1986 Niersteiner Klostergarten Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Allemand 2001 Cornas "Chaillot"
Texier 1999 Hermitage
Verset 1999 Cornas
Cappellano 1994 Barolo "Gabutti"
Vajra 1989 Freisa della Langhe VdT
Leth 1985 Gruner Veltliner "Brunnthal"
Gravner 2001 "Breg"
La Stoppa 2004 "Ageno"
Pierre Gimonnet 2002 Champagne Brut "Fleuron" 1er
And special mention for:
Pepiere 2007 Muscadet
Steven Spielmann
Steven Spielmann
I thought this was fantastic - really, really enjoyed it and wish I had bought a lot more. I cellared Bart's 2006 Bonnes Mares and Clos de Beze on the basis of this wine. The 07 Champs Solomon I had from Bart wasn't as good, though far from bad.
The 2005 Faury St. Joseph VV was another fantastic wine from this year - maybe my favorite Syrah ever (though that is not one of the grapes I get along best with, so my experience isn't as wide as with some others).