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Florida Jim

Florida Jim
2003 Chaputier, CdP Croix de Bois:
Massive, alcoholic, torrefied, smoky, liquor-like wine-product; 15% abv (or more). No thanks.

2002 Michaud, Brouilly Prestige de Vieilles Vigne:
Mute, closed and if I were guessing, a little past prime. This has never shown really well - adequate. 13%.

2002 Luneau-Papin, Muscadet Semper Excelsior Schistes:
Softer and sweeter than a recent 2007 Granite de Clisson I wrote about but every bit as deep and viscous. Still plenty of acidity in the mid-palate and finish cleans and refreshes. 12.5%.
Day two: pineapple tones and less sweetness but otherwise, much the same.

1996 dAngerville, Volnay Premier Cru
13%; its pure, very Volnay, fine grained and . . . hard. Maybe it needs ten years. But I have yet to have a 1996 Burgundy that doesnt come across as hard and I am starting to wonder if I ever will.

2003 Giacosa, Nebbiolo dAlba Valmaggiore:
Ive had this bottling in most vintages since 2000 and this is the least typical, 14%; smells more like South American malbec; its big in the mouth with strong flavors that dont taste much like nebbiolo and intensity like a CA cab. Not a bad wine but certainly not representative of what this house can do in this vineyard. Lacks finesse.

1999 Bizot, Vosne-Romanee Les Ras:
12.5%; from first pour, this is beautifully detailed on the nose and palate; sauvage, elegant, integrated, complex and long. Very fine, classy and expressive in that way that the best Burgundy experiences can be and terrific with chicken and lentil stew. At or very near, peak.

Best, Jim
 
Thanks for the warning on the Giacosa. I have been very studiously avoiding 03 in Piedmont and you make me feel justified. (If it's raining where you are, go have a dance.)
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
But I have yet to have a 1996 Burgundy that doesnt come across as hard and I am starting to wonder if I ever will.

They're starting to come around a bit. I think 5 more years may be enough, but it could be 10. I started having great 1988s about 4 years ago. That would mean 4 more years for 1996s to start coming around. The vintages aren't matches, but they were both hard. 1996s are more consistent than 1988s, but with higher yields, IIRC.

1999 Bizot, Vosne-Romanee Les Ras:
12.5%; from first pour, this is beautifully detailed on the nose and palate; sauvage, elegant, integrated, complex and long. Very fine, classy and expressive in that way that the best Burgundy experiences can be and terrific with chicken and lentil stew. At or very near, peak.

Glad to see that Kraft and I are not the only one enjoying 1999s. You like this Bizot stuff a lot, I might have to try them again after writing them off years ago.
 
originally posted by VLM:

Glad to see that Kraft and I are not the only one enjoying 1999s. You like this Bizot stuff a lot, I might have to try them again after writing them off years ago.

I've started opening some '99s. We had the Chevillon, Les Vaucrains last night. it was definitely ready to drink, although if you are looking for maximum complexity you might wait several years. it was quite nice and friendlier-than-expected.
 
originally posted by Bwood:
originally posted by VLM:

Glad to see that Kraft and I are not the only one enjoying 1999s. You like this Bizot stuff a lot, I might have to try them again after writing them off years ago.

I've started opening some '99s. We had the Chevillon, Les Vaucrains last night. it was definitely ready to drink, although if you are looking for maximum complexity you might wait several years. it was quite nice and friendlier-than-expected.

Vaucrains, really? That, along the Les St.-Georges, I usually expect to take far longer to come around than the others. It makes me wonder about the '99 Perrieres I've got rotting down in the batcave.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Bwood:
originally posted by VLM:

Glad to see that Kraft and I are not the only one enjoying 1999s. You like this Bizot stuff a lot, I might have to try them again after writing them off years ago.

I've started opening some '99s. We had the Chevillon, Les Vaucrains last night. it was definitely ready to drink, although if you are looking for maximum complexity you might wait several years. it was quite nice and friendlier-than-expected.
I opened the '99 Vaucrains last night and it was corked. I'm surprised you didn't hear the moan.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by Bwood:
originally posted by VLM:

Glad to see that Kraft and I are not the only one enjoying 1999s. You like this Bizot stuff a lot, I might have to try them again after writing them off years ago.

I've started opening some '99s. We had the Chevillon, Les Vaucrains last night. it was definitely ready to drink, although if you are looking for maximum complexity you might wait several years. it was quite nice and friendlier-than-expected.

Vaucrains, really? That, along the Les St.-Georges, I usually expect to take far longer to come around than the others. It makes me wonder about the '99 Perrieres I've got rotting down in the batcave.

Mark Lipton

The thing is I've been opening up a decent amount of Chevillon as I think the transport of the wines to the retailers where I purchased the wines was from, let's say, 1997 vintage to 2002 vintage, far, far less than perfect. All the 2001s I've opened are much further advanced than you'd think. I quit buying after 2002s after opening some bottles that were clearly heat damaged.

The '99 was further advanced than I expected although the cork was in good shape and the wine didn't taste damaged to me. It just seemed more evolved than I expected. I need to sample some other 99s and plan to do so soon.
 
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