98 Puffeney Vin Jaune

Todd Abrams

Todd Abrams
Layered aromas of walnut, pear, curry powder, sweet citrus, even a bit of Epoisses de Bourgogne as if you were smelling it from across the room. Simultaneously rich and bright and somehow creamy. This would make a corn dog taste like a Wagyu Delmonico. Yes, there was Comte. I'm raiding my kid's college fund for more. She's smart, she'll probably get a scholarship.
 
This particular bottle was purchased locally at Elie Wine in Royal Oak, MI. I’ve also seen it at K&L Wine Merchants online store.
 
Jesus, Todd, what's the first rule of Fight Club? One of the advantages of living in flyover country is that we have hidden stashes of goodies that the first- and second-coasters don't know about... Let's keep it in the family, huh?

[Except for that stock of damaged '01 Lapierre. You can totally hock that to the New York kids.]
 
Um, yeah, that was the last bottle of Puffeney Vin Jaune at Elie’s. There’s no more Abbatucci Ministre Imperial either. Stay away!
 
He gave 100% disclosure (and a money-back guarantee) on the Lapierre - he bought it on closeout, and bottle variation revealed the damage later.
 
It hasn't seemed cool when I've wandered in in the summer. I am a very occasional visitor, however, and don't carry a thermometer around with me, so I may be missing something - chime in with accurate info, if you have it.
 
Disclaimer: I do some work with Elie and he's a friend. That said, I've had a number of bottles that have been raised in his shop, many coming close to the 20 year mark, without issue. I've done a couple four hour shifts behind the counter this summer (as a favor when he's had an engagement) and had to wear a hoodie. I've never specifically asked how he manages temperature but I know him well enough to know he's not about to jeopardize the inventory that he's built over the past two decades to save a few bucks on the utility bill.
 
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