Impressions April 2018

VLM

VLM
N.V. Jacques Selosse Champagne Initial Disgorged 10-21-2013
For my palate, this disgorgement won't get any better. The Burgundy with bubbles trope is evident here.

2008 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée
With sushi for our anniversary. What I love most about this cuvée is the mousse with the fine, creamy bead. Still young, I probably should have brought a 2006. This is fantastic now but will be great.

2014 Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault
A couple of bottles of this and good Mersault in the mineral Fichet style. A definitive step down in complexity from the Lieu Dits versions.

2015 Gilbert Picq & ses Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vosgros
There is some sort of really cool almost sweetish seashell cream thing. I don't have better words than that. Again, marked by the vintage, but delicious in its idiom.

2013 Ceritas Chardonnay Heintz Vineyard
A good but not great bottle. Heintz has an interesting herbal quality to it that other Ceritas chardonnays don't.

2015 Domaine de Roally Viré-Clessé Tradition
Must. Stop. Drinking. These.

2015 Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli) Les Fouchardes
2015 Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli) Les Vieilles Vignes des Blanderies
These are the result of our trip to Montreal in the fall when we basically drank natural wine the whole time. I hadn't had an Angeli wine in years because of some unstable bottles. We loved what we had in Montreal and these were equally excellent. They both may be sec tendre but they are radiant and multifaceted. The Blanderies is more mineral and deep, but both were delicious. The only issue is price, but isn't that the thing with everything.

1999 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots
Was much tighter than I expected. Of course, it was the last glass that had really stretched out. Fucking Burgundy. Evil temptress.

1996 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod / Barthod-Noëllat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras
2001 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod / Barthod-Noëllat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Véroilles
Speaking of cruel mistresses these wines left me confused. Barthod was the first Burgundy producer whose wines I fell in love with and have been buying since the 90s. Neither of these bottles was particularly generous which could be youth for the 2001 and maybe even for the 1996. Maybe I understand less than I thought.

1998 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
A replacement for a corked Conterno Francia. Just fucking awesome. I've often said that this was the last great Chave of the middle period. 1999 and after left me a bit cold. I'm considering dipping my toes back in the Chave market, but the wines are a lot more expensive now. This is so good though and doesn't really have a replacement or peer.

2001 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Cailles
2001 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges
Both of these had soaked corks the Cailles has been mine since release but from a grey market source the Les St. Georges I bought from Flatiron from a cellar that they vouch for, but it was also grey market. The wines themselves were both delicious, lovely, resolved Burgundies with soft fruit and earth notes, just not maybe not the wines they could have been. I generally avoid secondary and grey market Burgundy these days.

2012 Eric Texier Côte-Rôtie Vieilles Vignes
Ah, nope. Wants to be left alone. Did open up for a 20 minute stretch mid meal but immediately shifted.

2009 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud
Wow, fucking great. A singular expression of syrah. I don't think Eric will ever get enough credit for what he's done here.

2013 Georges Descombes Brouilly Vieilles Vignes
An excellent vintage for this wine. Ripe fruit inside a cool package.

2015 Hobo Wine Company Zinfandel Branham Vineyard Rockpile
Forget about it for a while. Under 13% abv and structured. Given how other vintages have developed, this will be awesome in a few years.

2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard Old Shop Block

1999 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Good and mostly resolved.

2007 Le Piane Boca
2010 Le Piane Boca
The cork on the 2007 was soaked about halfway up, though I bought both from the same source at the same time, I can only surmise that it got hit at some other point along the way. The 2010 has much more fruit and a bit more complex than the 2007, though both are on the young side. A new producer to me, but I'll be following the wines.

2005 Domaine Fourrier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers Vieille Vigne
1998 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia
Normally I wouldn't include corked bottles but these were superbummerific. I double decanted the Conterno at noon for my friend's birthday and it seemed fine. We didn't notice until dinner and were totally bummed. With the Fourrier I'm honestly trying to figure out where I am with these wines. They trade at such high $ that I'm tempted to offload but I wanted to make sure that it wouldn't be stupid. Argh.
 
2007 Le Piane Boca
2010 Le Piane Boca

No impression, huh? The 08 is the one with the stuffing (yes, more so than the 10 though that is no slouch either). You might be speechless, but I like em.
 
Nathan, nice comments on the Chevillons...surely one of the better Burgundy producers.

I had the Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St Georges Vieilles Vignes '14 a few days ago and was well impressed enough that I'm determined to be a buyer if I can find a source at the very attractive offering prices.

. . . . Pete
 
Thanks for these notes, especially:
originally posted by VLM:
Speaking of cruel mistresses these wines left me confused. Barthod was the first Burgundy producer whose wines I fell in love with and have been buying since the 90s. Neither of these bottles was particularly generous which could be youth for the 2001 and maybe even for the 1996. Maybe I understand less than I thought.
I have never understood Barthod, either.

2009 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud
Wow, fucking great. A singular expression of syrah. I don't think Eric will ever get enough credit for what he's done here.
Finally, I have one of these! (You've been drinking combinations of vintages and vineyards I don't have.)
 
originally posted by MarkS:
2007 Le Piane Boca
2010 Le Piane Boca

No impression, huh? The 08 is the one with the stuffing (yes, more so than the 10 though that is no slouch either). You might be speechless, but I like em.

Yes. These are in the market quite a bit in my area (WA) through a small local importer. Been following the wines over a couple vintages and really like what they're doing.
 
Thanks for the notes. I've really enjoyed the 2013 Descombes VV bottlings I've opened recently. Are you decanting any of the Red Burgundies?
 
originally posted by Brian C:
originally posted by MarkS:
2007 Le Piane Boca
2010 Le Piane Boca

No impression, huh? The 08 is the one with the stuffing (yes, more so than the 10 though that is no slouch either). You might be speechless, but I like em.

Yes. These are in the market quite a bit in my area (WA) through a small local importer. Been following the wines over a couple vintages and really like what they're doing.

I wonder if anyone has notes on Le Piane Boca from other more recent vintages (2011?). I have ordered a bottle of the Le Piane La Maggiorina Vino Rosso 2014 from Vinmonopolet here in Oslo, as it is quite reasonably priced. Will report on that.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Thanks for these notes, especially:
originally posted by VLM:
Speaking of cruel mistresses these wines left me confused. Barthod was the first Burgundy producer whose wines I fell in love with and have been buying since the 90s. Neither of these bottles was particularly generous which could be youth for the 2001 and maybe even for the 1996. Maybe I understand less than I thought.
I have never understood Barthod, either.

The thing is, I really thought I did. More than anybody.

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
2009 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud
Wow, fucking great. A singular expression of syrah. I don't think Eric will ever get enough credit for what he's done here.
Finally, I have one of these! (You've been drinking combinations of vintages and vineyards I don't have.)

Glad to be of service!
 
originally posted by Ben Hunting:
Thanks for the notes. I've really enjoyed the 2013 Descombes VV bottlings I've opened recently. Are you decanting any of the Red Burgundies?

2013 was a really fine year for Descombes. I quite like 2014 too. The only one of those Burgundies that was decanted was the 2001 Barthod Veroilles.
 
originally posted by Marc D:
That Texier 09 wine I poured at my son’s wedding last July. Great bottle, great memories.

It's a really good vintage for this wine and in a nice, early phase spot right now.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Brian C:
originally posted by MarkS:
2007 Le Piane Boca
2010 Le Piane Boca

No impression, huh? The 08 is the one with the stuffing (yes, more so than the 10 though that is no slouch either). You might be speechless, but I like em.

Yes. These are in the market quite a bit in my area (WA) through a small local importer. Been following the wines over a couple vintages and really like what they're doing.

I wonder if anyone has notes on Le Piane Boca from other more recent vintages (2011?). I have ordered a bottle of the Le Piane La Maggiorina Vino Rosso 2014 from Vinmonopolet here in Oslo, as it is quite reasonably priced. Will report on that.

I haven't had the 2011 but have heard that it is on par, FWIW. I haven't had anything but the Boca, sorry. Please let us know.
 
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by Marc D:
That Texier 09 wine I poured at my son’s wedding last July. Great bottle, great memories.

It's a really good vintage for this wine and in a nice, early phase spot right now.

Does that extend to the St. Julien, too? I have a few bottles of that rotting in the cellar.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by Marc D:
That Texier 09 wine I poured at my son’s wedding last July. Great bottle, great memories.

It's a really good vintage for this wine and in a nice, early phase spot right now.

Does that extend to the St. Julien, too? I have a few bottles of that rotting in the cellar.

Mark Lipton

I generally find that the St. Julien is never shut down hard, that is, I can always find enjoyment out of a bottle. I actually don't have any 2009, but a 2010 from March was really delicious and I would expect 2009 to be even more expressive.
 
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by Marc D:
That Texier 09 wine I poured at my son’s wedding last July. Great bottle, great memories.

It's a really good vintage for this wine and in a nice, early phase spot right now.

Does that extend to the St. Julien, too? I have a few bottles of that rotting in the cellar.

Mark Lipton

I generally find that the St. Julien is never shut down hard, that is, I can always find enjoyment out of a bottle. I actually don't have any 2009, but a 2010 from March was really delicious and I would expect 2009 to be even more expressive.

Most appreciated, my simian compatriot.

Mark Lipton
 
My experience with Barthod has been that any bottle I open is hard as nails and any bottle someone else opens is glorious.

I stopped buying but always hope that a friend will open one for me.
 
I wonder if anyone has notes on Le Piane Boca from other more recent vintages (2011?). I have ordered a bottle of the Le Piane La Maggiorina Vino Rosso 2014 from Vinmonopolet here in Oslo, as it is quite reasonably priced. Will report on that.

I haven't had the 2011 but have heard that it is on par, FWIW. I haven't had anything but the Boca, sorry. Please let us know.[/quote]

Yes, heard the same thing re:2011. Understand that the Boca will be the 'best' bottle of their line-up since it has the most nebbiolo in it.
 
originally posted by VLM:
2013 was a really fine year for Descombes. I quite like 2014 too. The only one of those Burgundies that was decanted was the 2001 Barthod Veroilles.

Had a good bottle of 2012 Descombes Brouilly VV recently, too. Agreed about 2013, the basic Descombes bottlings were super also when drunk young.
 
Inspired by this discussion, I opened a bottle of the 09 Texier St. Julien last night. It was a great wine, but it was only just beginning to be civilized. Better with three or four hours of air. I expect it will be much better in 3-5 years. Keep in mind, that I tend to like wines with more age on them than Nathan does, so, as they say, your mileage may vary.
 
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