James Sanders
James Sanders
2005 Domaine Ninot Mercurey Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Cte Chalonnaise, Mercurey (1/9/2009)
Will be fun to watch this one develop. Fairly light in color but flavors are intense and even sappy. Tart red fruits, like cranberry without the bitter bite and a bit of wood spice. Flavors persist. A lot of breed for $23. (90 pts.)
1999 Chteau d'Yquem - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (1/2/2009)
In perfect balance. Classic creme brulee richness against fresh stone fruits. Long and lovely. (97 pts.)
2004 Campagnia di Ermes Cesanese di Olevano Romano - Italy, Latium, Cesanese di Olevano Romano (12/29/2008)
This was just amazing with mu shu duck. Brilliant and bright, with depth, acidity, length and a wonderful spiciness (jasmine?) (92 pts.)
1990 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (12/26/2008)
Opened, tasted and recorked for about four hours. First of 5 Xmas dinner reds and the runaway favorite. Brilliant and translucent. Youthful in sight, smell and taste. Slight tobacco note on opening gave way to wonderfully dry red and black fruits. Not much in the way of secondary or tertiary elements, but what is there is in perfect harmony. (95 pts.)
N.V. Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Les Vignes de Montgueux Blanc de Blanc Montgueux - France, Champagne, Cte des Bars (Aube), Champagne (12/26/2008)
Yeasty and lively citrus fruit with nicely integrated acidity. Delightfully tasty and the clear favorite among four Xmas Champagnes. (90 pts.)
1996 Drappier Champagne Brut Carte d'Or - France, Champagne (12/26/2008)
Second bottle from Garagiste and like the first a disappointment. Lacks liveliness; heavy and a tad sweet. (84 pts.)
2001 La Palazzola Rubino Umbria IGT - Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT (12/17/2008)
OK, this is starting to round into form now. Would be hard to spot this as the Italian in a group of Left Bank wines. Still has a ways to go. Last I looked this was going for about $11 a bottle wholesale. A ridiculous deal for a classicly styled, tannic red wine that will age. (90 pts.)
1995 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (12/15/2008)
Big blast of sweet, stewed fruit on opening. This calmed down with air and the nose and flavor profile moved towards a more classic Piedmont template. Tar and dark fruits and still a fairly tannic structure. Holds up nicely a second night. I'll give my second bottle a few more years. (89 pts.)
2005 Lapandery Cte Roannaise - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Cte Roannaise (12/12/2008)
Open for business. Hard to do better on a pop and pour from 2005. Gamay character is a bit muted, which is a plus for Jan. Really drinking great right now. (90 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
Will be fun to watch this one develop. Fairly light in color but flavors are intense and even sappy. Tart red fruits, like cranberry without the bitter bite and a bit of wood spice. Flavors persist. A lot of breed for $23. (90 pts.)
1999 Chteau d'Yquem - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (1/2/2009)
In perfect balance. Classic creme brulee richness against fresh stone fruits. Long and lovely. (97 pts.)
2004 Campagnia di Ermes Cesanese di Olevano Romano - Italy, Latium, Cesanese di Olevano Romano (12/29/2008)
This was just amazing with mu shu duck. Brilliant and bright, with depth, acidity, length and a wonderful spiciness (jasmine?) (92 pts.)
1990 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (12/26/2008)
Opened, tasted and recorked for about four hours. First of 5 Xmas dinner reds and the runaway favorite. Brilliant and translucent. Youthful in sight, smell and taste. Slight tobacco note on opening gave way to wonderfully dry red and black fruits. Not much in the way of secondary or tertiary elements, but what is there is in perfect harmony. (95 pts.)
N.V. Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Les Vignes de Montgueux Blanc de Blanc Montgueux - France, Champagne, Cte des Bars (Aube), Champagne (12/26/2008)
Yeasty and lively citrus fruit with nicely integrated acidity. Delightfully tasty and the clear favorite among four Xmas Champagnes. (90 pts.)
1996 Drappier Champagne Brut Carte d'Or - France, Champagne (12/26/2008)
Second bottle from Garagiste and like the first a disappointment. Lacks liveliness; heavy and a tad sweet. (84 pts.)
2001 La Palazzola Rubino Umbria IGT - Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT (12/17/2008)
OK, this is starting to round into form now. Would be hard to spot this as the Italian in a group of Left Bank wines. Still has a ways to go. Last I looked this was going for about $11 a bottle wholesale. A ridiculous deal for a classicly styled, tannic red wine that will age. (90 pts.)
1995 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (12/15/2008)
Big blast of sweet, stewed fruit on opening. This calmed down with air and the nose and flavor profile moved towards a more classic Piedmont template. Tar and dark fruits and still a fairly tannic structure. Holds up nicely a second night. I'll give my second bottle a few more years. (89 pts.)
2005 Lapandery Cte Roannaise - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Cte Roannaise (12/12/2008)
Open for business. Hard to do better on a pop and pour from 2005. Gamay character is a bit muted, which is a plus for Jan. Really drinking great right now. (90 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker