Tasting Notes for Fine & Rare Wines

10/29/08: 1976 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle Musigny ($165)

Appearance : Bright garnet, salmon-tinged watery rim.

Nose: We opened this cold and it evolved quickly, initially presenting tobacco leaf notes, dry herbs and spices and dried red berry. Opening up, the bouquet became more dense and perfumed, still displaying mature pinot character but with more lushness.

Palate: Light-bodied at first, with dry, tart, red fruit flavors & medium acidity, it quickly took on weight. Mature, for sure, but not dried out or tired in any way. Surprisingly feminine in its sophistication & elegance. While the tannins remained a little gritty and the finish was somewhat short, the well-developed mid-palate boosted the overall experience - without food - no less, leaving a very, very good impression that might have improved had we been able to stop drinking it and send out for a bite. Just beautiful . ***1/2

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11/05/08: 1984 Mouton-Rothschild ($165)

Appearance: Hazy, deep garnet core, pink rim

Nose: Developed aromas of dried herbs & vegetation, smoke, cassis that evolves into a more briary note.

Palate: Medium-bodied, soft & round on the attack with delicious sweet/sour cherry fruit and fresh acidity giving way to a layer of smoke. Although not overly complex, it is well-structured and a seamless experience. We found the tannins on the finish a touch chalky and drying which would likely be mitigated by properly drinking it with food. Medium in length. Overall, a very pleasant surprise for the vintage. Plenty of life left in this one! ***

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2/11/09: 1994 Joseph Drouhin Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche ($175)

Appearance: No signs of oxidation, medium gold

Nose: Alot of complexity - honeyed, ripe pineapple/tropical fruit juice, shortbread and cream

Palate: We weren't expecting too much given the vintage but were very pleasantly surprised. Round, medium + body & a creamy texture matched the nerve of acid, delivering far more on a structural level than expected. Delicious tropical fruit juice, no signs of decline but clearly at its peak. ***

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6/02/09: 1985 Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (NA)

Appearance: deep garnet, no signs of oxidation

Nose: An expressive bouquet of blackberry & cedar

Palate: Alex wasn't expecting much and was shocked at howgood this bottle was. Gorgeous, seamless, dark fruits, blackberries, earth and almost floral flavors with a silky mouthfeel and very long finish. *****

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6/05/09: 2006 Domaine Arlaud Morey St. Denis "Les Cheseaux" 1er Cru ($45)

Appearance: Medium ruby, pink rim.

Nose: Layered, lightly floral, baked raspberry tart, compote, baking spices, a touch of tar

Palate: Medium body, darker fruit, blackberry(?) in the mouth than in the nose, texturally very silky with medium, fine-grained tannins, supple, no tar flavors, medium acidity. Structural elements in balance, length is medium plus. Four hours later, while there wasn't much change in the wine, it remained an extremely pleasant Burgundy experience. ****

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9/01/09: 1997 Petrus ($NA)

Appearance: Medium ruby, pink rim.

Nose: I ncredibly heady and complex. Layers of cassis liqueur, dark chocolate-covered ripe cherries, currants, a subtle whiff of catmint (nepeta) and briar, very light tomato leaf, but not herbaceous or vegetal.

Palate: Medium bodied, soft, supple texture, layers of flavor - cassis, currant, dark chocolate, cedar. Medium (+) acidity, vibrant, fine-grained tannins. Plenty of development ahead. ****

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