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Château Clerc Milon 2012
This is a refined, St Julien like expression of Château Clerc Milon from Pauillac and the 2012 vintage. In all respects, this is classic left bank Bordeaux and an edge free experience. Every corner has been polished. It has textbook aromas of blackcurrant and cedar. The palate is medium bodied, has firm fine tannins and […]
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Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Becker Margaux 2005
The stronger 2005s from Bordeaux should be starting to drink well and the lesser wines revealing whether they had sufficient stuffing to last the distance. The Marquis d’Alesme Becker grand cru classé sits somewhere in between. It could be a little tired, offer glimpses of excellence or provide excellent drinking with the promise of more. […]
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Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2002
This wine review is of the 2002 vintage of Château Grand Puy Lacoste from Pauillac in Bordeaux. The wine initially presents as mature and fully evolved with tertiary soy, leather and earthy characters. A touch of blackcurrant is there, but only for the particularly diligent searcher. With time in the glass, however, a metamorphosis take […]
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Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris 2019 Les Jardins
From Domaine Ostertag in Alsace and the 2019 vintage, this is a very high quality expression of pinot gris labelled as “Les Jardins”. Yellow gold in colour in the glass, it has aromas that remind of earth, pear, cinnamon spiced pears and old cedar. The palate is dry, full bodied and savoury. The alcohol is […]
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Frédéric Puffeney Trousseau 2017
My first posted individual wine review for a little while. From ultra fashionable Jura, it is a trousseau from Frédéric Puffeney, the Arbois appellation and the 2017 vintage. Trousseau is not commonly seen, and is perhaps an acquired taste. Here it has aromas of damp earth, red berries and is a little rough in bearing. […]
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Dominique Laurent Clos Saint-Jacques Premier Cru Gevrey-Chambertin 2003 Wine Review
Clos Saint-Jacques is a premier cru appellation in Gevrey Chambertin that is a grand cru in all but name. There are only five producers who own land here and Dominique Laurent sources the grapes as négociant. Some such as Wine Searcher report Dominique Laurent as being heavy handed with new oak and ripe fruit, while […]
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Domaine Nicolas Rossignol Pommard Les Vignots 2011 Wine Review
This wine proved to be a very enjoyable, archetypal Pommard. It is labelled as “Les Vignots” which is a lieu-dit, rather than premier cru, so this remains a Pommard villages wine. It presented however more like a premier cru. Les Vignots is not particularly far from Pommard premier crus Les Arvelets and La Platière, although […]
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Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2018 Wine Review
This is Tardieu-Laurent’s “Les Becs Fins” Côtes du Rhône blanc from the 2018 vintage. The 2018 is mostly viognier (40%), marsanne (20%) and roussanne (20%) with clairette and grenache blanc making up the balance. It is unoaked, with low acidity, a thick viscous body, is dry and has typical hay and straw like aromas. Ready […]
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Bernard Baudry Les Granges Chinon 2020 Wine Review
This wine review is of Bernard Baudry’s “Les Granges” cabernet franc from Chinon in the Loire Valley and the 2020 vintage. The wine has a purity of red fruits that I have not previously tasted in Baudry’s Les Granges Chinon. It opens to aromas of raspberries and red plums, spice and, consistent with cabernet franc, […]
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Henri Naudin Ferrrand Aligoté 2018 Wine Review
This wine review is of Henri Naudin Ferrand’s Bourgogne Aligoté from the 2018 vintage. Aligoté is an early drinking high acid white grape variety from Burgundy. In terms of repute, it sits quite some margin behind the world famous first white wine of this region, chardonnay. The wine will appeal to those seeking a ready […]