Seth Masterson

9.3

Wow. Not just forest floor but tree bark and liquorice and a hint of menthol layered into this crunchy textured Beaujolais.
One of the few fine reds that I can open and enjoy in the middle of the day without wishing I was eating food with it. It truly stands as something to enjoy on its own without a pairing. — 5 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium deep garnet with a terracotta rim . This has some sous bois , earthy tobacco , coffee grinds , herbal touches , cedar and dried currants . On the palate this is quite dense and classic in profile , still quite a lot of tannin , sous bois , cedar , some cassis , tobacco and a little herbal. Quite stocky and chunky . Medium length , and balanced acidity . This is still quite dense on the palate , with grippy , slightly rustic tannins . Probably just past peak , but will hold over the next 5 years or so . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London …. No label on the bottle ! — 5 days ago

Mike Evans

9.2

A little darker cherry than the 1971, a little weightier,,and showing a little more fruit, pretty good but lacking the ethereal quality of the 1971. It also fell apart faster than I’d like. — 13 days ago

Ericsson

9.5

This wine comes from a time when natural wine was still a revolution, not a trend. Foillard, one of the Gang of Four, took Gamay to wild, expressive heights with deep structure and an earthy sensuality which entices any wine lover. Twenty years later this wine is a testament of passion; on the palate the wine is so harmonious it decimates in your mouth like the most beautiful time lapse you’ve ever experienced. Great wine. — 17 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

A pristine bottle tonight, and I particularly love the vintage for the producer, as it captures the perfect balance of richness and focus. It’s exceptionally detailed, powerful and layered with lemon cream pie-white flower aromatics with a deep, creamy and mineral inflicted palate. In top shape, and may even outlast the surrounding 10/12 vintages which are almost always premoxed. — 20 days ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Lovely bouquet, long finish. Cherry and cinnamon, well balanced, paired nicely with Beef Wellington. — 10 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite light straw . Very complex and taut on the nose , with crushed shells , touch of honied citrus fruits , gun flint , green apple , camomile . On the palate this is very mineral and intense with chalk dust and citrus , apple peel , really long and mineral . Good volume but really excellent balance . Perfect fresh acidity, and saline mineral intensity on the finish . Really young still but so good at the moment , though will continue on like this , probably improving for a further decade at least . Restaurant Drouant , Paris . — 14 days ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Gorgeous on the nose. Roses, some gnarly fruit and a hint of funk. Beautiful and complex and balanced. Soft in the mid palate… soft red cherry. Excellent and fully mature. — 8 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Another beauty that is fresh, intense with its steely, mineral, saline, lemon & orchid fruits. — 4 days ago

Her Mir Tage

9.6

My Second Encounter with Clos de Tart

The first time I drank Clos de Tart was a 1999 vintage. Back then, I knew nothing about this vineyard. The wine was opened too briefly—still tight and unyielding, with a bold, muscular structure and tannins that felt a bit harsh. It wasn’t to my taste, so I soon forgot about it.

This time, I stumbled upon a 1990 vintage by chance. The label was slightly worn, but the fill level was perfect. After 30 minutes of decanting, the aromas began to emerge. By the two-hour mark, a distinct ‘rouge fragrance’drifted from the bottle—a scent often mentioned by friends who’ve drunk Jayer’s wines. I’d never experienced it myself until now.

The perfume was utterly enchanting:not overpowering, but a delicate, vintage rouge—like a blend of snow cream and the subtle powder used by women in the Republican era. It was neither vulgar nor overly flamboyant, but perfectly ambiguous, lingering on the edge of allure. Captivated, I sourced more bottles of this vintage, eager to see how the next one might unfold.

I saved a third of the bottle for the next day. While the fragrance had faded, the wine held its structure beautifully—a testament to its aging potential. This vintage is drinking flawlessly now.

On the palate, it was luxuriously rich, with a body that defied its age. The color, still a deep ruby with hints of red fruit, could pass for a 20-year-old wine. Notes of cherry, raspberry, preserved fruit, rose, and a touch of hawthorn candy’s sweet-tartness unfolded in layers. The balance was impeccable—like a hidden garden within a Suzhou courtyard, blooming in quiet harmony. The finish carried a clean, lingering sweetness.

This wine was so hauntingly beautiful that it inspired me to write my first-ever tasting note—lest I forget its magic. — 13 days ago