French Cellars

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — 7 days ago

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Somm David T

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Top three producer.
Jay Kline

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@Somm David T They’re up there. Certainly Top 6 for me. Foillard, Metras, Guy Breton, Thivin, Roilette and a few of the new comers are all right up there for me
Somm David T

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I have some vintages of Metras. Honored 5th to the Gang of Four. Need to open one soon. Definitely, on the list.

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2016

Elegance in a bottle. Bright, pale straw color, with big bubbles. Nutty, ripe peach, lemon and chalk aromas. Grapefruit, lemon and a mineral finish. Superb!

🏅96 Points - Wine Spectator
— 19 days ago

Billy, Doug and 22 others liked this
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Des bulles pour la vie!!!

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

Deep cherry red. Oak+ vanilla clove nutmeg. Black currant++ blueberry black cherry and berry. Leather+ meat. Elegancy more than complexity. It changed a lot over time. 30 min the started feeling the value of this. Compared with the last one, it has big potential, though it has already been ready to drink, since it is 2017 vintage. Fruitiness M Sweetness M+ Acidity M Silky Tannin M+ Bitterness M Body M++ Finish M++ 13.5% Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 17 @110000, AD, 250226 — 8 days ago

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Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2002

Was maybe expecting a bit more from this. Think the bottle might have been just slightly off but still excellent. — 12 days ago

Tom, Peter and 15 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1988

Light amber. Showing secondary notes- dried apricot, honey, brioche. Good tension still and reasonable fizz. For my palate slightly past the best bottles I’ve had of this — 16 days ago

Paul WoollsMatt LichtenbergBOT
with Paul, Matt and 1 other
Jan, Jay and 5 others liked this

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 2015

Brief notes. Dense crimson with a ruby rim. Traces of cowyard, (mild Brett?) also blackberry and black pepper notes. A rich palate of medium plus intensity - savoury and earthy notes and black olive. A fantastic food wine. Love this style. One of the better world expressions of Syrah. Have my last bottle in early 2028. — 4 days ago

Doug, Ray and 17 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I’ve drank Clape Cornas as far back as the 1985 (though in those days I was always a Verset Cornas guy, others in my wine group preferred Clape). About 2 years ago I brought a bottle of 1991 Clape to a friend’s winery in the Sierra Foothills, we popped and poured it (my wife and his winery intern were also there), and it was nothing short of fabulous!! Anyway, only purpose of my little side story is to suggest that this wine, from a fine vintage, will cellar long past your “last bottle” window (20-25 years without a problem)!! Cheers!! 🍷🍷
Bob McDonald

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@Doug Powers Thanks for your note Doug. Its longevity is not in question…..I guess I don’t have the patience to wait as long as I should and I would like to try the last bottle sooner rather than later! Thankfully I have younger vintages of Clape Cornas waiting in the cellar.
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Same issue here, I always realise that the last bottle of a certain wine I drink over the years is always the best because I also tend to open rather early than late

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Earthy nose with black fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, dark chocolates, coffee, light vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Paulliac. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex, elegant and fruit forward.

This 9 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Easy drinking, and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in (75% new) French oak barrels for 17 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85.
— 14 days ago

Dave, Tom and 21 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Last tasted 10.26.24 (9.3). Bottom neck fill. Opened with a Durand and decanted. Cork about 70% saturated. Throwing a mix of lentil-sized chunky and powdery sediment. Surprisingly dark color. Nose initially had the funk while decanting. Tasting 30 minutes after the open, the funk had blown off. Light body. Coffee grounds and tobacco throughout. Some damp and decaying forest floor matter/earth (but not mud) notes along with a cedilla of lean, dark cherry. Based on this specimen, feel this can hold tight in this phase for another 3-4 years. 2.27.26 — 6 days ago

David, Jeroen and 14 others liked this
Somm David T

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Much respect for this producer.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego, thanks for the update, I still have some of these in my cellar.

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Such different styles...this is definately more fruit forward. Both excellent wines. Great drinking them together — 12 days ago

Douglas, Dave and 29 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Classic bordeaux flavours. Highly elegant and layered. Perfect drinking window for me — 12 days ago

Tom, Peter and 21 others liked this