Grenache Noir

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2005

2005 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately and over the course of 4 hours. Medium body with a continually morphing nose. Super-impressive bouquet throughout the night. Overt fruit fallen off the framework and replaced with secondary attributes/complexities. @Bill Bender remarked twice about a lack of “heat”since the usual CDP ABV range seemed underwhelming One might think that would present issues but, rest assured, it did not. Great wine possibly at its’ zenith/top of the bell curve and living its’ best life now. Backed up the hype and then some. Tied for WOTN along with the 2006 Krug Clos du Mesnil Champagne (missed a picture for that one) for both myself and @Shay A 09.21.25. — 12 days ago

Shay ABill Bender
with Shay and Bill
Scott@Mister, Shay and 25 others liked this
Jay Kline

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🙌
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Effing banging. Thank you @Bill Bender !!

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2016

Decanted for 7h.
Nice aromatics of spices & leather. As expected, fruitless. Brilliant purity here with freshness & precision
Pure, austere & linear on the palate. With a firm tannic frame and brilliant, juicy acidity. Love the precision and the (firm) frame.
The complete opposite of plum & plush Languedoc or Rhone, but so nice.
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love Bandol!
— 13 days ago

Ira, Daniel and 2 others liked this

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Clos de la Maréchale Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2005

This was open, expressive with red cherry, berry, earth, spice, mineral & violet — 7 days ago

Severn, Jean-Philip and 6 others liked this

Ruinart

Brut Rosé Champagne

Quite light salmon pink , fine constant bubbles . Quite floral , rose , hibiscus , light strawberry , red currant and raspberry . On the palate this is balanced and elegant , strawberry , red currant , quite rounded with a touch of toasty brioche on the finish . Good slightly grippy acidity , medium length finish . Drink now and over the next couple of years. — 13 days ago

Tom, Dave and 4 others liked this

Domaine Armand Rousseau

Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2012

Another stunning Chambertin from the Burgundy dinner in Sydney 6 weeks ago. An absolutely gorgeous nose. Interestingly 100% new oak but the powerful fruit just swallows it. A little Animale/Feral note which adds interest. The medium plus bodied palate shows a savoury and sinewy texture. This has got the lot and still with a long window up to the early 2040s. Surpassed the 2002 in my book. — 8 days ago

Peter, Shay and 35 others liked this
Severn G

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Fantastic!!!
Ron R

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👀

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2006

disappointing. Feels slightly flat alongside its siblings. Pretty fruit and clearly classy but just flat. Clearly a substandard bottle given how well the rsv and riche showed — 5 days ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Tom, Matt and 7 others liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Grands Échézeaux Pinot Noir 2015

From a Delectable library photo. This is the 2015 vintage. Sweeter aromatics compared to the 2015 Echezeaux. An even more gorgeous scented nose. That sweetness carries through to the medium bodied palate. A little more flesh and density. The old vine fruit averaging 55 years. The name however does not imply greater quality over the Echezeaux. Jasper Morris MW has sometimes preferred Echezeaux to Grands Echezeaux in a given vintage. “Interestingly the vineyard is east facing with a thickish layer of well drained clay soil above the same downwash subsoil of Bajocian limestone as Le Musigny - a characteristic not shared by the rest of Echezeaux. This can impart a fuller texture to the wines of Grands Echezeaux over its neighbour as well as a greater consistency from one vintage to the next.” sourced from Inside Burgundy by Jasper Morris MW. — 8 days ago

Dan liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Échézeaux Pinot Noir 2015

In Sydney for a Burgundy dinner about 6 weeks ago. Only posting my sketchy notes now. Our host rated this 2015 as better than the 2005 as regards colour flesh and persistence of flavour. Ripe raspberry fruit. DRC has practiced biodynamics since 1990 in this vineyard. Oak spice noticeable. Very early in its drinking window which is 2022 to 2042. — 9 days ago

Paul, Tom and 26 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

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@Bob McDonald I posted on this in November 2021. Sounds like this wine has never really shut down and will continue to go from strength to strength. you commented when I posted, I am very happy you had the opportunity to taste.
Bob McDonald

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@Ira Schwartz I do remember that Ira now that you mention it. I’ve seen drinking windows on this wine through to the 2040s. Thanks for your comments.
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Wow! Jealous!

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Richebourg Pinot Noir 2006

black cherry. A bit of chocolate orange. Bloody and powerful. Dense and pure. Brooding. Very good. Young — 5 days ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Tom, Matt and 9 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2014

There is a vibrancy you noticed right away with a fine bead of bubbles. It is quite youthful and a few years of aging will help the wine meld together a bit better. Drink it now if you need to as it won’t disappoint. — 4 days ago

Scott@Mister, Andrew and 5 others liked this