[Tasted on July 20, 2025 at Home]
Apple and citrus, with honey, vanilla and a chalky note. Wine is past its prime, but enjoyable. — 24 days ago
When you see “Trés Vieilles Vignes” scripted across the top of the bottle, you gotta wonder how old is “very old”. Welp…how about 120+ years. Easily some of the oldest in Burgundy. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2016 Charmes-Chambertin “Trés Vieilles Vignes” pours a deep ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart; red and black fruits: Marionberries, pomegranate, bruised strawberry, roses, sous bois, mushrooms, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is the kind of experience you want in Grand Cru burgundy. There’s so much concentration and balance. A brilliant wine. Drink now through 2046+. — 2 months ago
As I have said many times before, I love these old 90’s Joseph Phelps Napa Cabernets. 1994 was the last vintage Phelps used this label. #oldschool
13.7 ABV. A little higher than expected for this era but way better than 15+.
The nose fruits show that light brickish flare-a touch baked & hints of being stewed, yet still beautifully ripe. Softened, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, spiced plum & dark cherries, some raspberries & blueberry hues. Sandalwood, dry stems, mid berry cola, soft baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, steeped tea, mix of dry & rich dark earth, charcoal, sweet, moist, volcanic clays, light graphite, bright, red, dark, blue florals with a hue of violets.
The fruits in this 93 are still very sound/solid & fresh. It senses just waning from its peak. It’s beautiful, elegant w/ perfect evolution. Glides over the palate, nothing bitty. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, spiced plum, dark cherries, cherries, shades of freshly baked rhubarb & blueberry w/ hues of raspberries. Sandalwood, dry stems, mid berry cola, amazing softened dark spice with some palate heat, dry herb mix, soft baking spice-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, understated caramel notes, vanillin. Steeped tea, mix of dry & rich dark earth, charcoal, light, gentle graphite, dry top soils, dry limestone powder, red, dark, blue florals, red roses with a hue of violets, excellent, rainfall acidity with perfect balance-structure, elegant & softly polished finish that last minutes and lands on softened earth tones & Indian/Asian spices.
I had many 90’s Phelps Napa Cabernets & this might be the most memorable for its tireless age at 32 yrs & style. Amazing treat. Really good with the Ribcap. Sublime.
Amazingly, next to no sediment. — 12 days ago
2020 vintage - delightful. Elegant, balanced, expressive and youthful. — 8 days ago
Ultima gran cena de amigoa fuera de la paulee — 2 months ago
Peter Sultan
Funny how sometimes I’m guilty of thinking “ letting the Brett blow off” to taste the main event. Here the development in the glass is the main event, which includes quite a bit of funk when first opening up. That the evolution includes wild blackberries & cassis, & the funk adds to the overall impression of something feral getting tamed, is all part of the fun. Fine grained & can be drunk young, but curious how it would fare in 8-10 years ( imagine a much more smoothed out development & sweetness). — 16 days ago