Wines From France

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

We had this a few days ago and I misplaced my notes. Citrus mineral and intensity I recall. Probably committing infanticide drinking this now but there were good reasons to. Firstly our son and wife plus our daughter home for Christmas from New York and secondly my retirement after 53 years at McDonald Group. — 4 days ago

Jeroen, Peter and 27 others liked this
Ceccherini Cristiano

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Congratulations🍾
Bob McDonald

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Thanks to all for your well wishes.
Ira Schwartz

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@Bob McDonald Congratulations, go and enjoy the next phase of your life!

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1993

Label was gone so you'll all just have to believe me that this was a Cheval blanc 🤣. Very far along with leather, mushroom and forest floor flavours. Great wine from a poor vintage — 7 days ago

Dick, Daniel and 12 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 13 days ago

Jakub, Tom and 13 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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You've been hitting all my favorite Léoville lately, so jealous
Jay Kline

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@Severn Goodwin I catching up on some notes from a night with a line-up of bangers from Bordeaux. It was pretty awesome, ngl

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2027

Joe L.
9.3

Used for holiday party as a magnum, a beautiful Beaujolais that’s lively and more complex than typical Beaujolais with the barrel notes surfacing with some minerality giving it a nice bright finish - imported from Kermit Lynch — 13 days ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2018

Always lovely and fun to try with a bit more age. Still lots of flowers and cherry but with a notably darker edge now. Dangerously drinkable while still being very interesting. Good pairing with a Christmas Eve ham from hometown bbq. — 4 days ago

Bob, Tyler and 2 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 17 days ago

Ira, Jan and 27 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

2019 vintage. From Magnum. Medium body up front with that pirouetting away at the end and finishing with a lighter footprint. Drinking great now and just dropped into cruise control for the next 2.5 decades. Great effort. 12.11.24. — 17 days ago

Ruud, Andrew and 21 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 10 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 45 others liked this
Ron R

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Merry Christmas to you @Jody Scharf. Wanna meet up in Manhattan and tip a glass?
Jody Scharf

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anytime Ron, would enjoy that
Ron R

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@Jody Scharf, we are ready. Talk to me goose!

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 14 days ago

Ericsson, Ron and 28 others liked this
Vino Joe

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Good to know! How long was your decant? And over how long a window did you enjoy it?
Jay Kline

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@Vino Joe great questions; I have answers. Note updated!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

From 3L bottle

1 hour decant. A majestic dark garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: perfumed fragrant notes of dark plum, currants, creme brulee, herbaceous, eucalyptus, wet forest floor. Taste: silky, creamy, wonderful coat your palate wine with red plum/cherry, that Cos spice, mineral, graphite, worn leather, and a smokey chocolate coffee medium plus finish. YUM!
— 15 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Ron and 27 others liked this
Ron R

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@Tom Garland, very nice. Cracking such a large bottle, what was the celebration? Happy holidays.
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Birth year wine for our son. Not sure if he and his friends appreciated all the qualities of an aged Bordeaux, but my wife and I really enjoyed it. Cheers! and happy holidays.
Ron R

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Wonderful Tom and Brenda. Congratulations to you both and your son. A great way to celebrate for sure…