12/10/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Opened for 10hrs
14.5%. 98% Garnacha, 2% Cariñena 40-90yo vines
This is very different from the classic Garnacha style from Idoia Negre. Lighter in color, more lifted aromatic with faint sweetness, red fruits dominant intermixed with passionfruit and lots of spiciness. Excellent grip on the palate with light sweetness and lots of tension from the super fine tannin and nice acidity. Good length lingering with spiciness and mineral.

12/10/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

14%. Opened for 10hrs.
75% Garnatxa Negra, 25% Carinyena
Sweet grenache fruits, grilled meat with a touch of bubble gum (in a good way), very inviting. Rich entry, with fruits reflect the aromas, some sweet tannin with just sufficient acidity for the balance and structure. Nice finish with a lot of spiciness.

12/10/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Opened for 10hours. 12%
As usual ash and roses, with very fragile red fruits and spices. Alluring aromatic. Excellent tension on the palate with some ripe fruits, excellent saliviting acidity, fade away to some chalk, savouriness, salinity, with super fine, almost unnoticeable tannin that gives a gentle grip for a even better finish. A wine that deserved closer attention in order to enjoy the full profile.

12/10/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Opened for 10hours. 13%
51% Xarel·lo, 25% Garnatxa Blanca, 13% Chardonnay, 11% Macabeu
Yellow fruits with a touch of earth, cream, lime zest, grapefruits and mineral. Rounded on the palate, with good mid palate intensity and creaminess, finish with a touch of bitterness and pepper, very clean with lots of minerality.

12/10/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Opened for 8hours.
100% Pinot Noirm 2018, Rose de Saignee.
Disgorged Jun-2022. 4.5g/l
Blood red. Crushed strawberry, sweet spices and cold herbs. Very fruits forward at first but started to show more complexity after some aeration. Revealing lovely savouriness, spiciness and tall acidity. Good grip, dry and clean finish with lots of salinity as well as grapefruits skin.

3/13/2022 - Sleepy Dave Likes this wine:

My 1st wine from Ca N'Estruc. 13%, fermented and aged in barrel.
51% Xarel·lo, 25% Garnatxa Blanca, 13% Chardonnay and 11%
Macabeu.

Nice light gold with green tinge.

In Sydonios Burg glass:
Really expressive nose with chalk, light spice, ginger candy, ripe yellow fruits and full of salinity at the core. Rounded on the palate but not without the acidity and tension at the mid palate. With a touch of lime zest at the back and oily texture. Silk, long and quite full.

In Sydonios Universal glass:
Left expressive but better focus and colder fruits expression. Nice acidity throughout, with silky smooth mouthfeel, a touch oily texture and seamless finish. I like both!

3/10/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

12%. Decanted for 1.5hours.
Lemon lime, flowers, light spiced and tons of salinity. Lifted. Saline and juicy on the palate with good drive from the acidity and minerality. Light on its foot but without compromising the depth. Elegant, clean and long.

3/8/2022 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Saturated ruby. Super expressive right out of the bottle. Whole bunch aromas, filled with roses, ripe blue fruits, roasted herbs and savouriness, Very complex though a little pungest. Nice acidity at the entry that provide freshness to give the juicy fruits a lift. Intense, nice fine grained tannin and whole bunch textural richness. This has a lot of substance to go, with a light rustic touch of the region. Good length and really punching above its weight. Finish is lingering and clean. 80% 100yrs old & 20% 55yrs old vines.

7/25/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Random #1: The rim is bricking but the core is still pretty saturated. Full of florals, black olives, balsamic and darker fruits. Very elegant, long intense palate yet remains light and effortless. Although the tannin is pretty refined but the power, the light rusticity etc leads me a 20yrs old Barolo, probably by a female winemaker as this has a soft touch. I have drank this in May and my guessed was old school burg, probably a 2006 grand cru. Consistently wrong lol.

7/25/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Random #1: This has similar color with the Galeyrand Gevrey Billard, purpllish red, pretty saturated at the core. Very light caramel accompany by the sweet spices, blue fruits, fresh cut grassiness and blue flowers. Very inviting. It has nice texture and substance on the palate. Juicy fruits, umami, already well integrated silky tannin along with good acidity and mineral spine. I thought this has shaping well in the bottled and will go the distance.

7/25/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Random #1: 12.5%. Tasted Blind.
Wow, highly expressive nose of complex citrus fruits, lots of salinity, white flowers etc and very deep. Very pure and elegant on the palate with excellent intensity and persistency. It has a slight bitterness (citrus skin) that leads me to the Aligoté. I really like the textural richness and the class here though not the price.

8/8/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Decanted and served. Rather tight initially, some white flowers and citrus and a little sharp on the palate. It started to evolve after 15mins or so. High pitch, even more expressive of white flowers, citrus skin, fresh almond and a little fresh cut grass and honey at the core too. Very fresh, both nose and palate. Again, I would be surprised this is from the 2018, in fact all thought this was from the 17 or 14 based on the fresh fruits and acidity. Juicy, sleek with good dry extract at the medium length finish.

8/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Highly expressive from the get go. The violets, blue fruits, earth and lifted acidity is really engaging. I would not have guessed a 2018 with the lovely acidity and crunchy fruits on the palate, very lively. It has this savoury complexity that linger at the finish. Very pure and high quality fruits here. It has gained a better structure in the bottle to balance the fruits, as compared to the barrel tasting.

6/1/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Full of juicy red fruits on both nose and palate. Very elegant and lifted aromatic, the touch of fresh earth reminded me of Gevrey but lighter, prettier. Very nice acidity on the palate, a touch warm spices on the palate with light tannic grip. Finished is pretty dense and with good persistency. Clean.

Day 2: Both nose and palate has gained intensity. The profile is still remains airy, floral and juicy full of red fruits. Love the savoriness and saline mineral here.

5/30/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Pop and poured in a SY universal glass, the small opening of the glass enhanced the power on the nose and palate, very powerful and less precise.
It does get more precise when served slightly colder and the acidity comes forward.

Switch to SY Burgundy glass, oh my. Day & Night. Almost a diff wine just on the nose. Highly precise and focus, some tropical fruits aromas but without the sweetness. Sage, pepper, grapefruits emerged. It is salivating on the palate with the lovely acidity. Almost like a Chablis here. There is this lime / lemon zest bitterness at the back, to me it is highly engaging. Complex salinity, very intense yet light on its foot. Long, persistent. Wow.

Few days later: The aromas is subtle yet complex, holding strong here. The touch of Chateau Chalon oxidative aromas broaden the aromas spectrum. Chrysanthemum tea, sage and curry leaves. Lovely delineation on the palate, so much flavours and energy here. Life! Very juicy and engaging mid palate, nice spicy finish. wow!

5/26/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Balsamic, a little muted fruits that is struggling to go pass the structure. Loaded with warm spices, red dates and rosemary. Took about 4grs for the fruits to shows and when it does, it is very satisfying. Layers, tension, excellent depth and freshness, with saline mineral and savouriness. Still some powdery tannin present after the mid palate. Persistent, energetic s and long.

5/25/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

1st sip: As expected from a 1er Cru from a hot vintage, this has the density and power, but I was surprised with its 13.5% alcohol. The acidity is keeping it in shape and refreshes the palate after the first rush of the intense fruits. A little edgy on the palate and bitter chocolate, savoury and little spicy aftertaste. Strong.

30mins later. Nice aromatic with lots of small berries, a touch of sandalwood, meatiness and orange peel, intense. Showing more acidity on the palate, still possess the power but more precise. Not sweet, finished is juicy, clean and lingering. Not really refined but full of character. The slight rustic grip is pretty engaging.

5/16/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Decided to kill this to check on the profile. Wow, highly lifted. I was impressed by the intense vivid ripe fruits here (strawberry, raspberry), yet still cool and airy. With red flowers along with some cool herbs and spices, savouriness and orange peel. Excellent depth on the palate with nice grip from the acidity and very fine tannin. Powerful finish, yet have this lightness and spiciness to make it approachable. I'm pretty impressed.

5/16/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

A simple Bourgogne that showing a nice depth of fruits as a village, thanks to the 2018 vintage. A little spicy on the nose intermixed with ripe blue fruits and earthiness. Similar spiciness note on the palate, and lingering. Rounded mouthfeel, ripe fruits and some savouriness towards the back. No fuss, drinking nicely.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Before MCO 3: I'm gonna be honest and I totally got this wrong too, guess it was another good vintage of Italian. Still very youthful, full of primary fruits, sweet and lush with no hard edge. It has just the sufficient acidity to keep it from being flabby. It has a little more savouriness than the Chimney. Very good length with full of juicy ripe fruits and leather. No problem to go further.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Before MCO 3: This was a real surprise. Initially thought this was a Bordeaux but as the riper fruits, warm spices evolved with time, we shifted to Italian, from a very warm vintage for such a intensely ripe fruits, smooth tannin and pretty saturated mouthfeel. Very good length too. Love Napa Cab from the 70s - 90s. Most of these were still with moderate alcohol (this is 13%) and with the restrain profile which reminiscent their old world counterpart.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Before MCO 3: Glad to try this one and man, this was really expressive from the start. With a light note of oxidation, nuts, pears, licorice and warm butter. Broad and deep on the palate, really nice depth of fruits that giving an almost voluptuous mouthfeel yet remains focus and precise, thanks to the acidity and saline minerality. By far the most accessible young Besguines I have had so far.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Before MCO 3: A little closed initially, needed at least 30mins to open up and it continues to to develop. Highly intense and focus with yellow fruits, lemon skin, cool spices and a touch of nuttiness. There is a whiff of oak but it disappears quickly. This has a really good depth and richness on the palate, as well as brightness and complexity. Friends guessed Meursault 1er Cru, enough said. I prefer this to be served at a slightly colder temp as it gains better tension.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Birthday Bash: This has more sweet ripe fruits compared to the AF Gros. Airier on the nose and higher acidity on the palate. Has the natural power and depth even though I thought this was from a lighter vintage. Nice length with good persistency. Guessed 2011 Gevrey GC. Yet again a it shows the Chambertin always defies aging curve.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Birthday Bash: My 2nd bottles in two days. About 2.5g/l of dosage. A very neutral Champagne that boosted with complex salinity, fresh citrus fruits with some reserved (solera) wines from 2010 - 2016 for some mid palate richness and length. A nice starter.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Birthday Bash: Powerful on the nose. Intense and broad. A touch of Iron along with blue fruits, smoked meats, autumn leaves and light wood spices. Equally great depth on the palate, regal. A touch rusticity at the back with some firms tannin that leading me to the old school Burg, probably a 2006. Excellent length. Very tasty with all the right components to get better in a few years later.

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Birthday Bash: Tasted Blind. We were 100% sure this was from the Bordeaux. For me, a very good Pauillac in its 20s. Bell pepper, black fruits, pencil shaving and touch of dried flowers. Relatively lush compared to the 1986 Talbot, still possess nice level of primary fruits. A friend was actually thought this was a new world although changes his mind after a few sips. Velvety mouthfeel, long finish and have the legs to get better. Sweet surprise!

5/6/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Birthday Bash: I love 1986 Saint Julien hence I decided to open this bottle with some nice steaks. Showing a nice saturating color at the core, with light hue. Almost immediately expressive, with just a touch of roasted herbs, capsicum intermixed with lovely array of decay flowers, blackcurrant, cedar and earth. Excellent mid palate depth. Tannin has almost fully resolved and leaving a nice grip towards the end. Beautifully balanced and with the St Julien elegant. Not the best length compared to the 86 GL but drinking in its prime. Even more promising when had it with the steak.

4/17/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Tasted Blind. Pretty seductive ripe fruits with hoisin sauce, warm spices etc. The palate echoes the nose and is showing better than the 1st wine (Noellat) with its rounder, lusher mouthfeel. I enjoyed the savoury complexity and juiciness here.

4/17/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Tasted Blind. Pretty elegant and airy on the nose. Nice entry with good freshness and rich fruits. There are some unresolved new wood on the nose and palate giving the edgy and light tannic mouthfeel. It was begging for a couple more years in the bottle.

4/14/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Very light ruby. Lifted, intense red fruits, strawberry, cheery, savoury, floral,swee t candied fruits, highly engaging and intoxicating. Bright acidity, precise, delineated, albeit a bit light on the palate . It is very natural-ish and super fine grained tannin with load of saline mineral.

4/14/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Bright ruby. passionfruits, lovely airy roses and red fruited nose. Light spiciness, hoisin and peppery note, very perfume. Bright on the palate, jus a hint of stem, very intense mid palate and sappiness, keeps going and lingering with very fine, firm tannin. Dark chocolate finishing. I really like the brightness and the acidity here over the ripe fruits.

2/22/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Clos Rougeard, an absolute favorite Domaine and by far the best expression of Cab Franc to me. This was starting slow, most probably due to the vintage. Nice nose but rather one dimensional on the palate next to the Lafite, albeit the signature profile of this estate: purity and elegance is showing right from the start. Took about 1.5hours for the full bloom. Much deeper and complex, with lovely fruits intensity and minerality intermixed with just a touch of the pepper notes that added more complexity. I would say both wines are aiming for the same goal: finesse. This will go the distance.

2/22/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

From an OWC of 3. A slight touch of funk for the first poured but quickly blew away. Very fresh and complex, just entering the maturity and in the perfect spot to drink. Dried and fresh flowers, sweet tobacco, light capsicum and cedar with a lot of small berries. It is intense and deep, but never powerful, as what I'm expecting from Lafite -> Elegance. Layer and layer of flavours, silky smooth on the palate with excellent freshness and very satisfying mid palate depth and length. A great matured Claret.

2/21/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

This is much more expressive and lifted on the nose compared to the Meo, but less deep. Lavender, red flowers intermixed with very fresh fruits and touch of autumn leaves.
Lovely layers and delineated on the palate with silky tannin. Understated in style, never showy. It has the classy restrained from this prestigious vineyard. Elegant and refined.

2/21/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Initially very shy on the nose but expressive and complete on the palate. After an hour or so, this has opening up. Cinnamon, fresh spices, plums, strawberry, savoury, smoked meat, nicely expressive and complex, getting more and more engaging. Savoury on the palate , poised and refined. Love the salivating acidity that giving the life and freshness. Nice length and limbering, with considerable hidden power.

1/27/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

bright red. Nice friendly aromatic of fresh red fruits such as strawberries intermixed with touch of savouriness and flower. This has excellent intensity for the level, and it actually able to withstand and go well with the wagyu. Really nice, crisp on the palate. Good level of depth and richness to keep things going. Nice length too, i'm pleasantly surprise by this humble Coteaux Bourguignons. Really nice to drink now and good to hold for a couple more years. Refreshing!

1/12/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Very nice aromas, super focus, lovely barleys, intense yello and white fruits. Very elegant and complex salinity, with touch of green apple and lemon, bergamots. Nice intensity on the palate. Almost Chablis like. Very pure. Intense ans complex butteriness. Long!

1/12/2021 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Amazing nose. The curry leaves is what I’m in love with Leflaive and very complex notes that I can’t dissect, but vibrant and seductive. Saline, powerful mid palate. Long finish with intense juiciness and spice. Very very long.

12/30/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Similar to the 2013, filled with high class oak and whole cluster notes, very aromatic in a not airy way. Pretty broad and powerful. A little spices. Mouth filling. Saturated with very nice depth of fruits, good powerful grip. Some unresolved tannin, persistent, long finish. Still very youthful!

12/30/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Similar to my previous experience. This is super. Lofted aromas, seductive and elegant. Effortless on the palate, so light yet so intense. All elements is there and nothing out of place. Perhaps not the deepest compared to the other vintages but this is super!

12/30/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

This is really expressive and showing exceptionally well. Bottle breathing for 1.5hrs. Lovey Chambolle fruits, with darjiling tea, whole cluster perfume, small crunchy berry fruits, little cinnamon, rose petal, highly perfume! Clean and pure on the palate, with fine grained tannin that often found on whole cluster wine. Nice intensity, growing richness and complexity with excellent lingering length. The textural richness is adorable.

12/29/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

This bottle reflects the vintage, very generous on riper blue fruits, light spiciness and touch of earth. Full but still focus. Very nice depth and richness on the palate, definitely punching above its level. Thanks god this has nice acidity for the freshness and structured. Some tannic grip after the mid palate but the tannin is really juicy and sweet, not astringent. Lovely length. Getting brighter and better focus with air.

12/29/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Decanted. Pretty powerful aromatic, loaded with intense sweet dark fruits, light incense and filled with high class vanilla oak. Equally powerful and dense on the palate. Almost a bit too sweet to me. Fortunately the acidity was showing up after 2hours in the decanter and give the wine a nice backbone and freshness. Still pretty dominated by the new oak at the end of the palate. Need many more years to hit the right balance.

12/28/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Very seductive sweetness, intermixed with spices. Very good intensity and focus, with touch of high class oak perfume. Loaded with darker fruits.rounded and elegant on the palate. It grows and grows, with just a touch of tannic grip suffered the young stage, and very nice depth, powerful long finish that still displays sense of restraint. A very very good wine .

12/21/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Initially pungent but quickly settling down and showing very seductive, even elegant aromas of blackcurrant, prune, deep herbs, a touch of sea breeze, roses! very pure and without a touch of oak. Pure and powerful entry, nice mid palate if concentration; when you think this is going to stay here; it accelerating again ans gaining more depth and power; yet remains light on its feet given such power and alcohol. Just a touch of herbs and sweetness at the very end. Very distinctive wine.

12/21/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Lovely, lovey nose of ripe cherry, sweet herbs. Earth, flowers, orange peel and a touch of stem, very seductive and complex already. Nice acidity at the entry, very fine grained tannin, with subtle sugary sweetness, little bit of spices lingering, feminine expression and very long. Good structured but maintain very good approachability. A lovely wine.

12/6/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

A pure and not heavy style syrah. Similar to the evening land pinot, syrah from Cali could be very, very good if not heavy handled. Lots of expressive cool fruits, spices, bacon fat etc. Nice fruits richness and purity. While very rich, it is not heavy and offer plenty of complexity and substance. Good length too. Would love to explore more.

12/6/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Produced by master somm Raj Parr, one of my go to new world Pinot. Most of the time, friends will guess this as a Burg. Lovely lifted nose with ripe red and blue fruits, a tad of spice, earth and iron, could have mistaken this as a Gevrey very easily. Fresh, rich mid palate and well structured. Cali Pinot could be good, such as this one.

12/16/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:

Pale yellow. Very clear. Opened a night before. Still very expressive, powerful and deep. Green apple, gun flint, smoked, loaded with salinity intermixed with lemony fruits and ginger. Very nice delineation and intensity here. Clean and pure, light spring water infused with flower and lemon. Good length, lingering with nice persistent and power.