2/11/2024 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Cork leaked, and some crust under the capsule. On the nose: vosne spice, rose, pure wild strawberry, a touch of earth. On the palate: lovely acidity, a hint of va, wild strawberry, cocoa powder, rose, a touch of black tea. Some grainy tannin on the juicy finish. Just starting to come into its own, but an absolutely gorgeous btl of wine. Undoubtedly the best PN I've had this year. A glorious btl.

5/4/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Notes from 24 hrs open. Best young Walter Hundsruck I've ever had? Certainly in the running. On the nose: spicebox, cranberry, pomegranate molasses, wild strawberry...intoxicating perfume. On the palate: lovely acidity and density: soft spice, pomegranate, earth, strawberry leaf. Soft chalky tannin and a touch of warmth on the finish. This is spectacular.

1/22/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour. Wow. This is stunning right now, and maybe the best version of this wine I've tasted at this stage. On the nose: sweet apple cotton candy, mint, salt. On the palate: salted apple, melon, amazing acidity and density. Fantastic.

5/18/2022 - honest bob wrote:

From 75cl, perfect cork, P+P. Nearly a year after my previous TN, this has integrated a bit. Still so aggressively acidic it's a plausible drink only for those of you still young enough not yet to have experienced acid reflux (or for those of us old enough to have a stash of proton pump inhibitors in the bathroom cabinet). But with that important caveat, this is an aromatic, dark-fruited, spicy, exotic PN with attitude. Long life assured (the wine, that is, not your esophagus). 89(-90)P

12/2/2021 - br_winelover Likes this wine:

Tasting in Germany during a brief COVID interlude - November/December 2021; 11/19/2021-12/2/2021 (Germany - Schwanau/Monschau): 97-98pts. Named after a top-notch caviar (Ossetra/Osetra), this is definitely the best Gutswein I've ever tasted. No, wait a second - this is probably the best white wine from anywhere I've ever tasted. It is the highest rating I have given to a white wine in the last decade here at CT. 2019 vintage in Germany + Pechstein + barrel selection = a magical experience.

It has it all - great complexity, intensity, length, energy, freshness, precision, concentration, you name it. Notes of ripe pineapple, caramel, orange peel, mint, lemon, and some residual oak. Pure energy in a glass. My wife couldn't help but smile as soon as she had her first sip. Of course one can hold it for the next 15 years, but it is so delicious now you must try it if you have a case on your cellar. Brilliant!

7/25/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop anf pour. Bummer. Tomato leaf and damp cigar on the nose. Off in some way. Flat on the palate: completely attenuated acidity, but good density yet leans lightweight. The material is evidently there, but this btl is off.

Hoping against hope this would transform overnight. Likely a alightly cooked btl.

5/11/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour yesterday. Notes from Day 2 open. On the nose: toasty sawdust and musty red fruit. On the palate: woody bitterness, mothball, and loads of grainy tannin. Disappointing.

1/10/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour. This is an absolutely.special nebbiolo. On the nose: cranberry, blood orange, asian spice. The aromatics are amazing. I would likely have guessed PN blind, but the complexity here is off the charts. On the palate: fantastic acidity, amazing fruit, lovely density. Still so primary that the fruit overwhelms the tannin, but elegant velevety tannin on the finishm. Stunning.

11/18/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Arrived today, so likely a bit bottle shocked. Decanted. Notes from 1 hr open.

Well s*!*. Another fantastic vintage. Certainly not as easily accessible as the 17, and not nearly as forward as 14, 16 or 18. Not quite as balanced up front as the 15...maybe like a riper 11 (a vintage I adore). This is another stunning young bottle of OR PN. There should be no pretense of objectivity here: I adore this wine. On the nose: this screams with wild strawberry and black cherry fruit, then some soft vanilla and blackberry compote with a lovely savory undercurrent. On the palate: stunning acidity as always, with clear whole cluster notes and perhaps a bit of stem inclusion. Fantastic density, which is perhaps where this really separates from the 11 and moves toward the 12 or the 15. Silky, lithe, elegant and downright sexy tannin on the finish. How is it possible to get this much fruit and texture at 12.2% ABV? Wow.

5/28/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

God I love this producer. If I could get this wine at this price regularly, it would certainly be my go to PN. Lovely nose with spiced wild strawberry, ripe cherry, and more spice. On the palate, lovely acid, sour cherry, spice, pomegranate, and a very juicy finish. The softest touch of slightly grainy tannin also...just lovely.

10/4/2022 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Unscrew and pour. Waited 10 years from vintage. Absolutely stunning now. On the nose: vanilla, bramble, pomegranate, molasses, medicinal herbs...not all at once but flits among these notes. On the palate: lovely acidity, soft coffee, dark herbs and earth, attenuated tannin. Very well put-together. Not nearly as fruit/oak driven as Furst's Hundsruck, but a very interesting interpretation and fantastically food-friendly to boot. Complex and very drinkable. What more can one ask for?

8/27/2022 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Just wow, see previous note from several years ago.

8/27/2022 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Hmm strange. Flawed. Maybe some cork taint, but not textbook, definitely flawed in som way. The usual dom style comes across as having a LOT of high toast oak, with some strange bitter notes. Vaguely reminiscent of the 99 P2. A fascinating flaw if such a thing exists.

8/14/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Another oxidized bottle, sigh.

2/8/2022 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour yesterday, in the fridge overnight. Notes from today. On the nose:.chalk, seashell, lemon, a hint of iodine, and more mineral notes buoyed by background soft fruit. On the palate: good acid, but comes off slightly flat on the midpalate; more stone and lemon oil, without too much overt fruit. I would love this if it was a little more vibrant on the mid. Nevertheless, nice stony, iodine finish. Wish I had some sea urchin to pair with this!

4/7/2022 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Popped yesterday, in the fridge overnight. On the nose: lovely chenin character: sweet apple, a hint of lanolin, nettle and a slight waxiness. On the palate: vibrant acidity, crushed rock drenched in lemon oil and lemon, soft apple and fantasric density. Simultaneously complex and quaffable. Wow. Maybe the best vintage I have had of this wine.

11/14/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour. Very ripe. A touch of carbonic maceration, dark fruit, a touch of herbs, va. On the palate: ok acidity, actually, a touch flabby, with lots of prune...eh, did I say very ripe?

10/31/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Finally a btl that wasn't flawed. That being said, better as braising liquid...

8/21/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Uh, 1972? I opened this alongside a 78 Solitude CdP. This does not taste like aged CdP, and it has 14.5% ABV...This must have been topped up with younger wine. On the nose: modern CdP with a hint of age; coffee garrigue, dried raspberry. On the palate: ok acidity, soft green, coffee, and attenuated tannin on the finish. Ok.

7/17/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Spent 4-5 hrs in a wide-bottom decanter before tasting. Just way too young and unfortunately quite monolithic right now. Dense, and clearly elegant, but lacking serious Vosne spice I expect at this level. Dense tannin on the finish.

4/19/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Popped yesterday afternoon, on the counter unrefrigerated overnight, even though it ended up being a pretty hot day today. Notes from today. On the nose: lovely St. Estephe earth, inflected with soft charcoal and vegetal notes, layered over dark blackberry. On the palate: excellent acidity, more blackberry, soft black pepper, a touch of charcoal.and a hint of green pepper, very soft tannin on the finish, which just caresses the palate with lingering velvet.. just lovely today. No rush, but don't hesitate to drink now with sufficient air.

3/19/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour. Much better than my last btl, but still awful qpr. On the nose: wood smoke, lemon oil, grilled nuts, soft oxidative notes. On the palate: good acidity and density. Soft mousse (which was rather coarse at first)...the doaage is still a bit high relative to the acidity for my palate.

2/19/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour, notes from 4 hrs open. On the nose: the very definition of Vosne spice. Black pepper, spice, damp leaf, smoke, black tea leaf, brambles, wild strawberry, cranberry. On the palate: fantastic acidity and density; black tea, wild strawberry, pomegranate molasses, spices, black pepper, soft cola, brambles. On the finish: fantastic soft tannin, soft cola and wild strawberry. Spectacular.

1/22/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

A little over 2 years since my last bottle. While 07s have been a strange lot, this bottle was utterly sublime and totally in its prime. Pop and pour. On the nose: soft cola, pine, dark black raspberry, black olive with brine....sweet and intensely savory. On the palate: fantastic acidity, excellent density and weight with olive brine, black raspberry, classic Cote Rotie. Attenuated tannin, but lovely balsamic notes, and very juicy on the finish.

1/3/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Well, wow. I made a harissa chickpea stew tonight, and it had some heat. This wine was a **phenomenal** pairing. On the nose: black raspberry, stewed tomato, citrus flowers...On the palate: good acidity, stewed tomato, plum, good density, and the softest tannin on the finish. Perfect pairing.

11/15/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour, notes from 2 hrs open. On the nose: lime, white flowers, lemon chiffon, a kiss of vanilla oak. Definitely more fruit-forward than mineral. On the palate: good acidity, lime peel, excellent density. Good, but to be honest, you can do better at this price point (at least in the US).

11/7/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

A lovely showing. On the nose: wild strawberry, cherry, cocoa powder, earth, soft funk. On the palate: fantastic density and acidity, soft game, cocoa, wild strawberry, and closes with soft, very finely grained tannin. This is pitch perfect Clos de la Roche. Stunning.

11/4/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

More complexity with age. One of those wines where you know from the first sniff that you are in for a treat. About a year and a half since my last btl, and very much in a sweet spot. On the nose: vanilla, soft honey, lime, wet stone, soft struck match...then the citrus closes in and you get dense lemon lime. On the palate: fantastic acidity, lemon, lemon oil, wet stone..great density...and a long finish. Just lovely.

1/25/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Wow, holy ripeness. This is so primary right now, with sweet strawberry and pomegranate. On the palate, good acidity and loads of extraction. This is yummy, but it didn't seem very Volnay to me. Soft tannin on the finish, which leans juicy and ripe. I think this is just way too young right now (though it is extremely yummy right now, it definitely has the stuffing for a lot of time in bottle).

9/11/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Pop and pour. Lovely. On the nose: soft lanolin, quince, lemon, marjoram. On the palate: fantastic acidity, lemon peel, quince, wet stone, tarragon and mint. A hi-toned finish. Very good already.

8/31/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

This btl was just past prime. On the nose: cola, black raspberry, a root beer note, mulberry leaf. On the palate, soft acidity, a touch of toothpaste, blackberry, leaves. Attenuated tannin on the soft finish. Better last year.

7/12/2020 - Phredd wrote:

Popped from a 375 to go with a peach dessert. The dry Huets I've had in the past have been strong on the apple and peach end of the spectrum, so I thought a sweet version would work. Looked fine in the glass, with a little deepening of the color that I've seen in the younger, drier wines, but nothing scary. The nose was very reluctant, surrendering a little bit of pear and quince, but otherwise not a lot. The palate was jarringly dry - almost no perceptible sweetness at all, despite reports of pretty high RS. Instead, the experience was more like a dry apple cider, with perhaps a touch of quince or star fruit added. The acidity was fairly low - lower than most ciders, actually, and both the length and depth on the palate were quite short. All in all, this was very disappointing. It did not seem flawed in any way and didn't seem premoxed. It isn't bad, but it doesn't go with dessert. We plan to finish the bottle quaffing it with a lighter prep of seafood or chicken. It's nowhere near worth the all-in price of $45+ for a 375. I don't see this getting better with more time, but I guess there's not much to lose by trying.

Forgettable.

In response to comments, note changed to flawed. While I did not identify anything specific, my experience was clearly very different from other tasters.

7/7/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Vernay is unquestionably my favorite Condrieu producer, and I've loved this wine before. Sigh, this was a real disappointment, esp by comparison to the lower level wines from the same vintage. This has lost the intensely floral viognier nose and all we're left with is disappointing pear and honey notes...almost like marsanne. Perhaps this btl was even slightly damaged at some point in some way I can't quite pin down. On the palate, mint, good minerality, honey, and mint and pepper on the finish. Meh or worse esp for the price.

Day 2: put in the fridge in the hope that would effect some magical transformation. This is better today with more tangerine on the palate, but barely more varietally typical on the nose. Oh well.

6/26/2020 - mflesh wrote:

Showing a little brambly wildflower, dirty black cherry and that CLASSIC Rutherford dustiness on the finish. 8 months since opening up one of these and this has definitely shown a bit of maturation vs previous notes. Top of the hill probably 5 years away. Drinking well tonight with an hour decant.

6/5/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Decanted, notes from 3 hrs open. Had to check in...a bit under 3 years since my last btl. On the nose: soft mushroom, lovely perfume, pure mt. hood strawberry and sandalwood. On the palate, wild strawberry, mint, a touch of watermelon rind bitterness, lovely stony minerality. While this is listed at 12.8%ABV, there is a warmth to the finish that suggests a higher ABV. The finish is juicy, and shows very soft but finely grained tannin. Vintage comparisons: Not in the same league as the 12, 15 or 17, and I hope the 16 settles into something like this. Qualitatively very different than the 10, 11 or 13. Nevertheless, these are quibbles; this is a wonderful bottle of wine.

Day 2: (On the counter unrefrigerated overnight) This just screams perfume: strawberry, raspberry, candied ginger, rose, confit kumquat. The heat I was getting on the finish seems to have softened a bit.

6/4/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Unfussy Gavi. On the nose: melon, sea salt. On the palate, ok acid, some salinity. Short finish.

6/2/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Once again, completely different from my last btl. On the nose: very savory, faint dark black cherry, sandalwood, then loads of leather. On the palate, lovely acidity, high-toned red fruit, sour cranberry, spice, sandalwood, and soft, finely grained tannin on the finish.

2/4/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

I don't have anything to add to my previous notes, except this is the best bottle of Cornas I've ever had.

1/25/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Wow, what a great start to the evening. Laser focus, but lovely fruit: sweet apple, good citrus, soft honey. On the palate, beautiful mousse, more ripe fruit, but balanced by amazing acidity. So fresh on the finish. Still extremely primary. Can't wait to see this with more age.

11/27/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Final btl. Notes from about 4 hrs open. Typical rocks funk: cabbage and game, olive brine and good red fruit. On the palate, the acidity is too soft to make this compelling for my palate. Drink up, or find the appropriate food pairing.

9/21/2019 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:

In the darker red-fruit profile, with notes of resin/balsamic, dried herbs, and deep soil tones. The palate is significant, brooding, even, at this tender age. This has passed out of my preferred scope of general enjoyment, but it's also something I could enjoy a few times per year. That said, those of you that know and love the wine will need to be patient - there's a lot of raw material here, and time will be the only thing to resolve it. 160k bottles, BIO-grown; a great value best enjoyed 2025-2039. Over the past two decades, I've been as guilty as anyone when it comes to drinking their Classico too soon. recommended, and that score will improve in time.

https://www.italianwine.blog

9/20/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

A bit yeastier than my last btl., but still fantastic. On the nose, dried cranberry, brioche, candied ginger, a touch of vanilla. On the palate, fantastic acidity, very zippy, then dried cranberry, a touch of chalk and minerality. Dense at the same time, and very refreshing. Lifted cranberry finish.

9/14/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

An absolute head-turner, and a wine that was soaring from the moment it was opened. On the nose, rose water, a touch of creamy wild strawberry and then leaning darker. On the palate, ptich perfect acidity, more roses and wild strawberry, lithe and elegant, then denser and more brooding. Soft tannin on the finish. Wish I could have followed this today, but it disappeared too quickly.

9/13/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

In contrast to the 96 I opened relatively recently, this was stunning. Stunning nose of cedar, herbs, black raspberry, leather, and a hint of earthy funk. On the palate, fantastic acidity, cedar, black cherrry, and sweet tobacco. Elegant like Margaux should be. Soft tannin on the slightly tangy finish. Excellent body and density. This was an absolutely fantastic bottle of wine.

8/25/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

Notes from Day 2 open. Just fantastic. On the nose: struck match intensity, lemon oil, a touch of coconut, wet stone minerality. Lovely. On the palate, intense acidity, maybe slightly green tinged lemon and guava. Vibrant finish, with good density. A treat.

6/9/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

This is an absolutely gorgeous bottle of PN. The nose is just wonderfully aromatic, with loads of spicy red cherry, some cinnamon, a touch of savory herbs, more red fruit with cranberry...yum. On the palate, very light-bodied and high-toned red fruit, with some black tinges. Lovely acidity, and a touch of finely grained tannin on the soft finish. This is flat out excellent, and the weight is perfect for the weather today.

6/11/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:

I guess I like energetic riesling (according to fc1910's classification). I feel like this is nice now. On the nose white peach, sweet lemon, a hint of saffron, and sweet apple notes..lovely dry extract. On the palate, fantastic, zippy acidity, tangy lime and sweet wet stone minerality. Lovely, tangy finish, which shows a touch of grapefruit and leans rounder than the attack. Nice.

Day 2: (In the refrigerator overnight) Hmm. This shows no signs of oxidation, but the acidic zip from yesterday seems rather attenuated. It still has a nice mineral tinge on the palate, but seems a little flabbier, and shows almost oily on the finish. I wonder how this will evolve.

5/26/2019 - Drankard Likes this wine:

Very big for a BB with good structure to tame the exotic/tropical fruit flavors. I love this now but might need a year or two to settle down. Finishes well.

3/30/2019 - fred o. Likes this wine:

belated bday dinner for ESTEELE90 (Kali Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA): Legacy edition. Stone fruit flavors, very high acidity, with some waxy/honey notes with time. some saline hints towards the finish. textured in the mouth. overall seems coiled and very young, pleasurable now but I feel like the glories of a vintage Dom are more evident with age and this isn't there yet. 94 pts with upside

7/6/2013 - Keith Levenberg Does not like this wine:

Not a good showing from what should be the best slice of one of the best 1ers in Vosne. This still has deep red fruit flavors without nearly as much advancement as you'd expect for its age, but not much else to it and with hard, boxy tannins to boot - no terroir character at all - in fact, I could've easily pegged this for a cabernet.