5/17/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Maybe a bit early to check in on 05s but given this bottle turned me onto this fabulous producer why not? Again this bottle showed rather ready and hedonistic. Soy sauce, rose pedals, slight meatiness but also wonderful lift with mineral cranberry Finish and satiny tannins. It could be a mini bit more complex but that should come with time. What stands today is a truly hedonistic Eche from the sisters. For me possibly top 3 Eche out there, definitely top 5. Wonderful! Now-2050

5/9/2024 - BenBlu wrote:

Sadly an advanced bottle. Just about drinkable but not in the context of the lunch where all wines (aside of a corked Batard 05) showed very well. Shame.

5/10/2024 - BenBlu wrote:

Sadly corked, two bottles of 05 Pucelles (original and late release) were wonderful though during this lunch.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Wonderful wonderful bottle - amazing energy and balance, incisive and fat yet weighless. WOTL for me (and most) besting BBM14, 10 and 11. A truly grand chardonnay.

5/10/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A touch fatter than the 2010 BBM side by side... and a touch less complete than the Batard 14 on the other side. Yet, still an immensely enjoyable chard that stand-alone would have been sensational.

5/10/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A real highlight, the 2010 BBM showed quite colourless and crystalline in glass, very clean, reductive, racy with acacia notes. Rolling high today and good bottles should hold but I would be inclined to pop these!

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Great bottle, so 360 degrees for me on pnp with still good energy, then a nice bit of fatness and sweetness (marzipan) and maturity (the right kind) coming through. Mature Chard in a good zone. I would drink these now.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Effortless, bit of reduction, white flowers galore, Leflaive did well in 2016 (not my favourite vintage generally).

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A reconditioned bottle with wax top (reconditioned in 2019 apparnetly the cork tells according to Brice de la Morandiere). Fascinating to have this side by side original release. The original release started off perfect / better but fell over after some hours. This late release started quite reductive showing the added sulphur in 2019 but not crazy so, clearly the same wine and with some hours of air the late release shown. Based on this drink original Pucelles 2005 NOW and hold late release for 2-5 years.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Original release - wow was my initial thought, totally singing, beautiful fresh, some caramel and white flowers in abundance cruising at peak. Interestingly a repour after 3 hours from bottle showed the wine had fallen over somewhat so I would be popping these and absent pox one is in for a treat.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Good cut and slight extra heft vs the Bourgogne 2014 but not miles better frankly.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Clearly warmer side by side the 14, sunflowers, open and generous, touch of heat.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

During a lunch with Brice from the domaine this is where it got serious for me. The 14 Folatieres is in a lovely spot already. It packed a few layers on top of BB 14 or Meursault 14 enjoyed just before. A bit more stuffing / sweetness, a bit more weight and complexity. A very strong showing.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Very appealing, sexy Bourgogne blanc with clearly more sweetness than the 14 alongside making it possibly more a of crowd pleaser but it's certainly not vulgar or simple. Delicious white bourgogne.

5/9/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Holding up really well at age 10 it's barely budged from 5 years ago frankly with racy acidity, nice fruit, all very harmonious in a fresh vibrant way. Now-2035

5/10/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

I liked this probably a bit more than consensus (as is sometimes the case with 13 reds), during Meo Riche evening the youngest wines among young wines I felt it clearly had the upper hand vs a weak 11 and while qualitatively in the flight not quite at the 2012 it was more transparent, light and is likely going to break with more subtlety too come earlier. I would think 2035 this will be lovely and should be long lived too.

5/7/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

During Meo Riche evening. Yes, this was clearly too early, way too early. It was obvious we were in the presence of a great young wine but ultimately we were drinking nice primary fruit and no complexity emerged yet. Stash them away, the mouthfeel is great, it's harmonious and deep so it's all there. 2035++

5/7/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Here again in Meo Riche evening with various stronger vintages the 2011 vintage showed weak by comparison. It doesn't hold true for me for all winemakers but very few truly transcended the vintage imho. This bottle got greener and greener with air and ultimatley it was very difficult to render this enjoyable in comparison of 05, 08, 09, 12 and 13 vintage. Stand-alone this would likely have been very nice. So I guess the advise would be not to serve this next to better vintages.

5/10/2024 - BenBlu wrote:

During Meo Riche evening. Although nobody was able to put their hands on it nobody liked this bottle. I would call it faulty but also have no idea what went wrong. The nose was very odd with tacky vanilla pod soaring out of the glass. The palate was better and felt symmetrical a la 2010 but it was difficult to get past that nose espeically as for me Burgundy is 80-90% nose on the pleasure and the rest palate. Shame. One to revisit in time but I wouldn't open an 2010 Riche for another 10 years (based on other bottles we opened of surrounding vintage that also showed too young).

5/7/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

During Meo Riche evening this for me was marginal WOTN ahead of 05 probably because it was the only wine that I found some alluring spice that night. It felt surpisingly fresh and refreshingly light for an 09 but of course had heft as one would expect. A beautiful bottle that in 5-10 years time could be a true stunner. Drink 2030+

5/10/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

During Meo Riche evening. For me the most ready vintage in this (young) line-up but this bottle too would have benefitted from 5+ years. It was offering up good freshness, plenty of cranberry and drank rather sappy and felt only lightly extracted. One would have hoped for a little more spice though and hopefully that is yet to come as the terroir asserts itself.

5/7/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

During Meo Riche evening this was the wine voted by most WOTN (I slightly preferred the 09 personally today, but just). It's a tour de force in depth of red fruit, very nice texture, powerful but not overripe and not too extracted. Still for hedonistic pleasure too early for me so it was more impressive and educational today than truly apax of drinking pleasure. Tuck these away for 10 years would be my advise!

5/7/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Slightly curious bottle label said 1991 but the 1 was stuck over a 0 (and cork was 1990). Probably a case of having some 1990 labels / cork left over... The wine showed really well side by side a 2002. Perfect maturity, maybe the bottle was not 100% perfect / clean / well stored as from auction but it was hedonistic still. Perfect bottle should be good for another ten years based on this.

5/7/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

During Meo Riche evening (all Riche were younger vintage 05 and younger). This CdV showed really well together with a 91 (and an off 82). At early start of its pleasure plateau it has this lovely orange rind notes I tend to find in good mature CdV. Very pleasurable. Now-2040.

5/1/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A bottle opened and decanted for 3 hours. On pnp a taster already showed really great but it just blossomed with air and more temperature as Coche does. All the Coche goodies here, this lovely measured reduction, richness yet so much precision that in my opinion no other white wine maker does as well. Plus it's just consistently great. Terrific now, but should still be on the up for ~5 years from absolute pleasure peak. Drink now - 2045.

5/1/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Opened this bottle two hours before consumption (no decant). It followed a beautiful and mature Meo Parantoux 97. Wow, this 11 Reignots blew our sock off from the get go. I have had this a few times in the past and it was always delightful, especially for the vintage. It feels as if this actually might have picked up more weight in the last two years surprisingly. It had a remarkable density for an 11, alcohol in check of course clocking in at 12.5% which is lovely imo. The terroir starting the shine here but the winemaking signature is also still present. In a lovely spot really but this should easily hold for another 15 years no doubt.

5/1/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Visually nicely mature, a very savoury experience with a strong tea note, very mineral, slightly meaty, a wine of mid weight but with real staying power on the finish. A beautiful bottle and drinking quite Richebourg-esque actually, one to pop the cork on now and over the next ten years.

5/1/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

I am not a 16 white burg lover in general but have had good experience with Leflaive (Folatieres) in the vintage before and here again this bottle showed really very well indeed. Good cut and energy, time was very kind it developed a racy grapefruit note with extended aeration. Lovely.

4/26/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Last bottle of a great case and this bottle was mid neck fill perfect condition. Decanted for one hour and frankly it could have done with a day decant. Previous notes hold here as to the quality of the wine, it's a total overperforming 1983 and one if not the best Bordeaux has to offer in that vintage imho. Still so young and coming back to what I left behind in bottle (sediment etc) 2 days later it was still holding up really well and had not oxidised. Based on perfect stock this wine still has 20 years in the tank alas this was my very last, I would be seeking those out again if I saw them...

4/26/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Double decanted for 4 hours prior to serving. fair bit of sediment to get rid off. It was totally in the zone after that time with lovely acidity but also enough sweetness to make it a rather mellow drink without a hard edge and plenty of character olive tapenade and beef blood. No bret here a really succulent pure bottle that felt on a gentle decline but certainly still in the late prime time drinking window. Probably a vintage to be opening up now and over the next 10 years based on this bottle.

4/26/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

From a perfect looking bottle with good neck fill. On initial opening a slight pshhh and cork came out very easy. Clearly evolved in terms of colour remniscent of copper. On the nose initially very oxidative, sherry notes made us think it's probably a touch past. Interestingly it just needed some aeration, it continued to freshen up with air and sweeten up dramatically and in the end when we were on the last glass it was totally firing away. I kept a small pour for an hour later and it was just on the way up. Damn, should have opened a while before and enjoyed the trhill ride, now we just got that tease of it's full potential that finished it's journey with toffee, roasted hazelnuts, beurre blanc and good verve.

4/22/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Oh boy is this good. 12.5 pct alcohol, so bloody elegant and then again so archetypical N Rhone with beef blood, iodine, game notes but zero Brett. If there was a role model for great aged Cote Rotie this would be it. Going strong and improving with time in glass so neither a hurry to drink nor a crime to pull the cork. Beautiful.

4/18/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

My first time with this vintage of La Romanee and a real priviledge to taste during a luncheon with L-M. Three bottles were opened and all were very consistent. Initially as one would expect it is a young wine that needs some air in the glass to reveal incredible balance, some wonderful pine nuts on the nose, a very ethereal mouthfeel with formidable texture and energy. It kept growing in the glass and most definitely a wine I would hold off on for 10 years to reveal it's full potential which seem enormous if it is in your cellar. However, as with all CLB wines, it certainly drinks today already (if you must)! 97 for me today but it will have the potential to add another point or two no doubt. Special by any means and most certainly incredible for the vintage.

4/18/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Very pure, concentrated, precise and highly mineral with a packed blue fruit core that relaxes over time with air in the glass to turn highly seductive. Hinting at a great potential with 5-10 years more in the cellar. 512 bottles made and we shared a few bottles which were all super consistent.

4/18/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A stronger showing for me here vs two years ago. Coming off the straight Vosne village which is more easy going the paler Clos Chateau has a marked more savoury edge to it but still remains ultra charming and sweet. Lovely today.

4/18/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Super relaxed, nothing forced, similar to prior notes. Just a vosne village you want to keep drinking the next sip of. Delicious.

4/13/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Similarily tight to showing few years ago (for the vintage and typical for the producer). I double decanted this and drank from Sensory Conterno glasses. Very dark fruited, compact profile tight light a nut initially. It was a very impressive glass rather than a hedonistic enjoyable one. So I recorked and parked for day 2 which is when the structure had softened materially (also bearing in mind it had been double decanted) and was a much easier / better drink. So clearly keep those in the cellar for another 5-10 years if you can of open it early if drinking now.

4/13/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A sensational wine that is Leflaive 96 Pucelles. My third bottle of a very good case and it’s consistently brilliant. It works well on pnp but it doesn’t tire quickly. Immediately wafting from the glass with beurre Blanc, sesame, white truffle, sunflowers, salted popcorn. The umami element is just so intense here and there is still enough acidity and stone fruit to keep it balanced. Left in a Zalto Burg glass for an hour you get smoke and coffee bean and salted caramel. Gosh this is great! I personally lean to Combettes 96 Leflaive slightly (for the added energy and precision) but both are two sides of an immensely shining coin and I wouldn’t call anyone a fool for disagreeing and picking Pucelles (for it’s more rich personality). Great now and I would be drinking those as I have been as I wonder what you stand to gain… just perfect right now and as good as aged white Burgundy premier cru gets. 96 is likely an underrating.

4/12/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A very well stored bottle. The wine has a very high acidity which lends it plenty of freshness and cuts through the oak frame that is noticeably less noticeable than in most H Ligniers around this era. It’s a lovely play on a shy tart slightly rustic red fruit. Classic, unapologetic old school burg which would need a bit more sweetness to score higher. Based on this bottle and the high acidity I can see it go at least another 10 years.

4/6/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

It’s been a consistent wine for me and after having had it multiple times three years ago fun to check in again. Initially the winemaking signature seems a bit more in the background but it reverts to what I remembered quickly with 20 minutes of air. The nose just such sexy oak framed dark berries with a rose kiss, intoxicating! The attack on the palate is more mineral than years ago, slightly brooding but open enough to be fully enjoyed now. I wonder where this wine goes from here. Given my last bottle I might not be able to testify to it.

3/19/2024 - BenBlu wrote:

07 for me is the Reignots to drink now (and has been for the last few years) as it's just so open and in the zone. This bottle was on first pour a bit of a let down as it showed oxidative notes which i have never had in this wine (had some 05 and 06s that had some oxidation issues before). The good news here was though that as the evening went on it actually seemed to improve and funnily this was consumed fully ahead of the 2012 we had side by side. If I were to score this bottle it was probably around 92 (when it started) - 95 (when it finished) mark.

3/19/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Side by side 07 Reignots (which probably wasn't the best of bottles) this 12 showed really well as always with it's sexy dark cherry fruit with immense intensity, great balance though no heat, super energy and minerality. What was maybe a bit surprising that it felt like it shut down with air as the evening went on. So I would probably think it's time to let those slumber for a few years if you have them.

3/26/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

A very strong bottle after a couple which made me believe this was thinning out and on the way down. This bottle was a different beast. CLB hallmark dark sexy cherry fruit in spades. A touch of reduction in the nose. Very full throttle fruit on the mid palate and while ripe still enough sap here, some savoury elements coming through too touch of bay leaf, gravel notes. I think CLB did really well in 09 (but then which vintage did he not?)… great bottle and this particular bottle will hold for a decade for sure so maybe I park my last two bottles for a bit if I can keep my hands off. Then again one wonders especially for the village if drinking them on the young side is advisable while the winemaker signature is still prominent which I really dig and ultimately I would assume that a village while aging well will loose that and possibly succumb to being “just” what it is, a nice Vosne village rather than something that transcends the level which this does at present.

3/12/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

An utterly sublime bottle - singing from pnp and then decanted which just amplified the pleasure further. It's got that lovely stuffing that all 10s Raveneau have, but it has so much energy, is radiant yet still so precise and measured. As good as Chablis (1er Cru) gets really and this bottle confirms my notion that 2010 Raveneau is probably the best vintage based on what I tasted.

3/15/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Super clear colour (refreshing on pnp after a poxed PYCM Chassagne Champs Gain 14 week prior). Telltale reduction, plenty of woodsmoke initially and after an hour in the decanted it really blossoms with tree fruit in spades, it's radiant and this terrific mineral cut underneath a sappy and deep fruit framed by the reduction. It's a great package and certainly one of the vineyards to seek out from the PYCM portfolio in Chassagne together with Grandes Ruchottes both can deliver a nigh GC experience in my opinion. Hard to fault maybe a touch of mid-palate sweetness could bring this up even more. Now-2035. 94++

3/13/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Gosh this was good - poured blind I thought of Mugnier Amoureuses 02, pleased to find out I was quite close. What an 01 though! Visually fairly developed, a very welcoming nose with plenty of baking spice, entering very soft on the palate, superb inner sweetness on the soft and relaxed but long mid palate with plenty of minerality. No rusticity here just polished, round, lands on the palate like cashmere. The four of us went thourgh this bottle in about 10 minutes which speak to the crazy buvabilite. All you want in Burgundy and in such a good place. now-2040

3/5/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Next to 15 GE. Today a country mile difference pro 15 (see my TN rated 98). Still the 14 is excellent and exquisite. It does need time though and it lacks fruit vis a vis 15 especially but maybe in general. Edge of graphite, orange peel, highly mineral, regal. Just lacking this sexy touch of fruit here vs 15 and that is the magic (missing) touch.

Scored this 95 initially discard it all… came with nuance of earth, tea, Riche ringer just after the initial note… wow and then some. 96-98!

3/5/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Voici le roí - 3227/12672. Open from pnp in Zalto Bordeaux just gorgeous ripe but not too much so, red fruited, nuance of rose pedals and rose water, deep and mineral, a pond you dive in and emerge coated in dark chocolate, roses and jasmine. The holy grail. Thankful for this open bottle. May shut down this didn’t yet. Wow!

2/22/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Infanticide at a restaurant, list price was too good. Side by side Eche 20. The RSV was very elegant even at this young juncture, soft spoken, no surmaturity, revealing appealing scent of rose pedals with a bit of air. An effortless wine that just needs age to develop additional nuance and complexity and it will turn out a winner for sure.

2/22/2024 - BenBlu Likes this wine:

Cheeky bottle commiting infanticide at a restaurant - reasonable price so why not... Good from pnp, very immediate, ripe but not overly so (19 GE worried me last year in terms of sumaturite not here). Dark fruited, slightly grippy in midpalate but still very accessible. Side by side RSV 20 the Eche was drinking more immediate while the RSV held more hidden qualities / complexity in store. Both very good and should be lovely in time.