4/28/2024 - swyang wrote:

at father in law's birthday, his 88th! But this was still way too tight and not giving much... how long would this take to really find it's optimum level? maybe in 10years or more? Patience will be rewarded handsomely, for sure... but tonight it was a huge disappointment as it really wasn't opening, just giving hints of how great this will be in a long time... ah well.

4/24/2024 - swyang wrote:

Just brooding in the typical Gouges way, on a green vintage. One could feel the depth, despite the vintage, but in my opinion, this unmistakable Gouges does not serve well on a vintage such as '04. This is an exemple where I feel the admiration for the maker, but did not enjoy the bottle which is some distance from what I cherish of Burgundy. (it was rather bitter, with depth, full of earth but not enough fruits left and yet one could feel the profound potential in that direction... a weird profile indeed) A couple of years ago, from the same maker, same vintage but Les Porrets St Georges was more enjoyable, for sure. Cheers,

4/21/2024 - swyang wrote:

Rather flat... and not much life left.
Sad but this is part of our wine passion right?

4/10/2024 - swyang wrote:

Just 10 days ago, I had a Dom. Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet 2007 which was simply flat... and not life in it. Then my friends really did not wish to take another risk so they ordered a Batard 2018 which was simply way too young. These things happen, we all know it is part of our passion. Tonight I opened this with my wife, without too much expectations and it blew my mind. It was splendid with citrus, honey and splendid energy worthy of a Puligny Grand Cru. The aromas were so fresh of stony, citrus, honey, flowers as one could wish and the texture was like an intense but gorgeous spring sun shine and above qualities singing in chorale with perfect sync and balance. What a beautiful exemple of this winery can do! Well... I am aware, this doesn't happen too often, but the higher your expectation the bigger the disappointment can be, and so can the opposite. Glorious surprise. Cheers,

2/21/2024 - swyang wrote:

Still way too young... it is getting a bit heavy and rough though... I am not quite sure where it will end up, or where it will reach ... Kind of leathery, deep roots, black pepper, red berries in the back end. But over all a bit too heavy, for me at least.

2/19/2024 - swyang wrote:

That was a superbe bottle, showing its best and yet still a long way to go. Not at all heavy, not over the top yet, it is strongly going up its own hill with great pride. Deep for a Volnay, for sure, but with so much charm and freshness that one could not guess it is from a late Aug harvest year. Gorgeous aromas, gorgeous texture and yes that magic of profound and yet light on its feet is happening with some of the successful 2003. Beautiful wine.

2/10/2024 - swyang wrote:

An absolute delight and entering a sublime stage at this point. Not all may appreciate, I am aware, nor it could go with any food. However as a big fan of succulent roast duck, cantonese style, I have opened this with my kids and nephews at London's Royal China Club and I must say the match was just perfect with their supreme roast duck. Upon opening the aromas were of orange marmelade, dried apricot, honey and hint of smoke(I wonder how that came along) and gorgeous uplifting orange peel backend. The color is amber, its texture is effortlessly aweing us all and the whole wine is gliding and gliding to wake up every single taste bud on our palates with the description above and the backend is magnificently light on its feet. Just a fantastic match with this dish and what a way to celebrate the lunar new year, also known as chinese new year. No question, this will improve even further and it will go into a surreal state soon, I believe.
Cheers, life is beautiful.

2/4/2024 - swyang wrote:

A great class of its own. Upon opening superb dignity of Nebbiolo with its rich and yet refreshing fruits mingling perfectly with healthy tannin. On the palate a great display of strawberry, dark red berries, (dark)roses, pepper and an uplifting the whole sensation effortlessly. Fresh, profound, and unmistakably Langhe, in fact a high flying wine which, tasted blind easily would be prefered over many a Barolos. Cheers,

2/3/2024 - swyang wrote:

Splendid, but still way too young! On a blind tasting, I would have said it had 5 years and certainly no more... This wine has all the elements which is going to make it a superb wine, healthy tannin, beautiful fruit, and an extraordinary texture of a great vintage. But it is still somewhat closed and not talking much. I am completely faithful that this in 5 years will be turning into a beautiful fine, refined, elegant and yet will all the charme of a a Gevery Chambertin Clos St Jacques and with pride. Patience will be rewarded. Cheers,

1/30/2024 - swyang wrote:

A massive, however elegant wine holding its dignity throughout the evening as the bottle went down slowly. On the nose it is displaying an amazing depth of dark fruits, very elegantly dark chocolate and very slightly vanillin, hints of leather and black pepper. The small amount of Cabernet is showing its presence for sure. Full bodied but not right on your face, ample and profound without heaviness. Dark, still in its primary, though I can sense the secondary stage will come in about 2 to 3 years. Can't wait to taste again this beautiful wine by the time it reaches the right equilibrium between the fruits and its soil. It is modern, for sure, but Wonderful.

1/8/2024 - swyang wrote:

When I was looking into my cellar to look for something very nice, this bottle, by now 20 years old, caught my eyes. I thought, maybe still too young?... but needed to try this as I remember so vividly its profound, majestic, yet lively character back in 2005. Well, upon opening, at the beginning of a sumptuous dinner, it was rather closed and we asked it to be decanted, but on a rather narrow decanter, not the large ones. After having enjoyed slowly PYCM's Puligny les Folatieres '09, this arrived at the table and it had opened up just rightly. The color was stunningly beautiful color of dark violet without any rim yet, the aromas were surprisingly fresh and full of youth, in no way letting us three noticing 20 years of age, and on the palate this was splendidly open, generous, proud and yet light on its feet. How to describe such unique depth yet not heavy profile?... It did have the hot summer's trace showing deep maturity, while not at all stewy and displayed an incredible layers of aromas and tastes. A stunningly beautiful wine, it is still in its primary stage, but fully open after 90mn decanting and providing great depth, detailed tastes and aromas coming in generous waves. The remarkable aspect was that it had completely kept the profile that I vividly remember from about 18 years ago, when it was just bottled, but now it had opened up with new depth, new wider horizon and new the height seemed endless. And incredible experience and I have no doubt, in 10 years this would be a wine providing a lifetime experience. Yesterday, I was so sorry to have bought only two bottles... but c'est la vie. Cheers everyone.

12/26/2023 - swyang wrote:

A superb bottle at the peak of its primary stage. A very beautiful color of opaque red and yet transparent at the rim and on the nose it was a sublime rainbow of red berries, red roses, gray pepper, mint, slight leather and an effortlessly lifting up to heaven. On the palate it was superbly textured and beautiful displaying its qualities all coming in waves in a most natural, attractive way. This was a superbly crafted Barolo, slightly on a feminin side, which for me is a huge quality that I seek out for, and there was a bright and healthy freshness from its entry to the palate which was awakeninig all the taste senses. This is was just about as good as I would wish to have in my glass for Christmas meal. Life is beautiful indeed. Cheers,

10/23/2023 - swyang wrote:

A splendid bottle. Gorgeous, gold sunset color, just entering its peak, very unique and attractive nose of matured viura varietal.
On the palate, oh man... this must be one of longest white ever, superb texture, a great presence on the palate and suave textured, citrus, slight rustic, but charmingly edge, tingling and taste buds waking edge, that is. Oh boy, a great uplift on the backend to make you wish you had many of this gem. Fantastic with seafood paella.

10/23/2023 - swyang wrote:

Oxed... very disappointing. I believe 10 to 12 years is maximum waiting, without risks... then again, I am not sure.

10/10/2023 - swyang wrote:

5th of 6 and still too young, rough and tannic... will it ever get ready and deliver the magic? I am hopeful, but not sure. Certainly inspired by Henry Gouges, but can't quite be at the same level. Ah well, sorry for this honest opinion after 5 bottles out of 6.

9/23/2023 - swyang wrote:

Marvelous wine. Great discovery and Kadarka is reminding me of great exprssion of Gamay, but with a bit more density(at least this one was) and complexities of pepper, earth, and uplifting backend. It certainly isn't pinot noir, but somewhere in between with extremely charming earthiness. Worth seeking out! Cheers,

9/23/2023 - swyang wrote:

this is simply a sublime wine, with so many dimensions, facets and its complexities are just stunning. Dry, very dry, nose of green apple, grapefruit, not ripe pineapple, lime and flint. On the palate it explodes with complexities and it is the most uplifting and refreshing acidity(a good one) which lifts your whole being. What a discovery and no question, I am looking out on this! Splendid showing!

8/22/2023 - swyang wrote:

A very Beautiful wine. It just feels so nice to know that there is a feminine and beautiful Rioja with Tempranillo blend, even with the global warming this is just a pure joy. Beautiful nose typical of upper Spain with red fruits, slightly leatherish, pepper and faint of mineral dust, and all this is in the glass with a most poetic manner. The fruits are not screaming out of glass fighting with oaky monster which I really appreciate a lot! Each sip is preceded by a deep and satisfying nose, and lifts my mind, and my body as this olfactive pleasure is so beautiful, it could be a perfume by its own. It has so much to offer from its aromas to its beautifully textured wine and all of these qualities effortlessly dancing on the palate and uplifting my spirit. If you can think of a flamenco but in the most subtle way, this would be something of a match.

8/15/2023 - swyang wrote:

At the peak and alas my last bottle of 6. Splendid showing off all its charms, complexities and poetry. Fully open, much more than expected after one hour in the decanter, and that openness seemed quite full, but the texture is suave and, thank goodness, this is medium bodied beauty but in a super talkative mood, telling us all its stories. Superb and fully enjoyed.

7/6/2023 - swyang wrote:

Just the absolutely right red in this early July in Paris. After a long, very long day, I was looking for a red to go with Jambon de Bayonne and this showed up in the middle of the bottles and upon opening it delivered a gorgeous color of dark yet transparent and uplifting red color. On the nose the aromas were simply sublime with strawberry, red flowers, slight mint, black pepper, minerality and pure uplifting pinot, unmistakably pinot noir. On the palate, oh boy... you will have to taste to believe how pure, laser beam like and uplifting that is with the above qualities. This is just about as perfect as it could go with my creamy burrata, on thin slices of toasted dark bread, and slices of Jambon de bayonne. Cheers everyone, life is beautiful.

4/13/2023 - swyang wrote:

Wow... this is a homerunner! Stunning aromas of fresh citrus, layers and layers of honey and flowers, nutty(as the temperature goes up) Apple and exotic fruits at the end. On the palate, superb energy, vivid acidity which is refreshing, and yet with tones of nuances and waves of aromas. A stunner and though it has a long life ahead, this is at a splendid stage now. Will be difficult to hold back the other bottles! Cheers,

4/1/2023 - swyang wrote:

A splendid bottle, not showing yet its splendour. Just 3 to 5 years of patience will be rewarded handsomely. It was difficult not to marvel at the bottle though, it has the depth, the texture, the freshness and the mystical/magical charm to it. Wow... a beauty in the making! cheers,

3/26/2023 - swyang wrote:

This is on a Sunday evening. The whole week had been so intense. I just open this bottle and let it pour into a fine Spiegelau Burgundy glass. The color is so beautiful, dark red/purple in the middle transparent red towards the rim, gradually, the nuances of the fading colors are reminiscent of a beautiful rainbow.

I am contemplating this glass with awe and expectation but try to fully open my mind and not to be influenced by I know of this from the past.
The initial aromas are just uplifting to a weightlessness taking me to high orbit on top of the rainbow; Intense, expressive, yet transparent, the whole nature seems to be in it, and the 14+ years are bringing some of the earth from Clos de la Maréchale and slight dusts of black peppers adding to the complexities.
On the palate, it is much more profound than I remember from last bottle, which was a couple of years ago and it has gained tremendously the mid palate with substantial depth and texture. The mingling and dancing of roses, small red fruits, earth and faints of spices are simply sublime and the backend is uplifting effortlessly. There is something about this wine which has a reverberating effect in the backend(after taste) which reminds of some extraordinary moments of of appreciation from outstanding interpretations of some of Mozart's masterpieces. So pure, so expressive and so perfect. I hope my metaphone is not annoying anyone. Cheers everyone, life is beautiful.
ps; a couple of hours after, it get even velvetier adding a sublime dismay

1/18/2023 - swyang wrote:

This is no question a stunningly beautiful wine in the making! Superb texture, most refined, yet fresh transparency and wonderfully fine tannin. If you wait 5 more years, this would have put on some serious weight and its blossoming will be stunning. Cheers,

1/3/2023 - swyang wrote:

Very impressive, sturdy, healthy tannin and yet with transparent purity. Quite bold character, but with class and uplifting showing in the backend.
My only question is if the healthy tannin will resolve with the fruits over the years. If yes, that would very well be a transcending wine in the making. If not... well, it would dry out. I still have a few bottles left and will keep posting on this. It would be very interesting. It went beautifully with Low temperature roast beef, at 63 celcius over 3 hours. Cheers,

12/15/2022 - swyang wrote:

For me the Bougros Bouguerots from W. Fevre is the very best from this Chablis producer, from multiple experiences. By far eclipsing their Les Clos 2010, tasted recently... this BB showed a great elegance, saline, and complexities within transparency. On the nose very subtle yet undeniable Chablis GC with white flowers, beautiful citrus, yeast, dusty mineral, and on the palate, such pleasant texture mix of the qualities above and slightly saline and powdery mineral beaming under the teeth.
I could drink this more often(!!) and it went splendidly well with Bottarga from Sardegna. Cheers everyone.

11/15/2022 - swyang wrote:

Not bad but certainly not worth Les Clos 2010. I no longer bother to buy W. Fevre anymore as it is very attractive in its first 4 years and then it is nose diving. Well... almost, I maybe a bit tough here but disappointment is real. Don't wait with these as they are much more enjoyable with their baby fat. Cheers,

11/15/2022 - swyang wrote:

This was a bit dry... tobacco, earth, leather and plenty of funky aromas and the palate was also similar. Is it me? probably... not much to enjoy for me here.

10/30/2022 - swyang wrote:

At the peak of its tertiary phase. Plenty of wet earth scents along poetic autumn leaves. The soil, or terroir, really came up to surface beautifully and with its mingling with well integrated sangiovese gives a profile reminding of wet autumn late afternoons of Chianti area. Slight bitterness with tangy back end, it goes beautifully with matured Parmigiano cheese or a classic tomato based pasta dish with generous portion of smoked pancetta. Amazing how this made me recall memories of the forests of San Vincenzo a torri in the hills of Tuscany near Florence. Beautiful and magical. Cheers,

10/19/2022 - swyang wrote:

Very beautiful and yet far from being fully ready. Really pure scents of great vintage Burgundy, initially one could smell slightly more south and guess as Beaune upon opening. However after about half an hour the spice and earthiness of N.S.G is surfacing with a vigorous and healthy manner. Still very young(surprisingly) and lots of potential. For the time being pure scents of red fruits mingling with red roses as well as other floral elements and on the palate super healthy and shiny texture delivering wonderful tannin, yet to be resolved. A great Les Cailles in the making. Cheers,

9/18/2022 - swyang wrote:

Splendid wine and again Freddy's providing a magical moment. Super seductive, most refined and light on its feet, but profound and very, very complex. Fruits are just starting to fade to let the secondary elements come through the terroir and boy this is really magical. So complex, so subtle and yet so deep. How can anyone make such a mesmerizing wine, not even thinking of what category it is in; village, 1er cru or grand cru. This has so much to enjoy and to contemplate than many of grand crus and we, my wife and I, are at awe with admiration and enjoyment while being transported into happy clouds. Cheers,

9/18/2022 - swyang wrote:

A splendid champagne at its peak. Dom Perignon at 22 is about as refined and gorgeous as one could dream of a champagne. Supremely light and refined bubbles, aromas of mature fruits, nuts, honey, flowers and toasted bread in the time frame which shows its age and how beautifully it has taken the years into its body of finest bubbles. Exceptional and certainly memorable.

9/18/2022 - swyang wrote:

Still very young, surprisingly. However the upside is not too far off and another 3~4 years of patience should be worth waiting. On the nose very elegant and attractive but still firm and not fully opening yet... somewhat 'masculine' aromas of the red fruits, red flowers, high pitch and beautiful substance is still somewhat dormant. On the palate, still quite young and tart, the 'La Roche' is strongly present and near stoically. Extremely well made, superbe wine in the making, and I will wait another 5 years for the next bottle.

7/1/2022 - swyang wrote:

Very disappointing. Still too young and not fully integrated wood bothered me. I personally can't stand when a so called luxury wine has a woody, vanilla flavor. Not so attractive for the time being.

6/19/2022 - swyang wrote:

An absolutely splendor. What a supreme Class of its own! Dark brooding color, stunning and superlative nose of great red fruits, with sublime scents of leather, earth, suave tannin all in the most elegant harmony. On the palate this had a surreal presence of depth, transcending back ends which offered layers and layers(or waves after waves) of great fruits, suave tannins and sweet tastes of nature, earth, spices all dancing together in an effortless waltze. Cheers,

6/6/2022 - swyang wrote:

A magnificent bottle of wine entering its drinking window. Majestic yet with freshing uplift in the backend. Profound yet graceful and majestic yet not heavy at all. Suave textured wine which invite you to every sip and giving ever different twist of pleasure in waves and provoking positive energy amongst us, appreciating it through the evening. A splendid wine. Cheers,

6/2/2022 - swyang wrote:

At first whiff I thought this had been badly oxed... so did my friend Jacques who has a great experience and in depth. Well, on the nose it certainly was oxidized but after a while in the glass the oxidation went off and on the palate it was really quite complex with beautiful nuances that come only with proper ageing. At 18 years old it had much pleasure to offer, oily textured but with wonderful backbone and aromas of dry orange marmelade, honey, leather, amber, nutty, and beautifully coating your taste buds. I am so glad that we waited a bit the whole experience was like going back into time and swirling beautiful old memories. Wonderful wine but I believe it will stay at this stage quite some time. Cheers,

6/1/2022 - swyang wrote:

A note in haste; beautiful barolo on a classic vintage. If you like a traditional, not extracted, medium body barolo this would be something to look out for. Beautiful transparent color, just as beautiful aromas of red fruits, red flowers earth, leather and spice. On the palate a wonderfully inviting texture in a medium body, gorgeous tastes of the qualities mentioned above and waves of other qualities hitting your taste buds with sheer energy from a healthy tannin. It is still in its youth and waiting 4~5 years would be rewarded handsomely. Cheers,

5/26/2022 - swyang wrote:

An absolutely delicious stage of a great wine, by a great wine maker, on a beautiful vintage. My wife and I are enjoying this gem sip by sip. Toasted bread, ever so slight bit of coffee bean, nutmeg in a generous rendering of honey, almond, citrus, green apple all kept together by a healthy and energetic mineral tannin. Malo fermentation is masterfully executed finding just right balance in order to keep the freshness, lifting the whole wine with all its qualities bringing its back end to a beautiful rainbow. Cheers,

4/7/2022 - swyang wrote:

I couldn't drink this...too high alcohol coming through aromatically as well as on the palate. Very dry tanning and bitterly present. The sheer tannin is overwhelming the fading fruits which are nuanced but wiped out by the metalic and acidic finish.

2/22/2022 - swyang wrote:

It is amazing how this wine is still so young and vigorous. It has the right stuffing to age superbly and if you can manage to wait another 3~4 years, which I will, it will be a wine that will be as poetic and expressive as one could wish. Cheers,

2/22/2022 - swyang wrote:

A fantastic wine with its profound potential in the future. Wait for another 2~3 years and the rewards will be aplenty. Unbelievable depth, great tanning, healthy fruits and slowly, very slowly getting ready to show what it's got. Vibrating, and just about to breakthrough into a glorious wine.

2/6/2022 - swyang wrote:

An absolutely splendid bottle of Les Fuées. Probably the most profound Les Fuées I have had. If in a blind tasting I would have guessed a Bonnes Mares as it had this depth and majestic profile. The fruits have totally integrated and the terroir is just about coming through and I believe this is just starting its drinking window. On the nose an incredibly noble, majestic depth of mature red berries, sweet roses and beautiful wet soil. On the palate much broader texture than I remember from other Les Fuées and yet very light on its feel and reaching out to each taste buds lifting us to another sphere of sensory satisfaction. And of course with signature Mugnier's refinement, this Les Fuées 2006 truly makes this evening a memorable one. Simple sublime and it will be at its peak for the next 5~6 years, easily. Cheers,

1/23/2022 - swyang wrote:

Well, sometimes I have cravings for a simple but true and authentic Italian meal, starting with some cold cuts and then moving on to the basic and wonderful pasta. When it comes to choose a good wine, it doesn't necessarily have to have profile of a complex, profound, lush, uplifting one, and from some well known places. Rather, a good, simple, friendly, and modest ones(just like human beings) to accompany a soothing home made meal is just about as perfect choice as you can make. Well, this is it! Made very beautifully in Maremma, Tuscany with southern rhone varietals, mainly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, this was the just right wine to go with San Daniele Procciuto, grilled vegetables with wonderful olive oil(extra vergine) and slowly roasted onion pasta with topped panceta. This choice made us feel, how just the right balance of food and wine is so much more important than the price, region, or vineyard. Cheers everyone this is a wonderful wines for wonderful home made meal.

1/18/2022 - swyang wrote:

Splendid and actually quite unusual experience. At first the Oxydation was quite advanced and it was very suave and pleasant but I thought it had matured quite a lot... until half of the bottle. And then strangely the Oxydation lifted just like a fog can be lifted to let a sun shine this Corton Charlie has transformed into a superb and even young Corton Charlemagne with its glorious profile. Suave, honeyed citrus and uplifting aromas of great Burgundy. It was yet another fascinating wine experience. I am so glad not to have drank this bottle too fast! Taking time with great terroir is the key to remember. Cheers,

1/18/2022 - swyang wrote:

An incredible wine with its full potential just coming out. Still very dark and beautiful purple violet color. On the nose, I can't help from going back to enjoy its aromas which is extremely addictive in a greatest possible way.(Splendid class and depths of fruits and spices with superb precision) An incredible energy, depth, and endlessly long finish on the palate. I can't describe how much I have enjoyed its profound depth, yet superbe classy profile and uplifting to heaven. This will remain in my inner memory for a many, many years to come. I am still at awe while writing this note... Cheers,

1/7/2022 - swyang wrote:

A Splendid bottle of Chevalier Montrachet. Rich, Standing very tall with dignity and almost stout expression of a Chevalier, I would say. The depth was literally endless and the suave and rich texture was amazingly kept in balance with a diamond beams like energy going under the teeth after it went down. Very unusual experience and I did taste a few Ch. Montrachet from Bouchard P&F but this was by a long shot the very best ever. Rich, dignified, bordering on opulence but without going over the top. Deep, Oily, yet a dry and energetic backend. Wow... this was majestic, if not quite wanting to attack the taste buds, just like what Don Quixote would have, it was sublime and suave as we could possibly wish. Cheers,

1/1/2022 - swyang wrote:

Happy new year everyone! It is always a great challenge to find a wine matching my native Korean food with. I tried this for the 1st time and I must say it went very well indeed!! Much better than I had expected, or hoped. The fruits are fading away to make the color a bit more transparent and just a bit crimson, on the nose it is beautiful indeed with floral and gorgeous small berries with freshness coming out of the glass effortlessly. On the palate, the tannin is very healthy and not at all giving way, but the fruits have, so I thought it would be standing tall versus the Korean traditional meal of the new year's day and the healthy tanning was totally rounding up with the flavors and spices of the food and the backend freshness of fruits prevailed most nicely to combine the two distinct worlds and made them to understand each other very nicely. Something that I wish Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin should take time to taste together... if you know what I mean. Cheers,

12/29/2021 - swyang wrote:

A splendid wine on a splendid vintage. Gorgeous color, gorgeous scents of flowers, fruits, terroir and showing us the time that it has traveled. It has many, many years ahead, but this was our last bottle, alas. However with all beautiful things of like it leaves us a great memory of a truly dignified, deeply rooted, and proudly standing Clos Vougeot with all qualities of a Grand Cru Burgundy can provide. Fully open, and ready to be enjoyed, many years ahead. That was gorgeous. Cheers,

12/29/2021 - swyang wrote:

This was absolutely spectacular. Upon opening the scents of caramel, citrus marmelade, nuts, and waves of refined nuances keeps me want to enjoy every second of its variations. On the palate; Wow... upon entry sweet and oily, but as it reaches mid and end palate, an extraordinary waves of explosion come back with the most complex yet transparent way. So pure, yet so complex, in fact it is hardly believable even as I am sipping slowly and enjoying every drop of it. A true magic going down on us and coming back to lift to a very very high pleasure. Cheers,