5/17/2024 - larsth wrote:

Just as the name says - easy drinking but still a serious wine. Very well made and round in appearance but fresh with a strong mineral core. Great value.

5/9/2024 - larsth wrote:

I would say this is at peak now and consistent with my prior notes. Very very good.

5/8/2024 - larsth wrote:

Mature but by no means old - still with clear red and dark pinot fruit. It finishes with a tad sweetness. It is drinking very well now. Nice.

5/7/2024 - larsth wrote:

First bottle of a case bought on release. Expressive elegant pinot nose with red and black fruits. Power and tension combined. In its early drinking window as tertiary aromas have not emerged yet but still very good now.

4/29/2024 - larsth wrote:

Probably at peak now - powerful fruit, expressive nose with classic smoked, olive, coffee and some tertiary earthy notes. All in a very elegant package.

4/28/2024 - larsth wrote:

Really good with its concentrated Hermitage power and intensity combined with a fine smoothness and soft tannins. It has all the classic Northern Rhone traits. So well made and just very nice now but still with many years ahead of it.

4/24/2024 - larsth wrote:

Dark colour and dark fruited for a Burgundy. A "vin naturel" with ample fresh fruit with some green notes and noticeable acidity. The maceration carbonique also stands out.

4/18/2024 - larsth wrote:

Really nice and in a very good place now. An elegant Hermitage with balanced power and minerality beneath.

4/14/2024 - larsth wrote:

As other tasters mention - this is drinking fine now in its early drinking window with softer and more mature notes of both dark and red fruits.It is still a powerful wine but it has a mineral spine to keep the balance.

4/10/2024 - larsth wrote:

Murky, rustic and a bit oxidised. Notes of very ripe apples and ample acidity. Finish with some bitterness. It has some "vin naturel" traits which is not my favorite style but it will certainly appeal to some.

4/1/2024 - larsth wrote:

Concerned about the vintage, I opened the first out of 6. No green notes here - at least for me. It is dark, deep and concentrated with mainly primary fruit. It has a focused mineral backbone to keep a fine balance and tension. It is very long. I was thinking more Bonnes Mares than Musigny due to its muscular presence rather than elegance at this point. It needs time and will probably merit a higher score by then.

3/30/2024 - larsth wrote:

I really like where this is now with its clean and mostly primary Syrah fruit profile. Fine balance with fine tannins and although not particularly deep this a fine glass now. This is a Northern Rhone that I would drink now while letting the higher end bottles from this vintage rest. There is no rush though.

3/25/2024 - larsth wrote:

Pure and clean Syrah fruit with Northern Rhone meaty and smoky notes. Nice and easy drinking and ready now.

3/24/2024 - larsth wrote:

Premoxed - 4 out 6 premoxed is not good! The two proper bottles were spectacular.

3/13/2024 - larsth wrote:

This is a rich chianti with a ripe dark fruit profile. Notes of cherry, plum, tomato and some herbs. This is still young with noticeable tannins. It needs a decant and some air to open up.

3/8/2024 - larsth wrote:

First bottle sadly premoxed. Second bottle was very good. CC depth and concentration with a touch of ripe yellow tropical fruit. It has a mineral spine to keep the balance. At peak now.

2/23/2024 - larsth wrote:

Consistent with note from 2019 and it has evolved further and like many other 2008's it is in a good spot now. Gorgeous pinot nose and very tasty with lovely mature red fruits and some sous bois flavours although it lacks depth to be great.

2/13/2024 - larsth wrote:

Medium-bodiied for Cali-PN with ripe dark and red berries. It has some sweetness balanced with its acidity. Drinking well already but still on the young side.

2/13/2024 - larsth wrote:

Light-coloured with some berry confit sweetness in the nose. Very delicate with pure red fruits. Good overall balance and tension albeit still young.

2/19/2024 - larsth wrote:

This is hardly GC quality in this vintage. Red-fruited, delicate and medium-bodied with no noticeable green notes, but it lacks the depth and tension normally attributed to this vineyard. It is probably at its peak now.

2/7/2024 - larsth wrote:

Quintessential Puligny with flinty, stony, citrus, apple and pear notes. Medium bodied with superb balance and nerve. It is still on the young side and should improve from here although nice now.

2/7/2024 - larsth wrote:

Ripe, dense and juicy fruit with some apple and peach notes. It has a fine acidic backbone that keeps the fruit in check and gives it a great overall balance. Very good.

2/7/2024 - larsth wrote:

Already very nice but with more to come. Delicate and intense with layers of red and dark fruits, spices and some earthy notes. Great balance and tension.

2/7/2024 - larsth wrote:

Crazy good wine from one of the more modest appellations. Totally mature with deep red fruits and sous bois notes while still being fresh and not tasting old at all. Fantastic balance.

2/7/2024 - larsth wrote:

Restaurant purchase. It is very young and primary but already very enjoyable. Red-fruited and impeccable balance.

2/5/2024 - larsth wrote:

From magnum. Dark colour and a dark intense nose with some herbal Cab Franc notes. It has ample soft, dark, juicy fruit with a fine balance with maybe a tad of opulence. Easy to drink now.

2/5/2024 - larsth wrote:

Dark and intense fruit that still feels rather young. Lots of pwer with acidity and tannins well softened and integrated. Very nice.

1/22/2024 - larsth wrote:

This has some body and dense red fruits with some dusty tannins. Beginning sous bois notes. Nice acidic spine to keep the balance. Approachable now but absolutely no rush as this is still on the young side.

1/14/2024 - larsth wrote:

Very Vaucrains when it is best. Nice fragrant pinot nose. Power, concentrated and a bit rustic fruit. Mature earthy notes emerging. Great balance and energy. Fine now with possibly more to come as it matures further.

1/5/2024 - larsth wrote:

Lovely lush dark and red fruit with some sweetness but still with a balanced and vibrant core. Drinks fine already but with more to come.

12/31/2023 - larsth wrote:

So good now and à point in my view. Full-bodied with ripe dark fruits kept in check with a fine underlying structure. Precise and focused with soft and sweet tannins.

12/31/2023 - larsth wrote:

From magnum and fine now. Broad scaled with pear, apple and citrus notes but still with good focus and freshness.

12/31/2023 - larsth wrote:

This is really special now. Good depth with apple, citrus and baked bread flavours. It has great tension and an impeccable balance.

12/12/2023 - larsth wrote:

This is a large-scaled and concentrated gevrey with mainly dark primary fruits - almost with some Northern Rhone traits. Tannins are present but has softened. In the zone but no rush.

12/1/2023 - larsth wrote:

Nice wine with clear red and dark fruits with some warmth and sweetness. A tad of new world pinot cola flavour. Lacks a bit of acidity or freshness and naturally on the young side.

11/25/2023 - larsth wrote:

This has evolved further since my last bottle a year ago with more mature red fruit notes though still a wine with dark fruits also. Tannins further resolved and it is really in the zone now with its nice sweet and softer fruit.

11/22/2023 - larsth wrote:

An easy quaffable wine with its pure, clean and fresh syrah fruit. It is nice and simple but not more than that.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: It has been consistent at this high level for a long time - Resolved tannins and leather, licorice and some herbal notes. Long.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Stunning. Fantastic nose and a classic mature Chave blend of burgundian elegance and Rhone power. Meaty, earthy and peppery notes with red and dark fruits. In a great spot now - probably at peak with no rush.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: This was in a really good spot now and a step up in complexity and elegance over 2016 Gonon and JL Chave St Jo's. Old restrained style Hermitage with superb balance with fine tannins and just so well made.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Tasted alongside Gonon St Jo from the same vintage. This is darker, smokier and more closed than the Gonon 2016. Still great balance and impressive with notes of dark fruit, smoked meats and olives. Will improve over time although approachable now.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Tasted alongside Chave St Jo from the same vintage. Still young with plenty of upside but certainly approachable with its generous and juicy fruit. Great balance and freshness with meaty, spicy and olive notes.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Deep, rich and balanced with notes of butter, honey, flowers and some citrus. In a good spot now.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Classic Comtes - elegance, balance and depth of apple, brioche, white flower and citrus notes.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Ample deep clear dark fruit balanced with fine freshness and tension.

11/11/2023 - larsth wrote:

Wine meet – Northern Rhone @ Lars: Very fine white St Jo - expressive with fruity, white flower and lemon notes. It has some acidity given it a nice freshness.

10/27/2023 - larsth wrote:

A very harmonious and balanced Chassagne from this great vintage that is ready to drink now.

10/13/2023 - larsth wrote:

Very good now. Clearly PYCM with Puligny minerality. Notes of citrus, apples and white flowers. It is long, intense, precise, has great balance and fine tension.

10/7/2023 - larsth wrote:

Consistent with my earlier note. Dark colour and so smooth and elegant with underlying power of dark and red fruit with notes of rose petals and some smoked flavours. I think it is at or close to peak with no rush.

9/7/2023 - larsth wrote:

Some bottle variation here as my last 3 bottles have been much better than the first 3 bottles. Here we have a fine balance with layers of apple, citrus and white flowers paired with Puligny acidity and energy. Good to go now.