COWineLover
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2015 Louis Latour Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans
4/4/2024 - COWineLover wrote: 86 Points
Acquired a half case just about seven years ago, and the wine has been sleeping in my cellar since acquisition. Decided to acquire the half case after a generally positive history with the 2009. This was the first bottle opened from the 2015 vintage. Upon review of my 2009 notes, I regret not tracking things better. After 5 years the 2009 was a lovely wine, but by the 8 year mark (a late 2017 tasting after I had acquired the 2015 earlier in 2017) the aging had not been kind. I find this bottle a consistent (and disappointing) experience with the 2009 at the 8 year mark. While one bottle does not condemn the vineyard and producer to purgatory, the trajectory from tonight’s tasting (especially in light of the exalted vintage) is headed to the “No Buy” category.
Good ruby color with no bricking. A dark ruby cork that was well sealed. Aromatically this offers the expected aromas with cherry, damp loamy soil, licorice, and red berries. On the palate, the attack is predominantly influenced by a tart cherry that overwhelms everything else. The mid-palate is very hollow with a quick transition through to the finish where the tannin dries out the tart cherry from the attack.
For the vintage, this lacks finesse, elegance, charm, evolution, and flavor. I should have paid better attention and consumed this earlier in the bottle life. I don’t see this undergoing a magical transition. I hope this bottle suffers from Burgundy variability, but my optimism is low this is solely bottle variation.
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2011 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée
3/28/2024 - COWineLover wrote: 91 Points
My first (and final) bottle of this in 5 years. Was expecting a lean tasting experience, but this bottle held a pleasant surprise. Good ruby color with only a slight bricking. Aromatically this has a lovely sous bois, strawberries and cranberries, with a deft touch of wood, cinnamon, and minerality. On the palate this has good lift on the attack with cinnamon and a chalky minerality. In the mid palate the acidity tapers off to let the strawberries and cranberry step forward where the polished tannins coat the inside of your mouth with enough acidity to keep this vibrant. Coasts into the finish with good length and the vibrancy that keeps this from being lean or dried out.
A pleasant surprise for a less than heralded vintage.
I could see this retaining vigor and enjoyment until 2029, though this bottle highlighted it can be enjoyed now.
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2020 Château Haut-Batailley
2/23/2024 - COWineLover wrote: 92 Points
A cellar juggling bottle as my pre-order was for 6 bottles but apparently one went missing so I opted to reduce the odd lot to 4 bottles. I never sample young Bordeaux, so this is a departure for normal consumption.
Color is completely opaque. Aromatically this leads with a strong menthol, anise, dark roasted coffee, cassis, clove, and incense. On the palate this has noticeable tannin as expected, but the merlot softens this to the point where this should be accessible at an early age. Has structure to be a good mid-term drinker (2025-2035) while others sleep. This leans into tart black fruit on the attack. In the mid-palate this fills in with a bitter anise, roasted espresso, sweet cassis, and dark cacao. There is great length on the finish where the anise, espresso, and clove fill every part of your mouth. The only flaw is this could use a little more lift - the acidity is overwhelmed by the tannin at this stage. Because of the lean acidity that frames my drinking window estimate.
Surprisingly approachable, but as noted I don’t open young Bordeaux so take my approachability note accordingly. Very good material and this checks the boxes from start to finish. Day 1 - 92-93
Day 2 - The aromatics have really opened up after overnight refrigeration. Loaded with plums, black currant, lavender, sweet clove, anise, and coffee. On the palate this has turned a bit angular where the anise and tannin have hardened up on the attack. Settles in the mid-palate where the plum and black currants attempt to file down the angularity of the attack. The finish remains pleasant with a smoke and espresso centric profile, though the length has diminished somewhat.
The wine shows quite differently between the days. No noticeable flaws (other than more lift as noted day 1), and the differences between the days highlight a good quality wine at this stage with a diverse tasting experience. No change in the overall score.
From my tasting over the two days, I believe the drinking window for me probably remains through 2035.
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