The old school effort of tasting and re tasting Bordeaux is certainly proving to be important for the 2011 wines.  There were some (primarily right bank and select left bank wines) that showed well early on and better in June but September seems to have been the key time to check back in on them.  I was extremely surprised at home much weight and complexity has come on to these wines in the last three months in general, but especially with those that had not previously showed well before this.  The ones that were good are even better and some that I was highly disappointed in (either due to quality or relative to the particular Chateau) that are coming on strong.  For the left bank, St. Julien, Margaux and now Pauillac are the clear leaders and the right bank is and has been the cream of the crop.
 

2011 D'Armailhac - A more expressive nose than April. Deep red florals. What a 
difference from April! Loads of fruit and red flowers. Not a lot of tannin and 
moderate acidity. Quite improved. 

2011 Clerc Milon - A sweeter raspberry nose. Dark fruit, cassis palate. Again 
light on tannin but nice freshness and showing far better than April. What a 
difference. 

2011 Mouton Rothschild - Whoa!!!  What a difference. Totally huge, Mouton nose. 
Meaty, eucaliptice on the nose. Big, full mouthful of dark fruit, cassis, 
blackberry and plums. More tannin than the other two and a bit more acidity. I 
rescind my April notes as it just was not ready for tasting as it is now. 

2011 La Dame de Montrose - Very dark and tight nose. Big, full dark fruit 
palate. More weight, more fruit, more everything. Good tannin and acidity. I 
liked this wine in April and thought this would be the case again. 

2011 Montrose - Big dark fruit, dark flower nose. Huge palate of dark fruit and 
berries. Big tannin and lovely acidity. This is a great wine and time will show. 


2011 Pontet Canet - Improved nose with dark berry and dark flowers. Big Pontet 
palate of flowers and fruits. Lovely tannin and acidity. This has really come 
around and is quite impressive. 

2011 Lynch Bages - Sweet plumbs and cigar on the nose. This is a big change from 
April. Big, ripe, dark fruit and plumbs on the palate. Good tannin and acidity. 
This was not at all good in April and I am very pleasantly surprised today. 

2011 Pichon Baron - Rose notes and red fruit. Another huge change! Wood has 
integrated and the red fruit is exploding forward with the power of Pichon 
exploding forward on the palate. Great tannin and acidity and I now have high 
expectations for the longevity of this wine. I've tasted this twice previously 
and been disappointed by time has healed all wounds and this is a fabulous wine!

2010 Pichon Baron - Dark fruit and cassis nose. What a behemoth wine. Dark fruit 
and red flowers. Perfect balance and integration with amazing tannin and 
acidity. This wine has had it all since day one. I've had it 6-7 times since its 
first primeur pouring and with one exception (6 days after bottling) it has 
always been one of the greatest wines of the vintage. This is no exception. 
Owners will be rewarded for decades on end. 

2009 Pichon Baron - Big red fruit nose. Extremely expressive in any way and 
especially in that 2009 way. Sexy, forward, explosive fruit. Huge, lush and 
round with better tannin than most the 09s. This is a beast. Again. 

2001 Pichon Baron - Dark plumbs and cedar. Ripe dark fruit and good tannin. 
Still nice acidity and it should last for quite some time still but lovely to 
enjoy now as well. 

2011 Ducru Beaucaillou - Deep blackberry nose with a hard deep floral note. 
Following through to the palate from the nose but adding a peach element. Super 
fine tannin and great freshness and acidity. I am quite glad I reserved my 
opinion for a later date in April because this (like many others) is showing 
worlds better. Superb offering. 

2011 Palmer - Deep black nose and coffee. Great dark fruit and red rose palate. 
It has really begun to integrated well (one of the wines that actually showed 
well in April). Big tannin, structure and lovely acidity. Extremely low yields 
led to super concentration. I'm not sure you can call Palmer a "sleeper" but it 
does not get the respect (aka reviews) it deserves.
Day 2:
2011 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse - We had to taste from barrels so not the final 
blend. However, this was more interesting than most instances of this. This is a 
tiny producer (only 6.5 hectares) and they do everything in a flexible style so 
that they can work very closely throughout the wine making process. We tasted 
three barrel samples and I found them all to be very perfumed and floral. I am 
impressed with the structure and freshness (acidity) and beautifully integrated 
tannins. I would expect this will be another great effort from BDL. 

2005 Clinet - (opened about 6 hours ago) Very floral and deep perfume nose. 
Extremely expressive. Deep dark fruit and cassis on the palate. Still a bit 
wound up as the 05s are young but great tannin and acidity and I would expect 
this to be a great wine (is already, just young) with a bit more age. 

2010 Clinet - (opened about 6 hours ago) Super dark! Dark plums on the nose but 
a bit tight which is no surprise. Wow!!! The palate is certainly not closed. It 
is a broad range of black fruit, cassis and seemingly a bit of lilac. Great 
everything. Beautifully elegant, integrated tannins and amazing acidity. Totally 
2010 and completely Clinet!

2008 Angelus - Red berry and red rose nose. Big, beautiful red fruit palate with 
lovely acidity and really well integrated tannin. This can be enjoyed now for 
sure but really no rush.
Day 3:
2011 Margaux - Deep purple in color. Dark plums and violet nose. Large, dark 
fruit, big, sweet and floral palate. This has put on a fair bit of weight but is 
quite elegant. Great acidity and balance. This showed well from the get-go and 
is still doing so but evolving well. Excellent. 

2011 Pavillon Blanc - Wow!!! Explosions of tropical fruit exploding off the 
nose. A bit of white flower as well. This is a beautiful flavor profile of white 
peaches, apricot and tropics. Great acidity and super fresh. Long, long, long 
finish. 2011 was a superb vintage for the whites in Bordeaux and this is no 
exception. Mr. Pontallier believes this without question to be the finest 
Pavillon Blanc made....ever....period. 

2011 Cantenac Brown - Black liquorices nose. Ripe, dark fruit and cassis palate. 
A bit tannic with a bit less acidity than I would like but showing relatively 
well. I think another few months in the barrel may balance this a bit more but 
the fruit is certainly there. 

2011 Gloria - Dense deep purple with violet and blackberry nose. Mammoth, 
black fruit and dark flower palate. Great balanced tannins and beautiful acidity 
and freshness. Exceptional Gloria. People need to pay attention to this wine 
again as I am convinced it now represents one of the absolute best values from 
the left bank. 

2011 St. Pierre - Much more floral on the nose rather than fruit. Very perfumed. 
Softer fruit but again floral as can be in the mouth and so much so on the 
finish. Beautifully integrated tannins and again great acidity. It makes me 
think of a beautiful woman that walks by you and the trail of her perfume. Just 
super. And like the Gloria an amazing value. 

2011 Les Forts de Latour - Deep smoky, blackberry, boysenberry nose. Ripe fruit 
and a touch of stemminess but very round with nice tannin and acidity. I would 
guess this will smooth out in the next few months. 

2011 Latour - Deep black fruit nose. This is a huge but typical Latour. Classic 
style with big ripe super dark fruit and cassis. Big round tannins and a bit of 
wood still showing but this will fade. Very nice acidity. It is a bit disjointed 
at this stage but I really wouldn't be too concerned at this point. 

2011 Leoville Poyferre - Black liquorices and dark fruit highly expressive nose. 
Big dark fruit with violet flower palate. Big, rich, ripe tannin and lovely 
fresh acidity. Loved it from the first tasting in April and there is absolutely 
no reason to change my mind.

2005 Meursault sous le Dos d'Ane - Minerality and shells on the nose but with 
that big fruit forwardness of 05s. Good mineral but generally one dimensional on 
palate. Not a big fan of 05 whites from birth and I'm still not. This is even on 
the decline While I don't expect as much from this particular Meursault I'm 
still not a fan.
 
2002 Meursault sous le Dos d'Ane - More expressive and explosive mineralty than 
the 05. Much more rounded with fruit mixed with mineralty. Probably no room to 
grow but showing really well. 

2006 Puligny Montrachet Clavoillon(magnum) - A bit darker than I'd like to see 
for a young mag. Really tight on the nose. Not surprising from a mag nor the 
vintage. It is not quite right to me on the palate either. I have avoided 2006 
Leflaive because people I know and trust have commented that something isn't 
quite right with them (perhaps due to the wine maker change mid stream) and I 
would say that here. Shame. 

2009 Puligny Montrachet Folatieres - Wound up and fruit forward. A bit of 
excitement on the nose. Big, vibrant, over powering fruit. Really reminiscent 
of the 05s at this stage. Fun and exciting now but I don't hold out much hope.
 
2004 Puligny Montrachet Folatieres - Now we're in business.  Exactly what I 
expect from the vintage. You can smell the minerality, fruit, white flowers and 
balance that is here. Unbelievably young on the palate yet signs of maturity 
with integration yet still lovely acidity.  

2009 Puligny Montrachet Combettes - Big white flower nose. Big round palate. 
Nice fruit and good freshness and acidity. Surprisingly more in tune than the 
Folatieres and what I expect from the vintage.
 
2006 Puligny Montrachet Combettes (magnum) - Again, darker color than there 
should be. Its a bit strange on the nose again. Very simplistic and no terroir. 
A bit more on the palate than the Folatieres but its just not fresh. It 
certainly should be, especially from mag but its just not. 

2008 Puligny Montrachet Pucelles - Very very tight nose. I get almost nothing 
from it. Wow, what a mouthful though. An absolutely explosive combo of white 
peach, mineral and beautiful acidity. Nice finish as well. Very lovely wine.

2007 Puligny Montrachet Pucelles - Crushed shells and mineral nose. Expressive 
07 for sure. Beautiful fruits and flowers, again mineralty defining the terroir 
and amazing freshness. Long finish. This is far from ready but is a very 
exciting wine. 
 
2006 Puligny Montrachet Pucelles - Surprisingly lighter in color (proper color) 
than the other two 06s which were in mags. The nose is a bit more typical and 
minerally. Lovely palate with great freshness. The best 06 I've had tonight for 
sure. I guess the color says it all.
 
1996 Puligny Montrachet Pucelles - Booyah! What proper white Burgundy should 
smell like. Still the crushed shell minerality but with that completely unique 
aged smell. Big and round white peaches and mineral. Nice freshness but well 
integrated. Don't empty the cellar but it is time to pop the cork and enjoy this 
if you have it over the next 3-5 years. Really, really great.

2006 Bienvenue Batard Montrachet - Color is borderline, on the darker than I'd 
like to see side. Its off. No other comments necessary.
 
2000 Bienvenue Batard Montrachet - Very nice elegant nose. Beautiful palate of 
mineral and fruit. Lovely acidity and finish. I have always loved this wine and 
this vineyard in particular. It is more elegant and certainly not the power of 
its neighboring Batard but always complex and highly cerebral. 

2003 Batard Montrachet - A little funky on the nose (typically for the vintage). 
Rich, lush, fat, round but not particularly interesting on the palate. Not much 
of a finish either.

2002 Batard Montrachet - Game time! The nose alone sums this one up. Monster 
nose of everything Batard has to offer. This is one of those white Burgs that 
rolls your eyes back on the nose. What a mouthful. Wow. Monster and so not even 
close to ready. Amazing fruit, mineral, limestone on the palate. Has the acidity 
of the a much younger wine. This has the backbone and structure to outlast 
almost any of its peers.
 
1999 Batard Montrachet - A good nose with a bit of dust. Much better on the 
palate but up next to the 02 its a tough comp. A lot of similar characteristics 
but by no means the same excitement for the future. Plenty of years left to 
enjoy it but not sure there will be much improvement.  
 
1994 Batard Montrachet - What a weird nose. Its not shot but if it were poured 
blind I would think it was some sort of grape I'm not familiar with or a liquor. 
Nothing special on the palate. Again not bad, but a bit weird. I'll sum it up 
like this: not bad, just weird. Got it?
 
1983 Batard Montrachet (magnum) - Great old white Burg nose. It has that good 
funk that I love on aged whites. Amazing palate. Batard is really built to age. 
Great fruit and still pull that limestone. Big and rich and full. Great long 
finish. However, I am glad this is out of mag because I am not sure it would be 
holding up as well from bottle. 

2004 Chevalier Montrachet - Oh yeah! 2004s still rule! I called it barrel (my 
first big call) and they are not letting me down. If I could replace my blood 
with wine, this might be it. Incredibly explosive mineralty and white flower. 
Same thing on the palate with added dimensions, acidity but yet that elegant 
nature of Chevalier. Long finish. Sooooo good.
 
2003 Chevalier Montrachet - Pretty nose of mineralty. Much more together than 
its Batard counterpart. A bit angular but still has the Chevy character. If 
forced to drink an 03 I'd give this a run and its certainly better than the 
Batard but nothing to write home about.
 
2002 Chevalier Montrachet - Here we go again. The 02s are just showing so well! 
This is everything just like the Batard was but with that elegance and finesse 
of Chevalier. Long long finish. Get a big bowl of boiled shrimp and a bottle of 
this and life is good.
1994 Chevalier Montrachet - Really quite a good nose. Nice palate. Certainly not 
the 02 or 04 but this is a surprise. Frankly, I'd rather have this than the 03 
because it is unusual but in an interesting way.

As I mentioned after my primeur tastings in April, I thought it would be a good idea to taste again and re-evaluate in June, and I have to say I am very glad that I did!  The 2011s really need that extra time in barrel to integrate and put on weight and had everyone in the trade and press world waited I think some higher scores and certainly a lot more excitement would have appeared.  The right bank is the clear winner of the vintage.  Both St. Emilion and Pomeral are standing out and the best of these are not good but great wines.  The left bank is a little less clear.  There are some very clear winners (see Leoville Poyferre) and St. Julien in general seems to be the best appelation on the left.  I did only spend one day on the left this trip so I will have to do a bit more this fall, but I think picking the right wines will be both a key and rewarding from the left.

All in all, I have become quite excited about the 2011s.  I think that many are priced well (by no means all of them) and have the quality to justify owning them.  Additionally, I think these will age a bit longer than I had originally but will still be great to drink while we wait to drink our 2010s.


Day 1 - June 26:


Carruades de Lafite (2011) - Red fruit, rich nose.  Very soft tannins.  Rich mouthful of red (dried) fruit. Cassis. A bit darker than I'd expect. Decent finish. The merlot really shows through and makes this quite expressive and exciting. I am impressed. 

Duhart Milon (2011) - Not much on the nose.  Quite acidic and a very dark cherry, plumby fruit set. Short finish. Tight, tight, tight but I think time will make this a lovely drink. 

Lafite Rothschild (2011) - Tobacco on the nose. A bit like Carruades but tighter and much bigger. Dried fruit again and dark cherries. Has some backbone and tannin on the backside to hold it together. Give this a bit of time to come around, it needs it. Plenty of weight there and good balance. 

Leoville Poyferre (2011) - White flower rich expressive nose. Wow on first taste! Beautiful fruits and flowers on the palate. Full, rich, dark and acidity. Soft tannins. Amazing wine. This chateau is rolling full steam ahead. Incredible! I keep re tasting it and the more air it gets the better it is. This is a stunning wine even with the 09 next to it. 

Leoville Poyferre 2009 (again!) - Big red violet nose. Flashy, sexy, etc. I keep writing the same notes on 09s. They really are pole dancers. A mouthful of red fruit and flowers with a hint of spice box. Great acidity. Oddly, I find the tannins similar to the 11s. Long lasting finish that you just don't want to have end. 

Leoville Poyferre 2010 (again!) - 10 days after bottling so a little tight but still an expressive nose. Wow wow wow over and over and over!!!  Just perfect in every way. I don't even need more desciptives. It is just THAT GREAT!

Le Petit Lion (2011) - Plum and dark cherry nose. Deep dark cherry bomb. Nice tannin and acidity. Very nice second wine. 

Leoville Las Cases (2011) - Tight on the nose but I can't say that surprises me. Dark fruit comes through. Big chewy mouthful of dark fruit, blackberry and spice. Big wine. Long lasting finish with moderate tannic and lovely acidity. This is going to go a long way. 

Leoville Las Cases (1985) - Whoa!  Proper claret. Spice and cedar nose. That nice dark aged fruit. Full and delicious. Drinking perfectly now. Silky and elegant which are not two words typically associated with Las Cases when young. It certainly makes the case for aging it. Just beautiful. 

Pichon Baron (2011) - This has tightened up from April and is showing a bit austere. Its still a big buggar but it is going into hibernation. Very tough to drink right now but given how I liked it in April I will reserve any opinions as it is just too shut down. 

Pichon Baron (2010) - Bottled 10 days ago and closed accordingly on the nose. Still massive and full of dark red fruit and spice. Just a mouthful!  Great acidity and tannin and a huge finish. Always has been and continues to be a stunner of the vintage. 

Pichon Baron (2009) - Big, ripe, red fruit and rose nose. Massive mouthful of explosive red fruit, raspberry. This will live a long time. Huge finish. A bit more back bone than many of the 09s. This is one of the wines of the vintage hands down!

Pichon Baron (2008) - A bit of sulphur leading the nose. After the 09 and 10 this comes off much lighter in style but definitely has the Baron characteristics of power and beauty. Lovely fruit and tannin (a bit over acidity). Long finish. Great wine to start enjoying now but really no rush. 


Day 2 - June 27


Clinet (2010) - Opened day before and still tight on the nose. No shortage on the pallet (just like Baron and Poyferre 10s yesterday). Huge, fresh, dark fruit. Massive but completely balanced with beautiful tannin and acidity. Amazing!

Clinet (2007) - Dark plumby beautiful nose. Black fruit and very full.  Still has nice acidity and freshness.  A bit shorter on the finish than some but I would not hesitate to have a bottle at dinner. A great merlot which is ready to drink and will be for the next 5-8 years. 

L'Eglise Clinet (2011) - Red flower, very floral aromas.  Very exotic.  Almost chocolate on the nose. Pure elegance, extremely well structured with red fruits. Powerful but silky tannin and absolutely lovely acidity. This is magnificent!

L'Eglise Clinet (2007) - The last btl out of owner Denis Durantou's personal stocks.  Gamey, meaty full nose. Black fruit, ultra full on the palate. Really a mammoth wine but properly balanced and integrated. Drinks beautifully now and is calling for a big steak but I think even a couple more years in the cellar would be good if you can be patient (tres dificile!). 

Conseillante (2011) - A bit tight on the nose but some dark florals. Deep cassis, cigar and black fruit. Really a beautiful, big, deep wine. Really builds with air. Very nice finish with elegant tannin and acidity. Ignore the Parker score here, this is great.  Ignore the Parker score here, this is great. And if my comment isn't enough, Denis Durantou of L'Eglise Clinet said it was his favorite.

Conseillante (2010) - Whoa!  Dark flower, fruit. Another brilliant 2010!  Black fruit, cassis. Full, massive wine but actually extremely balanced with highly integrated tannin and amazing acidity. Wow. 

Ausone (2011) - Beautiful, forward red fruit and strawberry rose nose. Wow on the palate. I'm not a Ausone because its Ausone person but this is incredible. Mouthful of red fruit, strawberry, and light spice. Really beautiful tannin, acidity and ultimately fresh. Long floral finish that goes on and on. Superb!

Ausone (2010) - Stop the show. Just a massive, explosive nose of strawberry and flowers. Holy cow!  Like every other '10 it makes me want to dance!  I'm really beyond words but will try. Explosions of berry and roses on the palate. It builds and grows as air is drawn. The finish is ethereal to the highest degree causing my eyes to roll back. Buy it if you can find it. I am. 


Day 3 - June 28


Angelus (2009) - nose is a bit closed but no surprise given it was just opened. However, the palate is an explosion of beautiful dark rip fruit. This is a massive wine with more structure than many 09s. Super long finish. This is a monster!  To me, I believe this will be one of the longest lived and expressive wines of the vintage. 

Beau-Sejour Becot (2011) - Very expressive nose of raspberry, white flower (jasmine) and almond. Explosive on the pallet following through with the nose profile adding some spice, limestone and perfume. Soft tannin well integrated with great freshness. Lovely finish. 

Beau-Sejour Becot (2010) - Like the other 10s the noses have closed up a bit but the nose is still showing through better than most. Again expressive. The palate is an absolute explosion on red fruits and spice with a bit of the limestone. Amazing acidity/tannin balance. This will age (like all the 10s) longer than I may be able to enjoy but will not stop me trying. 

Troplong Mondot (2006) - Plumb, prune and red pepper. Spice as well on the nose. The red pepper and super spice on the palate.  Huge in the typical Troplong style. Still so young (as the 06s are). Big supple tannin and acidity. Long, strong finish. 

Troplong Mondot (2011) - Lots of red flower, red fruit and spice nose. All following through to the palate. As always, massive young and full of forward tannin and acidity but in no way like tasting the 09 and 10 at this young age. Troplong requires time but the pieces are all there for another great wine. 

Clos Fourtet (2010)  - (Bottled 7 days ago) Red jammy expressive nose. Really big!  Dark fruit and minerality. A bit disjointed from the recent bottling but everything is there. Fear not this is another great 10. 

Clos Fourtet (2011) - A bit tight on the nose but you get some of the jamminess. Big fruit and dark.  Still needs a bit of time for the fruit and wood to integrate, but I don't worry that it will. Tough timing as Matthieu had to pull a sample from barrel for us and I probably shouldn't have insisted. Lesson learned that the vigneron knows best.Day 4 - June 29

Malartic-Lagraviere (rouge 2011) - Bright red fruit and white flower nose. Ripe, red palate. Elegant tannin and very nice freshness. Expect a score upgrade/change on this from RMP next spring.

Malartic-Lagraviere (rouge 2010) - Just bottled and again the nose is closed down a bit showing just hints of the red fruits and liquorices at this point. Beautiful palate of dark cherry and florals with the hint of spice. Really elegant tannin and beautiful freshness. 

Malartic-Lagraviere (blanc 2011) - Extremely tropical nose. Dried fruits and white flower but a little thin at this stage.  Very lovely acidity and freshness. 

Smith Haut Lafitte (rouge 2007) - Exciting rip dark red berry nose with a red flower essence as well. Deep red fruit palate and pepper and green pepper.  Nice finish with powerful tannin. 

Smith Haut Lafitte (rouge 2011) - Berry juice and a green plant (possibly thyme) adding to the rich nose. Some red fruit on pallet but a little bit thin or watery (might just be given the stage). I find the tannins a bit chewy and overpowering on the finish for my taste. I wouldn't rule it out for the vintage but we will see if it comes together in the next year a bit better. 

Smith Haut Lafitte (blanc 2011) - A bit of smoke and ash on the nose with some white flowers coming though. Nice richness and white peach style fruit and acidity on the pallet. Nice finish. 

Pape Clement (rouge 2011) - Black fruit and cassis nose. A bit closed really compared to others but it is a big one. The palate is a massive explosion of black fruit, dark jam, liquorices, cassis and a bit of tar. Long, strong finish. Big but not overpowering tannin and nice acidity. Long finish that you can chew on. Really big and concentrated. 

Pape Clement (blanc 2011) - Super exotic white tropical fruit nose. Fat, rich, mouthful of zest and white flower. Good balance and lovely acidity. Very nice. 

Angelus (2009) - nose is a bit closed but no surprise given it was just opened. However, the palate is an explosion of beautiful dark rip fruit. This is a massive wine with more structure than many 09s. Super long finish. This is a monster!  To me, I believe this will be one of the longest lived and expressive wines of the vintage. 

Beau-Sejour Becot (2011) - Very expressive nose of raspberry, white flower (jasmine) and almond. Explosive on the pallet following through with the nose profile adding some spice, limestone and perfume. Soft tannin well integrated with great freshness. Lovely finish. 

Beau-Sejour Becot (2010) - Like the other 10s the noses have closed up a bit but the nose is still showing through better than most. Again expressive. The palate is an absolute explosion on red fruits and spice with a bit of the limestone. Amazing acidity/tannin balance. This will age (like all the 10s) longer than I may be able to enjoy but will not stop me trying. 

Troplong Mondot (2006) - Plumb, prune and red pepper. Spice as well on the nose. The red pepper and super spice on the palate.  Huge in the typical Troplong style. Still so young (as the 06s are). Big supple tannin and acidity. Long, strong finish. 

Troplong Mondot (2011) - Lots of red flower, red fruit and spice nose. All following through to the palate. As always, massive young and full of forward tannin and acidity but in no way like tasting the 09 and 10 at this young age. Troplong requires time but the pieces are all there for another great wine. 

Clos Fourtet (2010)  - (Bottled 7 days ago) Red jammy expressive nose. Really big!  Dark fruit and minerality. A bit disjointed from the recent bottling but everything is there. Fear not this is another great 10. 

Clos Fourtet (2011) - A bit tight on the nose but you get some of the jamminess. Big fruit and dark.  Still needs a bit of time for the fruit and wood to integrate, but I don't worry that it will. Tough timing as Matthieu had to pull a sample from barrel for us and I probably shouldn't have insisted. Lesson learned that the vigneron knows best.Day 4 - June 29

Malartic-Lagraviere (rouge 2011) - Bright red fruit and white flower nose. Ripe, red palate. Elegant tannin and very nice freshness. Expect a score upgrade/change on this from RMP next spring.

Malartic-Lagraviere (rouge 2010) - Just bottled and again the nose is closed down a bit showing just hints of the red fruits and liquorices at this point. Beautiful palate of dark cherry and florals with the hint of spice. Really elegant tannin and beautiful freshness. 

Malartic-Lagraviere (blanc 2011) - Extremely tropical nose. Dried fruits and white flower but a little thin at this stage.  Very lovely acidity and freshness. 

Smith Haut Lafitte (rouge 2007) - Exciting rip dark red berry nose with a red flower essence as well. Deep red fruit palate and pepper and green pepper.  Nice finish with powerful tannin. 

Smith Haut Lafitte (rouge 2011) - Berry juice and a green plant (possibly thyme) adding to the rich nose. Some red fruit on pallet but a little bit thin or watery (might just be given the stage). I find the tannins a bit chewy and overpowering on the finish for my taste. I wouldn't rule it out for the vintage but we will see if it comes together in the next year a bit better. 

Smith Haut Lafitte (blanc 2011) - A bit of smoke and ash on the nose with some white flowers coming though. Nice richness and white peach style fruit and acidity on the pallet. Nice finish. 

Pape Clement (rouge 2011) - Black fruit and cassis nose. A bit closed really compared to others but it is a big one. The palate is a massive explosion of black fruit, dark jam, liquorices, cassis and a bit of tar. Long, strong finish. Big but not overpowering tannin and nice acidity. Long finish that you can chew on. Really big and concentrated. 

Pape Clement (blanc 2011) - Super exotic white tropical fruit nose. Fat, rich, mouthful of zest and white flower. Good balance and lovely acidity. Very nice. 

Wednesday night we had a lovely dinner on the coast of Archachon with a couple of negotiants and Chateaux owners.  It is an amazing view and being with friends and drinking great wines only adds to the enjoyment.

Attending dinner was Ferdinand Mahler-Besse, Erwan Coz, Jean Triaud (St. Pierre and Gloria), Matthieu Cuvelier (Clos Fourtet), and Maragux Pariente (Troplong Mondot).  We knew that we would be drinking Bordeaux but I thought it would be fun to "force" 

the Bordelais to drink champagne and white burg to start.  In fairness, this is the current generation and they are very open minded about wine outside of Bordeaux so it was a very good experience for all of them and it seemed to peak curiosity.  They all have the mindset of learning from other regions.  So, here is the line up:

1988 Krug from magnum - Beautiful nose showing classic Krug notes of nuts and apple.  Perfect fine bubbles with creamed peach and minerals. Truly brilliant!

1992 Roumier Corton Charlemagne from magnum - Its been about 12 years since I last opened one of these as I was looking for the right group. Glad I waited!  Completely classic white burgundy and a brilliant 92 though Christoph's CC is rarely celebrated. Gorgeous minerality and green apple fruit. Still has lovely acidity (at least in mag) and that long ethereal finish that only white burgs can provide. It is time for this I think and I won't wait another 12+ years to open the rest. 

2007 Gloria - I've hammered the table on how beautifully the 07s are drinking and this is no exception but include the extreme value factor. This wine has expressive eucaliptis and fresh blackberry. Big mouthful of fruit and beautiful balance with tannin and acidity. I am so impressed with the return to great wine Gloria has provided. 

2004 Troplong Mondot - Extremely typical Troplong. Big expressive, explosive dark fruit and florals. This is still just huge especially for 04 in comparison to others I've had recently. This wine is by far the youngest 04 I can think of currently. Just superb length and total Troplong structure and power. Check back in 3-5 years and it should be just right. 

1999 Clos Fourtet (pre-Cuvuliers) - Eucaliptis and mint on the nose. Really big and dark (in a good way) with a spice tail. Quite a bit of tannin still which a find a bit surprising on a 99 St Emilion but they are not over powering the wine in any way. Not a bad finish but tails off a bit. All in all good and should be a nice value on a list.

I can sum-up the 2011 vintage for Bordeaux quickly and easily: 2011 Bordeaux Vintage = Fresh and Balanced. Suffice to say, the feedback I received on the 2011's from colleagues who had been in Bordeaux a couple of weeks prior to my visit differed clearly and distinctly from my own. Where they found wines to be " thin " I found them to be classic, even complex in certain instances. The 2011 vintage is indeed a departure from both the 2009 and 2010 vintages but the 2011 vintage is exactly what needed to come out of Bordeaux on the heels of those noted vintages. It's a drinkers vintage, without question, and without casting a broad net in saying so, I wouldn't expect most of these wines to last beyond a decade. And if they do I wouldn't expect them to show anything more than they will five years past the vintage. The " classic " Bordeaux Chateaux did indeed make some notable wine (with one exception) where others did falter as a result of the trying climate (summer and spring decided to switch places in 2011 it seems) and weather obstacles (on the Left Bank) and it shows in the bottle. Yields and production were down across the board on the Left Bank while it should be noted that the Right Bank, in some instances, actually showed an increase in production in 2011. What did come out, which comes as no surprise, is the Left Bank showed power while the Right Bank showed finesse (and elegance). What struck me during our visit to the Right Bank was how uniform the wines were from the 2011 vintage as there with the single exception being that of Ausone, there was a clear and distinct theme running through these wines and it's a theme which I most certainly embrace. And on a rather serious side note, Chateau Clinet, for me, was not only the star of Pomerol but is most certainly the stand-out wine for the Right Bank from the 2011 vintage. Here's a summation of what made my tasting notes from my April 2011 visit to Bordeaux: 2011 La Dame de Montrose -  Floral, lots of Merlot coming over the top, but elegant and easy drinking, one to have around while you're figuring out what to drink next. Truly a great deal of fun! 

2011 Montrose- Well-balanced, fresh tannins, fresh fruit, good finish and middle, lovely nose. The " surprise of the vintage ", not what I was expecting but I'll take it! 

2011 Petit Mouton - Somewhat muted nose which becomes quite floral after some time in the glass. Very thin in the front and mid-palate but with huge notes of coffee throughout (hard to miss really). Smacking tart-tannins on a finish from which I am happy to move away. 

2011 D'armaillac - completely different nose than the Petit-Mouton. Chalk-rock with lots of earth on the nose. Ripe tomatoes and red fruit on the front palate and mid palate. Loads of tannins, which are sharp, on the mid palate and finish. Hard as nails. 

2011 Clerc-Milon: Rich and ripe on the nose, strawberry sweet tart in fact. Again, completely different than the prior two wines but a similar palate to the D'armaillac. More fresh tomato and slightly thin throughout, does not have tannins to go the distance but shows plenty of acid. 

2011 Mouton-Rothschild – a classic Mouton on the nose, lovely lilac and good perfume as well. A balanced, good palate which continues with fresh red fruit, earth spice, ripe tomatoes, hint of tobacco and smoke on the finish (after stepping away for 60 seconds). It's all here except the meat you'd expect from a Mouton. Not much tannin or acidity, I fear it will have a very short life.

2011 Gloria - nose very closed, not giving away anything. Slowly opening up, mostly earth and mineral after a bit. Somewhat thin on the front and middle but lots of tannins and acidity. Limited red fruit on the nose and palate. Hard and angular at times, there's nothing soft about this wine. Fresh-clean tannins and fruit but once again not one for the ages. 

2011 Chateau Saint-Pierre - A classic St. Julien nose, good balance of brick and rose and mineral....some light–brine mixed in as well. Balanced in the palate with loads of tannins on the front and back, however has a light mouth feel as do most of the 2011's (except Montrose). Well made and solid from start to finish. If you enjoy drinking young Bordeaux, this is the perfect wine. 

2011 Le Crock - Sweet jam fruit on the nose, dried fruit on the palate. Surprise of this visit to this producer. Quite good, balanced, easy to drink. One of my picks to drink. Big. Dense color dances around the glass. 

2011 Moulin Riche - Red fruit and plum on the nose. Hard as nails, big as a foot, queer nose. Not my cup of tea. Slightly dense color but beyond that, not much to talk about  here. 

2011 Leoville-Poyferre - Classic St. Julien nose, not as thick or full as the Le Crock. Delicate, elegant, dark, with notes of vanilla, fresh raspberries, and aged casis on the nose. Get more sense of the Merlot than the Cabernet Sauvignon. Big but lean, beautiful color coming off this wine, dead-center in the crossroads between new world and old world.

2011 Pauillac by Latour: Big, tannic, bites back. Classic noses with notes of chalk-rose, a truly lovely wine. 

2011 Les Forts de Latour: MASSIVE, powerful, tanic, a big boy for sure. So big and tannic it's hard to taste anything else but some purple-red fruit does pique-out just a tad. Nose differs from Latour, more muted, less classic. Good structure and balance. 

2011 Latour - strong, direct nose, hard to get a handle on what it wants to do but it's there and it wants you to know it. Equally massive to 2011 LFDL……just bigger, stronger, powerful in all the right places. Classic nose for Latour and Paulliac. Classic structure and backbone, a perfect wine, maybe the wine of the 2011 vintage. 

2011 Lynch Bages: With the exception of the 2011 white wine from Lynch Bages, this vintage was a complete " miss " from this producer, in fact I'd go as far as to say their wines from this vintage are poor at best. 2011 Lynch Bages White - quite good, nose jumps out of the glass. Quince and fresh lime, orange, tangerine, and citrus. 2011 Alter Ego - lovely nose, somewhat muted-Margaux traditional nose, deep-dark rich color, fresh, soft tannins and red fruit. Softer acid and tannin than anything else tried to date. Alcohol is down, limited sweetness. Won't be approachable quickly, needs time. 

2011 Palmer - slightly vegetal initially on the nose which is a surprise for Margaux however the perfume you'd expect does show-up rather quickly after a bit of time in the glass (lovely in fact) as the nose grows on you. As with the Ego, color is deep, dark, and concentrated. Lots of acid and sharp tannin, this too will take time to show what it can do however it has serious potential. Pretty big for Margaux but that's Palmer for you. Has the power of 2010 without the alcohol, acidity and fruit of the 2006. The wine of the day at the start of Day 2…….and still the wine of the day at the end of Day 2. Latour, Palmer, and Clinet are my wines of this vintage. 

2011 Ducru-Beaucaillou & Croix de Beaucaillou - I liked the Croix better than the Ducru. The Ducru is a little thin on the front, tannic in the middle, acidic on the finish, not one I care to revisit any time soon. It's all over the place really. Not one I would hang onto and a bit of a disappointment if I'm honest (and others in the room tasting with me seem to agree). 

2011 Pontet Canet - Somewhat thin and a true disappointment coming off the stellar 2009 and 2010 from this producer. Smells and looks like Pontet-Canet and misses in places but classic Pontet throughout. One to revisit and could be quite good though my initial hunch is this wine won't last for any length (by Pontet's standards that is) that I can see from this tasting. Will revisit this wine…….

2011 Cos D'Estournel: Across the board, pretty darn good which came as a surprise to me given I didn't like their 2010 one bit. Rich, full, packing plenty of tannin, dark fruit, and balance. This wine is NOT " thin " as advertised, better than Pontet (or at least it's showing better right now), most certainly one to watch, and their white wine is quite good as well, nicely done C D'E! 

2011 Pavillon-Rouge: Classic PV nose and quite good I do think but quite different from Margaux. This is a complicated vintage I am discovering, there's really character here but its not as obvious as in prior vintages. Very good.

2011 Margaux: A somewhat classic Margaux nose, combination of " fruits and flowers " however there's more spice and less perfume than I am used to here. Clean and classic but needs time to show what it can do. This is a very good wine but a complete departure from the 2009 and 2010 vintage. Great balance, acidity, and finish.....beautiful to look at as well. Not the wine of this vintage but a very good, classic wine from Chateau Margaux.  

2011 Clinet: Easily the best wine from the Right Bank and lands in my Top 3 wines from the 2011 vintage along with Latour and Palmer. Striking color and gorgeous nose, showing a true balance between red fruit and earth with an accompanying finish to match. Elegant and lovely on the palate, from start to finish, with balance between the fruit, tannin, and acidity. The nose matches the palate as well, showcases the most " Burgundy-like " Bordeaux wine I've come across in my career. I think this is not only a wine to drink but one to hold over the coming years to see where it will take you. 

2011 Château Pichon Longueville Baron: Another standout from the 2011 vintage, I am happy to see what's happening at this estate, they have truly solidified their position in the wine world, surpassing the wines of their neighbor across the road with a slightly similar name. Powerful and bold but with a true sense of finesse and elegance. Good show! 

2011 Beausejour Becot: A seemingly interesting vintage for this producer as their wines were somewhat muddled and just didn't show very well (in my opinion).  A lovely nose but lacking a mid palate and follows with a somewhat off-putting acidic finish. Given their location, I would like to revisit to try them again once they've settled down a bit. 


2011  Clos Fourtet: A lovely color but a bit " chunky " in the palate as this wine seems to lack focus. I would say this producer is still trying to find its style and the 2011 vintage isn't doing much to help them with that, maybe in 2012? 

2011 Troplong Mondot – Truly a lovely wine made by truly lovely people. Elegant, balanced, easy to drink, lovely color as well. Based upon tastings of Troplong from similar past vintages, this one is a keeper and should show well for 15-20 years. A true drinkers wine to be enjoyed now but I would like to revisit in 6 months (and again in a year) as I believe there's more to this wine than it's showing currently. 

2011 Ausone – This is the only " Parker wine " I've come across during this visit to Bordeaux, show-casing everything Mr. Parker likes and looks for in a wine from Bordeaux. Too ripe, too extracted, too expensive. Pass. 

2011 Canon – along with the Troglong Mondot and Clinet, a true stand-out from the Right Bank. Classic Canon with power, balance, and finesse. Bold yet fresh in the nose and palate, serious but well-balanced acidity and tannin. This wine will go the distance and I'm not so sure in 5 (or so) years this wine doesn't get revisited and receive higher marks than any wine on the Right Bank (including Ausone). 

2011 Canon La Gaffeliere – If ever a wine demonstrated a theme, it's the wines from Canon La Gaffeliere. A remarkable accomplishment to make so many wines stand alone, on their own, yet with a " common thread " running through them. Bravo to Stephan von Neipperg! He's done well in 2011 and I'd buy/drink all their wines from this vintage.

Overall, I found the vintage to be surprisingly good!  These are not like the 2009s or 2010s where cellaring is a must, but they can be consumed while we wait for the previous two vintages to mature.  There were clear winners and they tend to be the ones that spent the time in the vineyards cropping back and vigorously selecting/sorting.  I also think that by waiting an extra week to go taste, it let the wines come together better than those that tasted 2-4 weeks earlier and reviewed accordingly.  I am compelled and will go back in June or July to re taste as I truly believe that in another few months these wines will continue to improve.  If there is a left bank appellation that outperformed it is St. Julien.  I think the right bank was better on the whole at this stage.  Without further ado, here are my notes:

Dame de Montrose - Not bad actually. A bit hard but not relentless. Should open up and be a nice drinking wine by delivery. Very lovely. 

Montrose - Beautiful floral nose. Very dry and hard on the pallet. Not thin in the least. Started to open up and show a bit with air. Will be interesting to see what the next 6-12 months bring, but I have hope for this one. This is very interesting. 

Petit Mouton - Nice nose. Very soft tannin. Petit Mouton keeps getting better. This will be a lovely drink on release. A little thin on fruit. 

D'Armaillhac - Almost Eucaliptessy on the nose. Builds on the pallet with okayfruit and has a surprising balance of tannin and acidity. Quite a long finish. Not a complicated wine but a very nice drink. Simple. 

Clerc Milon - Cherried nose. Bigger, rounder than D'Armailhac. More fruit (dark). Well balanced again. Nice finish but a little short at this stage. 

Mouton Rothschild - This has a deep complicated nose. This is a massive, rich wine. Solid but not over powering tannin. Lovely acidity. Has the Mouton meat to it. However, compared to its peers, this is a disappointing one to me. 

Gloria - Beautiful floral nose. Huge mouthful of fruit. Soft tannin beautiful acidity. This a very complete wine and another successful Gloria for sure.  As a side note, the Gloria wines have been getting better and better and represent an incredible value. 

St Pierre - This is quite big and currently reserved. That said, nothing wrong. Nice nose, great dark fruit. Bigger, rounder tannin and still the great acidity. This is quite good yet again. Like Gloria, the Triaud family is really on a roll.  St. Pierre might be the best classified value in the Medoc. Any collector and drinker must be buying these wines.

Moulin Riche (Poyferre) - Great fruit/tannin balance. Builds on the pallet long finish. Great value. No young vines. Will be a good, inexpensive drinking wine.

Leoville Poyferre - Whoa! Can't believe this is a 2011. Has it all. Power, integration, fruit, tannin, acidity. Long finish. Just complete. Winner again! 

On an absolute roll. This will be one of the longer lived 11s. Monstrous yet with the class of Poyferre.  I've said it before and must reiterate it again, this estate is now at the top of the game and it should be purchased in earnest before the prices catch up!

Pauillac (Latour) - Big open floral nose. Explosive fruit with very soft tannin and acidity. It is a pleasure but don't wait. Drink away with pleasure.

Les Forts de Latour - Much more complex florals on the nose. Big LFDL. Ripe fruit, ripe tannin nice acidity. Smokin'!

Latour - Tight on the nose but the essence is there. Big beast, complex and ripe on the pallet and long finish. This one needs time and should show more accordingly. Big buggar. This is a champion on the vintage.

Reserve de la Comtesse - Something very specific on the nose I can't peg. Good fruit and acidity with softer tannins. Pleasant and fine value but I think there are others for the money. 

Pichon Lalande - Dark spicy nose. Round dark fruit spice box pallet. Nice, not too soft but not huge tannin. Decent acidity. Given my disappointment relative to the vintage in 09 and 10, this is quite good. A bit short on the finish but that may change.  Very typical Lalande as far as elegance.

Ormes de Pez - Big surprise!  Big ripe, extracted wine with lush tannin and acidity. Good finish. I don't usually have any special feel for this wine but this stands out.  Very impressive.


Echo de Lynch Bages - A bit sour really. Not horrible but certainly nothing special.  I will taste again but am quite disappointed.

Lynch Bages - The best grapes went here. Big and rich. A bit tannin heavy but nice acidity and good finish. Dark fruit for sure. 

Lynch Bages blanc - Very tropical nose that explodes from the glass. Fresh and white peach like fruit and acidity. Delicious!


Day 2:



Alter Ego - Deep concentrated wine. Dark, dark fruit. Good balance. Quite tannic at this point against the fruit but just needs a bit of time. 

Palmer - Dark colour, purple ruby. Dark fruit nose. Reserved at this point on the nose. Beautiful, concentrated fruit which you can chew on. Again, heavy tannin but balances with acidity. This will be a great wine but require time for sure. I would say too tannic but every time I think it the fruit explodes through. Tiny yields. Lowest in 50 years. Clearly another champion of the vintage.  Shame there will be so little available.

Croix de Beaucaillou - Deep floral nose and follows through on the pallet. Not a massive wine and very fine tannin. A bit thin but nice early drink. 

Ducru Beaucaillou -  A bit thin on the start. Full of dark fruit and builds on the pallet. Plenty on tannin and acidity but totally balanced with the fruit. Only a couple of years to age and should be lovely to drink. Prefer Poyferre and St Pierre. Overall I'm disappointed, especially given that the St. Julien appelation was the best in the Medoc.

Pibran (Pichon Baron) - Rose nose. Nice wine again. Just a pleasant drinker. I've really come to enjoy this wine.

Pichon Baron - Big floral dark nose. Smells like Baron. Dark berry. Lovely, lovely wine. Has that Baron punch vs the Lalande elegance. Nice finish. Winning wine!

Pontet Canet - Has the rich Pontet nose. Lush dark berry fruit. Full and balanced with a nice finish. Truly Pontet. Not like 09/10 but a very good wine for 11. This will be an exciting wine for early consumption, but expect a much lighter version of the same profiles.

Cos d'Estournel - Big blackberry fruit pallet. NOT thin. Big rich lush. A little short on the finish. Very good actually. I'm very surprised.  This is one of my big surprise wines of the vintage.  As a side note the Pagodes and Goulee are also really good.

Haut Batailley - Nice but a bit light. Still nice fruit/tannin/acidity. Nice early drink.

Grand Puy Lacoste - Very nice ripe wine all around. As always, value for the money. GPL is consistently making great wine at a fraction of the cost of their contemporaries.

Pavillon Rouge - Nice rich nose. Deeply concentrated and powerful Pav. Layers of fruit with great balance. Nice finish. 

Margaux - Very strange (not skunky) nose. May blow off. Super concentrated fruit with soft/pleasant tannin and beautiful acidity/freshness. Black fruit. This is very good.


Day 3:



Clinet - Almost black in colour. Dark fruit, ripe plum nose. Huge bouquet and very serious. Big, ripe, rich, black fruit with round tannin and great freshness and acidity. Long, large finish yet the Clinet elegance. Very good again. 

Beausejour Becot - Spice box nose. Ripe fruit with that spicy punch from the cab franc with a nice sweetness. Very integrated tannin and real freshness on the finish. So dark and concentrated. 

Clos Fourtet - Super dark and concentrated. Big ripe, black fruit. Lovely minerality. Soft round tannin. Nice but not long finish. Very good overall.  I look forward to re tasting in a couple of months as I believe this will start to stand out. 

Troplong Mondot - Deep rose florals. Typical massive Troplong. Very very big but very together. Builds and builds as air draws. Ripe tannin and incredible freshness and acidity. 

Chapelle d'Ausone - Funky on nose to me. Powerful red fruits. Round tannin. Very fresh. 

Ausone - Almost a smoked meat with dark nose. Explosive red fruits and roses. Very rounded tannin but extremely elegant. Super finish and long. Very impressive and makes me think that the Chapelle will come along.

Canon - Plums and fig. Blackberry, goose berry. Berry in general with floral and and lovely floral finish. On the lighter side but elegant.  As a side note, the 2010 was opened for us after the 2011 and it was just amazing!  I literally started dancing in the Chateau (which I'm sure was quite a sight!).

La Mondotte - Floral. Sweet fruit and elegant. Very. Soft smooth tannin. Nice acidity.  A lovely wine. 

Canon La Gaffeliere - Violet nose. Beautiful florals and red fruit. Soft, elegant round tannin and a lovely finish. The spice of cab franc.  This is often over looked yet I have not been able to figure out why.  Try a bottle for yourself and decide would be my suggestion. 

Carillon Angelus - Floral/violet nose. Beautiful bouquet pallet and great finish. Cab Franc very evident. 

Bellevue - Sweet cherry/strawberry nose. Limestone shows through and red fruit follows. Really good overall. 

Angelus - Red roses. Spice box and dark fruit. Really lovely and layered. Elegant supple tannins. Very fresh.  Angelus keeps making their case to be upgraded in the forthcoming reclassifications in St. Emilion.  

This is the most scenic and beautiful property in my mind throughout the Cote d'Or.  A few days out of each year on clear days, you can even see Mont Blanc from the estate.  The natural topography as well as the resources of the current owner have allowed for a perfect set up to have the wine made using gravity.  In the past several years, the quality of wines coming out of Pousse d'Or have gone through the roof.  They have now added vineyards such as Bonnes Mares, Clos de la Roche and Amoureuse though the production is tiny.  Unfortunately, we did not get to taste all of their 2010s because their production was down a whopping 40% from 2009, but what we did have made the point!  As a side note, these wines represent great values.

Volnay Caillerets 1er Cru - Dark fruit on the nose.  Big, lush, ripe, great acidity but calm smooth tannins and a superb finish. 

Volnay Clos de la Bousse d'Or 1er Cru - White lilac floral nose.  Feminine but by no means light or lacking in any way.  Beautiful elegance but time is necessary.

Volnay Clos des 60 Ouvrees 1er Cru - Much deeper nose than the Bousse.  Deeper everything.  This is a stunner. Dark fruit and a bit more tannin but very much in balance.  Needs time but a must have.

Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru - Big and ripe but opened up with some air.  Dark fruit, controlled tannins and balanced acidity.  It has a long, powerful finish but really needs at least ten years of cellaring.

Chambolle Musigny - Normally I don't spend a lot of time on village level wines.  However, this one forced my hand.  It is the best village red I can remember tasting.  It is just so amazing for a village level wine that everyone needs to find some.  I enjoyed the Vogue and Mugnier village Chambolles but this one wipes the floor with them!

Chambolle Musigny Feusselots 1er Cru - We had this immediately following the above village Chambolle which is a shame.  It is lovely in every way, but my guess is I would have thought more highly of it had we had it on its own.  So either it is really good or the village Chambolle above is just that great of a village wine.

Puligny Montrachet Caillerets 1er Cru (From Magnum) - White floral and citrus nose.  It has a great, full but elegant pallet.  It was a bit tight on the finish but given the vintage as well as the fact that the mag had been open for four days I am not in the least bit surprised at its restraint.  That said, it is a fabulous wine.

The Gros family's wines are strangers to no one.  While Anne Gros seems to have the most demand, her wines from AF Gros have been getting big scores and with good reason.  They have really performed from top to bottom with their 2010s (admittedly many have) and they are worth a look for any serious collector/drinker.

Vosne Romanee Clos de la Fontaine Monopole - This is a very complex yet fine wine.  It is already balanced and elegant.  The vines in this vineyard are relatively young and it shows but I don't want to take anything away from it.  It will probably be one of the earlier drinking wines.

Vosne Romanee Maizieres - Really good wine.  It is complex and expressive and while the nose is a bit tight the pallet is full of everything 2010 has to offer.

Pommard Les Pezerolles - This is vineyard is terre blanche in Pommard.  It has beautiful silky tannins, integration and balace.  Very much my style Pommard without the hard iron profiles you get from the terre rouge sites in Pommard.  Excellent. 

Pommard Epeneaux - Much of the same notes as above but this one clearly needs more time.

Echezeaux - Like Clos de Vougeot, the Echezeaux vineyard in 2010 seems to be outstanding among all the producers I have had.  There is depth and complexity with many layers to dig in to.  The tannins are fine but rich fruits and beautiful acidity.  Must buy.

Richebourg - The first sniff got a "Whoa!" out of  my mouth.  This has everything: fruit, tannin, acidity, and balance layer after layer. It is not as huge as some Richebourgs but who cares.  This is a truely amazing wine!

Henri Boillot has long been making exceptional wines.  His 2010s are no exception.  It would be hard to nitpick over points on these as they are all really great but here are the highlights:

Meursault Genevrieres - This is a must have wine.  In fact, as successful as 2010 is for white Burgs, the Genevrieres vineyard really seemed to be one worth watching/owning in this vintages.  Absolutely superb!

Puligny Montrachet Clos de Mouchere 1er Cru Monopole - I have always loved this wine and this one will definately go in the cellar.  It was a bit more tight and less forward than the others on the nose but absolutely explodes on the pallet.  Additionally, it always represents good value.

Volnay Fermier 1 er Cru - It has an extremely floral and forward nose and is a big buggar!  Its round and a bit tannic at this stage and is a beast of a Volnay.  The location is very close to Pommard and it shows as it is borderline hard.  I found the nose a pallet to be complete opposites and this wine will need loads of time to come around.

Volnay Chevrets 1er Cru - This also had a beautiful floral nose but was a bit chalkier.  Much more silky, spicy and feminine compared to the Fermier.  I loved this wine and would certainly be a buyer as it can be enjoyed relatively early as well as has the parts to age extremely well.

Clos de Vougeots Marputuis - In general, I've been amazed by Clos de Vougeots in 2010.  This was no exception.  It is big, complex, rich and extremely charateristic and expressive.  I tend to avoid CDVs but will not be doing so in 2010.  Especially this one.

Chambertin - Wow!  I really cannot verbalize just how great this wine is.  Just incredible in every way, shape and form.  Just buy it (if you can find it).