Lobsters & Leflaive III, September 12, 2012

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.