Tasting Notes

Domaine de Montille Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011
9.0 stars
23 May 2020

Served double blind. I didn’t quite like the bouquet as it started off very artificial with some kind of fake plastic and chemical nose, at later stage, the artificial smell went off and replaced with some bruised apple. Content was too lean to my liking, however, it grew up at later stage to be more rich and mellow. The first impression wasn’t to my liking already, so the journey wasn’t a fruitful one. One has to realize that Corton Charlemagne requires very long aging to show it’s full potential, thus it’s quite unfair to have a 60ml tasting portion to judge a Corton Charlemagne. One has to drink at least half a bottle and watch the evolution of the wine to give proper judgement.

Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2011
9.5 stars
23 May 2020

This wine was served double blind alongside with Roulot Meursault Clos des Boucheres 2011 and I chose Roulot’s wine to be my top preference while this could only be a runner up. I enjoyed the slightly perfumed lemon peel bouquet. Obviously a lively content, the signature of the slightly rich and oily Chevalier Montrachet style didn’t catch my attention to nail it as Chevalier, as it’s quite difficult to identify a Chevalier Montrachet with a mere 60ml pour. However, the content was also too chunky for me to classify it as Grand Cru, although the oak profile was quite prominent. Later I learned that they use 20% new oak while the rest were all used oak in the wine.

Roulot Meursault Clos des Boucheres 1er Cru Monopole 2011
9.5 stars
23 May 2020

I must confess I have never been a big fan of Roulot, especially coming from a lesser known Premier Cru vineyard in Meursault. However, being served double blind I have no label knowledge, and a fair judgement given. Bouquet was attractive with addictive perfume and a summer floral blossom, although it also came with fresh floral and lemon peel. Body was lively, lively and lively, also very rich, oily and fatty, a very unique style I must confess, it’s hard not to enjoy this wine.

Leroy Bourgogne Aligote 2015
9.0 stars
23 May 2020

First time I’ve ever had an Aligote produced by Mdm Bize Leroy, quite a unique experience. Bouquet was slightly smoky, almost like a Puligny Montrachet Clos de la Mouchere, and very faint minty nose. The palate was initially sharp and attacking, but only during the first two sips, it quickly mellowed down and turned out to be rounded, with a lack of acidity and relatively feminine. It wasn’t as impressive as I would expect, definitely not at Ramonet or Ponsot’s Clos de Mont Luisant level.

Chateau La Dominique St Emilion 1998
9.0 stars
16 May 2020

Along with Gazin 1998 and Malartic Lagravier 1998, the three bottles were served completely blind in a virtual tasting. I have reported my disappointment with Gazin 1998, while Malartic Lagravier 1998 was just an average wine with a lot of volatile acidity. La Dominique was obviously wine of the flight; pleasant and elegant smoke with small amount of ripe fruits on the bouquet. The body was an obvious right bank style, with very rounded and easy and friendly approach. I’d say it didn’t strike me as a 1998 at all. The style of La Dominique hardly changed, it was always the lighter styled wines regardless of the vintage. Nevertheless it’s good value and easy drinking.

Chateau Gazin Pomerol 1998
8.5 stars
16 May 2020

Served blind. Nose was very Cabernet Sauvignon dominated. Body was extremely weak with loads of greenness, and there was an unpleasant woodiness found in the body. I swear by it that it has to be a left bank Bordeaux wine based upon these above mentioned characters, and from a weak vintage like 2013. Obviously I was very upset to learn that this was a Pomerol right bank wine coming from an extremely good vintage! I stood by my drinking analysis, I guess Gazin must have used some poor Cabernet Franc grapes producing those green and unripe character, rather than using ripe Merlot to make the wine. Obviously I disliked this wine very much as I really respected 1998 as a great Pomerol vintage!

Chateau Cos d Estournel Blanc St Estephe 2014
9.0 stars
16 May 2020

Served blind. Bouquet was a very unique style with strong perfume, hint of vanilla and almost warm weather grape like Vognier from Southern France. The body was slightly waxy and youthful. I just jumped to conclusion this was probably Southern Rhone wine based upon the warm grape nose plus the waxy body. Obviously I was totally wrong! I didn’t really enjoy such a weird tasting Bordeaux blanc that quickly fell off from my liking nowadays, much prefer white burgundies.

Chateau Palmer Blanc 2016
9.0 stars
16 May 2020

Served blind. Chateau Palmer’s blanc was a very different blend from most Bordeaux wines, consisting of Muscadet, Lozet and Sauvignon Gris. Truly a unique blend. The bouquet threw me to the Sauvignon Blanc territory with the typical grassy character. However, that disappeared completely thereafter and turned smoky and buttery, in fact with a bit of sakura and cherry thereafter. Body was a complte contrast to Sauvignon Blanc, tasted more like Chardonnay, in fact a new world style to me, body was too lean to be Chardonnay, and lacked fruits. I was really wondering around the world what’s this wine, and I gave up as the profile was too challenging. Was obviously shocked to learn that it came from my familiar territory of Bordeaux!