Started with J. Vignier Aux Origines Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut served from a magnum as the aperitif – a nice way to get the palate going.
2023 Paul Pernot Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Folatieres – Classic and stony with white peach and hazelnut. Still very young and tight, but excellent.
2017 Domaine des Tours Vaucluse Blanc – A bit astringent and unresolved, but genuinely interesting underneath – waxy, herbal, with a wild quality that felt intentional.
2019 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc – One of the finest white wines I have ever had. White flowers, beeswax, smoked stone, almost savoury. Rich with a finish that goes on indefinitely.
1998 Ktima Foundi Estate Naoussa – I must admit that Xinomavro sits in a strange place for me in general. It felt like it had the tannic grip and tar of Nebbiolo alongside some lighter fruit that edges towards Pinot Noir, and the result kept making me wish I was drinking one of those two instead. Well made, but the variety just isn’t for me.
2017 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques Vieilles Vignes – Extremely elegant. Silky tannins, pure red cherry and violet, fine earthy quality underneath. Beautiful, but given the price-point it sits in, it didn’t quite hit me.
2008 Ridge Monte Bello – Californian wine in general is usually not my thing, the ripeness tends to tip into jam territory for me. However, this was something else entirely. Genuine savoury depth, graphite, dark plum with real freshness, and an earthy quality closer to BDX than anything I expected. Definitely recalibrated how I think about California.
1985 Chateau Haut Brion – Perfection in a glass. Pencil shavings, cigar box and gravel, and just at the edge something close to burnt rubber that somehow made the whole thing more compelling. The tannins have fully resolved into something silky, and at 40 years old it still feels so alive. Absolutely WOTN for me.
1989 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg – I had the 2005 La Haut Lieu Moelleux the week before (Served by Sarah Hwang!), so the comparison was fresh. The extra age has done extraordinary things. Much deeper honey and quince, with the acidity still cutting cleanly through. I really do love sweet Chenin Blanc.
3PuttD
Great write up. Love Pernot across the board. Haven’t had anything that disappointed.
zorkieo
Wow what a tasting! Can I ask what they changed for this?
4 Comments
Started with J. Vignier Aux Origines Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut served from a magnum as the aperitif – a nice way to get the palate going.
2023 Paul Pernot Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Folatieres – Classic and stony with white peach and hazelnut. Still very young and tight, but excellent.
2017 Domaine des Tours Vaucluse Blanc – A bit astringent and unresolved, but genuinely interesting underneath – waxy, herbal, with a wild quality that felt intentional.
2019 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc – One of the finest white wines I have ever had. White flowers, beeswax, smoked stone, almost savoury. Rich with a finish that goes on indefinitely.
1998 Ktima Foundi Estate Naoussa – I must admit that Xinomavro sits in a strange place for me in general. It felt like it had the tannic grip and tar of Nebbiolo alongside some lighter fruit that edges towards Pinot Noir, and the result kept making me wish I was drinking one of those two instead. Well made, but the variety just isn’t for me.
2017 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques Vieilles Vignes – Extremely elegant. Silky tannins, pure red cherry and violet, fine earthy quality underneath. Beautiful, but given the price-point it sits in, it didn’t quite hit me.
2008 Ridge Monte Bello – Californian wine in general is usually not my thing, the ripeness tends to tip into jam territory for me. However, this was something else entirely. Genuine savoury depth, graphite, dark plum with real freshness, and an earthy quality closer to BDX than anything I expected. Definitely recalibrated how I think about California.
1985 Chateau Haut Brion – Perfection in a glass. Pencil shavings, cigar box and gravel, and just at the edge something close to burnt rubber that somehow made the whole thing more compelling. The tannins have fully resolved into something silky, and at 40 years old it still feels so alive. Absolutely WOTN for me.
1989 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg – I had the 2005 La Haut Lieu Moelleux the week before (Served by Sarah Hwang!), so the comparison was fresh. The extra age has done extraordinary things. Much deeper honey and quince, with the acidity still cutting cleanly through. I really do love sweet Chenin Blanc.
Great write up. Love Pernot across the board. Haven’t had anything that disappointed.
Wow what a tasting! Can I ask what they changed for this?
I need to find a better wine shop