Two older Rheingaus, fantastic!

1979 Langräflich Hessischers Weingut Johannisberg, Johannisberger Klaus, Riesling Spätlese;
(Today Prinz von Hessen) Golden yellow, lemon, very muh petroleum, overripe yellow plums, apricots, marmalade, hints og fresh green apples and raspberries. Medium body and fruit, not too high acidity for a riesling, but cleans well, and very balanced with the fruit, very elegant and complex, long length. 92

1982 Balthasar Ress, Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland, Riesling Spätlese;
Golden colour, mature, yellow apples, apricots, petroleum, minerals and flint underneath. Great balance, very elegant acidity, fresh fruitiness, orange and apricots, lovelly. Maybe Kabinett level sweetness. 90

Peter Nicolay's from Moel

2004 Peter Nicolay, Ürziger Goldwingert, Riesling Spätlese;
Pale lemon yellow, some spicy notes, like applecake and cinamon, fresh apples, great minerality. Fresh acidity, lovelly balance, complex and long length. Keep3-4 years, will last long. 90

2006 Peter Nicolay, Bernkasteler Badstube, Riesling Beerenauslese;
(demi)Pale golden, complex, apples, qiute intence, minerals, pineapple, botrytis and peach. Very elegant, fresh acidity, very long and very elegant finish. 93

2007 Peter Nicolay, Bernkasteler Johannisbrünchen Riesling Eiswein;
(demi)Pale lemon yellow, lovelly, such fresh fruitiness, apricots, pineapples, minerals, lime and apples. Very complex, fresh acidity, perfect balance, great length. Needs cellaring. 94

1990 Peter Nicolay, Ürziger Goldwingert, Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese;
Golden colour, extremelly complex, apples, cinamon and spices, white pepper, pineapples, peach, very intence. Great acidity, lots of fruit, fresh and livelly, exceptional length. 94

As the rest of the dinner guests thougth the wines was too sweet to have more than a small glass, I had more than half the bottle (0,75) of the 90 TBA for myself. It's not the worst thing that can happen. Cheers to Stefan Pauly for his generosity!

07 Johannisberg BA and TBA

2007 Schoss Johannisberg, Rosagelblack Riesling Beerenauslese;
Pale lemon yellow, Fantastic botrytis, pineapple, plums, tropical, honney. Fantastic balance and intencity, strawberries, raspberrie, exceptional complexity, even better aftertaste, lasts for ages. Save at least ten years if you manage. 96

2007 Schloss Johannisberg, Goldlack Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese;
Golden yellow, a bit closed, lime, lemon, botrytis, honey, pears, pineapples, almost fresh vanilla, intence and truly complex. Fantastic balance, very long finish. Keep 30-40 years, will probably last much longer. 97

Johannisberg BA and Eiswein

2008 Schloss Johannisberg Rosagoldlack Riesling Beereauslese;
Pale lemon yellow, intence botrytis, some spicy notes, almost of white pepper, tropical, kiwi, honney, melon. Fantastic acidity and balance, cleans perfectly, very complex, extremelly long finish. Wait 20 years. 95

2008 Schloss Johannisberg Blaulack Riesling Eiswein;
-17,8 degrees during harvest. Pale golden, fantastic minerality, exceptional complexity, apples, spices, pineapple, cinamon, some roses and raspberries. Perfect balance, acidity cleans perfectly, tiny hint of botrytis, exceptional length. I like the Eisweins young and fresh, but this I think will last a long time and needs a few years. 96

Two 98's

1998 Palacio L'Ermita;
Dep ruby, ruby rim. Young and very fruit driven, plums, dark berries, spices, some oak and vanilla, a bit one dimentional for it's status. Ok acidity, mature tannins, some chocolate, short finish. 84

1998 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste;
Ruby with garnet rim, typical Pauillac, maybe a bit lighter style, blackcurrants, cigars, paprika, hints of vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, good balance, good complexity and finish. 91

Mosel and Napa

2007 Fritz Haag, Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr, Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel;
Pale straw yellow, hints of apples and lime, citrus, apricots, and minerals, a bit steely. Great sweetness, acidity could be a bit fresher, but the elegance is absolutely fantastic. 91

1994 Caymus Special Selection, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon;
Deep ruby, garnet rim. Lots of coffee, mocca, cassis and mature sweetish fruit. Really opened up after 30 minutes, sweetness dissapeared, truly elegant, ripe tannins, fresh acidity, very long finish. Wait another 5-10 years, will last long. 94

59 Sauternes

1959 Chateau d'Arche Pugneau;
Golden, hints of honney, apricots, pear, peach, very mineral. Quite dry, feels like only 8-10 grams rs at this stage. Very complex, lean body, quite intence, elegant and great finish. 93

Grand Mersault

1993 Domaine Leroy, Meursault Perrieres;
Lemon yellow, seashells, minerals, crayfish, oysters, some fireplace and smoke. A bit fat, fresh acidity, butter, hints of nuts, complex, and good intencity, but a bit hollow and short finish. 86

1999 Domaine Leroy, Meursault Perrieres;
Lemon yellow, very youthfull and crisp, hints of apricots, mountain of minerals, again seafood and seashells. Elegant acidity, great balane, a bit fat andthe acidity cleans delicately, butter and nuts. 94

Leroy Puligny and Chassagne

2007 Domaine Leroy, Chassagne Montrachet Les Chenevottes;
Pale golden, some vanilla, light of apricots, ripe yellow apples and plums. Fresh acidity, some oak that seems to make a perfect frame around the fresh minerality, fresh acidity, citrus and ripe lemons, the yellow fruits dissapear with air, very elegant, lasts long. 92

2007 Domaine Leroy, Puligny Montrachet Les Charmes;
Lemon yellow, mcuh more closed,some lime and citrus, vanilla and unripe apples. Fresh acidity, tight, seems very elegant, and so many hints of flavours, so quite complex undernath, needs time. Long and fresh finish. 92

Two Lucien Le Moine whites

2006 Lucien Le Moine, Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru Morgeot;
Straw yellow, intence minerality, fireplace, smoke, wet ash, some apples behind. Lovely acidity, crisp, great balance, more apples and citrus with air, yellow plums, pears, white redcurrants (does this berry have it's own name in English?) gooseberries. Fresh, intence and very mineral, lasts for minutes. 93

2006 Lucien Le Moine Corton Blanc;
Straw yellow, fesh, very clean and mineral, hints of nuts and butter, yelow plums and apples. Very elegant, quite closed at the moment, fresh acidity, very long finish. Keep it 4-5 years before trying. 91

04 Domaine Leroy's

2004 Domaine Leroy, Nuits St. Georges;
7857 bottles made. Bright ruby with pink rim. Intence and youthfull, lots of strawberries, some fresh earth, floral notes, hint of anis and spices. Very expresive, you could write a book on the aromas of wines like this. Perfect balance, perfect acidity, cleansing, extremelly fresh, great complexity, lean body and such intencity and elegance, aftertaste for minutes. 96

2004 Domane Leroy, Gevrey Chambertin;
5440 bottles made. Ruby red, pink rim. More floral, as freshly cut roses on a misty fresh morning, some earty notes, some spices, tiny hint of black tea, strawberries underneath, exceptional complexity. Super elegant, again this amazing combination of a lean body and an explotion of intencity, fresh acidity, you just do not notice the tannins, aftertaste for ten minutes. You get lost for words. 98

During this vintage, Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy lost her husband. As she felt she was not able to give the wines the attention they need, she decided to declassify the whole vintage to commune level. So the wine from the Richebourg and Romanée St. Vivant vineyards for example, is in this 04 Vosne Romanée. These 04's must be the greatest commune wines ever produced in the history of Burgundy. For me personally, they also show a complexity and structure that is rare indeed. I have been lucky to also taste the Vosne Romanée on a few ocations, and it is also minblowing. There is also Chambolle Musigny out there. If you come across one of these very rare bottles and feel you can afford it, It's a must to try. I do not think wines like the 04's here will ever be made again.

Quintarelli

2006 Lis Neris Picol, Venezia Giulia IGT Savignon Blanc;
Pale lemon yelow, some smoke and minerals, quite complex, hints of yellow fruits and gooseberries. Quite intence, fresh acidity, elegant, long finish. 84

1999 Quintarelli Valplicella Classico Superiore;
Deep ruby, thin garnet rim. Leather, coffee, cigars, cherries, liquorice and mocca, complex and beautifull. Medium body, great intencity, fresh acidity, a few ripe tannins, great balance, fruit stones, very refreshing and long finish. 92

Napa Amarone

2006 Caymus Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon;
Deep ruby with purple rim, intence of coffee, liquorice, chocolate and fresh jam. Massive mouthfeel, ok acidity, ripe tannins, extreme fruitiness, sweet fruits and jam, alcohol is burning (15,5%), very warm finish, unbalanced. 80

I really hope this is not a new direction of this favorite of mine from Napa.

A dinner to remember

1993 Gerhard Schueller Riesling Pfersigberg Grand Cru;
Pale golden, petroleum, apples, pear, apricots, quite ripe fruits, very elegant, perfectly balanced acidity, long finish. Drinks well now, and will last quite a bit longer. 89

1996 Coche-Dury, Corton Charlemagne;
Lemon yellow, lovelly, a bit fat minerality, apples, chalk, unbelievable complexity and very subtle, still quite intence, layered. Fantastic balance, perfect harmony, light, transparent, fat and intence at the same time, amazing acidity, exceptional long finish. Truly amazing. 97

1983 Chateau Margaux;
Deep ruby with thin brick rim. Some floral notes and violets over paprika, cigars, cherries and some less acidic red fruits. Not as developed as most 83's, some leather and liquorice. Fantastic balance, elegant acidity, some vanilla and oak notes still, increadible finish. Fantastic now in it's state between young fruit and more developed aromas, will last another 20 years, probably more. 97

1989 Chateau La Tour Blanche;
Golden with amber hue. Honney, apricots, some apples, orange peal, tropic fruits and citrus, some vanilla, pure youth and increadibly fresh. Very elegant, fresh acidity, perfect balance, exceptional length, will last 20 years or more. Fantastic. 97

Le Pin

1994 Chateau Le Pin;
Deep ruby, very thin garnet rim. Very intence and complex, truffles, mushrooms, forest floor, paprika, leather, minerals, hint of cigars, great balance, fresh acidity, great texture, ripe tannins, the texture makes them hard to notice somehow, starting to evolve, perfect now and in the next 10 years. Very elegant, and at least in this vintage, nothing like a Parker monster as one could expect, a bit short finish if I'm picky. 93

Fresh Bdx 03 and too young riesling

2003 Chateau Haut Bailly;
Deep ruby, ruby rim. A bit closed, some mint and dark berries, great structure, fresh acidity actually, ripe tannins and lots of them. More cigars, blackberries, cassis and leather with air, long finish. 90

1996 Trimbach Riesling Clos St. Hune;
(Demi) Pale golden, honney, apricots, hints of petroleum, pear, slight minerality and lemon. Massive acidity, this is one of the wines where you start to wonder if it's actually too much acidity for the fruit, it's massive in it's freshness, and still very young. Keep ten years. 90

Two Suduiraut's

2002 Chateau Suduiraut;
Pale golden, quite closed, some apricots, honney and melon, very elegant, pears, a bit fat body for Suduiraut, very fresh acidity and fresh fruitiness, perfect ballance, needs time in the cellar, long finish. 92

1998 Chateau Suduiraut;
Golden yellow, honney, botrytis, pear, pineapple, apricots, yelow plums and peach, great acidity, very elegant and pure, great balane, starting to open. Gve this another five years also. 93

Two Bdx 06

2006 Chateau Camensac;
Ruby, purple rim, some roses, slightly peppery, minerals, blackcurrants. Quite floral Bordeaux. Fresh acidity, lots of ripe tannins, great structure, a bit short finish. 86

2006 Chateau Chasse Spleen;
Ruby with thin pink rim. Paprika, some leather, liquorice, red berries, elegant acidity, lots of ripe tannins, good ballance and length. 87

Two Pichon Baron's

2004 Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron;
Deep ruby, garnet rim. Quite closed, vanill, chocoloate, blackcurrants, blackberries, leather, good acidity, ripe tannins, needs time in the cellar. Keep 5-6 years before you try, will last longer. 92

2001 Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron;
Ruby with garnet rim. Hay, blackcurrants, vanilla, some cigars and coffee behind, very young, medium acidity, lots of ripe tannins, needs 7-8 years, will last much longer. 92

07 and 04 Chateau Margaux, tasted at the Chateau

2007 Chateau Margaux;
(Barrel Sample) Ruby, thin purple rim, hints of cloudberries, coffee, blackcurrants, hints of vanilla, very elegant, dark berries, mocca, medium acidiy, ripe tannins, and quite a lot of them, mouthfeel like velvet, great balance, very long finish. Keep 15 years

2004 Chateau Margaux;
Ruby with thin pink rim. Some coffee and mocca, dark berries, cloudberries, blackcurrants, some floral notes comming through, great and fresh acidity, focused flavours, beautiful balance, complex and truly elegant, very long finish, last for minutes. 94

Thanks to Gunvor for a fantastic visit at Chateau Margaux.

My twin Domaine de Chevalier

1979 Domaine de Chevalier;
Bright ruby, brick rim. Some pine notes, pine bark, liquorice, coal, earthy, some prunes and cherries. Good acidity, very elegant mouthfeel, complex, greatbalance, very long finish. 89

Opened at Domaine de Chevalier. I saw the pricelist of the older wines in the cellar of the estate, but it stopped at 1980. Just around the corner there was quite a few 1979's laying, my vintage. So I asked, if they had a bottle for sale. They did. The bottle was found, the dust cleaned of, and then Remi decided we should taste it right there and then instead, what a treat!

It is very special to drink your birthyear wine. To taste it at the wines birthplace is even more special, the bottle has never travelled, never left. It has been waiting for you, in this cas for 29 years, laying there with it's familly of other 79's around it, so that I and my fellow visitors would have the pleasure. Thanks!

Decanter has stated that of several things you need to do if you are a true wine afficionado, one is to drink a bottle from your birthyear. I would strech it further. Drink it at the estate it's from. Most producers do not have this available of course, I'm not shure how usual it is at Domaine de Chevalier either, but much apreciated. But if you find a bottle on your trip, take it with you to taste at a visit, and if you do not have an appointment, drink it in the estates vineyards. It is as unforgettable!

Thanks again for another fantastic visit at Domaine de Chevalier, always one of the best places to visit in Bordeaux, and always fantastic and durable wines.

My twin Palmer

1979 Chateau Palmer;
Ruby with garnet rim. Mature nose, morellos, cassis, hints of steel, some prunes, liquorice touch, cigars. Fresh acidity, mature tannins, great balance, long finish. Drink now. 88

70 Pomerol

1970 Chateau Gazin;
Bright ruby, thin garnet rim. Some dark berries, mushrooms, truffles, mocca, vanilla sugar, coffee, fresh acidity, very mature tannins, kind of transparent more than lean, bout not to big eiher, very elegant, great finish. Drink now, will last, but probably not get better. 90

Visit at Domaine de Chevalier

2007 Domaine de Chevalier;
(Barrel Sample) Deep ruby, towards purple, lots of blackcurrants, some oak, cheese, blackberries, red plums, morellos, hints of chocolate. Good acidity, ripe tannins, elegant, maybe a bit hollow in the aftertaste at this stage. Keep 10 years

2005 Domaine de Chevalier;
Ruby with red rim, closed, served directly from the cellar, a bit cold, some vanilla, chocolate, dark berries and fruits. Very elegant, medium acidity, ripe tannins, long finish. Keep 10 more years, will last longer. 93

2007 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc;
Pale straw yellow, gooseberries, cats pee, some minerals, very fresh, very complex, some hints of butter and nuts behind, fresh, almost crisp acidity, great balance, just beautifull young white, keep 15 years, will last long.