Not Spectacle, oaktacle.....

2004 Spectacle Vins, Espectacle, Montsant;

Ruby, some herbs, spices, mushrooms, then violets on the nose. Quite elegant attack, then a monster of oak, it coats the mouth in oak, and you won't get rid of it. 75

05 Clos Erasmus

2005 Clos Erasmus, Priorat;

Ruby, complex nose of coffee, dark berries, stone fruits, some alcohol, touch of LBV on the nose. Medium body, quite good acidity, ripe tannins, good fruit intensity, cherries, oak, again sweetness and some alcohol showing, not a balanced finish, not quite together. 86

69 Yquem

1969 Château d'Yquem;

Very top shoulder fill. Golden with amber hue, overripe strawberries, apricots, caramel, some cigar or sweet tobacco, floral notes in the back. Fresh acidity, some sweetness left, light body, quite elegant and nice balance, lacks some complexity and length. 87

1996 Yquem

1996 Château d'Yquem;

Golden, very closed, some botrytis, honey and quite heavy nose. Fatty texture, fresh acidity, marmalade and marzipan, this was much more closed than the more recent one. 92 Potential is higher)

05 Lafon Meursault

2005 Comte Lafon, Meursault;

Lemon yellow, lime, citrus, oak, butter, vanilla, minerals, apples, intense nose. Fresh acidity, fatty texture, balanced and refreshing finish, long length. 89

99 Batailley

1999 Château Batailley;

Ruby, garnet rim. Plums, ripe cherries, some prunes, hint of leather, not quite as evolved as the last bottle, and needed more air, but this wine is starting to drink perfectly now. Good acidity, ripe tannins, quite elegant, good balance, some anise in the finish, good length. 87

07 Clos des Papes

2007 Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf du Pape;

Deep ruby, pink rim, sweet morellos, coffee, chocolate, alcohol and anise. First almost spritzy, , that goes away, some herbal notes and alcohol (15%) that is very obvious on the palate, unbalanced and nums the tongue. 75

01 Lafaurie-Peyraguey

2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey;

Golden, some botrytis, apples, citrus, apricots, pineapples, fruit driven and elegant style. Fresh acidity, very refreshing and elegant texture, superb and long finish. Needs time, but a joy already. 90 (served blind)

96 Yquem

1996 Château d'Yquem;

(demi) Golden, botrytis, vanilla, orange marmalade, marzipan, pineapples, apricots, heavy, deep and complex. Fresh acidity, nice texture, kind of fat, slightly bitter touch mid palate, a mouthful, long length, superb. Still a baby. 93 (Served blind)

02 Monfortino

2002 Ciacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino;

Ruby with brick rim, tar, sweetish, radiator dust, warm car brakes, slightly cooked fruit, eucalyptus, mint. Fresh acidity, high of ripe tannins, good length. Points for texture rather than flavors. 88 (served blind)

07 Hermitage Sizeranne

2007 Chapoutier Hermitage Sizeranne;

Almost opaque, red berries, sweet, alcohol, spices, herbs and vegetal notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and hopeless to drink, not refreshing. 07 Rhône just feels more and more over done. 85 (Served blind)

2005 Guigal La Landonne

2005 Guigal Côte-Rotie La Landonne;

Deep ruby, almost opaque with pink rim. All kinds of things going on, dentist's office, anise, spices, pepper, sweet and dark fruits and some alcohol. Fresh acidity, layered and multi dimensional, much more easy to read than a Bordeaux, but also heavier with the sweetness and alcohol, beautiful fruit, very long finish. 92, another waste now, will get much better.

05 Mercier

2005 Château Mercier;

Ruby, ruby rim, dark berries, floral, perfumed, and alcoholic touch. Fresh acidity, ripe and high tannins, slightly watery finish. 85

04 VCC

2004 Château Vieux Château Certan;

Ruby, garnet rim. Dark berries and chocolate, enormously closed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner body, good freshness throughout, good length. This one did not show much of it's potential, and never had the chance to open. 93 for now. (Served Blind)

04 Pontet-Canet

2004 Château Pontet-Canet;

Ruby, garnet rim. Chocolate, mocha, perfumed, some alcohol notes. Good freshness, ripe tannins, good balance and length. Yet again, it seems the 04's at this stage are some of the most shut down of the Bordeaux vintages at the moment, this one never opened fully. 89 for now. (Served Blind)

04 Château Mouton Rothschild, forget it for ten years!

2004 Château Mouton Rothschild;

Ruby, tiny garnet rim. Leather, cassis, violets, chocolate, some floral notes, complex, cigars, perfumed, pencil hint. Elegant texture, some vanilla, fresh acidity and ripe tannins, beautiful mouth-feel, long finish. Forget it for ten or many more years. Needed a lot of time, and never really opened fully, still I nailed it blind. 91 for now.

Leroy falling apart....

2004 Leroy Vosne-Romanée;

Cloudy brick colour. It has never been that clear, but the nose have been fresh and vibrant, with huge amounts of fruit, now (I tasted it starting already last year) and with this bottle, a surprising decay has started very early. Almost a nature wine now, with some strange fruit in the back, and an unbalanced acidity in front. I'm not even rating it.

Disappointing Bienvenues

2006 Ramonet Bienvenues Batard Ramonet;

Light golden, closed for business on the nose, fresh acidity, some minerals, elegant texture, nothing much happening, never had the time to open unfortunately. But it showed a very long length, so hopefully one day.... For now, 87

05 Lequin Colin CM les Verges

2005 Lequin Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Verges;

Pale golden, again this sweetish notes (that seems to be the hallmark of this house), some minerals, soap and artificial notes. (This was written before I knew the exact wine). Good acidity, simple, some butter and popcorn, short. 85

Lequin Colin Bourgogne Blanc, awful!

2009 Lequin Colin Bourgogne Blanc;

Again served blind, and again, I would not even be on Chardonnay if I did not know it was supposed to be white Burgundy. It was sweet, simple, floral and tropical, short. Like some cheap Italian grown in to warm climate something...... 73

02 Boillot Meursault

2002 Henri Boillot, Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres;

Golden, fatty, butter, nuts, smoky, minerals and popcorn. Fresh acidity, minerals, kind of hollow mid palate, simple finish. 84

This wine was served blind, and even if I knew it would only be white Burgundy, this reminded me more of Sonoma.

96 Lanson Gold Label

1996 Lanson Gold Label;

Pale golden, tiny bubbles, minerals, intense, apples and citrus, vanilla. Beautiful acidity, pure, intense, nuts, brioch, flint, pure, lime and ripe lemons, very long finish. 92

Only a small Dame....

1998 Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame;

Pale golden, tiny bubbles, not very intense, some apples and minerals, fresh acidity, lemons, apples, short and acidic finish, other than that quite balanced. 83

Served blind, I was quite surprised, but, I have never been very impressed with the 98 vintage on the whole, and especially 98 La Grande Dame before......

1996 Salon

1996 Salon;

Pale golden, tiny bubbles, minerals, elegant, citrus, apples, refined, layered, quite intense, fantastic elegance in the mousse, perfect balance, superb acidity, incredibly refined texture, mouthwatering, citrus and mineraly finish, gorgeous length, lasts for minutes. 95