2014 Intronisation to the Hospitalier de Pomerol at Château Gazin

It was and is a great honour and pleasure to be invited into the Hospitaliers de Pomerol. I was invited by Château Gazin who also hosted the event and I was fortunate enough to stay at Gazin for the weekend, a great pleasure. I arrived late Friday night and Ines de Bailliencourt welcomed me with a lovely light evening meal and a very welcoming glass of 1999 Château Gazin after the flight down from Oslo. On Saturday I took a small trip to Saint-Emilion to have a look in some wine shops before lunch at Gazin with duck, wild asparagus and no less than 2006, 2005 and again 1999 Gazin for lunch. Excellent! I took the bottle of 2005 and a glass with me into the vineyards after lunch, as there is always a special feeling to drink the wine in the vineyard where it was made, this one nine years earlier.

In the afternoon temperatures reached 34 degrees C and Ines and I jumped in the pool (no pictures) to cool down before the festivitas begun. The rest of the Bailliencourt family arrived as well before the ceremony at the church of Pomerol. We arrived back at Gazin for the ceremony and dinner. A black suit and Norwegian blood is not the best combination at these temperatures and a cloak on top it's fair to say it was hot. But with the diploma and a glass of chilled Champagne in hand the ventilation system started working. Below the wines during dinner.

2009 Château Moulinet
Ruby. Scented, dark berries and fairly nuanced nose, floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, elegant and detailed, bit edgy finish. 88

2009 Château Feytit-Clinet
Deep ruby, ruby rim. Vanilla, wood, spices, coffee and some dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, woody, slightly dry, richer behind, trying to hard. 87

2009 Château Lafleur Saint-Jean
Deep ruby. Intense, chocolate, plums, dark berries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, bit woody in the back, but seems to handle it, long. 90

2009 Château La Fleur-Petrus
Ruby. Scented, layered, little bit woody up front, behind layeres of dark fruits, rich and intense yet nuanced nose, floral notes and fine tobacco. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rich and refreshing, bit woody still but fruit to handle, rich but never warm, it's showing more details than before, long. 94

2006 Château Haut-Ferrand
Ruby. Leaner nose, starting figs, some plums, easier nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, bit leaner, slightly dry finish. 87

2006 Château Le Bon Pasteur
Ruby. Spicy, vanilla, dark fruits, slight coffee note on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, bit woody and spicy, pure fruit behind it, red berries, bit drying to be picky. 89

2006 Château Certan de May
Ruby. Bit closed nose at first, light spicy note, floral, dark berries, scented, not the most up front right now. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, elegant, delicate, fruity, nuanced, lovely texture, refined and long. 92

2006 Château La Conseillante
Deep ruby. Dark berries, detailed, nuanced, intense, layered and complex nose. Scented, floral notes in the back. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively and refreshing, mouthwatering, maybe not refined just yet but getting there, very long. Superb '06. 95

2005 Château Mazeyres
Ruby. Scented, red and darker berries, fairly detailed, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, fresh and fruity, palate lacks a bit of the flirting nose, easy to drink. 88

2005 Clos René
Ruby. Scented, red and darker berries, fairly nuanced nose, quite lovely. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, softer texture and structure, detailed, elegant if a bit lean, good length. 89

2005 Château Clinet
Ruby. Lovely nose, layered, complex, detailed, a little richer, nuanced, darker fruits and tobacco. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and lively, detailed, elegant and ever so slightly warm far back to be picky, long. 93

2005 Vieux Château Certan
Ruby. Layered, complex, more depth, dark fruits, tobacco, exotic, detailed and nuanced, scented, superb nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and refined, still very youthful, almost verging on raw even after half an hour in the glass, very long. This is for the long haul. 96

2000 Château Grange Neuve
Corked.

2000 Château Moulinet-Lassarre
Ruby, thin garnet rim. Figs, plums, mature and easy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean and easy going but fresh. 85

2000 Château Bellegrave
Ruby. Scented, easy going nose, quite elegant, dark berries and tobacco. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, soft and rounded texture, elegant but a bit short. 86

2000 Château Beauregard
Ruby. Spicy, plums, blueberries and tobacco, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, elegant and refreshing, long. 92

2000 Clos du Clocher
Deep ruby. Spicy dark fruits, woody, increasingly woody with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, fresher and fuller palate, bit tannic, long. Not quite sure how this will develop. 91

2000 Château du Domaine de L'Eglise
Ruby. Scented, dark berries, light exotic note nose. Fresh acidity, softer tannins and structure, bit drying, good length. 88

2000 Château La Cabanne
Ruby, garnet rim. Very scented, tobacco, leather, bit ripe and slight alcohol note on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, tobacco and dark chocolate, druing a bit. 87

1999 Château Gazin
Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, tobacco, slight figs and more blueberries, just a little bit fresher than last bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, nuanced, exotic, plums and blueberries, fruity, elegant if slightly rustic, bit tannic finish. Long. 92

3 from Pinson

2011 Pinson Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, citrus and floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, lively, leaner and focused palate, focused and fresh, long finish, give it plenty of air. 90

2010 Pinson Chablis 1er Cru Montmains
Pale lemon yellow. Minerals, flint, apples, citrus, detailed and elegant nose. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh and fruity, nuanced and rounded, richer fruit, starting to open, long. 91

2011 Pinson Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, flint, tight and detailed nose, layered with a sprinkle of lemon on top. Fresh acidity, fresh and nuanced palate, citrus, detailed and layered, long. 93

3 from Bürklin-Wolf

2012 Bürklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling trocken
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals and citrus nose, fairly intense, pure feel to it. Fresh acidity, fresh and lively palate, elegant, detailed, minerals, fresh finish. 89

2011 Bürklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Böhling Riesling
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, citrus, some floral notes, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, lively, nuanced, citrus, minerals, fairly elegant, fresh and crisp, long. 90

2009 Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Pechstein
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, some grapefruit, fresh and youthful nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples palate, more subdued minerals, slight lemons and grapefruit note, very apply finish, long. 93

Two 2012's from Von Winning

2012 Von Winning Riesling Paradiesgarten
Watery lemon yellow. Apples, lemons and a light floral note nose, tight. Fresh acidity, leaner, fresh and fruity palate, fairly elegant. I've had a few of this and all seems tight, bit difficult to see where it's going. 87-90

2012 Von Winning Riesling Kalkhofen
Watery lemon yellow. Apples  and minerals nose, bit more fruit. Fresh acidity, leaner palate again, fruity, tight lemons, needs lots of air to open. 90

3 from Roumier

2012 Roumier Chambolle-Musigny
Ruby. Scented, red berries, elegant and nuanced nose, some darker berries behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, fresh and elegant, fruity, long. 91

2012 Roumier Morey-Saint.Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière
Ruby. Darker berries, floral, scented, spicy and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, textured and detailed, could need a few years to polish maybe, but fine already. Long. 93

2011 Roumier Bonnes Mares
Bright ruby. Tight nose, red berries, floral and minerals, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, lively, delicate, nuanced and elegant, lovely and even if somewhat shut, pretty open for young Bonnes Mares. Very long. 94-95

Four Saint-Vérans from Domaine des Valanges

2013 Domaine des Valanges Saint-Véran
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals and some citrus nose. Fresh acidity, fruity and fresh, lively, good length. 86

2012 Domaine des Valanges Saint-Véran Les Terres Noires
Pale lemon yellow. Fresh apples and minerals nose. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh and fruity, citrusy, good length. 87

2012 Domaine des Valanges Saint-Véran Les Cras
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fresh and almost crisp nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, crisp, fresh and elegant, good length. 88

2012 Domaine des Valanges Sain-Véran Hors Classe
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fresh and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, fresh and lively palate, more rounded texture, good length. 87

04 Kesselstatt OB Kabinett

2004 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett
Bottle shows sign of sepage. Towards lemon yellow. Slight oxidative apples note, minerals, maturing. Fresh acidity, apples and peach palate, bit hollow but probably not optimal bottle. 86

2013 Lapierre Morgon and 04 Karthäuserhof Spätlese

2004 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese
Towards lemon yellow. Lovely fresh green apples and schist minerals nose, ripe Sorento lemons, detailed and focused. Fresh acidity, lively, linear and refreshing. Mouthwatering and way to easy to drink, lovely, long finish. 90

2013 Lapierre Morgon
Bright ruby. Fresh red berries nose, not quite as seductive as former bottles. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, soft and fruity, fresh and lively but not quite as invigorating as some bottles, good length. 85

Small Champy Corton-Charlemagne flight

2005 Champy Corton-Charlemagne
Towards golden. Apples, nuts, fruity, minerals and flinty nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, some nuts, fresh and quite lively, long. 93

2004 Champy Corton-Charlemagne
Towards golden. Nuts, butter, apples, oxidized lemon, minerals nose. FResh acidity, fruity, rounded, fresh and lively, slightly hollow finish. Long. 92

2002 Champy Corton-Charlemagne
Towards golden. Nuts, minerals, citrus, slight oxidized apples and lemons nose. Fresh acidity, fruity and rounded palate, towards creamy texture, if leaner. Lacks some nuances. Long. 91

Champy Beaune and Volnay flight

2010 Champy Beaune 1er Cru Les Champs Pimonts
Ruby. Fruity and red berries, bit easy going nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and red berries palate. 85

2009 Champy Beaune 1er Cru Les Champs Pimonts
Ruby, garnet rim. Fruity, rounded, red berries, starting figs nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and maturing aromas, drink soon. 84

2007 Champy Beaune 1er Cru Les Champs Pimonts
Ruby, garnet rim. Easy going, red berries, mature, some figs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, easy going fruit, drink soon. 83

2009 Champy Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds
Ruby. Fruity, red berries, some figs, easy going nose for the vinayard. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fairly fresh for the vintage, quite elegant, good length. 89

2008 Champy Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds
Ruby. Brighter red berries fruit, cooler feel to it, but barrel notes show better. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fresh and bright, good length. 89

2006 Champy Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds
Ruby, garnet rim. Bit dusty, starting sous bois, figs and red berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity palate somewhat more youthful than the nose. Good length. 87

2012 Corton Bressandes from Tollot-Beaut

2012 Tollot-Beaut Corton Bressandes
Bright ruby. Red berries, fruity, nuanced nose, fairly bright fruit. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, fresh and elegant, could be longer and more complex, still lovely. 90

Six 2012's from Daniel Rion

2012 Daniel Rion Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Grandes Vignes
Bright ruby. Red berries, fruity, fairly detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, elegant texture, rounded, good length. 88

2012 Daniel Rion Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru les Hauts Pruliers
Bright ruby. Red berries, fruity, bit tight nose, doesn't give to much. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded texture, elegant, good length. 89

2012 Daniel Rion Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vignes Rondes
Bright ruby. Scented, red berries, fresh and fruity nose, almost flirting. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity and lively, elegant and long. 90

2012 Daniel Rion Vosne-Romanée
Bright ruby. Red berries, fruity, spicy, scented, charming nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, lobely, good length. 89

2012 Daniel Rion Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Beaux Monts
Bright ruby. Red berries, spices, slightly scented nose, bit tight and holds on to its secrets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, fresh, elegant and lively, long. 91

2012 Daniel Rion Clos Vougeot
Bright ruby. Red berries, fruity, spices, some vanilla and barrel notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and elegant palate, lively, playful, fairly fruity, long. 92-93

Eight from Thomas Morey

2012 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chenevottes
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, tropical touch nose, richer. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh, lively, lemons and oysters finish, long. 92

2012 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint Jean
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fresh, oysters nose. Cool sea side. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh, rounded, minerals palate, apply finish, long. 90

2012 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Baudines
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, light tropical note, richer and more intense nose, flinty minerals. Fresh acidity, lively palate, fresh and fruity but oak is a bit in the way now, oaky finish. Should be fruit to handle it. 92

2012 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Embrazées
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fruity, some orange blossoms, quite seductive nose. Fresh acidity, elegant texture, playful, fresh and detailed, citrus, quite refined, long finish. 93

2012 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot
Pale lemon yellow. Quite intense nose, apples, some tropical notes and flinty minerals, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, minerals and ripe fruits, bit oaky at this stage, long finish. 92

2011 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint Jean
Pale lemon yellow. Leaner apples and minerals nose, some crayfish minerals note. Fresh acidity, lime, minerals and apples, cool fruit, good length. 89

2011 Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot
Pale lemon yellow. Minerals, vanilla, flint, apples and citrus nose. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh and fruity, rounded, crisper for Morgeot, not quite as fat as some, long. 92

2011 Thomas Morey Bâtard-Montrachet
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, richer and more concentrated nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, intense, fruity, fresh but a bit oaky and toasty at this stage, fresh, lively and long. 93

Two from J.B.Becker

2010 J.B.Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, flinty nose, detailed and on the cool side. Fresh acidity, leaner palate, focused and refreshing, good length. 88

2012 J.B.Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, tight and a bit closed nose. Fresh acidity, lively if leaner palate, fresh and focused, good length. 87

3 from Feuillat-Juillot

2010 Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Crêts
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity nose, bit straight forward. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity and somewhat creamy texture, lots of apples, fresh, good length. 87

2011 Feuillat-Juillot Montagny 1er Cru Les Montcuhots
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, tropical notes and some wax on the nose. Fresh acidity, creamy texture, fruity, again some wax, good length. 87

2011 Feuillat-Juillot Montagny 1er Cru Coêres
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fresher and fruity palate, rounded texture, honey finish, good length. 88

2012 Hirschhof and 2013 Jean Paul Brun

2012 Hirschhof Riesling Spätlese trocken
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, grapefruit, orange zest nose. Fresh acidity, fresh and fruity, rounded texture, quite delicate finish, good length. 87

2013 Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais l'Ancienenne
Bright ruby. Red berries nose, some nettles, slightly cool touch to it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, soft and fruity palate, elegant and fresh, good length. 87

Two 2009's from Rossignol-Trapet

2009 Rossignol-Trapet Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons
Bright ruby. Red berries and spices nose, vanilla and minerals beneath, quite exciting nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity palate, ripe, doesn't excite quite as much as the nose, good length. 89

2009 Rossignol-Trapet Gevrey-Chambertin Vielles Vignes
Bright ruby. Red berries, elegant nose, fruity, could have more nuances even as a village. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fresh and elegant, rounded texture, good length. 88

08 Beau-Séjour Bécot

2008 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Ruby. Highly scented, blueberries and spices nose, fairly nuanced with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded texture, fresh and elegant. Nuanced, especially for Saint-Emilion, long. 91

2011 Les Vieux Clos and 10 Coulée de Serrant

2011 Nicolas Joly Les Vieux Clos
Towards golden. Rich honey and peach nose, some wax and minerals, rich and ripe but less so than some of the last vintages. Fresh acidity, rich and fruity, rounded texture, minerals, wax and honey, good length. 88

2010 Coulée de Serrant
Towards golden. Rich, intense, wax, apricots, honey, minerals, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and fruity, if less so than earlier vintages, for me heading in the right direction if not there yet. Big, rich, bit alcoholic, long. 90

08 Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin

2008 Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin
Bright ruby. Vanilla, spices, darker fruits, quite intense nose, richer. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, richer palate, some vanilla, good length. 89

Five from Clément Klur

2012 Clément Klur Riesling
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus and minerals nose, bit narrower. Fresh acidity, fruity and lively palate, good length. 88

2012 Clément Klur Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, citrus, detailed nose, quite elegant. Fresh acidity, fruity, lively, detailed, elegant, fresh and nuanced, long. 91

2011 Clément Klur Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg
Pale lemon yellow. Richer nose, grapefruit and pears, not as detailed, more fruity. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh palate, rounded texture, good length. 88

2010 Clément Klur Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, grapefruit, detailed, light tropical note far back. Fresh acidity, rounded texture, fruity, fresh and fairly lively, fruity finish, long. 91

 2009 Clément Klur Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, peach, scented, rose petals nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, fresh and elegant, long finish, lovely 09. 90

3 from Jean-Marc Morey

2012 Jean-Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet
Pale lemon yellow. Fruity, tropical notes, pineapples, yellow fruits. Freshish acidity, fruity, rounded, bit tropical, good length. 87

2012 Jean-Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chaumées
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fruity nose but a bit easy going. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh and fruity, rounded texture, fresh finish, good length. 89

2011 Jean-Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Caillerets
Pale lemon yellow. Tropical fruits and oaky nose. Freshish acidity, rounded, bit sweet and oaky, lacks freshness and complexity. 88

Four 2012's from Méo-Camuzet

2012 Méo-Camuzet Hautes Côtes de Nuits Clos St Philibert blanc
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, citrus and floral nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, elegant, nuanced and detailed, quite lovely but a bit short. 89

2012 Méo-Camuzet Fixin rouge
Pale ruby. Red berries, some nettles, easu going nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, rounded texture, fresh finish. 87

2012 Méo-Camuzet Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers
Pale ruby. Red berries, delicate and nuanced nose, fresh and elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing, fruity, crisp, detailed, lovely NSG, long. 90

2012 Méo-Camuzet Corton Les Perrières
Bright ruby. Scented, fruity, elegant and delicate nose, floral and nuanced, flirting. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, detailed, elegant if leaner palate, very fresh and bright, long. 92

Four from Laleure-Piot

2012 Laleure-Piot Pernand-Vergelesses blanc
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fresh citrusy touch nose. Fresh acidity, lively, elegant, bit lean. 86

2010 Laleure-Piot Corton-Charlemagne
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, tight nose, not giving to much. Fresh acidity, fresh and crisp, citrus, minerals, fairly detailed, long. 90-91

2010 Laleure-Piot Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses rouge
Bright ruby. Bit easy going and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity. 85

2011 Laleure-Piot Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile de Vergelesses rouge
Bright ruby. Red berries, fresh, fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit lean and acidic, but lively, bit skinny. 86