WCC BLIND TASTING OF GRAND CRU RED BURGUNDY
at the Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY (12/10/2009)
Tasting was all blind to me since I didn't bring any wine. (I traded.)
I only knew that all wines were supposed to be Grand Cru Red Burgundy. Turned out they were (i.e. no ringers).
Click on an image with a border for a larger view of that image.
Flight 1
Grilled Vermont Quail with wild rice, dried fruit, chèvre timbale, and orange-thyme scented au jus.
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1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Appealing, complex nose of cherries and chocolate. Sour in the mouth. OTH.
[After the tasting, I got a look at the bottle. It seemed to have been abused, so I don't know how representative this bottle was.
Look at the neck in the photo above.]
(87 pts.)
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1987 Joseph Drouhin Musigny
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Cherries and spice. Sweet in the middle but slightly bitter on the finish. WOTF, but that's not saying much.
(88 pts.)
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1985 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Shitty nose. Sweet spice in the mouth. Pleasant.
[After the tasting, I got a look at the bottle. It seemed to have been abused, so I don't know how representative this bottle was.
Look at the neck in the photo above.] (86 pts.)
Flight 2
Prince Edward Mussel Soup. Shelled with natural mussel liquor, and shrimp crostini garnish.
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2002 Gros Frere et Sœur Clos Vougeot Musigni
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Big bracing black cherries and licorice. Rich and silky but a fair bite on the finish. Nice.
(89 pts.)
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1999 Mommessin Clos de Tart
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru
Rich with sweet red fruit and a long finish. The first really enjoyable wine of the tasting.
A last-minute add-in, I was glad it was added! (92 pts.)
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2002 Nicolas Potel Clos de la Roche
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Red fruit and merde on the nose. Green on the finish. (87 pts.)
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1999 Henri Perrot-Minot Mazoyères-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru
Muted nose. Dry and minerally, with appealing dry red fruit. Tied for Group WOTN.
(90 pts.)
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1999 Henri Perrot-Minot Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Seems like the same wine as the previous, but more sour on the finish.
(88 pts.)
Flight 3
Simmered Monkfish with saffron-Dover fumet, white beans, braised greens, and pancetta.
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1995 Domaine Ponsot Griottes-Chambertin
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Muted but appealing nose. Harmonious sweet and sour. (91 pts.)
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1995 Maison Albert Bichot Chambertin Domaine du Clos Frantin
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Lots of mineral and acidity. Long, appealing sour finish. Group #3 WOTN.
(92 pts.)
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1996 Domaine Jean et Jean-Louis Trapet Latricières-Chambertin
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru
Big, rich, long, delicious. WOTN so far. Ringing long finish. Yowsa! The first wow wine tonight. My #1 WOTN.
(94 pts.)
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1996 Drouhin-Laroze Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Thinner than above, but still quite appealing. Group #4 WOTN.
(91 pts.)
Flight 4
Braised Elk Osso Bucco in natural jus with cipollini onions and whipped Yukon gold potatoes.
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1997 Daniel Bocquenet Echezeaux
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Stunning nose of black and red fruits. Big, rich, spicy, youthful, with a touch of sourness.
This may even improve for a few years more.
(92 pts.)
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1999 Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Big rich sweet with sour tannins. Has a brilliance to it. Tied for Group WOTN. My #2 WOTN.
(93 pts.)
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1995 Remoissenet Père et Fils Echezeaux
- France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Spicy, long, delicious. These last few have been really nice. This is my #3 WOTN.
(93 pts.)
Tasting notes posted from
CellarTracker.
Group WOTN Voting
Rank | Wine |
1(tie) | 1999 Henri Perrot-Minot, Mazoyères-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes |
1(tie) | 1999 Domaine Jean Grivot, Echezeaux |
3 | 1995 Maison Albert Bichot, Chambertin Domaine du Clos Frantin |
4 | 1996 Drouhin-Laroze, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze |
All original content © Ken Vastola