A Tasting of 1996 Burgundy

April's 95/95 Tasting. All wines served blind, this time with a ringer. The wines evolved nicely after being open for a few hours and would have benefited from a good decanting. Perhaps next time. There was discussion about improper storage leading to some noticeable flaws in the wines.
Overall, the wines tended to the funkier side but all with nice fruit and tannin profiles; quite youthful and ripe.

My (unfortunate) favorite (as was the group's) was the Becker Sankt Paul Spatburgunder (2006).

Bernard Dugat-Py, Gevrey-Chambertin

Notes: Nose of mossy berries and dusty vanilla. On the palate, tomato leaf with underlying berry fruit and nice acid.


Bouchard Pere & Fils, Bonnes Mares

Notes: Overpowering medicinal berries and Captain Crunchberries on the nose. Tight tannins, dark berries, tomato leaf on the palate. Pretty profile.


Thomas-Moillard, Romanee Saint Vivant

Notes: Damp earth and berries, chalky, vegetal nose. Thick on the palate with under-ripe clean fruits. Lots of fruit tannins.


Dom. Maume, Charmes-Chambertin

Notes: Slightly medicinal nose, also scents of hay. Nice berries on the palate, tart, moderate ripeness. Tight, lean tannins.


Friedrick Becker Sankt Paul

Notes: The ringer, a Spatburgunder (2006) which in hindsight was way too clean to be a burgundy. Nose of vanilla and currant. Minty cherries on the palate, pure silky tannins (which lacked just slightly).


Henri Perrot-Minot, Mazoyeres-Chambertin

Notes: Under-ripe raspberries and dirty socks on the nose. Enjoyable menthol tinged fruits on the palate. Lean and not overly complex.


Ponsot Chapelle-Chambertin

Notes: Minty chocolate on the nose without much fruit. Light, clean and pretty fruit on the palate. Youthful with thin acidic tannins.


Anne-Gros, Vosne-Romanee 'Le Barreaux'

Notes: Stinky nose with whiffs of dirty diaper and vanilla. Dark fruits on the palate with a shorter finish and surprisingly, relatively clean.


Dominique Laurent, Charmes-Chambertin

Notes: Nose of grain (like boxed cereal). Lightest and most under-ripe of all the wines. Less enjoyable.

Cobb Tasting at Jardiniere (01/31/10)

Wonderful tasting at Jardiniere with Ross and David Cobb. Would have liked to taste the other 2007 SKUs that were released previously.

2007 'Jack Hill'

Overview: 2 acres overlooking Freestone Valley near Occidental. Soils are sandy loam, clones are a mix of Dijon 667, 115, 828, west facing slope.

Notes: Beautiful black cherry and white pepper, great acid, purity, supple tannins with hints of licorice. Coming back after tasting the other wines Jack Hill showed a little darker and earthier with a little more cola, perhaps a hint of heat on the palate. Alcohol 13.8, 240 cs.

2007 'Emmaline'

Overview: Emmaline vineyard is near Sebastopol with heavy ocean influences. Two Dijon varieties planted in Goldridge loam. Yield approx 2 tons/acre.

Notes: Meatier (tuna tartare), slightly darker than Jack Hill. Rounder fruits, not as expressive. Damp earth, plums, peppery cherry cola and rose petals. Started out closed, but evolved nicely in the glass, noticeable oak notes. Alcohol 13.0, 310 cs.


2007 Coastlands Vineyard 'Diane'

Overview: Originally planted in 1989 with 20 relatively unknown clones and doubled in 1996 with a single variety. 1.5 acres

Notes: Quite reserved on the nose with notes of cedar and black cherry. Slightly smokey and meaty (pork fat). Light fruits, ripping acidity, lean tight tannins, licorice and citrus (blood orange), rose perfume, creamy finish. Impossible beautiful and supple. The pinnacle of American Pinot production. Alcohol 13.4, 90cs.