12 vintage vertical tasting of BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve

This was an extraordinarily enjoyable evening hosted by Nelson Lemmon and Steve Dunn at the Cru Bourgeois gathering.  I had not tasted this extensively of the BV Private Reserve.  I like older wines so it was quite a treat.  

It is difficult for me to take detailed notes at these get-togethers because everyone is just enjoying the evening and each others company. All of the wines showed very well and were delightful . I will list the vintages and note my favorites.

First flight:
1971 - favorite 
1972 
1974
1975 - this was showing incredibly young on the palate and in the color of the wine
1976 - 2nd favorite
1977 

Second flight:
1978
1979
1980
1981 - 2nd favorite 
1982 - favorite 
1994

'99 Nicolas Potel Volnay Mitans & '99 Martinelli Pinot Noir Martinelli Vineyard Reserve

 Intriguing comparison of pinot noir interpreted from Cote de Beaune and Russian River Valley.  As with the Quintarelli and Dal Forno last weekend these are both very nice wines, however I think they are best enjoyed on their own. For the record, the Potel Volnay Mitans was the favorite.  

'99 Potel Volnay Mitans:
Seemed like this wine took a loooong time to really open up and show its stuff.  It benefits from several hours of slow-o and time in the glass.  Very well balanced at 13% abv. Tart dark cherry fruit complemented by sous bois with elegantly aged mineral framework.  Delicious with chicken marsala. The Volnay perfume was subdued at first, with ephemeral florals blossoming after several hours. Very fine grained sediment. Not the most compelling example of a '99 Volnay 1er Cru I have had, but quite enjoyable.

'99 Martinelli Pinot Noir Martinelli Vineyard Reserve 
OK, I concede that this wine can be perceived as a bit over-the-top at 15.5% abv. However,  Martinelli makes some darn tasty, long-lived pinot noir. Big, spicy raspberry fruit and an alluring nose with anise accent. I always enjoy this wine on its own merits. I think they stopped making the Martinelli Vineyard Reserve around 2003 (sold off the vineyard or something?), so I try to pick up some every year through a reliable source.

1995 Quintarelli Ca' del Merlo and 1997 Dal Forno Romano Monte Lodoletta

I was pretty much unaware of these two Producers several years ago. Mark Scudiery prompted my interest in Quintarelli, and it has become a favorite.  
Paired the Quintarelli and Dal Forno with main course of fresh pasta with truffles. It was educational to taste these wines side by side, however I think they are best enjoyed on their own largely due to the difference in styles.

Both were served from bottle, opened about 90 mins prior to dinner.  The '97 Dal Forno was luscious from the start while the '95 Quintarelli took a while to open up. 

Somewhat unexpectedly, the Quintarelli was the clear favorite. It is a thrilling, multidimensional wine with beautiful fruit coupled with mouth-watering acidity. The nose is absolutely gorgeous.  I was a bit surprised at how well the Quintarelli showed for a relatively older vintage. It is beautiful and still in its prime. 

While the Dal Forno is a highly alluring and enjoyable wine, it seemed more one-dimensional next to the Quintarelli.   The Dal Forno fruit is really lovely, though. It just doesn't have the underpinnings of the Quintarelli.  On day 2, we finished off the rest of the Dal Forno and enjoyed it immensely.  We filtered the last of it thru a coffee filter (there was quite a bit of sediment ) and wow, what a delight the last pour was. (No Quintarelli was left over for day 2.)

Later in the evening on day 1, we popped the '02 Domaine de la Vougeraie Pommard Les Charmots  (because the Quintarelli was running low).  The Les Charmots is lovely wine which underscored some of the similarities between good Burgundy and Valpolicella.  Beautiful tart cherry palate with supple aromatics.  Minerality that blows away most west coast pinot noir. 

Have to mention the '12 Forman Chardonnay. .. an always enjoyable Burgundian rendition (no malo). Ric Forman makes two wines, the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Chardonnay - and they are both reference point wines in my book. 

In summary, for the '95 Quintarelli Ca' del Merlo. .. holy smokes what a wine!  If you find some, grab it.  This experience makes me want to go after some of the renowned Alzero  :) 

1997 Massolino Vigna Rionda Riserva

Having had minimal experience with the Rionda cru, this wine is a revelation.  The 2010 version of the Vigna Rionda Riserva was one of the highlights of the masterclass tasting at Festa del Barolo earlier this year.  This 1997 version emphatically demonstrates the incredible potential from this hallowed vineyard. In an interview that Antonio conducted, Franco Massolino says, “It was Bruno Giacosa who made the vineyard famous around the world with his Barolo Collina Rionda. Unfortunately Giacosa stopped making his wine in 1993. Our goal is to make a Barolo that can live up to the standard Giacosa established.”  IMHO, Massolino has accomplished this while delivering his singular interpretation of the Rionda terroir.
This is assuredly one of the most delightful wines from Piemonte that I have had this year. Slow-o'd for around 3 hours and then into a decanter at the restaurant where it really began to show its stuff.

It is immediately apparent that this is a very special wine. Elegant, yet absolutely compelling.  Lovely fruit balanced with tarry notes.   Depth of complexity sets it apart with an alluring and fascinating finish of spices and dusty gossamer tannins.  Pale ruby color with garnet robe... remarkably translucent,  aptly passing the Soldera test.  The nose keeps opening up with haunting, come-hither florals and hints of anise. This is a wine where descriptives sort of fall short of capturing its essence.  14% abv.  Minimal, very fine grained sediment.
An enchanting visit to Rionda that leaves me wanting to go back for more!

1996 Domaine Louis Latour Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières

I love this wine from this vintage, which continues to drink consistently well, year in and year out.  The older white Burgundy is built to last,  and is largely unaffected by the modern-day premox debacle. 
A sunset of honeyed melon and brioche on the palate. The nose is still quite vibrant with its minerally florals. Paired well with dinner first course of sauteed calamari.
Bravo for the '96 vintage white wines from the Cote de Beaune!   :) 

'96 Dal Forno Monte Lodoletta, '04 Marcoux Vieilles Vignes, '07 Secret de Sabon

Dinner with Cru group ... here are a few of the wines that were enjoyed:

'96 Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto Monte Lodoletta. .. a big plummy version of this beauty... perhaps a bit past its prime, but once it opened up - oh man, the aromatics are wonderful  :)  Hints of mocha and spice.... love Veneto wines.

'04 Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes. ... nice showing for this bottle.  Recent notes at: http://lestastevinsdulac.blogspot.com/2015/10/2004-domaine-de-marcoux-cdp-vieilles.html?m=0 
What could surpass a Marcoux VV ?  The reponse is....

'07 Domaine Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape le Secret de Sabon (from magnum) ... a special treat since I have not had this wine before.  Very nice showing,  perhaps on the early side of its drinking window.  Beautifully balanced... no over-the-top characteristics that can be sometimes found in '07 CdP's.  This is mostly old vine Grenache.  Vibrant expression of fruit with purity of essence (to quote General Ripper from Dr. Strangelove) ... seriously,  a one of a kind beauty ... 

2013 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre

This was a very nice surprise,  opened at the last minute to accompany Chicken Dijon for dinner.   The nose is incredible from start... head-turning stony citrus florals that keep coming.  On the palate, it reminds you of what Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire is all about....beautiful lemon zest framed by bracing minerality reflective of the limestone terroir.... complemented by signature mouth-watering salinity.  All of this and only 12.5% abv.  Highly recommended. 
Would really like to try the Loire-sourced pinot noir from this producer.