2014 Marguet Ambonnay Grand Cru Les Saints Rémys

100% pinot noir
Disgorged Sept 2019
Zero dosage

First time enjoying a wine from Benoît Marguet. It is lovely and impossible to put down once you get started drinking it. Produced from a parcel of old-vine Pinot Noir on the Bouzy side of Ambonnay. Racy acidity frames beautiful grand cru fruit. In an early drinking window with lots of air. I think this will be going even stronger in five years.

Paired with:

Tapas
Jámon + Manchego Croquetas
Grilled Chorizo + Figs in a balsamic reduction

Main
Wood fire grilled whole Branzino with rosemary + acorn squash + crispy potatoes 

Dessert 
Absolutely mind blowing olive oil cake sprinkled with sea salt, warm out of the oven...

2014 Laherte Freres Empreintes Millesime

 The best cuvee I've had from this producer. Opened up nicely over a couple of hours. Wonderful balance with mouthwatering salinity & food friendly acidity. Scrumptious, elegant fruit. ** Definitely worth buying more.** There is a very alluring freshness to this wine. 

Paired well with bacon wrapped shrimp seasoned with paprika. 

Cru tasting, Oct 2021

Tasting with wine group... the bubbly from Alta Langa exceeded expectations...great stuff.

Sparkling
2016 Enrico Serafino Alta Langa Metodo Classico Oudeis Brut
85% Pinot Nero, 15% Chardonnay

Rosé
2017 Dominio del Águila Pícaro del Águila Clarete (Ribera del Duero)
35% Tempranillo, 35% Albillo Mayor and the rest a mixture of many different varieties (Garnacha, Bobal, Bruñal, Monastrell, Tempranillo Gris, other Albillos, Garnacha Blanca, Pirules, Jaén, Moscatel, Malvasías...)
 
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Reds

2010 Calabretta Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie (Mt. Etna, Sicily)

100% old vine Nerello Mascalese

2017 Ariana Occhipinti SP68 (Fossa di Lupo,
southern Sicily)
70% Frappato  30% Nero d'Avola

Tied for favorite

2008 Pian dell'Orino Brunello di Montalcino
100% Sangiovese

2nd favorite

2011 Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione
(Greve, Chianti)
100% Sangiovese

2011 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere
100% Nebbiolo

(Monforte d'Alba)

Tied for favorite

2010 Quintarelli Cá del Merlo (Valpolicella, Veneto)
55% Corvina/Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese

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Postscript 
A week or so later, finished up a couple of ounces each of leftovers from:

2011 Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 
wow! This wine has a beautiful future ahead. Indications of delicious tertiary development. An irresistible element of allspice (even leaning toward light cinnamon) underlies extended red and blue fruit finish. This is one of my favorite wines from Chianti region.

2011 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere 
...hint of initial heat has subsided with gorgeously elegant black fruit taking front and center. Bonus is the wonderfully balanced inner sweetness on the palate. A Barolo for Burgundy lovers. 

2007 Cantine Lonardo Taurasi Riserva Coste

 Needs a couple of hours to open up. Still quite early in its evolution.  There's at least another 10 or 15 years on the horizon for this one.

The quality of the Aglianico fruit reminds me of Guastaferro. The vines may not generate the same depth of fruit as Guastaferro's 150 year old vines, but the quality is there. Lots of super fine-grained sediment supports the delicious black fruit. Coffee/mocha accents with hints of Taurasian garrigue on a lengthy, complex finish.
Paired deliciously with scratch made bucatini, sausage, sweet peas, mushrooms and broccoli in a light cream sauce.

Old vines on Lonardo estate...

 

2004 Renato Corino Barolo Arborina

 

2nd of two bottles acquired from a reliable source. Have always been a fan of Arborina cru. ...typifies lovely Barolo from the La Morra area.
This 2nd bottle showed the best of the two. Spot on from the get-go. Decanted and enjoyed gorgeous perfume as the wine opened up.  Beautiful red fruit with most delicious dusty tannins adding a sweetness to the classic finish that goes on and on. Showcases the elegance of the sought after vintage. 

 

2005 Chapoutier St. Joseph Les Granits (magnum)

 The last and best of three magnums we've enjoyed over the past ten years. Best enjoyed from a decanter to allow it to open up. Filigreed tannins provide the framework for scrumptious black fruit.  Dusty minerality with hints of olive. Alluring lilac accents on nose of fruit compote. A testament to the greatness of the vintage. Couldn't ask for a better showing.

 

A few recent wines...

 

2010 Clos du Mont-Olivet La Cuvee du Papet... delicious and in the zone... as close in style as Ive found to Pegau Reservee...

2007 Paolo Conterno Ginestra Riserva......
Approachable now with a couple of hours in a decanter. Beautiful fruit and structure.... pliable tannins just starting to show hints of sweetness.. a classical interpretation of Ginestra. Better in 3 to 5 years...

2018 Quintarelli Bianco Secco Cá del Merlo ...
Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Bianco, Chardonnay, Saorin....30 year old vines on limestone and basalt... I LOVE this wine.

Laherte Freres Les 7 Extra Brut

 Delicious stuff...

Producer notes:

"....The Laherte estate was founded in 1889 by Jean-Baptiste Laherte. At this time, most of the five hectares of vines were situated in the village of Chavost. Today, the 10-hectare vineyard is run by the two Laherte brothers Christian and Thierry, as well as Thierry’s son, Aurélien. Les 7 – A single parcel planted on the slopes of Chavot in 2003 by Aurelien’s father Thierry Laherte as a nod to ancient traditions. Worked with a horse. Blend of the seven indigenous grape varieties of the region including 18% Chardonnay, 18% Meunier, 17% Pinot blanc, 15% Petit Meslier, 14% Pinot Noir, 10% Fromonteau (Pinot gris), and 8% Arbane. Six months of aging with regular lees stirring, no malo, blend of 60% of current vintage and 40% of a solera combining each vintage since the start in 2005. Dosage is 4 gr/l...."