BORDEAUX

The Best 100-Champagnes 2024 -tasting Day I - Champagnes that received over 90 points.

The Screaming Eagle 2012 is an exceptional display of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its finest. On the nose, it offers an alluring bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with subtle hints of graphite, tobacco, and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly elegant, with silky, finely integrated tannins that frame the fruit beautifully.

Flavors of juicy black currants and black plums unfold alongside delicate notes of crushed violets, cedar, and a touch of espresso, adding complexity and depth. The balance between its rich fruit profile and the fresh acidity creates a sense of lift and grace, leading to a long, persistent finish with a whisper of minerality and earthy undertones.

This vintage shows remarkable finesse and aging potential, making it both powerful and refined, with layers that will continue to evolve for decades.

Tastingbook tasted Dom Pérignon vs other prestige champagne! 

The 1996 Dom Pérignon P2 is a Champagne of electrifying intensity, born from a vintage of contrasts. The year saw a capricious summer, with wet spells that failed to fully make up for earlier dry conditions. Yet, the heat in the months leading up to the harvest worked its magic, creating a vintage defined by its extraordinary balance between power and searing acidity.

On the nose, the wine leaps from the glass with vibrant aromas of citron, green apple, and white peach, layered with more complex notes of toasted hazelnuts, fresh brioche, dried figs and a touch of flint. A subtle hint of smoke lingers, adding depth and intrigue to the aromatic profile.

The palate is where this Champagne truly shines—it’s a dance between richness and precision. The first sip explodes with flavors of crisp green apple, lemon curd, and candied ginger, wrapped in a luxurious, creamy texture. The hallmark of the 1996 vintage, however, is its razor-sharp acidity, which cuts through the richness, leaving the palate refreshed and craving the next sip.

As the wine evolves, notes of dried apricot, almond, and a touch of honey emerge, adding layers of complexity. The minerality is pronounced, delivering a chalky finish that seems to go on forever, with a final whisper of citrus and toast.

The 1996 Dom Pérignon P2 has a rare balance of power and acidity ensures it has aged beautifully, and it promises to continue captivating for years to come.

Tastingbook Celebrates its founder’s birthday with an exceptional Petrus tasting event featuring 11 recent vintages. The collective average score from all participants was a remarkable 97.2 points—a truly outstanding result!

The Drouhin Clos des Mouches Red 2021 reveals a deep, ruby hue in the glass, indicative of its youthful vibrancy. On the nose, it opens with an enticing bouquet of ripe red cherries, wild strawberries, and hints of blackberries, seamlessly intertwined with notes of rose petals, subtle earthiness, and a touch of spice. The palate is well-structured and balanced, with a refreshing acidity that lifts the bright red fruit flavors. Silky tannins provide a smooth texture, while nuances of forest floor and a hint of minerality add complexity. The finish is long and elegant, leaving a lingering impression of red berries and a whisper of oak.

Large Roederer Cristal tasting: Cristal 1961 was one of the best - it  presents a captivating golden hue with fine, persistent bubbles. On the nose, it reveals an exquisite bouquet of matured notes including honey, toasted almonds, and brioche, interwoven with hints of dried apricot and candied citrus peel. The palate is remarkably elegant and balanced, showcasing a rich tapestry of flavors—ripe stone fruits, caramelized apples, and a touch of butterscotch—underpinned by a subtle minerality. The creamy texture and vibrant acidity culminate in a long, harmonious finish, leaving a lingering impression of finesse and complexity. This vintage epitomizes the pinnacle of aged Champagne, displaying both depth and sophistication.

The Gaja Barbaresco 1958 was made made by Angelo Gaja’s father, Giovanni—before the DOC rules were put in place in 1966, so there is no DOC on the label. Angelo remarked that all the 1958 Nebbiolo would have had some Barbera included at that time. And if you do find a bottle of 1958 on the market, there are several different labels, because the wines were bottled to order over a period of something like 14 years, and during this time the labels changed. In those days, there was no single-cru concept, and Angelo’s father Giovanni bottled different lots of this wine, labeling his best blend of the best plots “Infernot.”

Exceptional Château Margaux tasting from vintage 1865 with plenty of rare "off-vintages".  /  Château Margaux 1865 bottle looks almost too pristine to be true, but let's taste it before passing judgment.  It has a deep garnet color, displaying its age with subtle hints of brick-orange at the rim. Helathy aromas of dried dark fruits, such as prunes and blackberries, mingle with earthy notes of leather and tobacco. Medium-bodied, the palate reveals flavors of dried berries and plums, complemented by nuances of forest floor and a touch of vanilla and forest. The tannins are alive contributing to a bit sharp and thin texture that coats the palate. The finish is moderate in length, with notes of dried fruit and a hint of dried herbs, leaving a decent and mature impression. 

For me this bottle was real, but as we all know, you can never be sure with these very old bottles. But wherever the truth may lie, this bottle is a particularly pleasant, rare, and historic experience.

In 1865, the year of this vintage, marked significant historical events worldwide. It was the year when the American Civil War came to an end with the surrender of the Confederate forces to the Union army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, symbolizing the reunification of the United States. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the construction of the iconic Château Margaux was well underway, representing a milestone in the estate's history and Bordeaux's winemaking heritage.

Tastingbook had a very interesting Bordeaux tasting. We compared the best vintages of the 1990s with the vintages of the 2010s. The basic essence of the wines had remained recognizable, but e.g. the alcohol percentage and structure are very different in the wines of the 2010s than in the 1990s. Everyone can decide for themselves whether it has gone in a better direction, but this tasting alone showed that Bordeaux today produces even higher-quality wines with a wide spectrum, which are also enjoyable almost as soon as they hit the market.