Tag: French Wines

La Paulée Verticals Burgundy Tasting NYC 2026

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La Paulée was a traditional end of harvest festival that began in the Burgundy region of Meursault, France.

That tradition was brought to New York City by Sommelier Daniel Johnnes in 2000. The event this year was held from March 25-28.

It was a series of expensive wine dinners and a couple of walk around tastings. The Grand Tasting which featured white and red wines from the current vintage, and the Vintage Tasting which showcased, not surprisingly, wines with some age to them.

On March 27th I attended the Vintage tasting which was held at the Sky Loft event space at 50 Hudson Yards on the west side of Manhattan.

For some strange reason, this tasting always begins at 10 AM. I’m not sure if that’s a La Paulée tradition but that’s normally a bit early in the morning for me to begin drinking but on the other hand, it is Burgundy and the crowd didn’t seem to mind the chance to taste some of the most famous wines in the world.

This tasting was the third in my triad of Burgundy tastings, and the last was the best. It was an amazing collection of vintage red and white Burgundy, I spent most of my time with the reds.

2013 Domaine Alex Moreau Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gain: Medium gold, oily tropical fruit notes on the nose, juicy with kiwi notes, nice grip and balance.

2015 Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre: Light gold with a greenish tint, spicy white flowers on the nose, juicy and floral, nice grip.

***

1996 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes: Clear light brick, closed nose of white pepper and petroleum, chewy ripe fruit, dusty tannin.

1996 Domaine Nicolas Rossignol Volnay 1er Cru Santenonts: Clear light brick, chocolate cherry and a touch of barnyard on the nose, dusty and dirty fruit with tart notes on the finish.

2005 Domaine Trapet Pere & Fils Chambertin Grand Cru en magnum: Clear light brick, crushed sweet cherry and smoke on the nose, juicy red fruit ending with firm tannin.

2012 Domaine des Hospices de Beaune Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru “Cuvee Madeleine Collignon”: Clear light brick, sweet tar, graphite and barnyard on the nose, silky fruit ending with firm tannin.

2014 Domaine des Hospices de Beaune Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru “Cuvee Madeleine Collignon”: Clear medium brick, sweet ripe fruit and toast on the nose, chewy and juicy fruit, chewy tannin with tart acidity.

2014 Domaine Douroche Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Estournelles Saint Jacques: Clear light brick, dusty chocolate on nose, silky fruit with slate notes, nice balance.

2015 Chateau de la Tour Clos Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes: Clear dark brick, dusty sweet chocolate on the nose, chewy dusty fruit ending with dusty and firm tannin.

2016 Domiane Arlaud Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combettes: Clear medium purple, toasty red cherry with a touch of barnyard on the nose, juicy red fruit, nice grip with rosemary notes on the long finish.

2016 Domaine Nicolas Rossignol Volnay 1er Cru Santenots: Clear medium brick, barnyard on the nose, chewy dark fruit, chewy tannin, good grip.

2016 Domaine Didier Fornerol Cote de Nuits Villages “La Rue des Foins”: Clear light purple, stinky barnyard on the nose, juicy red fruit, nice grip.

2017 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes: Opaque medium purple, closed nose of roast meat, juicy and dusty red fruit ending with firm, chewy tannin.

2017 Bouchard & Fils Corton Grand Cru “Les Corton”: Clear light purple, tar and barnyard on the nose, juicy, tarry fruit with milk chocolate notes, great balance, long finish.

2018 Domaine d’Eugenie Clos Vougeot Grand Cru: Clear light purple, roasted meat on the nose, juicy fruit with tree bark notes on the finish, firm tannin.

2018 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes: Clear medium brick, sweet cherry, barnyard, tar, roast nuts and graphite on the nose, chewy black fruit, crunchy tannin, nice grip.

2018 Domaine Didier Fornerol Cote de Nuits Villages “La Rue des Foins”: Clear light purple, pencil shavings and sweet spice on the nose, juicy fruit with dark chocolate notes, firm tannin.

2019 Bouchard & Fils Corton Grand Cru “Les Corton”: Clear light purple, graphite and barnyard on the nose, juicy with milk chocolate notes, nice grip, long finish.

2019 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes: Clear medium brick, closed nose of red leather and graphite, chewy with cooked fruit notes, chewy finish, nice balance.

Wildman French Portfolio Tasting NYC 2026

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Fredrick Wildman & Sons is a well-established importer/distributor of fine wines and spirits in the New York City area.

They have a large portfolio. Twice a year, in the Spring and in the Autumn, they and the other distributors hold tastings of the wines and spirits in their portfolios for members of the trade.

Since Wildman has a large portfolio, they have separate tastings for the various categories of wines and spirits.

On March 26th they held their French portfolio tasting. It was held at Manuela restaurant located on 130 Prince Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

They were showcasing the current release wines which for the most part was the 2023 vintage.

This tasting was the second in my trio of really excellent Burgundy tastings.

2023 Olivier Laflaive Batard Montrachet Grand Cru: Light gold, sweet green herbs on the nose, juicy sweet fruit, nice grip.

2023 Domaine Antonin Guyon Meursault Charmes 1er Cru “Les Charmes Dessus”: Light gold, floral green herbs on the nose, juicy with tropical fruit notes, good acidity.

***

2021 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux Monopole: Clear light purple, barnyard on the nose, silky red fruit, chewy with leather notes, great balance, long finish with chocolate notes.

2023 Lignier Michelot Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes: Clear medium purple, toasty closed nose, silky red fruit, chewy finish, good balance.

2023 Lignier Michelot Morey Saint Denis “En la Rue de Vergy”: Clear medium purple, crushed red berries with some petroleum on the nose, juicy with chocolate notes, good grip.

2023 Lignier Micholet Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru “Les Faconnieres”: Clear medium purple, saline and white pepper on the nose, chewy, silky fruit with good acidity and a long finish.

2023 Lignier Micholet Gevrey Chambertin Cuvee Bertin: Clear medium purple, toasty, crushed red berries on the nose, chewy with slate notes ending with silky tannin.

2023 Domaine Humbert Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes: Clear medium red, tar, graphite and barnyard on the nose, silky and juicy red fruit, moderate tannin and acidity, a little light on the finish, easy drinking.

2023 Domaine Jacques Prieur Beaune 1er Cru Combettes: Clear medium purple, closed nose of roast meat, chewy and silky black fruit with graphite notes, great grip and finish.

2024 Meo Camuzet Nuit Saint George 1er Cru: Clear medium purple, roast nuts and barnyard on the nose, silky, juicy and chewy red fruit, great length and balance.

***

2021 Lignier Micholet Clos de la Roche Grand Cru: Clear medium purple, closed nose of roast nuts, chewy, dense red fruit with slate notes, chewy and firm tannin, good acidity.

2023 Domaine Humbert Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru: Opaque medium red, smoke and crushed stone on the nose, chewy dark fruit with smoke notes, good acidity and balance.

2023 Domaine Antonin Guyon Corton Bressandes Grand Cru: Clear medium purple, sweet red leather on the nose, chewy and dusty fruit ending with firm tannin.

2023 Domaine Jacques Prieur Corton Bressandes Grand Cru: Clear medium purple, closed nose of crushed rocks and some petroleum, juicy black fruit with dark chocolate and graphite notes, good grip.

2023 Meo Camuzet Echezeaux Rouges du Bas Grand Cru: Clear light purple, sweet tar and dark chocolate on the nose, silky red fruit with slate notes, nice balance.

2023 Meo Camuzet Clos Vougeot Pres le Ceillier Grand Cru: Clear medium purple, sweet tar on the nose, juicy and chewy black fruit ending with chewy and dusty tannin, long finish.

Terroirs of Chassagne-Montrachet Seminar 2026

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This seminar was held on March 28th and was part of the La Paulée series of wine dinners and walk around tastings on March 25-28.

Chassagne Montrachet is one of the villages and a wine appellation in the Cote d’Or of Burgundy, France. The wines of the Cote d’Or are some of the most famous, sought after and expensive wines in the world.

The majority of the wines produced in Chassagne-Montrachet are whites made from Chardonnay with reds made with Pinot Noir accounting for about a third of the production.

Any wine geek is familiar with the three Grand Crus of the appellation, Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet and Criots-Batard-Montrachet. These wines are the top of the pyramid with prices to match.

La Paulée began in 1932 as an end of harvest celebration in Meursault, Burgundy and was brought over to New York City in 2000 by Daniel Johnnes. It is now in its 26th year.

The tasting was moderated by Daniel Johnnes and featured winemakers Alex Moreau, Antonin Pillot and Simon Colin whose wines were served.

White

2022 Domaine Simon Colin Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Chaumees”: Clear medium gold, closed nose of slate and green herbs, juicy with tropical fruit notes, spicy finish, great balance, lasting finish.

2022 Domaine Alex Moreau Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru “La Maltroie”: Clear medium gold with a green tint, stone and pineapple on the nose, chewy and viscous fruit with sweet spice notes on the balanced and long finish.

2022 Domaine Jean Marc Pillot Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot “Les Fairendes”: Clear medium gold with a greenish tint, closed nose, juicy, chewy and viscous fruit with spicy notes on the balance and long finish.

Red

2022 Domaine Jean Marc Pillot Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint Jean: Opaque medium purple, spicy tar, graphite and warm spicy plum on the nose, chewy dark fruit, nice balance, moderate length.

2022 Domaine Simon Colin Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot “Les Brussonnes”: Opaque dark red, perfume of tar, graphite and saline, chewy and silky fruit with spice, forest floor and roast earth notes, nice balance, long finish.

2022 Domaine Alex Moreau Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru La Cardeuse: Opaque dark red, closed nose of crushed sweet red fruit, chewy and chunky dark fruit, moderate tannin and acidity, finished short.

Zachys Winter Burgundy Tasting 2026

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Zachys is a well-established fine wine shop and auction house. Their store in Scarsdale was a destination fixture for many years until they moved the store further north to Port Chester at 30 Midland Avenue. That’s just under an hour by Metro North rail from Grand Central Terminal.

Like all wine shops, they will host tastings for consumers and occasionally, they will host ticketed, in-depth tastings that are well worth the price of the ticket and the train ride.

On February 28th they held their Winter Burgundy tasting of 20+ wines from the 2023 vintage (with a couple from 2022).

I was impressed by the vintage, especially the white wines. The white wines had nice fruit, structure and acidity and were delicious. The reds were drinking nicely now with, for the most part with none of the “hard as nails” profiles that I’ve gotten with some early vintages in the past. Drinking nicely now, would love to drink them a few years down the road with some more age.

Wines sampled:

2023 Chablis Vauprin Roland Lavantreux: Clear ligh gold, pineapple on the nose, juicy with tropical and melon notes ending with lemon notes.

2023 Domaine Bruno Lorenzon Montagny Blanc 1er Cru Le Choix du Roi: Clear light gold, roasted herbs on the nose, juicy with melon notes ending with a firm grip, long finish.

2023 Domain Bruno Lorenzon Mercurey Rouge 1er Cru Champs Martin: Clear medium purple, tar, cinnamon and cooked meat on the nose, cherry black fruit with earth notes, firm tannin and moderate acidity, long, earthy finish.

*

2023 Joseph Drouhin Puligny Montrachet: Clear light gold, floral, tropical fruits and green herbs on the nose, juicy with stone fruit notes, great balance.

2022 Joseph Drouhin Beaune Rouge Clos du Mouches: Clear light purple, closed nose of tar and cigarette smoke, juicy and chewy with earth notes, silky, firm tannin, long length.

*

2023 Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuisse Premier Cru: Clear light gold, toast and pineapple on the nose, juicy with melon notes, dusty acidity, great grip.

2023 Louis Jadot Beaune Rouge Clos des Ursules Domaine des Heritiers: Clear light purple, cigar smoke, mint and roast meat on the nose, juicy and silky red fruit with herb notes, balanced.

2023 Louis Jadot Gevrey Chambertin: Clear light purple, closed nose of roasted tar, juicy with green herb notes ending with tongue coating tannin on the long finish.

2023 Louis Jadot Chambolle Musigny Les Drazeys Domaine Gagey: Clear light purple, closed nose of sweet cinnamon, tight red fruit with crushed rock notes ending with crisp acidity.

*

2023 Domaine Laroche St. Martin Chablis: Clear light gold, toasty, buttery nose, juicy sweet kiwi fruit ending with moderate acidity.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Macon Verze: Clear light gold, green herbs on the nose, juicy with melon notes and ending with nice acidity.

2023 Faiveley Mercurey La Framboisiere: Clear light purple, tar and sweet red leather on the nose, juicy, silky red fruit, silky tannin with stone notes, moderate acidity.

*

2023 Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Vire Clesse: Clear light gold, toasty nose, juicy with dusty melon notes, great structure.

2023 Domaine de l’Arlot Nuits St. George Clos des Forets St. George: Clear light brick, earth on the nose, juicy, chewy red fruit with a good grip and tongue coating tannin.

2023 Denis Mortet Gevrey Chambertin Mes Cinq Terroirs: Clear light purple, red tar and roasted meat on the nose, chewy and silky fruit with a good grip.

Union Grands Crus Bordeaux NYC 2026

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The Union Grands Crus de Bordeaux is an organization that promotes the Grand Cru wines of the 132 Chateaux members of the Bordeaux region of France that they represent.

The Union not only promotes the wines, but it also embodies “a spirit of conviviality, sharing and solidarity to showcase the greatness of Bordeaux while respecting its values of authenticity”.

Bordeaux is one of the largest wine producing regions in the world, but the Grand Crus are the elite, limited production wines that get all the attention from the wine geeks of the world.

On January 19th they held their annual New York City tasting of the current vintage to be released. The tasting was held Cipriani’s, an event space at 110 East 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan across from Grand Central Terminal.

The building that Cipriani occupies is a repurposed former bank, built at a time when banks were built to impress you enough for you to deposit your money with them, with vaulted ceilings and plenty of marble.

This year the 2023 vintage was showcased. My research suggested it was a difficult year, but the winemakers were able to pull it off. Drinking these wines with a grain of salt because they are still young and need time to come together, but you can get some idea on how the vintage turned out.

For the most part I was getting a lot of light, red cherry fruit with moderate tannin and low acidity. Of course, there were outliers in the bunch, wines with more body and structure, but for the most part I thought this vintage will be for earlier drinking than for later.

Some of what I sampled:

Vintage 2023

Saint-Emilion

Chateau Canon: Opaque dark red, crushed red cherry and graphite on the nose, dense, chewy and silky with red cherry notes ending with moderate acidity.

Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere: Clear medium red, dirty tar and roast meat on the nose, silky dark chocolate fruit ending with silky tannin and a long finish, nice balance.

Clos Fouret: Opaque medium red, cigarette smoke and roasted tar on the nose, tight and dusty red fruit ending with moderate acidity.

Chateau Grand Mayne: Opaque dark red, closed nose of black licorice, chewy red leather fruit, nice balance.

Chateau Larmande: Clear medium red, strawberry and milk chocolate on the nose, juicy red fruit with firm tannin and moderate acidity.

Chateau Pavie Macquin: Clear light red, smoky red cherry on the nose, tight red fruit ending with firm tannin.

Chateau Valandraud: Opaque dark red, dark cocoa sweet cinnamon and violets on the nose, silky red fruit with green herb notes, silky tannin and moderate acidity.

Pomerol

Chateau Clinet: Opaque medium red, sweet tree bark and smoke on the nose, chewy and silky with rosemary notes, silky tannin with moderate acidity, long finish.

Chateau Le Gay: Clear medium purple, dusty crushed dark fruit and black cherry on the nose, tight red cherry fruit, nice balance.

Chateau Gazin: Clear dark purple, sweet cherry, tar and cigarette smoke on the nose, red cherry fruit, tart finish.

Chateau Petit-Village: Opaque medium red, closed nose of tarry dirt, chewy with roast nut notes ending with firm tannin.

Listrac-Medoc

Chateau Fourcas Dupre: Opaque black, purple rim, closed nose of white pepper, chewy dark fruit with sweet licorice notes on the finish, nice balance.

Haut-Medoc

Chateau Beaumont: Clear medium red, toasty, roasted nuts on the nose, chewy tannin with roast nut notes, crisp acidity.

Chateau Cantermerle: Opaque medium purple, perfume of forest floor, dark chocolate, toast, chewy finish firm tannin and crisp acidity.

Chateau Coufran: Clear medium purple, earth and red cherry on the nose, tight fruit with smoky cherry notes ending with tight tannin.

Margaux

Chateau Giscours: Opaque dark red, smoky dark cherry on the nose, chewy, silky red fruit, balanced with a long finish.

Chateau Kirwan: Opaque dark red to black, closed nose of cocoa and roast meat, tight and gritty with a firm finish.

Chateau Rauzan-Segla: Opaque dark red to black, tarry, fresh rosemary notes on the nose, silky and chewy with tar, dark chocolate and tree bark notes, moderate tannin and acidity.

Saint-Julien

Chateau Beychevelle: Opaque medium red, dirty red cherry and graphite on the nose, chewy and dusty fruit with crushed stone notes ending with moderate to low acidity.

Chateau Branaire-Ducru: Opaque dark red, sweet tar, graphite and red cherry on the nose, chewy fruit with milk chocolate notes ending with silky tannin and moderate acidity.

Chateau Langoa Barton: Clear medium red, closed nose of sweet candy and raspberry dark chocolate, silky red fruit with moderate tannin and acidity.

Chateau Talbot: Opaque medium red, crushed slate and red fruit on the nose, silky red fruit with nicely balance tannin and acidity.

Pauillac

Chateau Batailley: Clear medium red, toasty black pepper on the nose, tight red fruit ending with firm tannin.

Chateau Clerc Milon: Opaque dark red, tarry oak and red cherry on the nose, chewy with slate notes, firm tannin, moderate acidity.

Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse: Opaque dark red, roast meat on the nose, chewy and silky fruit ending with firm tannin and low acidity.

Chateau Lynch-Bages: Clear medium purple, tar, tree bark and roast meat on the nose, chewy and dusty fruit with oak notes, firm tannin, moderate to low acidity.

Chateau Lynch-Moussas: Clear medium red, tree bark and milk chocolate on the nose, tight and toasty red fruit, firm tannin and crisp acids.

Chateau Pichon Baron: Clear medium red, crushed black fruit, tar and dried herbs on the nose, tight with firm tannin.

Saint-Estephe

Chateau Cos Labory: Opaque dark red, crushed sweet black fruit, black leather and graphite on the nose, chewy and silky with a smoky finish, long balance.

Chateau Phelan Segur: Clear medium red, purple rim, stone and crushed sweet black fruit on the nose, chunky and chewy dark chocolate with silky, firm tannin and low acidity.

New York Vitner’s Holiday Champagne Tasting

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New York Vitner’s is a fine wine shop located at 63 Barclay Street in lower Manhattan, a few blocks from the World Trade Center.

They host many ticketed wine events as well as wine dinners since they have a dedicated kitchen on premise.

On December 2nd, they hosted a Holiday Champagne Tasting. The tasting featured over 25 Champagne from large and small producer in all styles.

The tasting took place in a very unique venue. Basically, it was held in a former bomb shelter in the basement of the store. After navigating a path downstairs and making your way through a repurposed walk-in refrigerator, you ended up in a cavernous art studio surrounded by artwork which is where the tasting was held.

The Champagne list:

Louis Roederer Collection 246Louis Roederer Rosé
Louis Roederer Brut NatureLouis Roederer Cristal
Pol Rober BrutPol Roger Vintage Brut
Collet BrutValentin Leflaive Verzenzy Blanc de Noir Extra Brut
Billecart Salmon Le RoséPertois Moriset Brut L’Assemblage
Jacquinet Dumez Extra Bru Cru LuministeHelene Avize Grand Cru Les Avats
Laherte Freres Ultradition Extra BrutMarc Hebrart Cuvee Reserve
Diebolt Vallois Brut TraditionDeibolt Vallois Brut Blanc de Blanc
Diebolt Vallois Brut RoséFamille Mousse L’Esquisse Blanc de Noir Extra Brut
Girard Bonnet Les Mussettes Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Extra BrutVilmart & Cle Cuvee Rubis Rosé 1er Cru
Remi Leroy Extra BrutChampagne Ullens Extra Brut Casse Tete
Krug 171th Grand Cuvee

Zachys Bordeaux Grand Tasting

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Zachys is a fine wine retailer and auction house. Founded in 1944 by Zachy Zacharia, it was a destination wine shop in suburban Scarsdale for many years. They eventually moved their store and operations to Port Chester, New York at 30 Midland Avenue.

Like many wine shops, they will host informal wine tastings for customers, but on occasion they will host a ticketed and a more focused wine tasting.

Port Chester is about an hour train ride north from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. I’ve been to several of those ticked tastings and I can say that it’s worth the train ride. Whatever theme or category the tasting will be, it will be an excellent tasting, and they will be pouring quality juice.

On September 20th, they held a Bordeaux Grand Tasting. The event featured over 30 wines from the major appellations. It was a very enjoyable tasting because they not only poured current vintages, but poured some older vintages as well.

Pauillac

2003 Chateau d’Armailhac: Cloudy medium brick, big perfume of violets and sweet crushed gravel, chewy dark fruit with mint notes, great balance and a long finish.

2021 Chateau-Pontet Canet: Clear medium purple, ceder, graphite and cigarette smoke on the nose, silky red fruit with dusty, tree bark notes on the finish.

2022 Chateau Lynch-Bages: Opaque dark red, purple rim, slate and gun metal on the nose, chewy and dusty crushed black fruit ending with silky tannin.

2022 Chateau Clerc Milon: Opaque dark red, purple rim, cedar and sweet red fruit on the nose, dense and chewy black fruit with a good grip and a balanced and long plummy finish.

2022 Chateau Haut Batailley: Opaque dark purple, closed nose of ripe fruit, chewy red fruit with silky, firm tannin, long finish.

Pessac-Leognan

2014 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte: Opaque dark brick, perfume of cedar, cigarette smoke and sweet cooked fruit, chewy with mouth crunching tannin, long finish with mint notes.

2019 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte: Opaque dark brick, perfume of smoke and barnyard, chewy black fruit with crushed rock notes, silky and dusty tannin on the balanced finish.

2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte: Opaque dark purple, cigarette smoke on the nose, chewy black fruit with silky and firm tannin with green herbs on the long finish.

Margaux

2008 Chateau Rauzan-Selga: Cloudy dark brick, stinky barnyard on the nose, silky, chewy red fruit with barnyard notes on the firm finish.

2009 Chateau Rauzan-Selga: Opaque dark brick, crushed slate and barnyard on the nose, chewy red leather fruit with roast meat notes, chewy finish with a great balance.

2021 Chateau Rauzan-Selga: Opaque dark purple, mint, red tar and roast meat on the nose, concentrated tight red fruit with bitter cherry notes, moderate tannin and acidity, long finish.

2022 Chateau Rauzan-Selga: Opaque black, purple rim, crush red berry, mint and dark chocolate on the nose, chewy and toasty fruit with dark chocolate notes, good grip, long finish.

Saint-Julien

2014 Chateau Branaire Ducru: Opaque dark brick, tar, mint and barnyard on the nose, chewy dark fruit with crunchy tannin, great grip, tarry finish.

2016 Chateau Branaire Ducru: Clear medium brick, tree bark and red tar on the nose, concentrated and dusty ending with tart acidity.

2018 Chateau Branaire Ducru: Opaque medium brick, sweet barnyard on the nose, chewy, mouth filling fruit with cedar and gun metal notes, great balance.

Saint-Emillion

2005 Chateau Canon: Opaque medium brick, perfume of slate, steel and dirt, chewy fruit and chewy tannin with crushed rock notes, long finish.

2009 Chateau Canon: Opaque cloudy dark brick, ripe, juicy fruit on the nose, chunky and steely with bitter cherry notes ending with a nice grip.

2015 Chateau Canon: Opaque black with a brick rim, saline, cinnamon and earth notes on the nose, chewy with slate notes, great grip, long finish.

2022 Chateau Canon: Opaque medium brick, perfume of dusty red fruit, chewy red fruit with green herb notes, nice grip, long finish.

Saint-Estephe

2016 Chateau Les Bosq: Opaque dark brick, ripe red fruit on the nose, chewy and chunky dark chocolate fruit, good grip.

Bandol Tasting New York City 2025

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Bandol is a wine appellation in the Provence region of southern France. There has been wine making in that region since Roman times and the region was the first to get the AOC (translated to Controlled Designation of Origin) designation in 1941.

On August 13th, Verve Wine Shop located at 24 Hubert Street in lower Manhattan held a tasting of seven Bandol wines from four producers. They poured two whites, three rosé and two reds.

It was a nice tasting of wines that I don’t normally drink. I enjoyed the whites because they were made with an obscure varietal (Clairette) that I don’t drink very often.

2022 Domaine Marie Berenice Bandol Blanc: Made from Clairette and Ugni blanc grapes. Clear medium gold, ripe mango on the nose, juicy and dusty with earth notes on the finish, nice balance.

2023 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Blanc: Made from Clairette, Ugni Blanc and Grenache Blanc grapes. Clear light gold, peaches and earth notes on the nose, juicy ripe fruit with some earth notes on the finish, fairly low acidity, easy drinking.

2023 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Rosé “Vielles Vignes”: Blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault. Light copper in color, light strawberry fragrance on the nose, medium body with good acidity.

2023 Domaine des Trois Filles Bandol Rosé: Blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault. Light copper in color, cantaloupe on the nose, peppery notes on the fruit, crisp acids.

2024 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé: Light red in color, vegetal and black pepper notes on the nose, light berry and toast notes on the fruit, crisp acids.

2021 Domaine Marie Berenice Bandol Rouge: Blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache. Clear medium purple, perfume of tar, crushed stone and cooked vegetable, chewy and tarry fruit, balanced with a nice grip.

2019 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Rouge: Blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Vieux Carignan. Clear medium brick, toasty earth and crushed red fruit on the nose, juicy red fruit with tar notes, nice grip.

Chateau D’Yquem Vertical Tasting NYC

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On March 18th, I attended the first annual Platinum brand portfolio tasting of importer and distributor Misa NY & NJ. As part of the tasting, they held a seminar for the wines of Chateau D’Yquem which I was fortunate enough to attend. The event was held at an event space at 33 West 19th Street in Manhattan.

Sauterne is an iconic sweet dessert wine and along with another sweet white wine, Barsac, is produced in southeast Bordeaux.

The wines are made using the Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grape varietals. A distinguishable characteristic of these wine is that they are produced after the grapes are infected with a fungus, Botrytis Cenerea also called Noble Rot. The fungus shrivels the grapes and concentrates the sugars and flavors. The best wines have a balance of sweetness and acidity.

At the top of the pyramid when it comes to Sauterne are the wines from the 400 year-old Chateau D’Yquem which many consider make the greatest sweet wine in the world. They pick the grapes by hand with multiple passes through the vineyard.

At the seminar these are the wines served:

2016 “Y” D’Yquem: 75% Sauvignon Blanc 25% Semillon. A rare dry white wine from D’Yquem, Clear light gold with green tints, sweet grass and lime notes on the nose, juicy chewy white fruit with green herbs, balance acids and tannins.

2022 Chateau D’Yquem: 80% Semillon 20% Sauvignon Blanc. This vintage is the current bottling released on the week of this tasting. Clear dark gold, sweet peaches on the nose, nice balance of fruit an acidity.

2015 Chateau D’Yquem: 75% Semillon 25% Sauvignon Blanc: Clear dark gold, ripe vegetal nose, chewy canned peaches on the fruit, getting cardboard flavors.

2010 Chateau D’Yquem: 87% Semillon 13% Sauvignon Blanc: Clear dark gold, green herbs and peaches on the nose, thick with good acidity.

2005 Chateau D’Yquem 80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc: My favorite of the vertical, clear dark gold, tree bark notes on the nose, chewy and silky with good acidity.

La Paulée Burgundy Verticals Tasting NYC 2025

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La Paulée began as communal banquet for growers and their workers in Burgundy around the region of Meursault, France.

In 2000, Daniel Johnnes brought the concept to New York City and this event was the 25th anniversary of La Paulée New York City. This year the event was also held in San Francisco and Tennessee.

It’s the premier Burgundy event in the city with several days of lunches, (expensive) dinners, seminars and tastings. The three walk around tastings consisted of the Grand Tasting which is their signature event where they poured the most current vintage of Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines, the “Off Grid” tasting which featured more accessible (and not crazy expensive) Burgundian wines, and the third event was the Verticals tasting which showcased older vintages of Premier and Grand Cru Burgundy wines.

I was lucky enough to attend the Verticals tasting on Friday morning. This was a great opportunity to experience some of the most famous wines of the world with some age to them. Only with this caliber of wines will you bring out dedicated wine drinkers to an event with an 10am start time.

The pinot noirs of Burgundy are the template of what every wine maker in the world that grows pinot noir strive to emulate.

They are some of the finest wines of the world but, in my opinion, also some of the most challenging wines to appreciate. A wine region like Bordeaux is pretty consistent but when it comes to Burgundy, even with the great Domaines, the wines can be hit or miss many times. Many of the wines I sampled this afternoon were difficult to drink with the high acids and high tannins that many of them showed, even in the older vintages. In any case, it still was a great experience.

The tasting was held at Second in the Eventi Hotel at 851 6th Avenue in Manhattan.

Some of what I sampled;

White

2018 Joseph Drouhin Montrachet Grand Cru “Marquis de Laguiche”: Clear light gold, tropical fruit notes on the nose with juicy peach notes, great balance with a long finish.

2018 Pierre Girardin Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru: Clear light gold, light toast notes on the nose with crisp toast note on the fruit.

2022 Pierre Girardin Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru: Clear light gold, big, toasty nose, chewy, toasty fruit, nice acidity.

Red

1999 Domaine Faiveley Corton Grand Cru “Clos des Cortons Faiveley”: Clear medium brick, warm ripe fruit on the nose, dusty leather notes and green graphite on the finish, crunchy tannins.

2006 Domaine Dujac Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Aux Combottes”: Clear light brick, cigarette smoke, dusty tar and green herbs on the nose, cherry red leather fruit ending with mouth coating tannins.

2009 Domaine Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru “Aux Vergelesses Rouge”: Clear light brick, barnyard red fruit on the nose, chewy black licorice fruit with silky big tannins.

2009 Domaine Simone Bize Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru “Aux Vergelesses Rouge”: Clear light brick, barnyard and red fruit on the nose, chewy black licorice fruit with silky, big tannins.

2012 Domaine David Duband Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru en magnum: Opaque brown, tar, mint and graphite on the nose, chewy milk chocolate fruit, firm, silky tannins.

2012 Domaine de Montille Beaune 1er Cru “Les Greves”: Clear light brick, barnyard on the nose, tight red fruit with leather notes, tight and tart.

2016 Domaine Didier Fornerol Cote de Nuits Villages “La Rue des Foins”: Clear light purple, slight toast and barnyard on the nose, chewy red licorice fruit, very firm tannins.

2016 Domaine Georges Mugneret Gibourg Clos Vougeot Grand Cru: Clear light brick, smoke and sweet red leather on the nose, tight, chewy fruit with some earth notes, big tannins.

2017 Domaine Hudelot Noellat Vosne Romanee 1er Cru “Les Suchots”: Clear light brick, dirty ripe fruit on the nose, chewy black licorice fruit, silky tannins, long finish.

2017 Domaine Denis Mortet Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru “Lavaux Saint Jacques”: Clear light brick, sweet earth and tar on the nose, chewy sweet fruit, silky tannins and graphite notes on the finish.

2018 Domaine Derey Freres Fixin “Les Clos”: Clear light brick, closed nose of sweet candy, cooked vegetable notes on the fruit, silky tannins.

2019 Domaine Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses Rouge: Clear light brick, barnyard nose, juicy red fruit with earth notes, balanced finish.

2019 Domaine Faiveley Corton Grand Cru “Clos des Cortons Faively”: Clear light purple, dirty violets on the nose, juicy, chewy leather red fruit, nice balance.

2019 Domaine Didier Fornerol Cote de Nuits Villages “La Rue des Foins”: Clear medium purple, barnyard and dark chocolate on the nose, chewy fruit with roast nuts and smoke on the finish ending with good acidity.

2019 Domaine Yvon Clerget Clos Vougeot Grand Cru: Clear light brick, barnyard and graphite on the nose, chewy raspberry fruit ending with graphite notes and silky tannins.