Wine Raconteur

Domaine du Coulet - Brise Cailloux - Cornas - Northern Rhone - 2006

The amazing Matthieu Barret is one of the leading lights in Cornas. All of His wine are very consistent, have some sentimental connection to it.

Score: 19/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes above & below.
Nose: Where do I begin…breathtaking elements of herbs like oregano , slightly metallic minerals ignited the floral layers. These aromas brings in the inner calm of me. Stunning complexity, very promising.
Palate: (attack) unreal minerals transforming into floral. (Mid-palate) dried herbs & fresh flowers, silky and symmetrical. almost liquid minerality. Pure expression of season changing nuances, vibrantly powerful. back of palate echoing angelica scents.
Texture: Stellar vibrancy the mouth, well tuned tannins.
Finish: Everlasting harmony of spring flowers & herbs whispering all the way. Please wait and see if this wine will become perfect in 5-6 years time.
Reminiscence: This wine is truly poetic.
Music to pair: Clair de lune by Debussy Or Nocturne in Eb by Chopin

This picture was taken during the first tasting of his wine in Los Angeles.
I was holding my favorite bottle of Barolo made by him, Guido, owner of Conterno Fantino. Great guy !

Conterno Fantino - Barbera d’Alba “Vignota” 2006

Score: 16.50/20
Elegant earth. remarkable sense of energy. Dried herbs, sweet plum with hint of spice mingling. seamless tannins gliding thru the end.

Conterno Fantino - Barolo - Sori Ginestra - 2004

Score: 18.75/20
Closed at the beginning , opened up in an hour. Great deal of minerals. Concentrated fruits, black licorice, tar, dried flowers. Earthy bass notes. Classy elegant multi layers structure. Need some more cellar time to enjoy this wine fully. 8-10 yrs.

Conterno Fantino - Barolo - Vigna del Gris 2004

Score: 17.75/20

Still not playing balls after an hour, indicates some serious cellar time. I picked up subtleties of herbs, intensely mineral driven along with spice. fabulous acidity. Velvety dense fruits but very shy. Finish has some harsh edges. Don’t touch it til another 10 yrs at least.

Chateau Palmer 1998


Score: 15/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: very complex nose, sign of terroir, wet stone, cedar wood, nice core of earths.
Palate: (attack) flavors of tar, wild berries. (mid-palate) well balance of acidity/sugar, roses mixed with mocha
Texture: velvety tannins.
Finish: Elegant,mid to long length.

Chateau Palmer 1996

Score: 17.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: ultra complex, very floral , warm opulent berries.
Palate: (attack) ripe fresh boysenberries, touch of pepper (mid-palate) great subtleties of earth, tabacco, dried leaves. deceptively well developed
Texture: Sleek & silky tannins. good balance.
Finish: lingering with elements of mineral, earth, root vegetable, gracefully.

Chateau Palmer 1995

Score: 17.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: layers of cassis and prunes. very engaging.
Palate: (attack) brightness of acidity wasn’t expected but in came in a well manner. colorful tone of berries. (mid-palate) mélange of prunes, star anise, plum with core of roasted black tea.
Texture: after 14 yrs it still got the tannins, incredible! I would imagine it must have been an angry wine at the beginning.
Finish: Expect more but didn’t happen. mid - long finish, quite one dimensional.

Chateau Palmer 2005

Score: 13/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Mmmm… Sugarly bamboo & raisins reminds me of the ultra ripe new world Cab.
Palate: (attack) Big multi berry spectrum (mid-palate) cocoa, immense concentration of blackcurrant & cherries. Toffee candied ripe berries. Lack nuances. I couldn’t recognize it was a Margaux.
Texture: Thick, dense over ripped fruits dominate everything, I thought I was imbibing Port
Finish: It was indeed a big powerful one dimensional finish. Shall I save it for dessert ?
Reminiscence: It like watching the Beijin Olympic fireworks on TV. Eye candied but lacks of substance. Shall the Chinese spend more interests in the hygiene & environment, cleanliness on the streets than throwing hundreds of millions of dollars on Fireworks in order to look good to rest of the World temporarily ? Would it justify your image of the over-lead toys, the health threaten dry walls ? Shallow…

Domaine Comté Senard - SAVIGNY-LES-BEAUNE 1er Cru
Les Vergelesses - 2002 (blanc)


Score: 17/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: aromas of stone fruits, dried flowers
Palate: (attack) herbal substances, earth/minerals (Mid-Palate) Parsley & white pepper as top note vibrating with citrus and linden. Base with some old oaks.
Texture: Crisp, brilliant crystal
Finish: Med to long with some spiciness at first and ginger astringency lingering.
Reminiscence: On one clear day, things can be seen so far & clear. The breeze brings the fresh grass smell.

Domaine Comté Senard - Corton Blanc - Grand Cru = 2004


Score: 16.5/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Intriguing nose of damp earth, minerals. Stream of stone fruits, lemon zest & grass.
Palate: (attack) well positioned bright acidity, rocky minerals (Mid-Palate) Sensational earthiness, dried roses, elegant yet persistent. Bright herbal tone like wintergrass. Truly astounding !
Texture: Crisp like crystal. So rounded no edges.
Finish: Lime rocks, jasmine stands out during the long lasting finsh.
Reminiscence: I m standing on the Alps in Swizterland in the Spring time.

1) Maison Lou Dumont - Mazis-Chambertin - 2005


Score: 16.5/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Enticing earthiness, whiff of bell pepper, a tone of Band-aid scent.
Palate: (attack) Leathery, brightness of cherries. (Mid-Palate) Wild mushroom combined with hint of patchouli. Good acidity, hint of rhubard emerging back of my palate. showing a lttle harsh tannins
Texture: Dry, like vacuuming my tongue. Character of austereness, very tanninic.
Finish: finish was smoother than I expected. hint of underbrush. Require some cellar time, lets taste it again in 6-8 years time.
Reminiscence: a Wealthy but stingy fellow.

Domaine Tortochot - Mazis-Chambertin - Grand Cru 2005

Score: 17.5/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: hint of barnyard, whispers of dried herbs, rustic fruits, cranberries, cherries.
Palate: (attack) a tangy boysenberry teased the tongue. (Mid-palate) Dry, immense amount of tannins. It has a sturdy foundation with lots of fruits hiding behind it waiting to be unfolded. Surrounded by mineralities.
Texture: bright & fresh, got a good suction of tannins.
Finish: Bramble berries, good impact of fruits. very solid & long.

Domaine Tortochot - Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru - 2005


Score: 18.5/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: intoxicating nose of cherries, dusty strawberries supporting by some forest earth. Minty & grassy.
Palate: (attack) Hitting with substantial power of fruits, bright but not flat (Mid-palate) impeccable balance, revealing some pomergrante, blueberries, progressively showing off great deal of depths. Layers of earth & wet stones. It hasn’t really show it all , it has a lot potential to become more complex, its nuances of subtleties will build up.
Texture: Grainy tannins, so rounded like a sphere.
Finish: Long & unforgettable. Clouds of sweetness surreptitiously clinging on back of my throat.
Reminiscence: It’s a mona lisa painting, the smile is magical.

Domaine Tortochot - Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Champeaux 2005

Score: 16.5/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: It’s bit closed. picked up just hint of spice & cherries.
Palate: (attack) Still quite shy, mostly tangy fruits (Mid-palate) slowly developing some fresh herbs, some bright cherries notes. Seems still in a coma now. However, it has the potentials, 4-5 times from now.
Texture: Clean, solid. More acidity of tangy
Finish: Medium length, with some nice minerals, still tangy.

Domaine de Montvac - Vacqueyras -2005
Organic farming


Score: 16.5/20 Concluded by my actual tasitng notes.
Nose: Cherries, plummy, very concentrated
Palate: (attack) good brightness of acidity, peppery, dried cherries. (Mid) great details of subtleties, some rosemary emerging, overall firm and rigid. touch tannins , prune, on side of palate.
Texture: Firm tannins, smooth.
Finish: lavish black cherries & dried herbs, a stellar nuances.

Domaine de Montvac - Gigondas - 2001


Score: 12.75/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: very powerful, cocoa tone with blackberries, licorice
Palate: (attack) ultra ripe fruit dominate the entry(Mid) little off balance, lack of structure, seems falling a bit flat in the middle, ripe fruits still there but fading gradually.
Texture: feels slipping away, bit lack backbone.
Finish: hanging on nicely with plum & apricot. Good ripe fruit but not intellectual.