Grand Cru
494. Champagne H. Billiot Fils, Brut Réserve Grand Cru Ambonnay, NV (2008)
We wandered around Ambonnay, looking for open small producers, and this one had a shop frontage… which turned out to be an extension of …
439. Domaine Xavier Liger-Belair, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, 2001
Wasn’t sure how this would turn out, as it was from the ‘other’, 3rd, Liger-Belair, who rarely gets noticed, and Clos de Vougeot can …
437. Clos des Menuts, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2005
When I saw this on sale at Schipol Airport, I felt I had to take a trip down memory lane, and get a …
395. Champagne A. Jacquart & Fils, Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru Le Mesnil, 1996
One of the first 1996 Champagnes I’d drunk, and looked very young, compared with the 1995 Delamotte, for example. A tasting of Bollinger RD …
380. Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros, 1999
Arse, arse, arse, arse. Getting this label off proved possible, only for it to disintegrate on touch. That more-or-less topped-off an end-to-end bad news …
340. Château Valandraud, Virginie de Valandraud Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2000
My first Bordeaux from the lauded 2000 vintage. Jean-Luc Thunevin’s wines have recently been criticised for being “too short-lived” for ‘proper’ Bordeaux. Well, I’d …
339. Domaine des Chezeaux, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, 1997
A bin-end from Planet of the Grapes, and the first Chambertin Grand Cru I’ve had. I suspect that this is from a less well …
313. Domaines Schlumberger, Riesling Grand Cru Saering Alsace, 2002
Continuing the New Year resolution, the lads at Planet of the Grapes suggested this as something interesting. Overall, this is definitely well-made… BUT, the …
229. Preiss-Zimmer, Tokay Pinot Gris Grand Cru Mambourg Alsace, 1998
Probably a reflection of the weather in the year, this one. 1998 was one of the hottest on record for the neighbouring part of …
196. Dopff au Moulin, Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg de Riquewihr Alsace, 2001
Initially another creamy vanilla opening on the nose, but this rapidly opened-up into white flower notes – acacia honey. Then a combination of lime …