2012 Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Côtes du Jura BB1, France, Jura, Wine Review

Always an interesting experience venturing into the Jura. Made by Ludwig "Lulu" Bindernagel. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Savagnin. Light medium gold in color. The nose is interesting. Almost like a dry sherry that's not oxidized. Almonds, slightly "fleshy" with a dried orange peel note. On the palate, there is a nice slightly oily texture. Some vanilla, minerals, almonds and bits of lemon. Nice enough acidity. Long finish. Very different and hard to put into context. I liked it and even more so as it warmed.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2012

Judgment of Paris: Film "Bottle Shock" Brings the Paris Tasting of 1976 to the Big Screen

Bottle Shock On May 24, 1976, Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant hoping to stoke sales at his French-wine-only shop, held a wine competition in Paris. In this competition French judges were invited to blind-taste top chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons from France and California. In an event that would later be dubbed the Judgment of Paris , the California wines –included merely to serve as the “sacrificial lambs” to the supposedly superior French wines- won the competition in a shocking upset. This singular event revolutionized the wine industry and put California on the map as a major world producer of fine wine. This story comes to life on the silver screen for the first time with the film Bottle Shock , starring Bill Pullman, Alan Richman, and Dennis Farina among other notables. I recently chatted with Bottle Shock Co-Writer and Producer Jody Savin about the film. Why this film now? To answer this question in a socio-political sense, I would venture to say that we live in challenging times.

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2002 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

Grade:

This was oxidized. It's hard to say Pre-Mox since it is 17 years old, but this should not have been in this shape. It had been purchased a decade or so ago and well stored since then. Deep gold in color. The nose is slightly oxidized, but not quite to a "sherry" level. On the palate, there is some lime fruit and a bit of butterscotch. But it is oxidized more than the nose. Perhaps still a bit drinkable but why? White Burgundy issues have extended into some Chablis wines, but it's hard to say that is what happened here. This seems more of a less than great cork and a 17 year old Cha

2010 Tissot (Bénédicte et Stéphane / André et Mireille) Arbois Clos de la Tour de Curon, France, Arbois, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

A-

Everyone who tried this had the same reaction - this is interesting. After that some loved it and some hated it. More of the later I think. Certainly not for everyone but I enjoyed it. Deep golden in color. High toned and a bit oxidized. Fascinating nose that had a fleshy note, oranges, cumin and acetone. On the palate, this is very drying. Orange peel and lots of minerals. Depth and lots of things going on. I guess food neutral would be how I would describe it. Some acidity but it plays in its own world.

2015 Chartron et Trébuchet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embazées, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$95.00USD

Served to a group blind. I thought it was a bit oxidized (just slightly) which is worrisome. The group guess was California although I leaned to a more modern, bigger Chablis. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has some lemons with oak/spice but a streak of apple cider. Not fresh apples thought perhaps that was there too. On the palate, apples with some cider notes. Slightly oily texture (which is why I thought Burgundy). Some viscosity. Slightly flabby. It was likely the oak and the lack of acid that led the group into thinking it was from California. OK finish.

2012 Louis Jadot Montrachet, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$450.00USD

Deep golden in color. Perhaps showing some advanced signs but not all the way oxidized by any means. The nose has some minerals, slight lemon peel and a bit of spice. Someone mentioned caramel, but it seemed more like butterscotch from the oak. On the palate, this isn't flabby but the acidity isn't noticeable either. Lots of minerals, some lemon. A bit of depth. Slightly clipped on the finish. Overall, this is a very nice Chardonnay, but when one buys and pays for Montrachet, the expectations are high. This will work with lighter foods.

2012 Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Côtes du Jura BB1, France, Jura, Wine Review

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