Ancient Wine Epiphanies in Paris!

[Scoobinski]

Having been invited to a small wine-gathering here in Paris, I did my best to hunt for a respectable bottle to bring along for the evening. My humble offering of 2001 Bernard Dugat-Py was summarily overshadowed by the following line-up:

1953 CHATEAU MONTROSE Grand Cru Classé St Estèphe
Amazing nose! Highly concentrated cocoa, coffee, and cherries filled the room. Amazing length, perfect structure and didn't lose anything for the duration of the evening. More cherries and earth on the tongue. Hugh Heffner on Viagra. 95/100

1934 Chateau Rauzan-Gassies
This bottle was in such pristine condition, at first impression it looked as fresh as my 2001! Level was in the neck, and apparently hadn't been topped up at the winery - incredible. Amber brick but with ruby core; sweet toasty mature aromas - wonderful cocoa. At 71, this wine could still run the marathon. Sweet entry, very fine, firm from front to back. Later, some sweet smoked-bacon on the nose. 96/100

1933 VOSNE ROMANEE "Les Beaumonts" 1er Cru
This bottle was a little worse for wear, and the level was mid shoulder at best, but the wine was breathtaking. Totally unique experience for me - delicate, yet wonderfully refined. I would have expected any wine this old, especially from burgundy, to fall apart pretty quickly, but this seemed to improve with air. Mousey brown colour with faint remnants of tannins. Extremely fine, silky and dusty. Violets and pot-pourri. 97/100

1943 - POMMARD 'Grand Vin de Bourgogne'
The level was good on this war veteran, but badly corked. N/A

1959 Chateau Talbot
Dark and opaque wine. Ruby core with a fading rim. Could easily have been from the 80's. Sweet cassis and cedar nose that almost seemed closed. Full bodied with more sweet fruit on the palate. Beautiful balance and if anything the tannins will hold it together for some time yet. 95/100

2001 Bernard Dugat-Py
Just like the 1999 we had in February, this wine is an anomaly to Burgundy and Pinot-Noir. A couple of the guys thought this was an Aussie red. Well balanced, structured, and sure to last and last. Red berries and cherries on the nose. Obviously too young for this line-up, but nonetheless a super wine. 93/100.


After this experience, any inhibitions I may have had about risking old wine at auction are forever lost. I just wish I had collected wine when I was in primary school instead of rugby and basketball cards!