How best to select wines to pair with food courses is a source of many opinions and much debate. Recommendations have evolved because of the high cost of traditional wine pairings plus the now available interesting wide selection of quality wines from around the world. Many diners prefer at dinner simplifying the presentation to just one wine to enjoy with the dish served emphasizing more social interaction. Wine groups sometimes organize an event with a wine theme resulting in an educational tasting of many wines at either a vertical or horizontal. Another fine choice is the mini vertical or horizontal allowing the diner to study and compare two or three similar wines. The Sous-Commanderie de Vancouver of Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin has brilliantly achieved this at two consecutive events. Kudos for most smartly chosen wines by new Grande Senechale Dr. Christine Collison and Cellarmaster Blair Curtis at both the annual wine & cheese soiree (reported last year on March 18, 2024 here) on March 5, 2025 and Tavola restaurant combining French wines with Italian cuisine on April 8, 2025.

Your scribe really appreciated the opportunity to experience the vintage variations of the same wine. A few comments:

At Wine & 16 Cheeses:

MEURSAULT PERRIERES 1ER CRU ALBERT GRIVAULT 2006, 2008, 2015:

Really like the complexity and aging ability of this excellent vineyard – especially in 2014. Here instructional to compare hotter year 2015 at higher 14 abv with less acidity but full rich extract opulent style drinking forwardly but no rush – seems more like the rounded power of Charmes; Cooler 2008 smaller pour as one bottle was maderized showing best with lighter elegance better balanced acidity with subtle minerals almost Genevrieres in style; Exotic 2006 more maturity with tertiary complex bouquet with richer depth on best plateau now.

CLOS VOUGEOT GRAND CRU of different producers from 3 vintages:

Not top vintages but all showed better than expected approaching best plateau for current enjoyment.

2007 DOMAINE GROS FRERE ET SOEUR “MUSIGNI”:

Variable year but lovely clean elegant and stylish from a key vineyard north of the Chateau with major mid-1980s replanting.

2006 ALAIN HUDELOT-NOELLAT:

Vintage that required careful sorting because of rot. But here with a property south of the Chateau shows the darkest biggest solid most fruit of these three. No outstanding 2005 in this flight but this surprises evolving rather nicely with balance.

2004 DOMINIQUE LAURENT:

Controversial “lady-bug” year often with those flawed green vegetal notes but wine better than many 2004 red Burgundy. Lacks ripe fruit and finishes rather dry but OK with food.

At Tavola excellent Italian dinner by Chef Wesley Weber and brigade:

Underated Vaulorent vying with Montee de Tonnerre for best 1er Cru Chablis. At southern end of large 130 hectare Fourchaume are 13+ hectares of Vaulorent adjoining Grand Cru Les Preuses. A rich full complex Chablis especially from William Fevre.

2008 CHABLIS VAULORENT 1ER CRU DOMAINE WILLIAM FEVRE:

All their Fourchaume vineyards are in the prized Vaulorent section. Shows lightest youngest green tinged look. Wonderful fresh minerals and vibrant lift. Could be a bit fuller perhaps but excellent typicity. Clear winner!

2009 CHABLIS VAULORENT 1ER CRU JEAN-MARC BROCARD:

Dark yellow golden look from hot year. Very mature. Rich ready soft lacking needed acidity. Drink up.

2015 CHABLIS VAULORENT 1ER CRU DOMAINE LOUIS MICHEL:

Top producer since 1850 but hot year has advanced dark look with the opulence of Vaulorent but more “Macon-like” fruit.
Shows you to collect for aging the better balanced vintages like 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2020.

POMMARD LES GRANDS EPENOTS 1ER CRU DOMAINE MICHEL GAUNOUX 1999, 2001, 2002

Misleading names like in Echezeaux & Grands Echezeaux. Here Les Grands Epenots is smaller than Les Petits Epenots and refers to the grander longer length of the vine rows.The most elegant Pommard is between the two as the monopole of Comte Armand in Clos des Epeneaux. Wines show their vintages well here from the largest holdings of Domaine Michel Gaunoux.

1999: Darkest deep look. Dense concentrated fine tannins. Intense age worthy and very Pommard. Patience.

2001: Less ripeness. Lighter colour open & developed at 24 years. Easy current drinking now.

2002: Consistent surprising year. Like the elegance and charm of the red cherries fruit.

2000 NICOLAS POTEL – Compare same vintage and producer who picked later in 2000 from different vineyards:

CHAPELLE-CHAMBERTIN: Does better in cooler years (opposite of Latricieres). Pretty clean without rot but less acidity than some 2000s with earthy softer and supple textures.

MAZIS-CHAMBERTIN: Way more fruit depth and rich complexity of this vineyard shows through. Prefer the structure and the power of Mazis.

Thanks for the experiences.

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Chateau Pichon Baron in Pauillac has really progressed since the acquisition of the property by owner Axa in 1987. Some good wines previously produced including an excellent four year stretch from 1959 to 1962 including the surprising 1960 with those three other outstanding vintages. However they are today back at the deserving Second Growth classification received in 1855 with a solid run of complex lower yielding mature vines (using more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend) resulting in outstanding wines from 2015 to 2023 inclusive. Managing Director of AXA Millesimes Christian Seely was at our Vancouver International Wine Festival on February 28, 2014 conducting a vertical of his wines from 2010 to 1990. He stated that the recent history was “in two phases of first 1987 to 2000 of less know how producing higher yields and secondly 2000 on paying more attention to small details in the vineyards and much lower yields with better selection”. Christian describes it as “72 hectares of which 38 are great gravel best plots of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and to the west on richer clay soil is mostly Merlot used earlier in the Grand Vin but now more in their second wine Les Tourelles de Longueville.” He described the present terroir as “The Renaissance of Pichon Baron with a personality defined by old vine Cabernet Sauvignon grown on a plateau bed of gravel”.

On April 1, 2025 our Vancouver Group of Eight held meeting # 129 at Blue Water Cafe featuring nine vintages of Pichon Baron from 2009 back to 1982. We started with the legendary small appellation of CHATEAU-GRILLET 2011 run by the Neyret-Gachet family from 1830 until the 2011 acquisition by Artemis Domaines (Pinault family). This was their first year but the Viognier was so special combining delicate minerality with tight power and elegance. A beauty.

The Pichon Baron were served in two flights youngest to oldest and your scribe has ranked them personally with the first place deserving a much higher score than 9th but all really showed very well indeed. The tasting confirmed that even with higher yields the unique terroir really shone through in top vintages like 1989 & 1990. The future for this property is very high indeed.

2009 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

This very dark almost black younger vintage is 70 CS & 30 M with 80% new oak. Impressive powerful depth of fruit with harmonious balance. Juicy exuberant ripe accessible young but not too ripe as still built to age. Slight label change in 2009 from “sickly griffins” to “healthy vigorous “ ones. Christian fav is the twin 2010 of 79CS/21M where “the purity & freshness of the fruit are masking the tannins”. Two degrees higher average temperature in 2009 than 2010 that was cooler. Rank 4th (best future)

2000 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

Not as dense as some recent ones but open bouquet with delicious finesse and balance of integrated tannins. Showing beautifully on a lovely drinking plateau now at 25 years. Not as fantastic as show stopper 2000 Lynch Bages Pauillac written up last week here. Enjoy. Rank 3rd

1998 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

More herbaceous but less Pauillac definition forwardly with spices and less tannins. Easy mellow smooth ready but missing depth in the mid-palate. Drink presently. Rank 8th

1996 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

Surprised at being the lightest rim of the First Flight. Structured tannins with high CS 80 + 20M with 70% new oak in almost a Napa-like eucalyptus style. Christian stated “high yields in 1996 of 385,000 bottles and since 2000 only half that production of the Grand Vin at 170,000-190,000”. Solid but a bit disappointing for this top vintage. Rank 6th

1995 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

More colour depth as Christian noted back in his 2014 seminar that “smaller grapes for more skins and intense juice than 1996″ but spicy less ripe Merlot over lesser amount of CS on the nose. Evolving more quickly but losing fruit. Better when paired with the tasty excellent mushroom rabbit course. Rank 7th

1990 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

Deep but paling edge with stylish beautiful lead pencil, cedar, cigar box Pauillac definition. Good texture with earthy flavours plus drying a little bit on the finish but nonetheless excellent. Christian called it “one of the great years with a fresh style but yields of 73CS & 27 M were way too high at 67+ hl/ha”. Some tasters ranked it first or tied for first but your scribe believes 1989 has purity with more elegance. Rank 2nd.

1989 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

Another great twin year with 1990. Very textbook Pauillac definition! Complex pure fruit aromatics with exotica. Wow. 65% new oak worked perfectly here using the same cepagement as 1990. More intense richness from the riper hotter opulent year but is holding the fruit wonderfully precisely together throughout. Also improved the best with airing and warming opening up showing more development over the dinner. Collected this 1989 vintage since Wine Spectator named it in 1992 as their Wine of the Year. Superb choice by them that your scribe has respected and enthusiastically enjoyed over many decades for the “breathtaking” quality. WOTN for me and Fred Withers agreed. Rank 1st

1986 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

Colour OK but not as dark as many 1986 Bordeaux. Not that clean with a touch of TCA corkiness. Less depth and less weight. Simpler. Not best bottle but seem to have missed the mark this time. Last vintage of the Bouteiller family ownership since the 1930s before Axa purchase. Your scribe has tasted better bottles of it than this one. Rank 9th

1982 CHATEAU PICHON BARON PAUILLAC:

Good bottle and drinking lovely but drier with less fruit than the glorious Fifth Growth Pauillac Grand Puy Lacoste 1982. Nice elegant mature finish. Leaner and was showing more fruit a few years ago but sings better with the culinary treat course of beef two ways. Drink up. Rank 5th

2003 CHATEAU RIEUSSEC SAUTERNES:

Deep dark usual Rieussec look. Rich powerful caramel/toffee notes with honey that pairs nicely with the prominent ginger in the ice cream.

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The 2000 vintage in Bordeaux arrived with a lot of hype because of the double zero Millennium year celebrations. Late flowering with early mildew issues followed by dry hot long summer temperatures resulted in pretty consistent wines. There was enough ripe balanced fruit with structure plus a lovely approachability as well. Your scribe has enjoyed drinking many 2000 Bordeaux from different properties over the years and have found them surprisingly delicious even beyond the classified growths. Good value Lanessan, Cambon La Pelouse, Faizeau Vieille Vignes, Fontenil, Chasse Spleen, Clos du Marquis, and low yielding Reignac all provided pleasure early on and this year maturing D’Armailhac, Lagrange and Pichon Baron are showing tertiary bouquet development with smooth mellow complex textures.

On April 5, 2025 at the Vancouver Club our active Commanderie de Bordeaux held a Gala dinner bringing in 5 new members with four Champagnes to compare at the reception followed by nine wines from the 2000 Bordeaux vintage. A few comments:

NV CHARTOGNE-TAILLET CUVEE SAINTE ANNE EXTRA BRUT

Excellent grower Champagne in Merfy just 7 km north-west of Reims on the slopes of Massif de St. Thierry. Mostly 2021 harvest of vineyards using horse ploughing with natural yeast, tank fermented, and barrel aging. Disgorged February 2024 with only 2.5 g/l dosage. Lovely fresh stylish refined drier bubbles but showing less lees character. Well done.

NV HUGUES GODME ROSE GRAND CRU VERZENAY

This house has been organic and biodynamic since 2006 and this blend of 65% Pinot Noir & 35 Chardonnay adds 12% Coteaux Champenois Rouge. Disgorged January 2022 with 6 g/l dosage after about 4 years on the lees. Nicely done good value Rose.

NV PHILIPPONNAT ROYALE RESERVE ROSE BRUT

Famous house uses only 100% Premiere Presse quality from 69% Pinot Noir, 29 Chardonnay & 2 Pinot Meunier. Mostly 2019 vintage with 27% added wood barrel reserves disgorged April 2023 after 3+ years lees aging. Use 8% still Pinot Noir from Mareuil-sur-Ay & Riceys and higher 9g/l dosage. Dependable easy drinking Rose.

2016 PHILIPPONNAT BLANC DE NOIRS EXTRA-BRUT

Only Vintage Champagne in this group from the softer accessible 2016 vintage. All 100% Pinot Noir using only Premiers & Grands Crus vineyards that show top quality fruit. Production of 40039 bottles with higher 4.5 g/l dosage for an Extra-Brut.
Disgorged July 2022 nearing 6 years on the lees for classy better complexity. Delicious.

2000 SARGET DE GRUAUD-LAROSE SAINT-JULIEN

Good colour but drier nose and lesser oak in a rustic style. Blend is 64% Cab Sauv, 31 Merlot, 3 Cab Franc, and 2 Petit Verdot with 14 months in French oak but only 10% is new. Drinking well especially with the exquisite Raviolo. Excellent simpler second wine on its own but is in very tough company here.

2000 CALON-SEGUR SAINT-ESTEPHE

Slightly paler edge but best open aromatics of the first flight. Excellent sous-bois fruit but seems less defined St. Estephe commune with that stylish 50% new oak and integrated tannins. On a lovely plateau already but no rush.

2000 CLERC-MILON PAUILLAC

Deepest darkest colour of First Flight displaying medium bodied cassis black tea tobacco notes. Signs in as Pauillac but drier blend of 2/3 Cab Sauv & 1/3 Merlot in a drier leathery old style using 30% new oak. A bit coarser but OK.

2000 D’ARMAILHAC PAUILLAC DOUBLE MAGNUM

Served blind as a mystery wine with good depth and medicinal nose to start like an older Leoville Barton often shows but cleared with airing from this big format to clean rich youthful complex fruit. Guessed 2000 St Julien or Pauillac but surprised it was my fav d’Armailhac that I drink fairly often as more supple tertiary development now in regular 750 ml bottles. Wonderful underrated 2000 wine. Shows so young with that special character of the vintage very well indeed.

2000 GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE PAUILLAC

Lighter edge of maturing colour with a beautiful open classic cedar cigar box Pauillac definition. Medium bodied savoury smooth round creamy with outstanding balance. Long elegant with classic flavours. Always such good value showing textbook Pauillac. Plateau but no rush. My second fav.

2000 LASCOMBES MARGAUX

Dark and good selection of the best ripe grapes shows. Less defined Margaux but does have intensity in the softer entry and is forwardly drinking on an improving quality track by new owners. Pairs nicely with the Beef Wellington course.

2000 LYNCH BAGES PAUILLAC

Dark and concentrated with an outstanding bouquet of defined cigar box cedar and black currants with a touch of graphite & mint. So full of black ideal dense fruits of 71% Cab Sauv, 16 Merlot 11 Cab Franc & 2 Petit Verdot with 70% new oak at only 13.3 abv. Even better than the 2000 Pichon Baron tried last week. One of the very top 2000 Bordeaux. Clearly Wine of the Night for your scribe and Fred Withers. Already great and will even develop more complexity!. Wow.

2000 LEOVILLE POYFERRE SAINT JULIEN

Similar dark look. Less open and less dramatic on the nose but 80% new oak. Easy St. Julien style and more accessible than the other two more backward Leovilles. Like very much the smoother opulent textures with mellow tannins and long finish. My tie for second with GPL but this WOTN for both Nick Wright and Cellarmaster Alvin Nirenberg.

2000 CLIMENS BARSAC

Jumped out of the glass with a strange pine pitch bitter citrus nose on first pour. Another bottle shows way purer fruit and maturing beauty. Drier Barsac styling suited the cheeses even better than a sweeter Sauternes. Always a nice finish.

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