Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-94)

Good medium red. More serious, tangy aromas of raspberry, minerals and smoke. Wonderful sweetness on the palate; really stuffed with fruit and yet less forthcoming today-perhaps more dominated by its structure- than the Clos Vougeot. Finishes long and firm, with a suggestion of medicinal cherry.

Vinous (90-92)

Good medium red. Cooler, more precise, perfumed aromas of cherry and flowers. Lovely clarity and intensity of flavor. Very long finish shows excellent grip. Demonstrates a lot of personality today. Rousseau's Clos de Beze is always showy at this stage, but the '97 seems a bit less oaky than usual.

Vinous (93)

Domaine d’Auvenay’s 1997 Meursault Narvaux has a precise bouquet with impressive mineralité: flint like scents complemented by hazelnut, and just a suggestion of brioche with aeration. The palate is well balanced and certainly displaying much more ripeness than I expected, almost rounded in texture yet this is counterpoised by that acidity. It becomes more taut towards the finish, long and sustained in the mouth with a detailed, precise and deliciously saline aftertaste. Superb. Tasted at the La Paulée in Beaune.

Vinous (89-92)

Good deep cherry-red. Bitter cherry, raspberry, flowers and white pepper on the nose. Juicy and stony in the mouth, with lovely delicacy and cut. Flavors of maraschino cherry and spicy oak. More firmly structured, less sweet, more serious than the above. Very fresh for the vintage.

Vinous (92+)

Perfumed aromas of hazelnut, lime and spice. Rich but racy and stylish; youthful and minerally. Rather elegantly styled wine, quite precise for the vintage. Very long on the finish. Lafon now uses just 50% new oak for his Genevrieres; as recently as 1992, this was made in all new barrels.

Presenting the prestigious d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 1997 – an expression of French viticulture at its finest. Produced by Domaine d'Auvenay, revered for its collection of white Burgundies, this gem originates from Les Folatières, the largest Premier Cru vineyard in Puligny-Montrachet. The wine is an embodiment of the nurturing terroir, marrying a calcareous soil base with a favourable microclimate that gives life to the signature Chardonnay grapes used in the blend.

Brimming with elegance and finesse, this d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 1997 vintage is testament to meticulous traditional wine-making approaches. It offers a vibrant palate, seamlessly blending opulent fruit flavours with sizzling acidity, all layered with complex mineral undertones. Its extended lees aging enhances the wine's structure and depth. The wine's distinctive bouquet and balanced intensity promise an unparalleled tasting experience. A French enigma, indeed.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-95)

Similar dark red. Perfumed, vinous aromas of crystallized dark berries and oriental spices. A step up in sweetness and depth of flavor; this already shows extravagant inner-mouth flavor and personality. Stronger but perfectly integrated acids give this superb grip for the vintage. Very long, subtle and firm on the finish, with a lively hint of licorice. Showing extremely well today.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-95)

Similar dark red. Perfumed, vinous aromas of crystallized dark berries and oriental spices. A step up in sweetness and depth of flavor; this already shows extravagant inner-mouth flavor and personality. Stronger but perfectly integrated acids give this superb grip for the vintage. Very long, subtle and firm on the finish, with a lively hint of licorice. Showing extremely well today.

LaRVF (95)

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1997

LaRVF (95)

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1997

LaRVF (95)

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru 1997

Vinous (89+)

Full red-ruby. Roasted aromas of game, tar, iris and tobacco. Supple and thick on the palate, with an intriguing smoky/vegetal/autumnal aspect that reminded me of Clos des Lambrays. Comes across as considerably richer than the DRC '97 Grands-Echezeaux, but this also finishes with a slight dry edge.

Vinous (89+)

Full red-ruby. Roasted aromas of game, tar, iris and tobacco. Supple and thick on the palate, with an intriguing smoky/vegetal/autumnal aspect that reminded me of Clos des Lambrays. Comes across as considerably richer than the DRC '97 Grands-Echezeaux, but this also finishes with a slight dry edge.

Vinous (92)

Bright cherry-red. Tangy, stony aromas of raspberry, coffee and pungent spices, plus a liqueur-like suggestion of confiture. Silky and pure in the mouth, with wonderfully sweet, suave fruit that demonstrates superb freshness for the vintage. Finishes long, generous and vibrant. The fruit began with 14% potential alcohol, and the wine was bottled at 13.5%; in comparison, the '98 Mugnier Musigny was chaptalized from 12.3% to 12.9%. But this is not at all a weighty wine.

Vinous (92-94)

Ruby-red. Precise, fine, stony aromas of raspberry, rose petal and smoke; totally different from the last sample. Less volume and sheer ripeness, but higher-pitched, stronger in acidity and more sharply defined. Still, this is a big boy. Shows terrific fruit and great finesse through to the very fine, long finish.

Robert Ampeau Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Combettes 1997 offers an unforgettable journey to the heart of fine winemaking, embodying the renowned tradition of French viticulture. This exquisite white wine, crafted under the watchful eye of the esteemed Robert Ampeau, hails from Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy and is part of the premier cru, denoting its exceptional quality.

The wine is famed for its elegant vibrancy and subtle complexity, a testament to Robert Ampeau's meticulous approach. Spared from invasive modern techniques, Ampeau tends his vineyards with care, allowing the authentic terroir of Montrachet to your glass.

The Robert Ampeau Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Combettes 1997 showcases rich character, nuanced with pear, citrus, almond and stony mineral notes. The palate is robust yet impeccably balanced, carrying through to a lingering, sophisticated finish.

Let this vintage transport you, an emblem of time, passion, and the indomitable spirit of French winemaking tradition.

Indulge in the remarkable essence of Robert Gibourg Morey-Saint-Denis La Bidaude 1997, a sophisticated Villages wine renowned in the fine wine world. As gems of the Burgundy, Robert Gibourg has crafted this exceptional vintage within the prestigious vineyards of Morey-Saint-Denis, France.

Every bottle reveals an exquisite blend of complexity and finesse, resulting from meticulous cultivation and judicious harvesting. Hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes encapsulate the refined terroir expression, imbued with intricately woven layers of dark fruit tones, earthy hues and aged nuances.

The East-facing La Bidaude vineyard, with well-drained limestone-based soils, generously endows this wine with its vibrant richness and subtle depth. Traditional open vat fermentation further enhances the symphony of flavours, ensuring a harmonious, beautifully balanced finish. Reveal your distinguished palate with the Robert Gibourg Morey-Saint-Denis La Bidaude 1997, a prestigious embodiment of artisan winemaking.