Mâcon La Roche Vineuse, Vieilles Vignes, 1997

Drink Up

11.5

Domaine Olivier Merlin

Good appearance.  Still quite fresh.  Good fruit.  But drink up now.

Montagny, 1er Cru, 1997

Drink Soon

13.0

Domaine Stéphane Aladame

Very fresh.  Holding up very well.  Lovely fruit.  Well made.

Rully, 1er Cru, La Pucelle, 1997

Drink Up

10.0

Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot

A bit too old now.

Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Les Chagnots, 1997

Drink Soon

12.0

Domaine Jean-Yves Devevey

Magnum.  Fresh colour.  Good nose.  This is still very youthful.  Very good.

Côte de Beaune La Grande Chatelaine, 1997

Drink Soon

11.0

Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot

Holding up better than his Rully.  Good fruit.  But drink soon now.

Auxey-Duresses, 1997

Drink Soon

11.0

Maison Louis Jadot

Getting a little faded at the end, which is a bit bitter.  But good fruit on the way.  Drink soon.

Pernand-Vergelesses, Vieilles Vignes, 1997

Now-2010

14.0

Domaine du Château de Chorey

Magnum.  This is delicious.  Still ripe and creamy with a suggestion of oak.  No hurry to drink.

Pernand-Vergelesses, 1er Cru, Ile des Vergelesses, 1997

Now-2010

15.0

Domaine Chandon de Briailles

Magnum.  Ripe, balanced, stylish and very good.  Still very much alive.

Savigny-lès-Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Vergelesses, 1997

Now-2010

14.0

Domaine Lucien Jacob

Ripe, stylish and fresh.  Good weight and depth.  Holding up well.

Beaune, 1er Cru, Grèves Le Clos Blanc, Domaine Gagey, 1997

Drink Soon

13.5

Maison Louis Jadot

Some evolution.  Like the Auxey a bit lean at the end.  Reasonably fresh but it lacks charm.

Saint-Aubin, 1er Cru, Combes, 1997

Drink Soon

14.0

Maison Morey Blanc

Quite an evolved nose.  But much fresher on the palate.  Just a little neutral.

Saint-Aubin, 1er Cru, En Remilly, 1997

Now-2011

15.0

Domaine Hubert Lamy

Magnum.  Fresh, plump, attractive fruit.  Quite full.  Very stylish and balanced.  Holding up well.

Meursault, Cuvée Tête de Murger, 1997

Now-2012

15.5

Domaine Patrick Javillier

Magnum.  Round, ripe nose.  No fading.  Lovely balance and very elegant.  Very good.

Meursault, 1er Cru, Blagny, 1997

Drink Soon

14.0

Domaine Joseph Matrot

Slight fade at the end.  But good fruit and concentration on the attack.

Meursault, 1er Cru, Poruzots, 1997

Drink Soon

12.0

Domaine François & Antoine Jobard

Lacks a little style.  Slightly four-square.  But quite fresh.

Meursault, 1er Cru, Genevrières, 1997

Drink Soon

14.0

Domaine François & Antoine Jobard

Richer and fresher than their Poruzots.  Good depth.

Meursault, 1er Cru, Genevrières, 1997

Now-2011

16.0

Domaine des Comtes Lafon

Ripe.  A touch of citrus.  Soft, elegant and holding up well.  Very good.

Meursault, 1er Cru, Genevrières, 1997

Now-2014

17.5

Domaine François Mikulski

Magnum.  Rich, fat, oaky nose.  Still plenty of vigour.  Ripe on the palate.  Very good grip.  Very ample, vigorous fruit.  This is fine.

Meursault, 1er Cru, Charmes, 1997

Now-2011

15.5

Domaine des Comtes Lafon

Slightly fresher than their Genevrières.  Very good depth and balance but a little less style.  Good plus.

Chassagne-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Les Caillerets, 1997

Now-2014

18.0

Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard

Double magnum.  Very fresh nose.  Lots of quality here.  Profound and concentrated and classy.  Lovely fruit.  Very well balanced.  Bags of life ahead of it.

Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Champ Canet, 1997

Now-2011

17.0

Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot

Blunt nose.  Very good fruit on the attack, after which it tails off a little.  But one of the best wines on the table nevertheless.

Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Hameau de Blagny, 1997

Drink Up

10.0

Maison Champy

Old.  Common.

Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Le Cailleret, 1997

Now-2012

18.0

Domaine de Montille

Magnum.  A delicious example.  Real class and depth.  Vigorous and concentrated.  Lovely.

Corton-Charlemagne, 1997

Now-2012

18.0

Domaine Bonneau du Martray

Fresh, profound, vigorous and lovely.  Steely and complex.  Keeping well.

Bâtard-Montrachet, 1997

Drink Soon

15.0

Domaine Leflaive

Showing a little age now.  Quite fresh, but slightly diffuse.  Good positive finish though.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru, Clos de L'Arlot, 1997

Now-2011

16.0

Domaine de L'Arlot

Fresh, plump, fruity and stylish.  This is individual and rather good.

Givry, 1er Cru, Clos Salomon, 1997

Now-2012

13.5

Domaine du Clos Salomon

Magnum.  Medium colour.  Slight touch of peppermint on the nose.  Medium body.  Decent fruit.  Good balance.  Lacks a little flair but OK.

Mercurey, Les Montots, 1997

Now-2014

16.0

Domaine A & P de Villaine

Medium colour.  Soft, ripe, balanced, stylish nose.  Medium body.  Lovely fresh, plump fruit.  Long and complex.  Delicious.

Savigny-lès-Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Peuillets, 1997

Drink Up

10.0

Maison Champy

Magnum.  Slightly burnt nose.  A bit short and mean.  No.

Savigny-lès-Beaune, 1er Cru, Marconnets, 1997

Now-2017

16.5

Domaine Simon Bize

Magnum.  Good colour.  Vigorous colour.  Plump and meaty.  Medium to medium-full body.  Ripe and balanced.  Plenty of depth and energy.  Lovely finish.

Savigny-lès-Beaune, 1er Cru, Lavières, 1997

Drink Up

11.5

Domaine Chandon de Briailles

Magnum.  Slightly thin on both nose and palate.  Has begun to lose its fruit and charm.

Savigny-lès-Beaune, 1er Cru, Gravains, 1997

Now-2017

16.5

Domaine Jean-Marc Pavelot

Magnum.  Good colour.  Ripe, generous, harmonious nose.  Very good depth.  Fullish.  A touch of oak.  Good backbone.  Fresh.  Very good plus.

Savigny-lès-Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Dominodes, 1997

Drink Up

11.5

Domaine Bruno Clair

Ripe but slightly reticent nose.  This is getting a bit thin and coarse on the palate.  Lacks grip.

Beaune, Lulune, 1997

Now-2010

12.5

Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot

Soft, fresh and plump but it lacks a bit of style, especially at the end.

Beaune, 1er Cru, Clos des Avaux, 1997

Drink Soon

14.0

Maison Champy

Magnum.  Ripe but slightly bland nose.  Soft but short on the palate.  But pleasant fruit.

Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Cras, 1997

Drink Soon

14.0

Domaine du Château de Chorey

Magnum.  Rich.  Nicely substantial.  Good attack.  Then it tails off a bit.  A pity.

Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Cent Vignes, 1997

Now-2011

14.5

Domaine Lucien Jacob

Slightly coarse but fresh and balanced.  Holding up better than the above.

Beaune, 1er Cru, Grèves, 1997

Now-2017+

17.0

Domaine Michel Lafarge

Good colour.  Rich, vigorous nose.  Medium-full body.  Good depth, grip and substance.  Lovely generous, long finish.  Very good indeed.

Beaune, 1er Cru, Grèves, Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus, 1997

Now-2017

17.0

Maison Bouchard Père & Fils

Vigorous yet plump.  Fresh and stylish.  This has high quality.  Medium to medium-full body.  Long at the end.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Carelles, 1997

Now-2014

15.5

Maison Camille Giroud

Medium colour.  Not much on the nose but soft, stylish and balanced on the palate.  Good intensity.  Very Volnay.  Good plus.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Les Mitans, 1997

Drink Soon

13.0

Domaine de Montille

Magnum.  Medium colour.  Good vigorous nose.  But tails off on the palate.  Weedy finish.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Les Taillepieds, 1997

Now-2017

17.5

Domaine de Montille

Magnum.  This is rather better.  No fade here.  Vigorous, balanced and elegant.  Fine.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Ronceret, 1997

Drink Soon

15.0

Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Good colour.  Rich, full, plump and vigorous on nose and attack.  Tails off slightly but good.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Santenots, 1997

Now-2012

14.5

Domaine des Comtes Lafon

Magnum.  Fine colour.  Plump nose.  Quite fresh if without much complexity.  Similar palate.  Lacks grip and depth.  Merely quite good plus.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Santenots, 1997

Now-2017

17.0

Domaine François Mikulski

Good colour.  Rich, vigorous nose.  Good fruit.  Plenty of life ahead of it.  Fullish, lovely rich, meaty fruit on the palate.  Good depth.  Very good indeed.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Clos des Ducs, 1997

Drink Soon

14.5

Domaine du Marquis d'Angerville

Magnum.  Light colour.  Altogether a little too light, though not short or lacking freshness.

Volnay, 1er Cru, Clos des Chênes, 1997

Now-2017+

18.5

Domaine Michel Lafarge

Good colour.  Vigorous nose.  Rich, classy, ripe and plump and very fresh.  Fullish body.  Lots of depth here.  Excellent palate.  Very fine.

Pommard, 1er Cru, Clos des Epeneaux, 1997

Now-2015

15.5

Domaine des Epeneaux

Magnum.  Good colour.  Meaty, vigorous, concentrated nose.  Not the greatest class or complexity on the palate.  But not short or weak by any means.

Pommard, 1er Cru, Les Rugiens, 1997

Now-2014

14.0

Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot

Magnum.  Good colour.  Slightly sweet on the nose.  Vigorous and fullish, but not very stylish.  Slightly concocted.

Pommard, 1er Cru, Les Rugiens, 1997

Now-2014

15.0

Domaine de Montille

Magnum.  Medium colour.  Clean and medium body.  And quite vigorous.  But it lacks a little charm.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru, Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges, 1997

Now-2017

15.5

Domaine de l'Arlot

Medium colour.  Ripe nose.  Decent vigour.  Quite sturdy on the palate.  Good grip.  Not very stylish but good plus.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru, Les Hauts Pruliers, 1997

Now-2010

13.5

Domaine Daniel Rion

A bit light and thin.  Pretty fruit and quite fresh.  But not enough here.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru, Les Cailles, 1997

Now-2013

13.5

Domaine Alain Michelot

Medium colour.  Slightly sweet on nose and palate.  Medium to medium-full body.  Ripe if not very stylish.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru, Les Vaucrains, 1997

Drink Soon

12.0

Domaine Robert Chevillon

Medium body.  Pretty attack.  Weak finish.  Very 1997.

Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru, Les Boudots, 1997

Now-2013

13.5

Domaine Jean Tardy

Medium to medium-full body.  Ripe and with decent substance if without much style.

Vosne-Romanée, 1997

Now-2011

13.0

Domaine Daniel Rion

Good colour.  Fresh, plump nose.  Slightly concocted palate.  One dimensional.  Tails off.

Vosne-Romanée, Aux Réas, 1997

Now-2012

13.5

Domaine AF Gros & François Parent

Magnum.  Ripe, vigorous nose.  Decent substance but bland, especially at the end.

Vosne-Romanée, 1er Cru, Les Brûlées, 1997

Now-2016

16.5

Domaine Gérard Mugneret

Magnum.  This is nice and fresh and even has style and complexity.  Medium to medium-full body.  Good vigour and personality.  A point.  Very good plus.

Vosne-Romanée, 1er Cru, Malconsorts, 1997

Now-2016

17.0

Domaine Sylvain Cathiard

Magnum.  Good colour.  Lovely nose.  Lots of personality and depth and a little touch of oak.  Fresh.  Very good indeed.

Chambolle-Musigny, Les Athets, 1997

Now-2012

14.0

Domaine Jean Tardy

Medium colour.  Reasonably fresh on the nose.  Indeed if a little slight quite pleasantly fruity on the palate.  And a positive finish.  I prefer this to his Nuits-Saint-Georges Boudots.

Chambolle-Musigny, 1er Cru, Baudes, 1997

Now-2017

17.5

Maison Louis Jadot

Good colour.  Nicely vigorous on the nose.  Good substance and depth.  Ripe, stylish, balanced and most attractive.  Long and positive at the end.  Fine.

Chambolle-Musigny, 1er Cru, Les Beaux Bruns, 1997

Now-2017

16.5

Domaine Thierry Mortet

Ripe, quite substantial nose.  Not too oaky.  Good too on the palate.  Good fruit and balance.  It shows well.  Finishes positively.

Chambolle-Musigny, 1er Cru, Les Cras, 1997

Now-2017+

17.5

Domaine Georges Roumier

Good colour.  Ripe, rich and balanced on both nose and palate.  Good grip.  Fresh and stylish.  Long at the end.  Fine.

Chambolle-Musigny, 1er Cru, Les Cras, 1997

Now-2015

16.0

Domaine Ghislaine Barthod

Magnum.  Good colour.  Fine nose.  Lovely fruit.  Still very youthful.  Fullish.  Ample.  A little fade at the end.  So very good but not fine.

Marsannay, Les Longeroys, 1997

Drink Soon

13.5

Domaine Bruno Clair

Light and a little vacant at the end.  But quite fresh.  Not bad.

Morey-Saint-Denis, 1er Cru, La Riotte, 1997

Drink Up

12.0

Domaine Taupenot Merme

Soft and plump on nose and palate.  A bit concocted.  Weak finish.

Morey-Saint-Denis, 1er Cru, Charmes, 1997

Now-2017

17.0

Domaine Lignier Michelot

Fresh, stylish and positive.  Very good fruit.  Good substance.  Long finish.  A very good result.

Morey-Saint-Denis, 1er Cru, Les Chaffots, 1997

Now-2012

14.0

Domaine Lucie & August Lignier

Good attack.  Fresh.  Some substance.  But slight short.  Not weedy though.

Morey-Saint-Denis, 1er Cru, Les Millandes, 1997

Now-2015

15.5

Domaine Heresztyn

Slightly soupy.  But decently fresh and positive.  The finish is better than the attack.  Good plus.

Morey-Saint-Denis, 1er Cru, Faconnières, 1997

Now-2015

16.0

Domaine Lignier Michelot

Slightly more rigid than his Charmes but also balanced and stylish.

Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes, 1997

Now-2012

15.0

Domaine Denis Bachelet

Quite closed in on the nose.  Fresh and fruity and stylish if no great depth or complexity.  Merely good.

Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes, 1997

Now-2017

16.0

Domaine Alain Burguet

Magnum.  A good meaty example with better grip and depth than Bachelet's.  Very positive finish.

Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos Prieur, 1997

Now-2017+

16.5

Domaine Thierry Mortet

Good colour.  Stylish, nicely substantial wine.  Ripe, balanced and very fresh.  Lovely positive finish.  This is very good plus.

Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru, Aux Combottes, 1997

Now-2017

17.5

Domaine Dujac

Light colour.  Very Dujac.  Light but intense.  Fresh and stylish.  Very good fruit.  Long.  Fine.

Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru, La Perrière, 1997

Now-2015

14.5

Domaine Heresztyn

Good colour.  Slightly coarse but reasonably fresh and balanced.  Medium to medium-full body.  Quite good plus.

Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru, Les Cazetiers, 1997

Drink Soon

13.0

Domaine Bruno Clair

Good stylish attack, but then it tails off.  Weedy finish.

Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru, Les Cazetiers, 1997

Now-2017+

18.0

Domaine Christian Sérafin

Good colour.  Lovely nose.  Rich.  Slightly oaky.  Good backbone.  Medium-full body.  Concentrated.  Lots of depth.  Long, complex and classy.  Very fine.

Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru, Estournelles Saint-Jacques, 1997

Now-2017+

17.5

Domaine Louis Jadot

Good colour.  Slightly clumsy nose.  But plenty of depth here.  And quality fruit too.  A full wine for 1997 with very good grip and backbone.  This I think will still improve.  Very good indeed if not fine.

Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru, Clos Saint-Jacques, 1997

Now-2015

16.0

Domaine Armand Rousseau

Magnum.  Medium colour.  Fully developed.  Soft, gently oaky nose.  Medium body.  Ripe and succulent.  Decent grip.  But not the usual Rousseau/Clos Saint-Jacques quality.  Merely very good.

Corton, Clos des Meix, 1997

Now-2017

16.0

Domaine Senard

Magnum.  Good fresh nose.  Ripe.  Balanced.  Decent if not great style.  But good substance and depth.  Very good.

Richebourg, 1997

Now-2017

17.0

Domaine Gros Frère & Soeur

Magnum.  Rich, fullish and meaty.  Good acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Long and positive if not the greatest class.  Very good indeed.

Richebourg, 1997

Now-2017

17.0

Domaine AF Gros & François Parent

Rich, full and ample on the nose.  Fat, fullish and in 1997 terms very good indeed.  But it lacks a little class and definition.

Richebourg, 1997

Now-2017+

18.5

Domaine Jean Grivot

Magnum.  Fine nose.  Lots of depth and class and grip.  Full, concentrated, harmonious and profound.  Really very fine.  Lovely finish.

La Tâche, 1997

Now-2017+

19.5

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

This is very lovely.  Splendid grip, depth and concentration.  Still very youthful.  Full body.  Excellent acidity.  Very, very fine expression of the fruit.  Very, very long and classy.

Clos Vougeot, Musigni, 1997

Now-2017+

17.5

Domaine Gros Frère & Soeur

Magnum.  Lovely fruit.  Very well balanced.  Fullish body.  Subtle and with a lot of depth.  Better than their Richebourg.

Musigny, 1997

Now-2017

16.5

Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Soft, ripe nose.  Similar palate.  Good fresh fruit.  But neither the grip nor the sheer breed you would expect for Musigny.

Musigny, Vieilles Vignes, 1997

Now-2017+

19.5

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

Good colour.  Lovely nose.  Deep and rich and concentrated.  Very good grip.  Fullish body.  Gently oaky.  Profound and multi-dimensional.  Lovely long, vigorous finish.  This is very fine indeed for the vintage.

Bonnes-Mares, 1997

Now-2017+

18.5

Domaine Dujac

Good colour for Dujac.  Refined, intense nose.  Slightly earthy.  Much better grip and concentration than the Combottes.  Vigorous.  Long.  Lovely.

Bonnes-Mares, 1997

Now-2017

16.0

Maison Frédéric Magnien

Full colour.  Fat, slightly overblown nose.  Ripe and rich.  Full body.  Still some tannin.  But it lacks real class.  Very good at best.

Bonnes-Mares, 1997

Now-2017+

19.0

Domaine Georges Roumier

Magnum.  Good colour.  Rich, full, substantial and concentrated nose.  Full bodied.  Ripe, generous, rich and stylish.  This is most impressive.  Lovely long finish.

Bonnes-Mares, 1997

Now-2017+

18.5

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

Good colour.  Full, quite meaty nose.  Rich and gently oaky.  Fresh and vigorous.  Full bodied.  Ripe.  Very good grip.  This is a fine result.  Very lovely fruit at the end.

Clos de Tart, 1997

Now-2014

14.0

Domaine du Clos de Tart

Soft nose.  Slightly weak but fruity.  Medium to medium-full body.  Starts well.  Then it tails off.

Clos des Lambrays, 1997

Now-2017

17.5

Domaine des Lambrays

Medium weight, but balanced and stylish.  Really quite complex at the end.  Lovely fruit.  Fine.

Clos de la Roche, 1997

Now-2017

18.5

Domaine Dujac

Very Dujac on the nose.  But not the weight and depth of their Bonnes-Mares.  Yet good weight on the palate.  Concentrated, subtle, harmonious, long and very stylish.  Lovely.

Clos de la Roche, 1997

Now-2017+

17.5

Domaine Lucie & Auguste Lignier

Magnum.  Good colour.  Full, meaty, oaky, perhaps slightly over-macerated.  Yet ripe and ample and with very good grip.  Very fresh fruit.  Long on the palate.  Fine.

Charmes-Chambertin, 1997

Now-2016

16.0

Domaine Denis Bachelet

Good colour.  Not as vivid a nose as he normally produces.  Slightly weak.  Charming and fruity.  Decent grip.  But no real depth and finesse.

Charmes-Chambertin, 1997

Now-2013

14.5

Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot

Ripe but slightly blowsy nose.  Decent fruit and grip but no real length or class on the palate.  Medium body.  Quite good plus.

Ruchottes-Chambertin, 1997

Now-2015

14.0

Domaine Frédéric Esmonin

Rich, meaty nose.  A little stewed.  Similar palate.  Slightly inelegant tannins here.  Good grip.  Slightly muscular.  Doesn't really sing.

Ruchottes-Chambertin, 1997

Now-2017+

18.5

Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg

Very lovely nose.  Fragrant, pure, fresh and gently oaky.  Similar on the palate.  Discreet.  Very elegant.  Very harmonious.  Long and complex at the end.  Very fine.

Griotte-Chambertin, 1997

Now-2017

17.0

Domaine des Chezeaux

Good colour.  Rich, fat and ripe on the nose.  Rich and concentrated.  Full and vigorous.  Good grip.  Good fruit.  Plenty of depth.  Very good indeed.

Griotte-Chambertin, 1997

Now-2017+

19.0

Domaine Drouhin

Magnum.  Good colour.  Very lovely pure expression of very elegant fruit here.  Medium to medium-full body.  Very finely balanced.  Discreet and complex.  Intense and very impressive.  Really classy.  Very, very long.

Chambertin, 1997

Now-2017+

18.5

Domaine Trapet Père & Fils

Magnum.  Good colour.  Ripe, ample nose.  High quality here.  Lovely fruit.  Very good grip.  Concentrated and harmonious.  Full and plump.  Classy too.  Long.  Very fine.

Chambertin, 1997

Now-2015

17.5

Domaine Armand Rousseau

Magnum.  Good colour.  Soft nose.  Ripe and stylish but it lacks the usual depth and concentration.  Medium to medium-full body.  Fine but not great.  Doesn't have the depth.