402
404
408
VĂRITĂ LA MUSE 2002 (1) Sonoma County.
PETER MICHAEL PINOT NOIR MA DANSEUSE 2010 (2) Sonoma Coast. 2 bt. scuďŹed label
CHĂTEAU PĂTRUS 2013 Pomerol.
A blend of 93% Merlot / 7% Cabernet Franc (92% from the Alexander Mountain Estate, 6% from Benne! Valley and 2% from Knightâs Valley), the 2002 La Muse is a âkissing cousinâ of the 2001, only so"er and more flamboyant. Classically Californian in its exuberant, flamboyant, super-rich, unctuously textured style, the tannins are so"er than in the 2001, but the wine unquestionably has the potential to last for another quarter of a century. It exhibits an opaque plum/purple color along with abundant notes of cassis, licorice, graphite, coďŹee cake and spice box. More approachable than the 2001, the 2002 will oďŹer phenomenal drinking over the next 25 years. 99 WA VĂRITĂ LA MUSE 2007 (1) Sonoma County. A perfect wine, this blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec emerges from Chalk Hill (48%), Knightâs Valley (21%), Alexander Mountain Estate (21%) and Benne! Valley (10%). Another prodigious eďŹort, its extraordinary sweet notes of caramelized herbs, mocha, coďŹee, blackberries and cassis are followed by a multilayered, full-bodied wine revealing a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol and wood, and an opulent, voluptuous finish that goes on and on. It is thrilling to smell, taste and drink. Moreover, it possesses a similar seamlessness also found in the 2002 and 2001. Because of that, it can be drunk now for its primary a!ractions or cellared for another 30+ years. (May 2011) 100 WA 2 bts.
per lot $500 - $700
PETER MICHAEL PINOT NOIR CLOS DU CIEL 2009 Sonoma Coast. From the Sonoma Coast vineyard with the most southerly exposure, the 2009 Pinot Noir Clos de Ciel (365 cases) was aged in 50% to 60% new Francois Freres barrels, and underwent a 5 to 7-day cold prefermentation maceration. A stunning, evolved eďŹort, it boasts plenty of rose water, strawberry, lead pencil shavings and forest floor-like notes. This fullbodied, gorgeous Pinot should be drunk over the next decade. (December 2013) 98 WA per lot $400 - $500
2 bts. (OWC)
per lot $3,800 - $4,400
409 CHĂTEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 2000 Pauillac. 1er Cru ClassĂŠ
The more mortal 2011 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse exhibits sweet notes of raspberry jam, currants, camphor and powdered rock. This a!ractive, elegant, medium to full-bodied 2011 is more evolved and fruit-forward than the 2009 or the perfect 2010. The 2011 will drink well for 8-12 years. (December 2013) (92-94) WA
Perhaps the most beautiful packaging ever on a Bordeaux bo!le, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild literally produced a work of art in the gold-engraved bo!le of 2000 Mouton Rothschild. Of course, one canât drink the glass, but this is a top-flight Mouton Rothschild, eclipsed only by the 2006 and 2009. A rich, tannic, earthy style, with loads of creme de cassis and floral notes, the final blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot is a full-bodied wine with plenty of coďŹee, earth, chocolatey notes, and still plenty of tannin to resolve. I gave it an anticipated maturity range of 2015-2050 back in 2003, and that looks on target. (Reviewed June 2010) 96+ WA
3 bts. per lot $1,800 - $2,200
1 bt.
405
410
PETER MICHAEL CHARDONNAY LA CARRIĂRE CHARDONNAY 2009 Sonoma County.
CHĂTEAU MARGAUX 2003 (1) Margaux. 1er Cru ClassĂŠ
PETER MICHAEL PINOT NOIR MA DANSEUSE 2011 (1) Sonoma Coast.
93 WA
403
2 bts.
Pure perfection, the amazing 2010 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is one of the greatest Pinots I have ever tasted ... anywhere. There are only 140 cases of this beauty, which was cropped at just over a ton of fruit per acre. It oďŹers up notes of bouquet garni, roasted meats, black raspberries, black currants, strawberries and cherries. Deep and full-bodied with a flawless integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol, this glorious Pinot Noir should prove to be legendary. It will age eďŹortlessly for 12+ years. (December 2013) 100 WA
2 bts.
per lot $200 - $300
406 CLARENDON HILLS SHIRAZ PIGGOTT RANGE VINEYARD 1997 (1) South Australia. CLARENDON HILLS SYRAH LIANDRA VINEYARD 2001 (2) South Australia. CLARENDON HILLS SYRAH BROOKMAN VINEYARD 2002 (1) South Australia.
per lot $1,600 - $1,800
Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2003 Margaux is fully mature on the nose. There is ample fruit here, well defined for the vintage with blackberry and cedar, this bo!le demonstrating a subtle fungal character that I have not discerned in previous bo!les. There are faint scents of rust iron piping that develop with further aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannin, oďŹering more fruit than the 2003 Valandraud it was paired with: feisty black pepper and allspice finish with a decent a"ertaste. There might be be!er bo!les than this, even so, there is probably not another Margaux that touches this First Growth. I see no harm in broaching bo!les now and over the next ten years. Tasted December 2016. 93 WA CHĂTEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD 2003 (1) Pauillac. 1er Cru ClassĂŠ
DISNĂKĂ TOKAJI ASZĂ 4 PUTTONYOS 1993 (2 hf ltr.) Hungary.
The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational eďŹort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estateâs great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage â make no mistake about that. (August 2014) 100 WA
7 ltrs. per lot $500 - $600
2 bts.
4 bts. per lot $200 - $300
407 HĂTSZĂLĂ TOKAJI ASZĂ 6 PUTTONYOS 1999 (5 hf ltr.) Hungary.
per lot $1,400 - $1,700