Alain Hudelot-Noellat Romanée St. Vivant

Joanne's birthday : Producer was not difficult to guess given the high-toned, elegant style but I went for '12 Suchots because it didn't have the presence of the Malconsorts that I tasted in HK last year. Absolutely wonderful finesse and purity of red fruit though despite missing the GC weight, always love the silky signature of the producer. Surprisingly approachable now but still with plenty of potential, clearly the red WOTN.

Showing alot of finesse both on palate and nose. Will still improve with time. 2016 is fantastic for red burgundy. Notes of primary fruits notes. Medium+ acidity, medium tannin and long finish.

Pearl of Burgundy Gala Dinner 2025 (Four Season Hotel) : Impressions, from a magnum, great flavours and lovely on the palate with touch of heat on the finish

A stunning wine that is still well short of it's peak drinking window but already approachable and packed with black cherries, spice and black tea. So classically Vosne and very Grand Cru in concentration. Only further upside from here.

Vosne-Romanée Mega-Tasting (SommCellars) : This Romanée-St-Vivant from Alain Hudelot-Noëllat is a wine of exceptional complexity and elegance. Right from the start, the aromas captivate with a harmonious blend of five spice, nutmeg, and baking spice, intermingled with bright strawberry and deeper raspberry notes. There’s a touch of dark raspberry that adds depth, while hints of tobacco and subtle earthiness provide complexity. On the palate, the wine is lively and vibrant, with medium acidity that keeps it fresh and balanced. The …

Salon Focofi Paris walkabout and dinner, so no detailed tasting notes. Dense and spicy, still closed and tannic, very good and ripe structure though. Best after 2030.

At this stage a little tight but I sense everything is in place to make this a great wine.

La Paulée 2019 Grand Tasting of 2016 Burgundy (Pier 60, New York) : Red, spicy, elegant, and long. Deceptively accessible but room to run. Pure seduction, as this wine always seems to be. Outstanding with tremendous nuance and delivery of flavor for its weightlessness. So pure and delicious that I must admit that it was one of the few wines where I circled back for a second taste, this time without spitting.

La Paulée 2019 Grand Tasting of 2016 Burgundy (Pier Sixty, New York) : All class with elegance, length and complexity. Terrific stuff.

La Paulée de New York Grand Tasting (Pier Sixty - New York NY) : Tasting, brief note. Red and black cherry with some berry that shows so much complexity and nuance already. Simultaneously comes across as rich, muscular and texturally weightless, a difficult accomplishment for such a young wine. One of the day's highlights. I might be underrating this wine at "95 points."

La Paulée de NY Grand Tasting (Pier 60 - NYC) : Wow, so much concentrated and mouth coating black cherry that is laced with intense spice. Texturally so complex. Huge spice-filled finish. A wow wine. 95+