omain names,2005 Grand Cru Burgundy tasting with Executive Wine Seminars

I drank many fantastic 2005 grand cru burgundies with Executive Wine Seminars. These demand scary prices. However, it is an amazing vintage and almost worth it. All the wine is quite tight now, so we must drink with an eye for future development. These wines were opened 3 hours earlier and double decanted, then served blind. I added the wine names at the end of the tasting. Also, at the end, everyone voted for their 1st (3 points) , 2nd (2 points) and 3rd (1 point) place wines, so I've listed the final scores below. This was the most expensive tasting I've ever been too, by far ($800), but with the current retail values of these wines, it was a value. There was one $300 ringer, and the rest are $600-$1400, with most around $1000 per bottle.

We tasted blind, and I wrote the names after. It is hard to objectively rate wine this good. One after another blew me away. It is possible some of these may have scored higher without such incredible company.

1. Perrot-Minot Chambertin Clos de Beze. Dusty aromas. Sharp and tannic but with massive depth. Power and grace with an edge. Is it a Charmes Chambertin? Just awesome length. Drinking great now. Retail: $1000. Grade: A. Points: 24. 2nd place overall.

2. Le Moine Chambertin Clos de Beze. Aromas are cherry syrup and slightly medicinal. Makes me smile. Fresh cut flowers. After I swallow the finish picks up steam. Just magnificant. Very tannic and needs to age. More modern style. Retail: $1200. Grade: A. Points: 1.

3. Claude Dugat Charmes Chambertin. Fantastic fresh cherry juice. Magical fireworks of flavor. Chilling. Multi minute finish. Oaky. A work of art. Tannins get more pronounced. Do not open but glad we did. Retail: $700. Grade: A+. Points: 1.

4. Truchot Charmes Chambertin. most closed of the group. Moss and pine. Apricots on the nose which is out of place. Then so special and particular with more mushrooms and earthy tones. Minty. Pure power. Awesome depth. Not available at retail. Grade: A-. Points: 0.

5. Ponsot Clos De La Roche. Incredible nose piny sappy. Wow wow wow. Tomato juice and the most interesting mouth feel. I see a top and bottom and bass and treble. So detailed. Guessing Rousseau. Little new oak. Perfect. I would never get sick of this, and wish I had some in my cellar. Retail: $1200. Grade: A+. Points: 15.

6. Burget Chambertin Clos de Beze. Dusty menthol smoky aromas. Smooth and unbelievably long. Kicking and singing. Drinking the best so far. So pretty. Sexy. Ringer! Retail: $300. Grade: A+. Points:16. 3rd overall.

7. Le Moine Mazis Chambertin. Darkest so far. Clean fruit and more new world. Utterly great deep and lush fruit. Spicy bing cherries and a very long finish. Retail $690. Grade: A. Points:4.

8. Bachelet Charmes Chambertin. Stranger nose. So tannic. Dirty and funky and gamy old world with no oak but long. Very concentrated. More than a 1 minute finish. Grows on me as I get to know it. Retail $800. Grade: A. Points: 14.

9. Dujac Clos De La Roche. Fresh lavender nose. Clean fruit. Some saffron? Seems sculpted. Outrageously delicious. Silky velvet. A wine of the lifetime. Retail: $1000. Grade: A+ Points: 31. Winner!

10. Dugat Py Mazis Chambertin. Very dark. A giant of a wine. Larger than life almost like syrah with sappy hot depth. Not classic burg but awesome depth. This was the most controversial of the group. Retail: $1300. Grade: A. Points:1.

11. Rousseau Chambertin. Closed nose yet a most magical palate. Buy it, if you can find it. Another wine of the lifetime. More rocks. Dirt with impeccable balance and a ferocious finish. Clos de beze? Retail: $1200. Grade: A+. Points: 3.

12. Claude Dugat Griotte Chambertin. Odd aromas, medicinal pine needles and clean bright fruit. Drying tannins. Great wine but not up the level of this tasting. Retail: $1400! Grade: B+ . Points: 0.

13. Potel Chambertin. Off putting nose. Least favorite. Strange. Don't like it. Clunker of the evening. Undrinkably bad. No one likes it. Possibly a bad bottle. Retail: $600. Grade: F. Points: 0.

14. Lignier Clos De La Roche. Coconut nose? This one is magical. Tropical kumquats licorice and a fine grained outstanding wonderful finish. Retail: $600. Grade: A. Points: 10.