Niellon

=Background information=


 * In vintage 2010: switched cork diameter from 24 mm to 25 mm

=Wines=

**1990**

 * ** Chassagne-Montrachet ** (March 2014): Showed very well, no signs of premature oxidation. A beautiful wine. [J. Shanker]

**1991**

 * **Chevalier Montrachet (June 2012)** not oxidized - profound! (R DeAngelo)

**1992**

 * **Chassagne Vergers** (July 2012) not oxidized - excellent showing [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Jan 2013) - another excellent bottle (R DeAngelo)
 * **Batard Montrachet** (August 2010):not oxidized, delicious wine enjoyed over a couple of hours. Mature but will hold several more years (Barry Herbst)

1993

 * **Batard-Montrachet** (Dec 2005): great, stunning wine. Acidty is softening. Mature but still fresh, will hold for a few more years [JE Simond]
 * **Batard-Montrachet** (30 Jul 2008): not oxidized; low density for grand cru, but excellent [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Nov 2006) - not oxidized - great wine! Purchased off a list in Paris (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (March 2007) - not oxidized - very nice showing (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (May 2014) not oxidized - great bottle (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (30 Jul 2008): not oxidized and a knock out wine [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (27 Aug 2010): not oxidized. Another great bottle [Don Cornwell]

1995

 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (March 2010): not oxidized; bright yellow/hint gold color; fresh, perfect balance, lovely wine (JKramer)
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (March 2006): vibrant maturing, good minerals and some honey; a year or two from peak [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (June 2007): not oxidized, still on the upswing - very good showing (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (July 2008) not oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Feb 2009) not oxidized - excellent showing [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Sept 2009): vibrant maturing, good minerals and some honey; still not quite there, though the next day it was; a little austere;(note: the cork was soft and supple, not rigid, FWIW) [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (August 2010): not oxidized but fully mature (A Fenster)
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (May 2014): vibrant mature; just what lovely mature WB should be at almost-19;(note: this cork, too, was soft and supple, not rigid, FWIW) [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Oct 2015) same as May 2014.

1996
> ** Batard Montrachet ** (25 Jan 2006): not oxidized, but showing light toast in the aromas (suggest monitoring), see 96 tasting notes [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne-Montrachet** (May 2016): Showing subtle signs of ox. Custardy. Right now it is on the border and was still delicious, but I wouldn't hold on to it much longer. [J. Shanker]
 * **Batard Montrachet** (July 2009): not oxidized, brilliant and youthful as it should be [Tom Reddick]
 * **Batard-Montrachet** (March 2015): Tight, squeaky cork, deep yellow hue, nose of sherry which steadily increased, undrinkable. [Mark Penberthy]
 * **Chassagne Les Cham****pgains** (September 2005): Not oxidized; rich, deep, very good but lowish acidity [Frank Drew]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (March 2006): Not oxidized; same source, same storage as 9/05 btl., but very different wine. Fresh, bright, young, very 1996, and very enjoyable [Frank Drew]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (March 2007): oxidized [M. Gewurtz]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Nov 2007): Not oxidized, green highlights to color, ultra-fresh, brilliant wine [Frank Drew]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Oct 2007): not oxidized - painfully young. Ordered off a list in Paris (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgain**s (Sept 2008): not oxidized - great bottle. (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgain**s (March 2009): not oxidized - another great bottle. (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (September 2009): Tried multiple bottles, all beautiful. Still tasted quite young with great minerality (M Krueger)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (September 2010): not oxidised, excellent [AIR]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (March 2013) not oxidized, last bottle of a case; one of twelve had the pox [Paul Ferrari]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Dec 2005): no oxidation, very good [JE Simond]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (September 2010): not oxidised, superb [AIR]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Dec 2010): oxidised, undrinkable [AIR]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (May 2017): no signs of oxidation; superb 20 year old WB [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chenevottes** (Dec 2010): oxidised, undrinkable [AIR]
 * **Chassagne Chenevottes** (July 2012): oxidised (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Nov 2007): no signs of oxidation, nice but lacks class [ER]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Oct 2005): vibrant and singing; a few years from peak [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Nov 2005): one bottle fully mature, with some evolution as one would expect, and the other one very youthful, still fresh, just perfect and delicious [JE Simond]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (25 Jan 2006): no oxidation, see 96 tasting notes [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (06 Oct. 2006): no oxidation [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Sep-Nov. 2008): six more bottles, no oxidation, very youthful [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (9 Mar 2009): another brilliant youthful bottle [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (3 Jul 2009): not oxidized and super again -- 11 consecutive bottles [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Dec 2009): not oxidized, nice wine [ER]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (April 2011) not oxidized--terrific wine [Joel Deutsch]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (21 Nov 2011): last bottle of the 12. Not oxidized and none in the case were. All were fantastic. [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Oct 2013): two bottles: one oxidized; one vibrant and singing; and benefitted from hours of open aeration. FWIW, the cork on the good one was much softer; the bad one rock hard/rigid. [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Vergers** (Feb 2016): opened, thought was oxidized; aerated for 4 hours; people thought was going "downhill"/" maderized". Then it shined with escargots and the 2" left in the bottle became everything one could want in a 19 year old Niellon Vergers. Puzzling.. [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Dec 2008): mid stage premox [Kevin Harvey]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Oct 2009): completely gone, heavily oxidized [M Krueger]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (27 July 2010): oxidized [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (8 March 2011): not oxidized. See 95-2000 Retrospective Tasting Notes. [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Oct 2012): oxidized [ER]

1997

 * **Chevalier****-Montrachet** (Aug 2007): no signs of oxidation, pas mal [ER]

1998

 * **Bâtard-Montrachet** (Aug 2005): no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Batard-Montrachet** (Aug 2008) heavily oxidized (Dale Williams)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (June 2008) not oxidized [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (May 2005): no signs of oxidation; lovely, though drink by '09 [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (May 2005): no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Aug 2005): no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (May 2007): a little tired but no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (July 2008): not too bad, no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chenevottes** (April 2010): fully oxidised [Duncan Wilson]
 * **Chassagne Clos St. Jean** (Nov 2006); no signs of oxidation, very nice, remainder held up in the fridge for days. [C Kendall]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Dec 2005): strange, light color but probably oxidized, undrinkable [ER]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Nov 2008): a lost bottle, heavily oxidized [ER]
 * **Chevalier-Montrachet** (May 2007): no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Oct 2009) very oxidized, brown in color [Wes Jennison]

1999

 * **Batard-Montrachet** (August 2010): no signs of oxidation, big and rich, minerals, plenty of life [Hillard Sharf]
 * **Bâtard-Montrachet** (Jan 2008): no signs of oxidation at all, still fresh and very youthful [MLee]
 * **Bâtard-Montrachet** (July 2008): no signs of oxidation at all, excellent
 * **Bâtard-Montrachet** (Feb 2009): oxidized, an ugly bottle [ER]
 * **Bâtard-Montrachet** (Apr 2009): premox, barely drinkable [ER]
 * **Chassagne** (Apr 2005): oxidized, lousy cork [ER]
 * **Chassagne** (Aug 2005): no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chassagne** (Jan 2008): Early oxidation, greyish cork, probably would have been quite good [Frank Drew]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Oct 2007): very mildy oxidixed - very young with the oak in need of integration. (Dana Gaiser)
 * **Chassagne Les Champsgains** (Dec 2016) not oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Les Champsgains** (Dec 2016) not oxidized - another great bottle (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Nov 2006): no signs of oxidation [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (April 2009): not "oxidized", but did have oxidative notes and a darker color than I would have expected.[Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Sep 2009): oxidized and corked [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (April 2010): excellent, fully mature [ER]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Aug 2011): two bottles: one oxidized; the second seemingly fine, but with an odd, muddy component and some odd sediment in it (similar to experience with '99 Chassagne-Maltroie, listed above in 2006) [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (May 2013): Oxidized, but a 2000 Sauzet "Combettes saved the day! [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chenevottes** (Jul & Aug 2004): one corked, the other not oxidised [WK Choy]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (14 Oct 2004): no signs of oxidation [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Jan 2006): no signs of oxidation; but, a very odd, muddy (perhaps the fining material??) taste permeating this bottle [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Feb 2008): oxidized [ER]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Oct 2008): a fine Chassagne [ER]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Sept 2009): oxidized, 4 Niellon 1999 in a row now [ER]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (Dec 2009): completely oxidized [Thomas Küntziger]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (July 2010 ): not oxidized at all, strong fruit, minerals, going strong [Hillard Sharf]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (28 Feb 2007): not oxidized -- see related tasting notes [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (10 Dec 2008): not oxidized, fabulous [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** ( 21 Feb 2009): not oxidized, intense fruit and minerals, long finish [Hillard Sharf]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Dec 2009): not oxidized, I had expected more [ER]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (27 July 2010): not oxidized, fabulous bottle [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (23 Feb 2011): not oxidized, but not nearly as good as the bottle last July. See 95-2000 Retrospective Tasting Notes [Don Cornwell]

2000

 * **Chassagne** (Apr 2005): young, oak/acidity; better the next day. Not oxidized [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne** (May 2013): Oxidized [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Aug 2007): blue-tinged cork,but no oxidation; extemely youthful; excellent bottle [BDelancy
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Jul 2013): no signs of oxidation; mature; great wine [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Oct 2009): no signs of oxidation; still young [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Oct 2010): no signs of oxidation;but quite open and forward [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Clos St. Jean** (Feb 2010):No oxidation, mild oak, very good bottle [Frank Drew]
 * **Chassagne Clos St. Jean** (Aug 2010): Not oxidized, fresh and strong [Frank Drew]
 * **Chassagne Maltroie** (May 2013): Oxidized [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chevalier-Montrachet** (Jul 2005): very odd. Some premature oxidation but not totally shot. Bleached cork with blue tinge [WK Choy]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (March 2009) not oxidized [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (7 July 2010): badly oxidized [Michael Zadikian]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (23 Feb 2011): notably advanced but not yet oxidized. See 95-2000 Retrospective Tasting Notes [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Feb 2012) not oxidized, even tinges of green in the glass![Chuck Miller]

2001

 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (11 Feb 2009): badly oxidized. See 2001 Tasting Notes, Part II [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Feb 2008): 8 bottles in a row, all oxidized [Chuck Miller]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (March 2009) not oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Clos de Maltroie** (July 2012) badly oxidized (P Ferrari)

2002

 * **Chassagne Montrachet** (November 2009) some oxidation, still was good, but I would drink up any remaining bottles quickly (Howard Cooper)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Apr 2007): heavily blue-tinged cork,but not oxidized; still young, but good [BDelancy]
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (Jan 2011):closed, tightish; after aeration of several hours, very nice, no oxidized notes [Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (April 2009): not oxidized, but a little more advanced than expected.[Stuart BH Niemtzow]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (May 2009) oxidized [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chassagne Clos de Maltroie** (Aug 2008) not oxidized [Dale Williams]
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (Sep 2007): fine, fresh, not signs of oxidation [MLee]
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (8 Feb 2008): not oxidized, very good [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (Jan 2009) not oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (May 2009) not oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (10 Dec. 2008): not oxidized, but toasty and advanced [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (30 Mar 2009): not oxidized, but this was thin and did not impress [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Nov 2009) Not oxidized - outstanding Chevy and eventually shut down with air [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (18 Feb 2010): Not oxidized and super wine. This time from my own cellar. See 2002 Tasting Notes, Night Two [Don Cornwell]

2003

 * **Chassagne Clos de la Maltroie** (December 2010) oxidized (Mikelav)

2004

 * **Bâtard-Montrachet** (June 2012) horribly oxidized (Michiel Carpentier)
 * **Batard Montrachet** (Dec 2011) oxidized! (R DeAngelo)
 * **Bâtard–Montrachet** (Aug. – Sept. 2016) 2 btls oxidized – both had an orange hue, already noticeable when purchased. 3rd btl not oxidized but too well advanced to give much pleasure. 4th & 5th btls not oxidized, slightly better than the 3rd, with healthier color & recognizable traits of a Niellon Bâtard, but quite well advanced. From a lot a 5 purchased from a reputable West Coast retailer's auction platform in Apr. 2015. Darker colored btls were opened first. [Rayner Cheung]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees** (Sept 2011) not oxidized - drinking very well [R DeAngelo]
 * **Chassagne Chaumees 1er Clos de la Truffiere** (Mar 2012): Not oxidized; drinking very well (MSaviage)
 * **Chassagne Chaumees 1er Clos de la Truffiere** (Dec 2012): Not oxidized; drinking very well (MLT)
 * **Chassagne Les Champgains** (May 2013) oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chassagne 1er Clos St. Jean** (May 2004): Not oxidized at all, but did show very ripe.
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (24 Mar 2009): Not yet oxidized, but advanced color, very flabby and had no resemblance to grand cru Chevalier, yet the bottle was known to be from a legitimate source. Extremely disapointing showing of both 2004 and 2005 [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (December 2011): Similar to Don's note. Advanced without the stuffing that great bottles of this show. (JasonH)
 * **Chevalier Montrachet**(February 2012): Golden in color and resembled on the nose Vin Jaune, literally, not GC white Burg. Sad. (JasonH)

2005

 * **Bâtard–Montrachet** (Oct. 2016 – Dec. 2017): 5 btls not oxidized. Excellent color & clarity. In the nose: grilled hazelnuts, hints of orchard fruit & butterscotch, & candied walnuts. Better decanted. Btls 1, 2, & 5 were lighter on the palate than expected, but significantly improved in the glass. Btls 3 & 4 hit the spot with glycerin–like texture, outstanding definition, & exceptional balance. 5 btls purchased in Jul. 2015 from the auction platform of a reputable West Coast retailer. [Rayner Cheung]
 * **Chassagne Champgains** (Jan 2016): Not oxidized, light yellow gold, rich with long finish, could use a bit more age but why wait? (Mike Saviage)
 * **Chassagne Chaumees 1er Clos de la Truffiere** (May 2013) oxidized (R DeAngelo)
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (Aug 2011): Sourced directly from the producer during a 2009 visit. Not oxidized and with no apparent leaning in that direction. [David Honig]
 * **Chevalier Montrachet** (24 Mar 2009): Not yet oxidized, but advanced color (a little less than 2004), very flabby also and more like 1er than grand cru Chevalier. Extremely dissapointing showing of both 2004 and 2005 [Don Cornwell]
 * **Chevalier–Montrachet** (Oct. 2016 – Sep. 2017): 2 btls not oxidized + 1 btl (partially) oxidized. Of the 2 good btls, the 2nd was decanted & glorious, reminiscent of his best Chevaliers from the 1980's. The other good btl was more reticent (in retrospect, it should have been decanted). The oxidized btl was darkest in color & chosen for consumption first; it still had plenty of grip on the palate & a saline touch. It may have even gotten better in the glass. 3 btls purchased in Jul. 2015 from the auction platform of a reputable West Coast retailer. [Rayner Cheung]
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (August 2014) oxidized (Bill Lawrence)

2006

 * **Bâtard–Montrachet** (Feb. 2018 – ): 1 btl not oxidized. Mature. Not decanted. Reticient nose. Saline notes on the palate. From a lot of 2 purchased in Feb. 2015 from the auction platform of a reputable West Coast retailer. [Rayner Cheung]
 * **Chassagne Montrachet** (May 2010): not oxidized but lots of matchstick! [Bill Lawrence]
 * **Chassagne Montrachet** (Oct 2010): not oxidized, very young, perhaps some reduction? [Ben Delancy]
 * **Chassagne Chevenottes** (Oct 2009): not oxidized but very ripe, fat, some alcohol [J. Prandi]

2007

 * **Chassagne Montrachet** (March 2010): Not oxidized, [Stu Jakub]
 * ** Chassagne Vergers ** (Oct 2012): Young and vibrant; Not oxidized [KI]
 * **Chassagne Clos St Jean** (Feb 2014) not oxidized - stunning wine! Wish they all showed like this (R DeAngelo)

=**2008**=
 * **Chassagne–Montrachet "Les Chaumées Clos de la Truffière"** (Feb. 2017 – Sep. 2017): 5 btls not oxidized + 1 btl advanced & unpalatable. The good btls had a green gold color with excellent clarity, showing no sign of ageing. Gently smoky, leesy nose. No undue acidity on the palate. Got better in the glass. From a lot of 6 purchased in Apr. 2015 from the auction platform of a reputable West Coast retailer. [Rayner Cheung]
 * **Chassagne–Montrachet "Les Vergers"** (Nov. 2016 – Apr. 2017): 3 btls not oxidized. Slowly shedding its lime cordial character & ferocious acidity (a common feature of the 2008 vintage). 1st btl not decanted. Nose now shows serious elegance of lime flower, toasted brioche, & lightly grilled nuts, but bears no resemblance to the butterscotch Vergers aromatics of memorable vintages in the 1980's & early 1990's. Purchased in Apr. 2011 from a reputable West Coast retailer. Other bottles consumed in the intervening years were not oxidized (the acidity clearly helps). [Rayner Cheung]

**2011**

 * **Chassagne Montrachet** (July 2016): Not oxidized (Adrian Latimer)