Reviews

Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières

Powerful and pungent (though less overtly brawny and heated than the 2019 Richemont), this is a Folatieres with a lot to say. Pear and pineapple rind lead the charge, with yellow and green pear,…

Domaine Henri Boillot Meursault 1er Cru Clos Richemont

A powerful showing, with an immediacy of flavor that rushes in with punchy waves of lemon, lychee, yellow pear, white peach, unripe mango, spice, and chalk notes that instantly grab ahold of the…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Vibrant lemon juice, lemon drop, lime zest, sea salt, travertine, and honeysuckle flavors make for a captivating Les Clos. This continues to impress with its perfect combination of vibrancy and…

Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard

A front-end push of wet wood and bruised lemon rind notes makes for an initial entry that is clasped in a scabbard of brusque bark and pungently developed citrus flavors. Coalescing into a…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Currently, this is in a more straight-laced mood than the much more expressive and powerful 2019 Malandes Vaudesir. Still, this Les Clos carries decent weight and push to hold true to the site and…

Rudolf Fürst Chardonnay R

I could have easily called this out as a Grand Cru Chablis, Grenouilles perhaps, with its lime-spiked profile, complete with zipping yellow and green citrus, wet limestone, yuzu, lemon drop, and…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

Of course now that I taste this I am slapping myself for not loading up on it. A much more intense and layered animal than its year-older 2018 sibling, this 2019 Malandes Vaudesir has everything…

Blain-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot

A notable amount of power makes for a slightly angular showing on the initial rollout of this wine, with some perceptible alcohol biting the finish. Linear and simple at the moment, with lemon-ish…

Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot

A very primary and intense showing, yet one that flaunts impressive bones for future development, the Servin Blanchots is a proud papa indeed. Appropriate Cru concentration and weight, this Blanchot…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes

Fresh and lively flavors of lemon juice, lime zest, white travertine, and white peach push through with medium-to-full intensity on the front end, holding a solid streak of acidity throughout that…

Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets

Another revisit on this wine. Last sampled in April 2021. Similar to the previous bottle except that this had a certain sense of creaminess and polish on the finish that smoothed out the otherwise…

Roland Lavantureux Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

Limey and spritely, with an extra kick of sea breeze to culminate the flavors into an overall billowing of freshness and put-a-smile-on-your-face acidity. The Chablis typicity is evident and true,…

Louis Roederer Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Yellow citrus and white stone fruit are complimented by white travertine, fresh pizza dough, honeycomb, salt rock, quince, lime pith, clementine albedo, and white floral notes to offer up a gourmand…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

I've written quite a bit on this wine already, so I'll keep it simple. It's one of the best domestic Chardonnays coming out of California. It consistently flies in the 96-99 point range for me. It…

Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons

A Champagne I continue to fall in love with, The Chetillons has so much energy and juicy liveliness, it's hard not to take the whole glass down in one gulp. Compared to the 2008 sampled a few months…

Billecart-Salmon Champagne Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs

Slightly steely on entry, with a cut that rushes straight to the finish. The effervescence doubles this effect, with the white and high-register fruit and rock notes racing along the palate with a…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize

Red apple, dried apricot, preserved lemon rind, hazelnut, and olive oil flavors make for a big house blend profile that doesn't necessarily steer one to a BdB composition. Blind, I would have sworn…

Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Les Mottelettes

As accessible and user-friendly as the 2014, this vintage of Mottelettes is nearly an identical twin, with ripe and juicy yellow citrus, almond slivers, chalk, and yellow pear skin. Round and full…

Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

Limey Squirt, chalk, lemon drop, and unripe green pear notes Gymkata their way through the initial execution of flavor, dropkicking a super zing of acidity and tense vigor. Primary and unresolved,…

Kongsgaard Chardonnay

A trace of pineapple and succulent lemon curd are overlaid with vanilla and marshmallow notes, making for a familiar California profile but thankfully with minimally reserved levels of perceived…

Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Clos Sainte Sophie

The Jacques Lassaigne Clos Sainte-Sophie instantly surges on entry with layered waves of big house flavors. Roasted lemon rind and pulp, apple pie crust and filling, almond skin, olive oil, ripe…

Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Millésimé

A gorgeous BdB Champagne with kisses of honeyed apricot and ginger to send the greater compliment of fresh but seriously succulent yellow citrus flavors cruising along the palate with depth and…

Domaine Amiot Guy et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets

A powerful and straight-shot showing of lemon, wet limestone, and honeydew rind notes on the front end of the attack make for an initial showing that is slightly blocky, with an angular finish that…

Doyard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Skillfully balanced and easily accessible, the front end creaminess and texture fool you into thinking this is going to be all dough and no go, but the speed kicks in midway through its smooth…

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Laser focused and a little hyper-chiseled on the back end, at least enough to push the perception of acid ahead of fruit for the time being. Green apple skin notes battle with lemon and limestone…