Reviews

Domaine de la Vougeraie Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyeres

This thing was instantly boring for about three hours. With open air and more swirling than an Olympic synchronized swimmer, the seal started to barely crack, unveiling some unripe red raspberry,…

Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard

Black cherry and plum kick off the core outpouring of fruit on the attack. Though the nose signals ripe and sweet, the red/black fruit is nicely housed in a dry (I mean, dry by Aubert standards)…

Maxem Pinot Noir UV Vineyard

Decidedly richer and rounder than the Cowboy Caviar Silver Eagle served beside it, this UV is hanging in Reno for the weekend with a lushness and brightness that is almost neon-pulsing. The richness…

Maxem Pinot Noir Silver Eagle

The nose is almost feral and wild, like it's gonna blast you with a fistful of Stemmy-McStemminess. Then the palate front-loads the tastebuds with rich berry fruit. There are some rocks and bark that…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Ambonnay

At Bereche, Ludes.

Guillaume Selosse Champagne Largillier Extra Brut

At Les Avises (Selosse), Avize.

Ultramarine Sparkling Rosé Hirsch Vineyard

Much more chiseled than the 2018 Heintz Rose, though less overtly exuberant, this 2019 Hirsch Rose offers up crisp strawberry, crunchy watermelon, pink grapefruit, orange spray, and travertine notes…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron

Blasts of oxidative elements roar through the front end, initially making for a brassy and almost banana-y entry. Swirl, swirl, swirl. Ah! Now comes the signature orange zest, grilled lemon, toasted…

Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin

On the nose, sauvage and feral, with a prominent earthy element that masked any sense of fruit. In the palate, a lighter body sans the wildness, with a moderate injection of high riding red cherry…

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

A full bodied, masculine front end kicks off a rush of deep and dark black cherry, black raspberry, and soil notes. A pine needle flavor adds further interest on the finish. This is a broad stroke of…

Domaine Anne et Hervé Sigaut Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Millandes

Red and purple berry, pine needle, stems, pomegranate, and unripe plum. A little tight at first, but this opens up nicely with some swirling in the glass. Still, I'd give this a few more years to…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron

Disgorged February 2015. Orange zest, olive oil, clementine poached pear, grilled lemon, bruised red apple flesh, fruit cup, dried apricot, and pretty much everything awesome. If you know Selosse,…

Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos de La Bussière

Obviously too young, but with a fun kick of red raspberry and candied black and red cherry flavors to compliment some interesting orange peel and spice notes. Primary indeed, but already decent depth…

Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Les Maillons

At Logis de La Cadene in St. Emilion.

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Bechalin

Honey and nugget flavors compliment grilled lemon and slight burnt sugar (not sweet) notes, this is a Bechalin that is a bit oxidized, but luckily not too brassy, with medium to light perlage and a…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Premier Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Mareuil-sur-Ay Sous le Mont

Signature Selosse, with all the oxidative (but not brassy) hallmarks that make this a unique but not completely isolating Champagne. This was more deeply pitched and colored than a 2006 VC Grande…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Bechalin

This shows incredibly young and chiseled, but it does so in a pulsating and sparkly fashion, which adds to the allure and complexity of its overall performance. Prickly pear, lemon juice and pith,…

Ultramarine Sparkling Rosé Hirsch Vineyard

My experience with this wine on day one was on par with others in that this bottle displayed a strong medicinal note (Band-Aid meets NyQuil), aggressive and foamy effervescence (a la hefeweizen),…

Domaine Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

The first word I wrote in my notes was "fantastic." Black fruited at first pass, with deep, almost rich, dark red cherry fruit washing up behind the wall of earthy black raspberry, red and black…

Ultramarine Blanc de Noirs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

As much as I have championed Ultramarine as a unique alternative to Champagne (In reality, they really couldn't be further apart in many ways, but that's not necessarily a bad thing), I unfortunately…

Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

A juicy delivery with ripe and saturated red raspberry and cherry notes, with a dusting of earth and meaty flavors. A bit of heat on the back end but with a savory helping of fruit to fully encircle…

Dujac Fils et Père Gevrey-Chambertin

Purple berry fruit, with hints of bark and dust. Stemmy but not green. Almost drinks like a Syrah given it's weight and darker fruit profile.

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine

V18, Disgorged April 2020.

Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay

Light and "feminine" (though I typically don't like using that word), with an elegance that easily rolls along the palate with black cherry water, cinnamon stick, and muddled strawberry flavors.…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine

The 2016 Cedric Bouchard Val Vilaine hasn't changed much since my knocking back a previous bottle three years ago. This bottle was perhaps a bit more vibrant than I recall, where the grilled lemon…