Reviews

Jean Vesselle Champagne Brut Oil de Perdrix

This was a decent little number (from a split), with orange rind and lemon-strawberry water notes skipping along the palate with a dry and slightly steely entry. Stays superficial through the…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Killing Moon

It's been three years, and a revisit of this wine since 2018 reminds me of why there is so much appeal to be had here, what with the powerfully modern style doing its best to meet halfway with a…

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny

At first pass, this is taut and linear, with a bead of cedar-infused red cherry providing medium intensity and leading into a clipped and primary finish. With some coaxing in the glass, it unfolds…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Franc de Pied Les Coupés

Coming into a prime drinking window now. In fact, I'll likely be drinking these sooner than later. Perfectly balanced and flavor-giving all the way around. Previous notes apply otherwise.

Hubert Lamy Santenay 1er Cru Clos des Gravières Vieilles Vignes

Plum and purple berry notes are swarmed by racy acidity and firm and fuzzy tannins. A mouth puckering experience right now, but the depth of flavor potential here is compelling. I'm 8 years old again…

Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots

Crimson red with a darker amber hue, the Chaignots makes you think it's a more aged wine at first glance. The initial aroma is funky earth and citrus rind, further fanning the belief that this is an…

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

This bottle wields broader swaths of ginger, red apple, cherry water, almond skin, and bruised lemon notes, flaunting a bit of a big house blend loftiness. There is still the obligatory freshness and…

Nicolas Rossignol Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets

A somewhat lean and reticent entry on the initial sip begins to slowly, fairly begrudgingly, unfold and expand into an earthy red berry concoction befitting hallmark Volnay. Medium on the mid-palate…

Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard

Red cherry, raspberry, Cherry Coke (or Original Cherry Coke One, or Coke Zero Cherry, or Coca-Cola Classic Cherry, or Mexican Coke Cherry Cane Azucar), Indian spice, and earth notes resonate clearly…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Villers-Allerand Les Loges

Similar to my note in February 2021. Pours a translucent light salmon color, with super food-friendly/complimentary flavors that highlight light mousse-injected yellow and orange citrus juice, cherry…

Domaine François Mikulski Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-Du-Milieu

Funky earth and dusty plum, with cedar, mushroom, salt rock, smoke, and wilted herb flavors. Slightly thin and watery on the finish. Medium all the way around. No fireworks here this time compared to…

Domaine Trapet Latricières-Chambertin

Earthy red and black cherry and citrus peel present in a primary and linear format, but still provide accessibility that just begins to hint at its qualitative Grand Cru refinement. More red-fruited…

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

Once exposed to air, this succulent monkey really fills out into a juicy expansion of red and black cherry, red and black raspberry, spice, and mulch notes. It's an interplay of fresh-meets-forest,…

Littorai Pinot Noir One Acre

From magnum. A deep core of black cherry, dark plum, bark, and burnt citrus rind set off a slightly rustic push of moderately intense flavors on the fruit-forward attack that drops deeply into a nice…

Domaine Anne et Hervé Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots

A Chambolle that delivers both acidic energy and a dark, somewhat brooding, depth (eventually). This particular bottle was followed over the course of a few weeks with a Coravin. The first hits of…

Laherte Frères Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Les Longues Voyes

Strike three with this Champagne. The Vinges d'Autrefois is so much more compelling than this snoozer. The Les Longues Voyes is a hollow swallow as far as I'm concerned. Can't say I didn't try here.…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Millésimé Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules

Another solid winner from the Bouchard lineage, the Ursules offers an impeccable representation of balance and equilibrium of flavor. Everything is properly in its place, with precision and focus…

Marie-Courtin Champagne Efflorescence Extra Brut

Here's a helpful hint: Don't pop the cork and try to take this thing down immediately and expect it to deliver from jump. I'm finding it's best to give these plenty of aeration the same way one might…

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

It's been two years since my last bottle. Still a good amount of tension and acidic verve here to keep the party going for quite some time. The savory and meaty characteristics are poised for…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Night Children

It's been 2.5 years since my last having a bottle of this wine. Time has been very good to the Night Children, with an even more integrated sense of itself. Gushing wild black cherry, earthy and…

Laherte Frères Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Les Longues Voyes

I still struggle with this Champagne. There is an abrasive alkaline finish that accentuates an angularity to its flavor delivery. I'm surprised at the 4g/L dosage here, as it comes across not only…

Stephane Briday Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé

(AKA: Michel Briday?). Strawberry, citrus spray, and rhubarb notes are conveyed in a medium dry delivery from a simple but inviting flavor profile. A yeasty hit fills out the back end without…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Grand Cru Jolivettes

After an initial blast of bubbles that swarmed around the core fruit and almost completely disabling flavor expansion, this Jolivettes finally calmed down in the glass once it was allowed to get some…

Konverterra Pinot Noir Rio Vista Vineyard

Warm black cherry compote and spice flavors make it easy to land Santa Rita as the home plot here. Broad shouldered without being overly rich, this Pinot Noir is signature California from beginning…

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

This needs a wee amount of cellar time in-bottle to fully come to its happy place. The flavors didn't start to expand until the final sips after over an hour of air. Linear, with some red apple flesh…