Reviews

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…

Jerome Blin Champagne La Pouillote Extra Brut

Disgorged 05/2019. This was a bit more of a coppery performance this time around, with golden raisin and grilled lemon notes providing the lion share of the flavor profile. Notes of red apple flesh,…

Kinsman Eades Chenin Blanc Aberro

There's a noble nose on this Chenin that sports a whiff of the exotic at first, but then rolls right into freshly cut honeydew, warm honey, and even the slightest hint of petrol aromas. It smells…

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals

Yellow citrus spray, white melon rind, white flowers, chalk, and tarragon notes are executed in a controlled intensity that sparkles with focused energy and liveliness. In its current state, the…

Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois

A marked improvement from the last bottle I had, this was performing exceptionally well after a bit of air. With a shimmering, coppery glow, this sample of VdA showed a beautiful hue and was…

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.

Patrick Piuze Chablis 1er Cru Les Séchets

Even more lime and lemon zest notes kicking out of this bottle than the previous one, this bottle of Piuze Sechets is perhaps even more compelling than my other tours with it in the past. More…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

Revisiting this wine, I can't help but continue to be impressed by the tension and acidity that swarm around the gorgeous yellow citrus fruit. Even as this warmed up in the glass (beyond what I would…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 169eme

This thing keeps getting better and better. 2013 is a vintage to look out for in Champagne. You can ogle over your 2008s all you want, but I am continually reaffirmed that 2013 is going to be stiff…

Allbaer Grenache Là Haut Caelesta Vineyard

Barrel sample. Initial impressions focus on super impressive purity of fruit (muddled red raspberry) and an almost surprisingly elegant tannin structure for what one would expect from a thief from…

La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvium

Another go-around with this wine, which delivered the initial hit of powerful tannins, but was able to find a nice groove once given a healthy amount of air. This bottle kicked out super dark, black…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Broad-shouldered and powerful, the T6 launches its attack with copious amounts of cassis, muddled black and red raspberry, red cherry liqueur, and some boozy vanillin flavors, finishing strong and…

Roam Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard

A very plush rendering of Sleeping Lady, with mocha, blueberries, blackberry cobbler, milk chocolate, vanilla, and sweet cassis, the 2016 Roam is succulent and round, with an easily accessible…

Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Virondot

I dig this wine. This is my second time popping one of these beauties and it just refuses to disappoint. Lively lime and lemon juice notes pop and lock on the palate in a way that can't help but beg…

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

V18, Disgorged April 2020.

Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

Man, this thing took off like a rocket, and a much more lively performance than the last time I sampled the 2008. I would have guessed this was the 2013 given its electricity. The finish is…

Domaine Roulot Meursault Les Meix Chavaux

A smooth and even somewhat muted delivery at first pass, this Roulot requires a bit of coaxing to show its medium-intensity yellow citrus and wet limestone flavors. From nose to tail, the delivery is…

Walter Scott Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard

Served blind (only known as a Chardonnay), side-by-side with a 2015 Roulot Meix Chavaux (Meursault), which was interesting given the similarities/differences the Walter Scott shared with the…

Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill

Well heck, this is an absolutely great young Champagne. The Pinot Noir is evident, but the entire execution is both inviting and electric with red and yellow fruit flavors. The front end dominates…

Château Haut-Bailly

Still about 3-5 years before prime time, though there is an accessibility that displays pure and clean black and red cherry, black currant, cedar, dried roses, and hints of tobacco leaf. It rides a…

Château Valandraud

With a makeup of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon (per Valandraud's spec sheets. Note, however, that I've seen other erroneous "pro" reports that list the CF as high as 15%…

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

A little Merlot-y at times, with plumy, softer and rounder contours presenting like hanging out and watching tv with your best friend, or maybe just a decent friend. A chill experience without being…

Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

The 2012 Comtes pours a fantastically translucent neon yellow-green color, instantly signaling a vibrant attack of yellow citrus zest, fresh lemon juice, wet limestone, yuzu, yellow pear, and…

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.…

Thibaud Boudignon Savennières Clos de la Hutte

The 2020 Savennières Clos de la Hutteis a stylish and somewhat understated expression of Chenin, unfolding gradually in the mouth with a deliberate and methodological sense about it. The back end…