Reviews

Realm Cellars The Bard

Much improved since my last bottle 2.5 years ago, this Bard is full of dark berry, bitter chocolate, allspice, asphalt and black soil notes that present initially as somewhat brooding and heavy, but…

Fattoria Le Pupille (Elisabetta Geppetti) Saffredi

Red currant, red and black cherry, dried cranberry, dust, cedar, and a whisper of earthy funk, all amalgamate into a classic array of flavors that, though youthful and slightly strict, are…

Château Troplong Mondot

Dominant spice and black cherry notes play Jai-Alai with a little pelota of dry earth and cedar to fashion a wine that is ready to party. but a party that is more about ice swan sculptures and…

Patrick Piuze Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte de Bouqueyreaux

As polished as most any wine I've had from Bougros, this Piuze version is a hyper clean and airy expression of the site, with the extra chalky minerality whipping the yellow citrus elements into…

Henri Bourgeois Sancerre d'Antan

Even more solid and complete than last year, this d'Antan excites the senses with freshly cut white flowers, acacia, lime and lemon juice and zest, limestone, white melon rind, and a cream cheese…

Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel

Kirsch, earth, spicebox, pine needles, and black cherry elements ride slightly higher toned and on a thin layer of alcohol before a two-hour decant allows for the flavors to file in proper line and…

François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Bournais

Ripe, sweet, and succulent, with lemon drop, honey, and peach flavors competing with lime pith and white stone notes, this 2017 is a decidedly richer version of Bournais when compared to the 2018.…

Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

Three years since I've last had this wine. The good news is that the booze blows off with some time in the decanter. The "other" news is that it's become even more lush and fruity. It kind of reminds…

Marie-Courtin Champagne Éloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Binary is an apt descriptor indeed for this wine. Lean and linear, with a simplistic and exacting delivery that polarizes the palate with strict execution. It's truly a wine of two parts. Lemon and…

Roc de Cambes

Plum, black raspberry, black currant, spice, and a kiss of sweet cedar, this is entering into a wonderfully accessible drinking window that offers a nice dollop of modern succulence that flows…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Pouring a dark purple-black color, with a nose that instantly rockets up the nostrils with fresh wet muddled black cherries and wild blackberry aromas, the 2016 Vice Versa LPV lets you know way ahead…

Paul Pillot Chardonnay Bourgogne

A fairly unimpressive showing here. The first of two bottles I had was flawed. This second and last bottle I had showed basic...and I mean BASIC... yellow citrus flavors. It was more like ONE yellow…

Paul Pillot Chardonnay Bourgogne

Totally flavorless, with an odd aftertaste reminiscent of licking a stamp. I popped a second bottle just to make sure this wasn't some weird profile Pillot was kissing off for his Bourgogne Blanc.…

Domaine du Château de Meursault Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières

A total dud. Wet cardboard and fur on the nose. The palate is flat and near-tasteless, with an astringent mouthfeel. Almost no discernible fruit aromas or flavors. Alkaline and bitter on the finish.

Henri Germain et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Les Fairendes

Lemon creamsicle, clementine, meringue, vanilla, citrus juice, limestone, and lemon curd flavors cascade effortlessly, with a comparatively smoother and more undulating delivery than the spritely…

Henri Germain et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots

Similar to the '18 Charmes but with the lime juice and chalk flavors turned up an extra notch. Yuzu and faint kiwi notes add additional interest. This Poruzots is medium+ bodied and finishes a little…

Château Pavie Macquin

Starting to come around and perform at an even more accessible level, the 2015 Pavie Macquin shows notable expansion of flavor after three hours in the decanter (kept at a cool cellar temperature).…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

A 40/40 split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with the remaining fifth composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2014 Falstaff is flaunty and flirty with its mélange of red, black, and blue fruit…

Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Falkenlay Riesling Großes Gewächs

Lime zest and juice, lemon juice and pith, honeydew, green pear skin, and limestone flavors present in a well-honed and medium+ delivery of flavor. It is chiseled and focused, and comes off a bit…

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Zero Dosage

Less of a tense and nervy showing as was seven months ago, this clean and precise Champagne also offers a nice degree of gravitas and flavor to accompany its higher register execution. A worthy…

Fairchild Estate Chardonnay Stones Russian River Perrarus Block A3

Another solid performance, with an all-around sophisticated mouthfeel and texture that defines high-end Chardonnay out of California. Stylistically, this has both its Burgundian moments and its…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Shy and primary on the initial hit of lemon curd and meringue cookie, but gradually over the course of a few hours, citrus juice and white rock enter the equation. Luscious and slightly rich on the…

Henri Germain et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

An initial reductive posture steps aside with air to reveal lemon and lime juice and zest, white chalk, lemon oil, and unripe white peach notes. Good zip for the warmer vintage, with a medium…

François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Bournais

What an awesome surprise! Unreal texture and flavor, killer QPR, and not so rare I have to sell a kidney to a magical gypsy to acquire a few bottles, the 2018 Bournais is a fabulously distinctive…

Château d'Yquem

Honeyed apricot, lemon succulence, the ripest peach you've ever had, clementine, wet flowers, lemon verbena, and a mélange of herbs all make for the most impressive of Sauternes known to the free…