Reviews

Ferren Wines Chardonnay Silver Eagle Vineyard

So, the seamlessness I was looking for this wine to develop since my last sample a year and a half ago not only didn't happen, it totally tanked in the opposite direction.

Domaine Jean Chartron Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos du Cailleret

Clean, pure, and fresh; the clarity of this wine is one of its most compelling attributes. Yellow citrus and pineapple flavors are flanked by quince, white stone, and some vanilla notes.…

Domaine Parent Corton-Renardes

Red and Black cherry, cranberry, plum skin, Asian spices, cinnamon stick, burnt orange zest, coffee bean, bitter bark and edible flowers, and dry twig dust. With air, this becomes deeper and…

Scarecrow Monsieur Étain

True to typical form, the 2012 M'Etain offers up its familiar plum, black cherry, and dusty spice profile in a way that hints at pleasant sophistication indicative of the producer, as well as an…

Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chaumées Clos de la Truffière

Layers and layers of lemon and lime zest, Squirt (come on, you remember Squirt, right?!), fresh mint, flowers, and wet limestone. Fresh, bright, and perfectly concentrated in a way that balances…

Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo

Similar to last year's note. A redder fruit profile, with tobacco and spice adding interest. Still advisable to wait another couple years on these.

Château Malescot St. Exupéry

Linear and thin upon opening, with a primary and somewhat watery delivery of red currant, cherry, vanilla, and light spice. A few hours in the decanter helped to ease some of the tension otherwise…

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

Same as previous notes. Drinking fantastic now. V2015/disgorged2017. My favorite vintage of Val Vilaine thus far. Beautifully balanced delivery of tension and flavorful fruit. No decant this time.

Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

Not much change from last year. Green apple skin and unripe pear flavors lead the charge here, with energetic citrus and white stone notes bringing up the rear. Somewhat linear overall in its…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo

Black and red cherry, red and purple plum, muddled strawberry, cassis, rainbow peppercorn, and subtle bark saunter along the palate with the pleasantries that typify the 2014 vintage. Satisfying and…

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

A year and a half since my last bottle. The Hawaiian tropic flavors have subsided a bit, and it's sans sugar city and Willy Wonka confection, so that's a definite plus. It does however still carry a…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Pushing two years since my last bottle of the 2016 Falstaff, and with the 2018 vintage Realm allocation deadline quickly approaching, I was of course compelled to venture into my stash and see what's…

Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers

Black cherry, black raspberry sorbet, citrus peel, and bark. Some deeper pitched dark berry bass tones allow for more accessibility and some sexy sauntering along the palate while still touting its…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve

Big, ripe, and slightly plummy on entry, this fruit monster needs some air to really find its glide. Black cherry and vanillin cassis flavors tiger-paw other behind-the-scene notes of soil and char…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

I guess I'm the only one drinking these. Still a solid performer. Not the most compelling Les Clos I've ever had, and I give a slight nod to the 2016 at the moment, but it is a more than satisfying…

Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots

Fresh and acidic beams of lemon juice and clementine give way to a lively interplay of citrus and white stone flavors, brightening and dynamically coating the palate. Not exaggeratedly punchy to the…

Sine Qua Non Syrah The Hated Hunter

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Sine Qua Non Syrah The Hated Hunter

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Realm Cellars The Falstaff

I've been sitting on these bottles for over two years now and decided to check what's under the hood in hopes that this 2015 would nudge me enough to coerce-out my plastic cash to invest in the…

Realm Cellars The Bard

I've followed and reviewed this wine quite a bit over the course of the last few years and it has certainly delivered a consistently lushly dark and hedonistically round profile. For those who know…

Aubert Chardonnay Sugar Shack

Less of a viscous and oily texture than my previous bottle two years ago. Honeyed yellow citrus, pineapple, subtle exotic waves of flavor, and some creamy vanilla undertones. This took some time and…

Domaine Launay-Horiot Pommard 1er Cru Les Chaponnières

Wild dark berry flavors intermingle brilliantly with fascinating Indian spice, fresh pine needle, forest floor, cremini mushroom, and the slightest tinge of burnt orange peel notes. Even more…

Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots

Similar to previous notes, and likely the best bottle of this wine I've had yet. Awesomely vibrant and punchy fresh squeezed lime and lemon juice, citrus zest, wet limestone, quince jelly, and unripe…

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

Similar to my previous note. Decanting for a few hours certainly helped to bring out more of this wine's complexity and animated personality. A predominant honeyed nectarine/apricot note played…

Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet

Almost a year ago since my last note. This dips its big toe into 1er territory, if but just missing that next level of intensity and focus. It's straight delicious and overly agreeable (aka: I tapped…