This was best after half the bottle was recorked (not gassed) and left in a cold cellar for three days. Modern, dark, and powerful, but sans the heat after the third day. Let these lie for a number…
I had much to gush about with this 2016 back when I had it in April. My notes still ring true for the most part, but this bottle was a bit more reserved. Clearly, 2016 is a solid vintage for…
When in St. Emilion recently, there were a lot of wineries and wine shops pushing out their 2011s, declaring that the vintage had come around and was in a great drinking window. Honestly, I always…
The story on this wine (and the subsequent marketing and price push) is more interesting than the wine itself. Essentially, the wine had to be labeled "L'Interdit" because plastic wrap was used in…
A just fine, fun-ish, easy going, smooth, simple, kinda fruity, BBQ on a sunny May afternoon kind of wine. Don't think about it. Nothing for me to seek out necessarily, but it's ok if you just want…
The 2006 is a bit reserved, and even tired along its execution of red and some black fruit flavors, with a shorter than expected finish. A 2009 eclipsed this by a mile. The 2006's freshness was…
A compelling bottle of wine. In great spot, with smooth tannins but great grip, relaxing just enough to allow the dark and somewhat earthy fruit come in. This obliterated a 2006 Valandraud next to…
Compared to the 2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc, the nose here is muted, with some alcohol aroma masking any other aromas The palate is more vegetal, with grass, lemon verbena leading the charge.…
The 2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc wakes you up with a truly heroic nose of apricot and peach, with the palate very similar but bone dry; pineapple rind and stone fruit add interest. A balloon and…
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%…
