So, it is not wet asparagus, but there is indeed overt tarragon and wet green grass notes that swat you right in the mouth on the initial sips. It's just too much; so much so that I had to leave this…
This is probably the freshest Ultramarine BdN I've had, especially given the bottle variation and duds I've experienced over recent years. White raspberry water, yellow and red pear flesh and skin,…
As detailed in my previous note, this is fairly linear and chiseled. Better with food. .And eons better than the 2018 Hirsch Rose. Stick with this 2019, but perhaps best to hold for a year or two to…
A consistently solid Rose from Ultramarine that I've reviewed a number of times now, it spits out red raspberry, Aperol, watermelon, strawberry, and river rock notes that offer waves of fruit flavor,…
Petrol and reduction on the nose, with a slightly sherried profile. Notes of apricot and walnut. This is almost like a d'Yquem. I wouldn't have pegged this as Chardonnay. A odd, oxidized sample that…
Fuller than a 2022 UV-SL served next to it, but carrying a really nice acidity as well, this Park Avenue is a lovely combination of spritely fresh lemon juice with riper yellow citrus and stone…
Noble cut and acidity keeps the lemon curd, citrus spray and juice, sea salt, creme fraiche, and vanilla notes well within their lanes; a somewhat racy performance as Auberts go, but with a signature…
Black cherry and plum kick off the core outpouring of fruit on the attack. Though the nose signals ripe and sweet, the red/black fruit is nicely housed in a dry (I mean, dry by Aubert standards)…
Decidedly richer and rounder than the Cowboy Caviar Silver Eagle served beside it, this UV is hanging in Reno for the weekend with a lushness and brightness that is almost neon-pulsing. The richness…
The nose is almost feral and wild, like it's gonna blast you with a fistful of Stemmy-McStemminess. Then the palate front-loads the tastebuds with rich berry fruit. There are some rocks and bark that…
California Chardonnay richness catches you first on the front end, but then the acidity rushes to the party and envelops the inside of the cheeks. Amazingly buttery without being buttery or popcorny;…
Hey now, for as much as Ultramarine can be a hit/miss experience for me, this thing did every right tonight. Offerings from Heintz have produced the most consistent and best lineages from this house.…
Much more chiseled than the 2018 Heintz Rose, though less overtly exuberant, this 2019 Hirsch Rose offers up crisp strawberry, crunchy watermelon, pink grapefruit, orange spray, and travertine notes…
I finally figured it out. Any time I can't decide between a Hefeweizen or a Champagne, I reach for Ultramarine. The brats and kraut sparkling wine. The chotomy to my dichotomy.
A full bodied, masculine front end kicks off a rush of deep and dark black cherry, black raspberry, and soil notes. A pine needle flavor adds further interest on the finish. This is a broad stroke of…
Clementine, lime, white travertine, and a long lemony finish mark the latest vintage of the 2021 Platt Chardonnay. It is both vibrant and full, with energy and acidity that fully encompass the back…
Not so sure I'm too stoked on the track record here with some of these sparklers. This one opened up with extremely aggressive bubbles (and yes, it has been resting on its side and treated with kid…
My experience with this wine on day one was on par with others in that this bottle displayed a strong medicinal note (Band-Aid meets NyQuil), aggressive and foamy effervescence (a la hefeweizen),…
Lemon, citrus rind, white stone fruit, Asian pear, and sea spray. Perfectly balanced and less sweet than many Ultramarines I've experienced historically, there is nice cut here on the back end that…
As much as I have championed Ultramarine as a unique alternative to Champagne (In reality, they really couldn't be further apart in many ways, but that's not necessarily a bad thing), I unfortunately…
There were a couple of Auberts in the tasting that I inadvertently dodged and for whatever reason was unable to conjure up the logistical prowess to get to them and proffer some sort of comparison…
My preference in the world of Ultramarine tends to gravitate toward their BdBs, though the Rose can be a fantastic alternative to bubblies across the Atlantic. In fact, this BdB was served next to…
Disgorged 11/15/2022. My notes from last year pretty much sum up my experience this go-around (12/15/2022). This bottle showed yeastier elements than the seemingly drier and more cut bottle from six…
