Reviews

Walter Scott Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard

Fresh lime and lemon juice, melon rind, green and yellow apple, white rock, and unripe green and yellow pear. Chiseled and acidic, but in proper form throughout consumption. The reductive hit plays…

Morgen Long Chardonnay X Omni Vineyard

This juice grenade is even better than last year, with a reductive pop that you 'must be this tall to ride,' followed by a lemon-lime-Squirt (you kids remember Squirt, right?) euphoria thing, and…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Artiste Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé Trépail

Honeydew, yellow pear, quince, citron zest, lemon and lime pith, white melon rind, lemon curd, creme fraiche, and white stone flavors. More inviting with increasing depth as time goes on. Extremely…

Leclerc Briant Champagne Grand Cru Château d'Avize, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Zéro

At Tiya, SF

Pertois-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru Les Chétillons N°15

Oxidative and a bit superficial, lacking a sense of depth and layering. Golden raisin, grilled lemon, limestone, and poached pear. Finishes a bit brassy. A far cry from the more compelling Bateau and…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

This bottle was strict and bitter upon opening. With air, it opened up and offered some funky pear and gravel notes. Finished a little wooly.

Château L'Evangile

2020 Lafleur (99+) 2020 Cheval Blanc (97+) 2020 Ausone (99-100) 2020 Trotanoy (97) 2020 L'Evangile (96-97)

Château Trotanoy

2020 Lafleur (99+) 2020 Cheval Blanc (97+) 2020 Ausone (99-100) 2020 Trotanoy (97) 2020 L'Evangile (96-97)

Château Ausone

2020 Lafleur (99+) 2020 Cheval Blanc (97+) 2020 Ausone (99-100) 2020 Trotanoy (97) 2020 L'Evangile (96-97)

Château Cheval Blanc

2020 Lafleur (99+) 2020 Cheval Blanc (97+) 2020 Ausone (99-100) 2020 Trotanoy (97) 2020 L'Evangile (96-97)

Château Lafleur

2020 Lafleur (99+) 2020 Cheval Blanc (97+) 2020 Ausone (99-100) 2020 Trotanoy (97) 2020 L'Evangile (96-97)

Leclerc Briant Champagne Abyss

Blind.

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cramant

Blind.

Jérôme Prévost Champagne La Closerie Extra Brut Les Beguines

Blind.

Leclerc Briant Champagne Premier Cru Brut Zéro Les Monts Ferrés

Blind.

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Blind.

Domaine Trapet Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea

Dark berries, red-on-black fruit, dark spices, hints of loam. A little chewy in texture (which I like), giving it an extra tick of breadth; also clean and pure on entry. Can be drunk now but has the…

Ultramarine Rosé (Late Disgorged) Heintz Vineyard

Lemon, lime pith, wet white travertine, rhubarb, and strawberry notes are all present and pure, but a bit subdued and linear in their presentation. With air, orange zest, white currant, and…

Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru "Les Robarts" Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Millésime

Well, this bottle was all sorts of awesome. Yellow pear, olive oil, limestone, yuzu, grilled lemon and orange, almond skin, and ripe yellow apple. In a solid drinking window with just a little bit of…

Adrien Dhondt Champagne Grand Cru Blaise Oger

Another success from Adrien Dhondt's namesake label, the Blaise Oger sports a beautiful core of yellow, green, and white fruit and mineral elements that make for an excitingly fresh and full profile.…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Mailly

Somewhat surprisingly, this is my least favorite vintage of Mailly. I thought the 2013 and 2016 were especially good, with the 2017 trailing a distant third. The 2017 actually tops this 2018, at…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize

As before, golden apple, poached pear, a drip of olive oil, limestone, and some spice roll on to the palate; this becomes richer with air and temperature, but holds a delicate mousse that keeps…

Philippe Lancelot Champagne Grand Cru Le Fond Du Bateau Chouilly

Less of a stellar showing from this bottle. It needed an hour or so before it stopped being a one-note white fruit catawampus sourpuss. Even with air and time, it was fairly disjointed and never…

Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark, serious, tense, tannic (but still perfectly balanced), and maybe even a bit 'The Professional,' with its brooding and beady-eyed black cherry flavors piercing the palate throughout the attack,…

Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

With notably softer contours than the 2021, this 2020 is kinda red-purple fruity on the front end and kinda darker on the tail. It's a medium bodied animal, with a cherry note that carries through…