Reviews

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Fût De Chêne Brut Rosé Aÿ

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV18 Aÿ

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Argonne Brut

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

3 bottles in a row flawed. Unacceptable.

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Zero Dosage

Flawed again. Won't buy Blin anymore.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

Seems like I got the donkey's end of a bad batch of Marguets recently ordered. This bottle of Le Parc marks yet another busted monkey. Nothing on the nose, but the palate is aggressive bitterness,…

Champagne Christophe Baron Champagne Les Alouettes

Day 1: Pours a golden brass color. Decanted for a total of three hours. A little sharp and alkaline on the finish for the first hour or so, with a coppery delivery that lacks envelopment and polish.…

The Third Twin Graciano The Third Twin Vineyard

My notes from 2019 say to revist it 2024. So, here we are! The good news is that it is not as uber ripe and in your face as five years ago. The just ok news is that, though it has indeed mellowed…

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Cutting to the chase, this was a rocket ship on day two. Day one was reserved and a little linear, with red to black fruit dominating the profile. Finished flavorful but a bit strict on the back end.…

Ultramarine Sparkling Rosé Hirsch Vineyard

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…

Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Petit Chablis

Pineapple, peaches and cream, cantaloupe, and ripe lemon flavors make for an overly exotic profile that is tasty and all, but without the requisite tension and speed. Finishes round and kinda…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron

Blasts of oxidative elements roar through the front end, initially making for a brassy and almost banana-y entry. Swirl, swirl, swirl. Ah! Now comes the signature orange zest, grilled lemon, toasted…

Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Oxidative apricot, tangerine, and funky mushroom. Lacking a bit of freshness. Tasty and unique as always from this producer, but lacking that dollop of verve and focus overall. Bubbles were light,…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven

The 2014 M7 had been the only vintage of M7 I had not tasted until now. This particular bottle showed a relatively sweet and rich profile, with perhaps less delineation of flavor than more recent…

Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin

On the nose, sauvage and feral, with a prominent earthy element that masked any sense of fruit. In the palate, a lighter body sans the wildness, with a moderate injection of high riding red cherry…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Chaillots Gillis

Give this air. It is a billion times more elevated when it can stretch its legs a bit. Perhaps even a decant if you can keep it cold. The 2012 is still the one to beat, but this 2014 isn't anything…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Balanced and smooth, especially for such a young pup. Super fruity, in fact, one of the fruitiest renditions from this site that I can remember. Notes of mixed berry basket, boysenberry, licorice,…

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

A solid rendition of Eastside, if not understandably juvenile and a bit unresolved. Air broadened the spectrum and expansion of flavors, but had a tendency to flatten the focus as it warmed in the…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

Tons of suds and a strong bitter alkaline flavor. No fruit at all. Sharp and biting. Bottom of cork covered with black specks.

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia

I've had various vintages of these wines a number of times now, and this was the most unresolved I've experienced the beloved Sassicaia. Pours light and clear, posing as a baby Barolo with a broken…

Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard

Great fruit concentration, with black cherry, earth/soil, bitter chocolate chunk, and spice leading the flavor cavalry. The back end is yummy and slightly ravenous, with a filling/decently deep…

Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

This dude is an unresolved fruity spider monkey boinging back and forth from round and bulbous to angular and abrupt, with a simple and shorter finish that seemed even slightly watery. Like a 2010…

Abreu Thorevilos

Whoo doggies! Fire water. My initial notes read, "Enormous, alcoholic, black raspberry bomb with tons of booze. Finish cocktail driven. Man, the heat on repeat!" I was pretty surprised what a slap…

Marguet Sapience

Better than the previous bottle I had 6 months ago, this performance was a bit more focused and direct, which helped keep the nutty and oxidative notes from overwhelming the requisite tension and…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume

The vanillin wood influence presents as fairly strong against the backdrop of the ripe lemon curd core. Simple and a little sluggish in its current state. Finishes a bit fat, but certainly succulent.…