Reviews

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Another stab at this wine, and it delivers better than the previous bottle a couple months back. Cool black flavors, with a profile based on restraint and poise, but still offering lovely black…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Element Zero

This is a super beast of a wine, with walls of intensity and structure. Napa power users will be stoked to have these in their cellars, but best to don your trusty riot gear and remain 100 yards from…

Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut

This was indeed a beautiful showing, but a more subtle and somewhat quieter delivery of flavor from this particular sample. Similar to my bottle back in January (from the same lot), if perhaps…

Salima et Alain Cordeuil Champagne Altitude 350m Bio

Less compelling than the previous bottle I had recently, with every flavor dialed down and quieter, making for a more pedestrian delivery. Yellow fruit. Less tension than before. 90-92 on this…

Huré Frères Champagne L'Inattendue Blanc de Blancs

A similar showing here as with the 2018, this 2020 version exhibits the same chalky freshness and white fruit spritz, but too with some of the yellow fruit elements poking out to make an appearance.…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

A sour apple note leads the charge here, with mandarin spray, Meyer lemon, yellow pear flesh, and barley. Works well with a spicy Asian meatball and coconut broth dish. A good wine, but not a…

Huré Frères Champagne L'Insouciance

This performed exceptionally well, with wonderful lift and precision, while also maintaining notable volume and depth. Strawberry, watermelon, cranberry, and travertine notes. Dialed-in on the…

Charles Dufour & Françoise Martinot Champagne Bistrøtage B.20 Extra Brut

Bristly and herbal at first pass, with rhubarb, grilled lemon, spicy ginger, crunchy red apple, red pear skin, sea salt and spray, and Mirabelle plum. Gains extra points for the exiting and tingly…

Salima et Alain Cordeuil Champagne Altitude 350m Bio

Lemon and pear notes are pleasantly intertwined, making for a balanced unfolding of flavor and volume. Once the chalky bubbles calm in the glass, the fruit really shines through with wonderful…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

This is the last of these bottles from the cellar. Again, the red apple flesh and juice notes dominate the profile. It's quite tasty, and still maintains all the requisite freshness and focus to make…

Ultramarine Sparkling Rosé Heintz Vineyard

Pours a light salmon color. On the palate, notes of orange spray, grapefruit, blood orange, malt, strawberry, dried ginger powder, and hints of travertine. This might be one of the most precise…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut

An alluring honey note touches off a seductive and contemplative delivery of poached pear, grilled lemon, limestone, yuzu, cardamom, and subtle ginger flavors. Some red apple shows up to the swanky…

Leclerc Briant Champagne Premier Cru Le Clos des Trois Clochers Brut Zero

Nose seemed fine. Flat on the palate with little-to-no fruit. The slightest alkaline aftertaste. Not indicative of previous bottles.

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Astre Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé

Once again, a stellar performance. I very much appreciate the freshness here that counterbalances the seriousness of the 100% Pinot Noir profile. Barrel spice is in check (which has sometimes been a…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Astre Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé

Once again, a stellar performance. I very much appreciate the freshness here that counterbalances the seriousness of the 100% Pinot Noir profile. Barrel spice is in check (which has sometimes been a…

Paul Pernot et ses Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières

In a good place now, with succulent lemon, lime zest and pith, and yuzu notes delivering a noteworthy depth and expansion of flavor, this presents as giving and ready, with a nice unfolding of…

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Nogers

Even better than last year, this vintage of Nogers is the most compelling version of the cuvée I've had to date. Similar to before, notes of pear, chamomile, yuzu, limestone, brioche crust, and…

Éliane Delalot Champagne Meuniers d'Exception Impressions

Very orange and olive oil driven at first pass, with chamomile, cardamom, grilled lemon, red poached pear skin, ginger spice, and bark. A rustic, brassy, and woody finish that is somewhat abrasive…

Ruppert-Leroy Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Martin-Fontaine

Simple apple juice (red apple flesh) note on the front end, with golden raisin and yellow pear adding a modicum degree of interest. The finish is both round and a bit bitter. Minimum complexity.…

Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas

This needs a decade minimum to unwind. There are some higher register cherry notes, with salami, violets, and gravely soil barely peeking out, but it's mostly just primary red-purple "fruit" that is…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Bulle de Rosé Extra Brut

Similar to my tasting note last year, this bottle was slightly funky in the nose but the palate was clean and vibrant, with strawberry, chalk, orange rind and spray, and white melon rind. A bit less…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard

This doesn't even need a decant. Silky smooth with a perfect equilibrium, especially for such a potent wine. Dark blackberry and black cherry fruit dominate, with a wonderfully pure but voluminous…

Pertois-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru le Mont de Craie N°17

This is quite a nice specimen, with hallmark Pertois-Lebrun notes of grilled lemon, olive oil, limestone, and red and yellow apple flesh. Slightly oxidative elements add depth and complexity, with…

Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard

Lemon curd, vanilla, and even some subtle coconut (not ideal for my palate) start off the delivery on the first pop of the cork. Tasty and balanced, but a bit predictable and shy initially, with the…