Reviews

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Here's some advice...Wait.

Château Fonplégade

A year and a half ago since my last bottle. Progressing quicker than I would have expected. I know others have speculated this will be even better with more time in the cellar. I'm on the opposite…

Famille Moussé Champagne L'Or d'Eugène Perpetuelle Blanc de Noirs

Once you're able to claw your way past the aggressive effervescence, there is ripe and round fruit lurking underneath. I'd actually recommend decanting this for a short period of time just to let it…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

It's been over three years since I've had the opportunity to take a shot at this wine. Homemade pizza on a Tuesday night? What better excuse to dip into the Vice Versa stash and see what's been…

Henri Germain et Fils Bourgogne Côte d'Or Blanc

As WOODIEBAYAREA has noted, this is very good for its level. Much better than a 16 Germain Charmes 1er I had the other night. This base Bourgogne has notable freshness and liveliness illustrative of…

Henri Germain et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

Last of three bottles. First two bottles were wet-newspaper-destroyed. This bottle was at least sound. Fairly pedestrian and, though agreeable and tasty, lacking some of the complexity and oomph I…

Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

Even more filled-out than my previous bottle last year, the 2015 was rocking-out all sorts of dark berry and dusty spice goodness. A double decant with a double filtering of sediment (to which there…

Jerome Blin Champagne Les Caillasses Brut Millésime

Similar to the 2008 in style and delivery, with an affable execution with medium richness and a fuller-friendly mouthfeel. The 2011 has the slight edge over the 2008 in that the 2011 has a little…

Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux il était une fois

Dark mixed berries, a little funk and saline, and hints of dried herbs. Relatively smooth given its youth, but not especially expressive or interesting. Finishes a little flat in its current state.…

Jean-Jacques Confuron Bourgogne Cuvée Jeunesse

Strawberry, rhubarb, red raspberry, soil, pine resin, and a little hint of funk. Light on its feet and stylistically a cross between old and new worlds; certainly a more lithe and airy delivery…

Remy Massin & Fils Pinot Blanc Champagne "Special Club" Brut Millésime

Light and pale, with an almost translucent white hue. Medium bodied, with slightly aggressive effervescence initially that gives way to white stone fruit, light lemon pith, and chalk. Somewhat fuller…

Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots

Even more expressive than last year. Lemon/lime zest and quince flavors intermingle well with the wet white travertine scaffolding. Punchy without being pithy. Excellent acidity and drive, all the…

Pierre Gerbais Champagne L'Originale

Notes from 04/18/2020 and 11/24/2019 - Duplicates posted in the NV section, though these bottles clearly show vintage specific - hence, why I'm posting these notes here in the "2014 Pierre Gerbais…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

Less of the ripe peach and cantaloupe elements on the front end with this particular bottle, instead focusing on fresh and luscious lemon and yellow pear elements that make for an invitingly…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Grand Cru Jolivettes

Pouring a translucent light salmon color (akin to a light colored Rosé), Maillart's 2016 Jolivettes quickly goes from spritely and radiant on the initial attack to a deeper-pitched down shift at the…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Mont Martin

From premier cru vines planted in 1972, the Nicolas Maillart 2016 Mont Martin is an extraordinary 100% Pinot Meunier Extra Brut that immediately impresses for its classy and harmonious flavor-display…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes

A solid 1er Cru Chablis from Malandes, and for the $28 I snagged it, it's a no-brainer QPR steal. Yellow citrus, lemon curd, and white stone make for a beautifully balanced and super agreeable…

Christopher Tynan Wines Syrah Judge Family Vineyard

Similar to last year. Even more integrated and seamless, with a finesse not often found in a domestic Syrah. The saline, olive brine, and iron notes do well to elevate the earthy dark blackberry and…

Domaine Launay-Horiot Pommard 1er Cru Les Chaponnières

Nowhere near as accessible as the awesome 2016 Chaponnieres. This 2017 is ultra-linear and lithe right now. Barely showing some dark berry and spice notes. Next-to-no depth currently. Simple and…

Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets

I could not keep myself from tapping into another one of these bottles. Similar showing as in May 2020. Perfectly balanced and just the right amount of sappy and spice to make for a beautiful earthy…

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

White fruit and chalk-dominated, with lemon seed, honeydew rind, unripe stone fruit, and white rock flavors pushing out through tense and nervy scaffolding. Finishes pure and clean, but linear and…

Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

Yellow and white peach, lemon curd, dried apricot, honey, chamomile, plantain chip, and orange rind make for more of a white Rhône profile here than a white Bordeaux. A more serious wine, with…

Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis

Simple yellow citrus and chalk notes. Medium and linear in intensity and execution. Expansion of flavor was minimal. Finish falls off fairly quickly.

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Zero Dosage

I had to open another bottle of this since the epic fail the previous evening where its busted sibling was all about dog-in-the-rain and floppy-cardboard-in-a kiddy-pool flavors.

Simon Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers

Very similar to Colin's other 1er crus, the Vergers is a clean, pure, and fresh example, with a classy display of yellow citrus flavor that is notably controlled and focused. A little direct and…