Reviews

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Zero Dosage

Pours an apple juice/slightly coppery-yellow color. Wet cardboard on the nose. Wet newspaper and dog fur on the palate, with an extremely bitter alkaline finish. Little-to-no detectable fruit. With…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

It's got that rich and chocolatey Benoit on top of a Hershey's black cherry Sunday thing going on that draws you in with the first sip. Cardamom and Christmas spices soon follow, along with a wave of…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume

Built on a velvety edifice that is indicative of the warm 2018 vintage, the Drion Fourcheme quickly presents itself as a mouthwatering and lavish yellow-driven citrus creature. A creamy, succulent,…

Sine Qua Non Entre Chien et Loup

A broad-shouldered Rhone-inspired white that carries enough energy and brightness (thanks to the 44% Chardonnay and 8% Viognier) to counterbalance the otherwise fuller-throttled richness of the 40%…

Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières

Beautiful lemon-lime zest and luscious yellow pear notes work well with white pumice minerality aptly framing the gorgeous fruit. Medium-to-full bodied and balanced, with a saturated mouthfeel that…

Melka Sauvignon Blanc Mekerra

Still awesome. Even better than a year ago. Extremely complex for a domestic SB. Marries suave smoothness with vivacious tension perfectly. Acacia blossom, fresh honeydew, guava, kiwi, lemon verbena,…

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Chalky limestone drives in front of the bright yellow citrus fruit, making for a mineral dominated Chablis that carries its fruit somewhat linear and direct in its current state. Finishes strict, but…

von Winning Deidesheimer Kieselberg Riesling Großes Gewächs

Much more punchy and energetic than its Grainhubel sibling, this Kieselberg impresses with complex tart green apple, quince, yellow and green pear, Meyer lemon rind, lemon verbena, sea foam,…

Paul Dethune Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé

For those who want for a more bready and yeasty mouthfeel, the Dethune is stylistically geared for immediate pleasure with its fuller push of luscious yellow fruit and dosage-driven richness. Never…

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Prepare for straight-up heat and sweet if opening now. In a very awkward place at the moment. Standby to standby for a while; keep this cobbler cocktail horizontal. Signs of promise, but not until…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Entering into a really nice drinking window now. White peach and lemon dominate the profile, with a scaffolding of white travertine and chalk. Notable luscious mid-palate with the minerality…

Geoffroy Champagne Meunier Millésime Brut Nature Les Tiersaudes

Disgorged April 2018.

von Winning Deidesheimer Grainhübel Riesling Großes Gewächs

Quince, over-ripe lemon, pineapple rind, seagrass, cornhusk, chamomile, and a slight petrol note make for a rounded but aptly dry execution of flavor. Medium intensity and a bit simple overall in the…

P. Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils Pommard 1er Cru Les Épenots

An initial straight-laced and flat delivery eventually inches into tasty sour red cherry, spice, and earth territory that provides smile-on-your-face satisfaction from start to finish. Earth and…

P. Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils Corton-Clos du Roi

At first pass, the 2016 Dubreuil-Fontaine exhibits a decidedly attenuated and tempered conveyance of lightly spiced cranberry and black and red cherry flavors. It first fools its host into the belief…

Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers

Improved from the last bottle I had in Spring. Notable energy and speed here, with a perfect lemon-lime zest and Squirt zing that brings a little extra electricity to the delivery. 93-94 points.

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

More vanilla and dough-driven, which pushed the yellow citrus and white stone fruit to the rear. The 7g/L dosage came off a touch more than I'd personally prefer, especially rounding off the finish.…

La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc

Green apple, honeydew, and white peach notes present a disappointingly lithe and austere showing, with a pedestrian execution of flavor that does very little to expand or deepen the superficial…

Château Fleur Cardinale

Black cherry, blackberry, espresso, and black licorice notes are complimented by fresh potting soil, tilled earth, anise, and spicebox flavors. Beautifully concentrated, with a balanced depth that…

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

Disgorged 02/2020. 100% Chardonnay. 0g/L dosage. From two old vine parcels planted in 1963.

Christophe Pichon Côte-Rôtie Promesse

Similar stylistically to the Cornas Allegorie from Pichon, this Promesse shows higher red-fruited tonalities of cranberry, red and purple plum skin, and pomegranate on the front end. Violets and…

Christophe Pichon Cornas Allégorie

Pours a translucent crimson-purple color. Aromas of mixed berries, roasted game skin, olive brine, and saddle leather. On the palate, youthful high-register hits of cranberry, pomegranate, and…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Franc de Pied Les Coupés

Disgorged 04/2018. 100% Pinot Noir. 0g/L dosage. From 1er Cru vines planted in 1973.

P. Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Clos Berthet

Ripe and bruised yellow apple skin, brassy yellow citrus and lemon rind, chamomile tea, olive oil, starfruit, and subtle vanilla notes gently roll across the palate. Notably balanced, with a cadence…

Domaine Vincent and Sophie Morey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Truffière

Meyer and yellow lemon, green and yellow apple, grapefruit, and travertine. An even and balanced delivery of flavor, hinting at further sophistication and complexity with a few years in bottle to…