Reviews

Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

Pours a crimson purple, with a clearer, lighter hue than expected; fairly muted on the nose, with some faint applewood and macerated cherry aromas. On the palate, balanced flavors of black cherry,…

Château de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos du Château de la Maltroye

Baked apple pie filling, poached pear, ripe lemon, acacia, dry oatmeal, smokey char, and brassy preserved lemon rind. Leesy and yeasty, with a more rounded and ripe profile overall. Don't expect the…

Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

Fairly similar to last year's notes. Still continuing to exhibit its beautifully textured vanillin yellow citrus notes in a style that is both balanced and suggestively, subtly energetic. It doesn't…

Christophe Mignon Champagne Extra Brut

A straightforward display of brassy lemon and black cherry water flavors. Satisfying in some respects, but a little more on the serious side... almost to the point of being too much of a…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Martinez Vineyard

Purple, black, and red fruit jet fuel. Give this air! Better yet, leave it alone for another few years. This has certainly turned into a NASA Space Shuttle for some reason right now since I last had…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

This particular bottle was similar to SMHALPS' recent tasting note. Gooey, sweet fruit and licorice, with a plump core and rounded, plush texture. A chewy mouthful of ripe fruit. Not too much tension…

Caroline Morey Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Blanc

Lemon seed, lemon rind, white melon rind, white peach, salt rock, and chalk. Pure, clean, and fresh. Decent acidity and energy, with a higher register (white fruit) ride on the palate. Stayed fairly…

Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard

Last summer's notes apply, but it seems like the declination (or perhaps, rapid progression?) of this wine continues. What vivaciousness it had a few years ago has softened to the point it's a bit…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard, Vixen Block

A kiss of sweet, ripe dark red and black berry fruit gives rise to a mouthful of black raspberry and cherry, blackberry, anise, and chewy chocolate notes. Still a tinge of alcohol here, but otherwise…

Château Pontet-Canet

Crisp sour cherry, cranberry, purple plum skin, limestone, raspberry seeds, and some citrus. Rides crunchy, high, and red, with a puckering acidity that didn't let up at all over three hours of…

Domaine François Mikulski Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-Du-Milieu

A fascinating wine, with a nose that blasts sea foam and oyster shells right into the back of the mouth...Like walking down a fog-covered beach in Point Reyes with seaweed-strewn sands and hundreds…

Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Boudriotte

Clean, fresh, and wonderfully balanced, the Boudriotte saunters its way across the palate with pure yellow citrus flavors that are flanked by quince, grass, and mineral elements that add to its…

Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets

Red cherry, strawberry, red and black currant, dark sorbet, and faint earth and spice notes. Outstanding purity, with an ultra clean delivery that keeps excellent focus while also delivering inviting…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut

Disgorged 10-2017. 70% Chard, 30% PN. Balanced and agreeable, with yellow citrus, white melon, yellow pear, ripe yellow apple, and some white stone notes. Medium all the way around, with a…

Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

Lemon juice, lemon and lime zest, mandarin orange, lemon curd, dry grass, quince, travertine, white popcorn, and honeysuckle. Beautifully weighted, with a vibrant energy that doesn't race over the…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard

This is really compelling for a modern styled Napa Cab. An exquisite balance of extract and concentration with flavor and plain 'ol yum factor. Just when you think it'll be too sweet, too rich, or…

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau

Honeyed lemon, fresh ginger, pumice, quince, unripe white melon rind, pithy lemon seed, and some dry hay. Stayed pretty linear, even with a two hour decant. Finishes with promise, but generally…

Sylvie Esmonin (Michel et Fille) Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques

From the nose, you think you're in for a petting zoo barnyard wet sheep moment, but on the palate, the animale element is nuanced, existing more as a subtlety that accompanies the profile rather than…

Domaine Darviot-Perrin Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières

Punchy, bright, and full of vigor and life from the first sip. Such a vibrant wine that dances on the palate like a coke-dusted Elvis (before he was fat...and, well.... dead....). Take a healthy hit…

Aesthete Wines Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Aged Dry Stack Vineyard

Previous notes apply, though this bottle showed more unctuousness and somewhat surprisingly slightly-brassy Semillon-esque characteristics to the point that at times it overpowered the core. A…

Ovid Red Wine

Red currant, black and red cherry, cassis, tobacco leaf, spice box, cedar, and mulch. A beautiful example of old-meets-new world Napa Cabernet. Notably balanced and classy, with a sophistication that…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Blackberry, blueberry, earth, river rock, and pulverized granite. This started off as many 2014s do with a giving amount of fruit and flavor on the front end. Finished plump and ripe (but balanced on…

Château Léoville Barton

It's a young pup, so best left alone for another 7-10 years. Sour cherry, red and black cherry, red currant, cranberry, wet cave, spicebox, cedar, and mulchy earth notes. More of a classical style,…

Domaine François Mikulski Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots

Lemon and lime zest, fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon curd, butterscotch, almond meal, poached yellow pear, and wet river rock. Vibrant and rich (without being "riiiiiich"). Finishes with a great…

Château La Marzelle

Blackberry, black cherry, mocha, charred cedar plank, black licorice, Christmas spice, and mulch/earth. Super flavorful with notable depth and a dark, plush mouthfeel. Finishes with charred oak and…