Reviews

Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Maltroie

Candied lemon peel, ripe yellow citrus, lemon curd, white and yellow peach, pineapple rind, acacia, and wet limestone. A medium-plus front end gives way to an extremely balanced and exquisitely…

Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts

Smooth and balanced, with an equilibrium that makes for a beautiful display of black cherry, red and black currant, earth, and cinnamon flavors. With air, alluring burnt orange peel and smokey anise…

Gilbert et Christine Felettig Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune "En Vallerot" Blanc

Very similar to the 2015, if just a little more firm and tense by comparison on the delivery. The punchy execution of lemon juice, unripe white peach, white melon, and chalk really liven-up the…

Gilbert et Christine Felettig Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune "En Vallerot" Blanc

Pithy and punchy, with lemon seed, melon rind, quince, and white stone. Rides high but has amazing verve. Served next to a Mikulski base model Bourgogne, which has a little more depth. Both are crazy…

Lutum Chardonnay Durell Vineyard

Smooth and inviting, if not fairly simple and a bit of a snoozer. It's medium all the way around, with lemon, vanilla cream, pear, and a slight floral note. Predictable but not totally off-putting.…

Domaine François Mikulski Chardonnay Bourgogne Côte d'Or

For the price, this is absolutely stupid good. Vibrant acidity and verve push the fresh lemon and lime zest flavors across the palate, darting to all sides of the mouth, finishing with medium punch…

Gilbert et Christine Felettig Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice

Black cherry and black and red raspberry notes make for core flavors that nicely saturate the palate with medium intensity and agreeable balance and weight. A 6-out-of-10 on complexity, and a little…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Mortal Coil Phendler

Drink now folks. Nearing the end of the road.

Henri Boillot Echezeaux

Similar to the Latricières-Chambertin and Clos Vougeot Grand Crus, except perhaps for the dialed-down spiciness that showed more front-and-center with its former siblings. The Echezeaux is more…

Henri Boillot Clos Vougeot

Similar to the Latricieres-Chambertin with its black cherry and subtly spicy red and black raspberry profile, but just a hair lighter-bodied and medium-weighted...until air kicks in...fanning out and…

Henri Boillot Latricières-Chambertin

Black cherry, spicy black and red raspberry, rhubarb, and subtle bark, wet limestone, and orange rind notes. Beautifully weighted and seamlessly executed, with a surprisingly accessible demeanor…

Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois

Less prickly than when I had it last summer. Brassy yellow citrus, red apple flesh and skin, black cherry water, marzipan, limestone, and bark flavors deliver a focused attack that relaxes over time…

Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Vieilles Vignes

Still in that 91-92 range for me. Factoring in QPR, this is a very pleasant ride of a wine and a decent bang for your buck. Black cherry and purple berry fruit dominate here, with medium grip and…

Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

Fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, tangy unripe clementine, lychee, acacia, and white travertine thrust across the palate with deliberate vivacity that offer both a focused and vibrant delivery.…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine

Red apple flesh, grilled lemon rind, quince, marzipan, almond skin, and olive oil. Chiseled and focused, with a little less savory elements in its current state than its younger 2015 sibling. Hold…

Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul

Plump and savory dark berry flavors intertwine with secondary notes of garrigue, burnt embers, espresso powder, and a subtle floral element. A Rhône reverse mullet of sorts, with a party-ready meaty…

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos

Yep...It's still that good. Seeing as how the other notes on this wine aren't in English and I'm clearly way too lazy to cut and paste to Google translate, I'm not sure why other folks wouldn't rate…

Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets

Gravelly cranberry wrestles with red and black cherry fruit, with a linear but driven push of higher toned berry fruit from front to back. Hints of orange peel, spice, and vanilla extract add…

Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Les Chevrets

A great combination of red and black cherry fruit with a perfect hit of meaty earth elements. Some wild cranberry and spice show up to the party as well. A complete wine in the making. Speaks more to…

Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets

Quite enjoyable, even as a PnP. Air did help with some swirling in the glass. Red and black berry fruited. Faint spice and earth add interest. Could probably still use some time to flush out some of…

Melka Sauvignon Blanc Mekerra

Similar to last year, performing like a champ with juicy white peach, guava, acacia, lychee, lime, fresh squeezed lemon juice, grass, and white stone. I'd buy this by the case if it didn't cost as…

Walt Pinot Noir Blue Jay

Two words: Barely tolerable. Watery black and red cherry with that scraggy cedary oak-laced periphery that does everything it can to advertise the lack of forethought put into crafting this wine.…

La Crema Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Designed for the plastic cup and picnic table crowd, with flavors of diluted lemon water, alcohol, and lemon seed. Flat and angular mid-palate. Finishes with a hamster's attention span.

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Much less of the rocket propulsion drive when compared to last year. Instead, this LPV impresses for its chewy black core and namesake minerality that make for a go-go gothic profile that can't help…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Terre de Vertus

Starts out a little sharp and overly astute, but manages to toss off the academia cap and follow-up with some inviting notes of brassy lemon peel, melon rind, quince, olive oil, and limestone. The no…