Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

I was delighted to taste the 2015 Château-Chalon together with proprietor and winemaker Hélene Berthet at this iconic winery. An untamed powerhouse reflecting the warm vintage, it bursts from the glass with enticing aromas of walnuts, almonds, hazlenuts, dried apples, dried peach, crushed flowers, dried lemon peel, hay and a pinch of cumin spice. The palate boasts an off the charts richness and expands vertically, revealing layer after layer of concentrated dried fruits and a beautiful nuttiness, concluding with a bold and powerful finish. This is a world-class Vin Jaune capable of long term bottle aging. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

8.7

Lovely Chardonnay from Jacques Tissot tasted at the winery. It displays hints of bright citrus fruits, green apple, ripe pear, followed by some beeswax. A lively and refined white Jura framed by crisp acidity. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.8

Tasted blind. This bottle was purchased directly from the winery on allocation and stored in a cold cellar since release. The ruby color is frightfully deep, almost black. Intense aromas with a laser-like precision of blackcurrant, crushed rocks, orange rind, chocolate, black cherry, mint, cloves and a dash of bourbon vanilla introduce the 2007 Screaming Eagle. The palate is a complete knockout: Full-bodied, extremely concentrated with pixelated, polished tannins, built like a skyscraper with an almost never ending finish. This is a massive Napa Cab, but despite all its power, it still retains freshness and elegance. The top of the cork reads "fly high and proud". Drink now until 2040. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.3

Tasted at the winery with winemaker César Deriaux, the 2018 L‘Étoile Savagnin is delicious. It has aged for 3 years under a veil of flor in a dedicated part of their cellar which is a bit warmer and drier than the rest. It wafts from the glass with a wide array of nutty aromas, bread dough, bruised apple, dried ginger and a pinch of curry. The powerful mouthfeel is driven by excellent flavor concentration and balanced by lively acids. A lingering saltiness marks the complex finish and calls for a refill. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.2

Aged for 3 years under a layer of flor, the 2018 Savagnin from Jacques Tissot is packed with fragrant aromas of hay, acetaldehyde, bread dough, dried lemon peel, dried apple and an array of nuts. Intense and expressive, the firm acidic backbone and salty finish deliver a real punch. At 19 Euros ex Domaine, this is a bargain. Tasted at the winery. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.6

Tasted blind. The nose immediately teleports you to Burgundy, showing precise aromas of dried red cherries, dried strawberry, rose pedal and violet, delicate wood smoke, dill herb and freshly cut chives. This was a perfectly stored bottle, purchased right after release and tasted surprisingly young. Full-bodied, densely structured and built like a brick wall, the 1999 Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze is more elegant than it is powerful. A rather intellectual showing from Rousseau and I suspect the true magic starts from 2030+ — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.4

Tasted at the winery in Montalcino on a crisp February day. Medium-garnet, swirling the glass reveals precise aromas of ripe sourcherry, red plum, orange peel, wood smoke, crushed rocks with a backdrop of bay leaf and lavender. Ripe red fruits, polished tannins and a remarkably fresh acidity caress the palate, culminating in a long, savory finish. This is a tightly structured, ambitious, somewhat modern expression of Brunello, still staying true to its origin. Drink now until 2035. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.0

The 2021 Arbois Patchwork Chardonnay opens up with lively aromas of green apple and pear, lemon flesh and discrete hints of cedar. On the palate it is round, refined and balanced by firm acidity, leaving traces of wet stones and a sapid finish. Vinified from hand harvested fruit, matured unoxidatively for one year, bottled unfiltered and without any added SO2, this is a bright little Jura Chardonnay. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.3

The 2015 Arbois Vin Jaune wafts from the glass with pungent aromas of bruised apples, almonds, dried apricots, hay, bread dough and a pinch of cumin spice. Powerful, concentrated and bone dry, it tastes splendidly today but will undoubtedly age gracefully for at least another decade. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

The 2019 God Only Knows Grenache from wizard winemaker Christophe Baron is a radiating beauty. Pale ruby-colored, it displays fragrant aromas of violets, blood orange, exotic spices, raspberry liqueur, ripe cranberry, forest strawberry and crushed rocks. Medium bodied and layered, the ever-so-silky tannins and balancing acids contribute to a seamless mouthfeel so characteristic of Barons wines. It ends with a bright finish and should provide ample drinking pleasure over the next 15 years. — 2 years ago