Shay A

This wasn’t flawed, I just have no basis for reviewing a wine like this and giving it a numerical score.

This was my choice for my local group’s weekly tasting, where the theme was a blind “stump the chump”. I gave this a short 30-45min decant. I actually guessed this right, as it had a distinct natural vibe to it. Semi-lean, but lots of red berry fruit to it with cedar. Green too. Even after being open a while, lots of tannin, but good acidity (lots of cranberry). Fresh. Compared to a French carignan next to it, this seemed very “natural”, so I don’t know if I can give it much credit for being distinctly varietally correct since it seemed focused on highlighting how natural it was. Hard to guess the drinking window, but I’d say this is young and starting its peak window the next 3-5yrs. After that, anyone’s guess. — 2 days ago

Shay A

9.2

@Delectable Wine : This is the new Ultramarine Michael Mara Vineyard Blanc de Blanc. I didn’t see it in the database.

I normally hold my Ultramarine a few years after release, but wanted to see how this new vineyard offering showed alongside the same vintage Charles Heintz BdB. Our group also opened a 2012 Ultramarine Charles Heintz BdN late disgorged.

Traditionally, I’ve found the Charles Heintz to show the classical vineyard expression of pure and ripe fruit, a small amount of oxidation of the fruit, and a distinct cream soda note. With that being said, the Michael Mara was quite different. Aromatically, it comes across like ripe Chablis. Much more lean and bright on the palate. Little bit of flint, lots of ripe lemon, Granny Smith apple, and a mineral/stony quality. Zippy acidity but the finish does pack a punch. Just like the other Ultramarine wines, this absolutely sports a great grower champagne vibe. — 14 days ago

Shay A

9.2

A purchase from Last Bubbles. Not familiar with this producer, but coming from a nice vintage and spending almost 11yrs on the lees was enough for me to take a flyer.

Paired with a massive spread of caviar, sashimi, oysters. As mentioned below, this was a bit one dimensional upon opening but fleshed out nicely an hour or two later. If comparing against a bigger name, I’d say this is in a vein of Bollinger (slightly big/rich, but balanced; toasty). Fresh lemon scone and puff pastry aromatically, but it goes a bit more salted popcorn, nougat-like on the palate and finish. While this doesn’t sport a ton of layers, it’s tasty and will hang in this drinking window for a while. I’d buy again.

Paired well with the 3L of 1999 SQN “Marauder” behind it! — 22 days ago

Shay A

9.2

The Visitor is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Moulds Family Vineyard in Oak Knoll; 34% Lagrein from the Blossom Creek Vineyard in Calistoga and 16% Petit Verdot from the Kidd Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. Made only one time (2013).

I didn’t even know Lagrein existed in Napa. Last I had that varietal, it was from Alto Adige. Deep purple in the glass (thanks petit Verdot). Blackberries, boysenberry, mocha, dark cocoa aromatics with dark floral/potpourri too. Blind, I would have guessed this had a good bit of Malbec…so much juicy/fresh squeezed and slightly tart black/red berry fruit, almost jam/compote like, alongside forest floor, and high percentage dark chocolate. Shocking amount of tannin, even after being open for almost 5hrs. Best at cellar temp. I’d say open now to enjoy as I’m not sure it gets better in regards to fruit presence. — 4 days ago

Shay A

9.2

A producer I’ve been enjoying for a few years, this was actually my first time with the Extra Brut.

I’m scoring this the same as the Ultradition Brut, even though there are differences. Not as yeasty/toasty, nor as heavy on the mid palate, this seems like a “lite” version, with riper fruit yet more pure fruit expression. I was surprised to see this had 4.5g/l for the dosage as it seems much racier than that (in a good way). 60 meunier, 30 Chardonnay, 10 Pinot noir. Disgorged 11/2021. Young, but I love meunier when it is balanced by either reserve wine or ripe fruit. Caramel dipped green apple, grilled lemon, kiss of ginger. Not reductive nor oxidative, but a down the middle style for grower champagne. Delicious. — 10 days ago

Shay A

9.2

Not too often do you get to drink 100% petit Verdot. My last bottle after 2-3 the last few years. Double decanted, then consumed from bottle over the course of 6hrs.

Special anniversary bottling. 36 months in oak. Right off the bat, I’d say the wine likely needed/benefitted from that amount of oak due to how brash PV can be solo, but I’d also say it’s probably going to cause the tannin to outlive the fruit. Not as black as I expected in the glass, more of a deep red-purple. Aromatics of ripe red and black berry fruits, baking spices, dark cocoa, and dark espresso. For being all PV slathered in a lot of oak, it’s very elegant on the palate…seems like a merlot/Mourvèdre hybrid with its black cherry cordial, chocolate and slightly smoked meat notes. There’s a unique tangy-ness to the fruit, and a lot of tannin at the finish. No rush, but if you want a good bit of fruit to balance things out, maybe consume in the next 3-5yrs. — 16 days ago

Shay A

9.0

The producer who first started Franciacorta. This is roughly 90/10 Chardonnay/Pinot noir.

Compared to the Majolini I opened a few months back, this is a bit more crisp. The best compliment I can give this wine is that it comes across as a non-descript champagne. It’s not overly fruity or too steely like some Franciacorta can be, it’s perfectly balanced for the style. No yeast. It’s fairly creamy, with peach, caramel dipped apple and a slightly brisk/savory finish (almond/walnut like, but not champagne-nutty). Semi-mineral driven finish. Good at the $30’ish price. — a month ago

Shay A

9.2

Alexander Vineyards has a great selection of wines, all at great values. This is their only dessert wine, and it has been delicious every time I’ve had it.

Last bottle of mine. This is from the Barsac region. Richly colored gold in the glass. Viscous, but not overly so. If comparing to a Climens, I’d say this doesn’t have as much of the orange-honey roasted cashew type note, but lots of orange marmalade, honeyed tropical fruits and honeysuckle. This showed a more powerful core than a 2009 LaTour Blanche I had a few weeks ago (which I enjoyed how bright it was). Paired with truffle salted popcorn at the end of the night, and it was great. — 4 days ago

Shay A

9.5

Wow, was this good! Opened alongside a 2008 D’yquem and a 2009 LaTour Blanche after an evening of champagne.

This is Antica Terra’s first dessert wine, and two renditions were made (both 100% Chardonnay). The first became ice wine (this one), the other dessert wine was made with the fruit held in baskets, with air space around each cluster, to continue ripening off the vine for an additional month.

In the company it was in, this stood out. Richly golden in the glass. Extremely fragrant showing notes of honeysuckle, bright orange marmalade, ripe peach, sweet lemon cream, and a little brown sugar. Not cloying in any way on the palate, it showed a richness in between the D’yquem (powerfully viscous) and the LaTour Blanche (more elegant, high toned). This was spellbinding in how layered it was sporting such an insane finish…lemon ricotta cookies and pineapple. Kiss of acidity to liven it up. Wish I could have opened this solo! — 11 days ago

Shay A

9.4

In keeping with the Aussie theme from a recent Grange dinner (1997-2001, 1998 was the clear winner), this was brought as a starter.

With about 9yrs on it, this is the oldest Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay I’ve had, and I’m impressed at the evolution. Slightly reductive (sweet smoke) upon opening, but it added great character. Color was a beautiful deep yellow (but not oxidized gold). Tropical (white peach, nectarine) but also honeyed cashews and honeysuckle aromatically. Great depth on the mid-palate with added tropical notes carried by faint oak but a distinct mineral driven finish. Drinking beautifully. Wish I had more. — 20 days ago