Bob McDonald

9.5

The first of 4 from the 2018 vintage. One of the best new World Pinot Gris, if not the best. Over the last few days on the weekend I had a bad chest cold and lost much of my sense of taste but I could taste the palate intensity in this wine - brilliant concentration. Low acid. Pear, apricot and spice but mainly pear. Difficult to see this improving from the stellar level it is at now. I’ll probably drink the remaining 3 bottles in the next year or so. — 19 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Need some time to open up, to show the brilliant spicy / raspberry compote - with a pinch of nutmeg, cedar wood, just a hint of cinnamon and black pepper. So enticing, so juicy & fresh and yet, elegant.
Young & joyful on the palate, with nicely polished grippy tannins, juicy cherry acidity and an overall very elegant, velvety mouthfeel. Shows a bit of nice structure for a Pinot. While drinking beautifully right now,, I’d love to see this in 4-5 years.
A truly lovely wine. — 8 months ago

Richard Portes

9.3

17.5 Brilliant! 2006 full of fruit, long. Will last for 3-4 years. Delicious. — a year ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

#4 of Jura Savoie evening
Lovely aromatics, very Pinot style with red berry fruit and nice undergrowth. A good mineral whiff, too.
On the palate this is feather light but with loads of character. Nice precision with a light yet persistent tannic frame, juicy acidity and light red berry fruit.
Brilliant drinkability though, I admit, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Love it! — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Very dark Ruby - almost black - opaque at 19 years. Herbal and minty with cassis and tobacco leaf. On the palate still tasting young. An exceptional vintage for Moss Wood. I bought a dozen on release and have 5 left which I will drink over the next 10+ years. A brilliant cross between the black fruits of SA Cabernet and the Herbaceousness of Margaret River Cabernet. In the end the latter wins out in this exceptional Cabernet. See previous 4 Delectable notes on this vintage. — 3 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Haven’t had in 3-4 years .Nose is mineral and citrus. Floral but not elite floral as this is an entry level bottling. They have 2-4. It’s still Laible and has that insane palate cling, a terrific core of salty, mineral fruit and florals. And chewy minerals and terrific length. This just stains your palate and has high acid limeade thing that just lasts and lasts. Brilliant stuff. While I only sell the GG’s/Achat and Klingelberger now I still love these little wines at Laible. After a few hours the fruit is terrific on the palate. — a year ago

John Tan

9.0

Ovenbird w M and Ritchie. Mineral. Textured. Fresh. Paired well w ankimo.

The 2012 Condrieu Coteaux du Chery, which comes from one of the most heralded sites in the appellation, is also brilliant (as is his 2011!). The most rich and textured of the lineup, it offers thrilling notes of white peach, crushed rock, buttered grapefruit, flowers and tangerine to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered, yet brilliantly fresh and detailed texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. It too will drink nicely for 4-5 years. I had a fabulous visit with proprietor Andre Perret at his cellar located just north of Chavanay. Soft spoken, charming and generous, he runs an immaculate cellar and releases up to three Condrieus in a vintage. In addition to his whites, he fashions elegant, almost Burgundian-styled reds from Saint Joseph that warrant more attention. RP95 — a year ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Cloudy, flowery, funky.
A blend of Scheurebe and 3 Muscat varieties, 4 months skin contact, fermented on the lees.
Exotic nose with lychee, flowers in bloom, a bit of mango & guava, with some nice funk and brilliant freshness.
Great energy on the palate, bone dry and with nice, chalky minerality under the juicy acidity, a touch of tannins, great purity & flow.
This is delicious stuff! A perfect orange wine for beginners. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid yellow in colour. Yellow flowers on the nose along with melon and mandarin peel. Toasty notes. Amazingly fresh for its age. No sign of kerosene or petrol. Those same mandarin notes extend through to the palate with ripe grapefruit and Medium minus acid. The Show record of this wine is unsurprisingly 7 Gold Medals and 4 Trophies. My last bottle. Peter Lehmann had released 95 dozen 6 years ago after it had spent 15 years in Peter Lehmanns cellars. A brilliant aged Riesling. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

The four single vineyards are my favorite Beaujolais done in the classic style. If doesn’t get better than these 4. Clos Bertrand is perhaps the most accessible and is such a joy. Stunning nose of spicecake, granite, red and black berry fruit, earth and flowers. So pure and vivid. These wines are so clean. Palate is ripe and tangy with excellent precision and detail. Lean-ish with lovely sweet fruit and purity. Linear. So juicy with such fine grained tannins and such impressive length. This oozes class. Amazing fruit saturation on the finish. So long. Brilliant. — 2 years ago