Benchmark Wines

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Reserva Mendoza Malbec 2020

Very drinkable, while cooking and with grilled steak. Lynnfield Whole Foods. Definitely would get again, perfect summer wine. — 6 days ago

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Blend

You already know what it is. There’s not much to even say about it because you already know it’s delicious. Quite delicious. Romance in a bottle? Absolutely. Pale copper with salmon accents and energetic effervescence. The nose features sumptuous cranberries and raspberries, as well as baked apple tarts. Some wild strawberry notes to go with the brioche aromas.

This is no hidden gem of a wine, you’ve all tasted it before and you know how good and reliable it is. A benchmark and always impressive. Pleasing, not racy, acidity and that hard to describe essence of quality. 40/30/30 CH/PN/PM and those red grapes truly shine here. The palate references the nose with more sparkling red berries and autolytic notes. Impressively long finish of pure elegance. Flabbergastingly lovely.
— 8 months ago

Severn, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Les Vins Contés (Olivier Lemasson)

R Red Blend

Benchmark wine for me. First favorite wine. 13% but drinks a bit lighter. Peppery. Cab franc comes through. Prefer the ptit rouquin these days. — 3 years ago

Michael and Eric liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2010

Truly benchmark Rioja, La Rioja Alta’s ‘904’ Gran Reserva from the 2010 vintage - as fabled in Rioja as it is in Bordeaux - is a disarmingly gorgeous wine with superb ageing potential. I first tried this wine over two years ago, and found it a little closed at the time and was underwhelmed by the palate. The nose was terrific though, and that holds true today - it’s simply breathtaking, the sort of wine you spend ten minutes sniffing before taking your first sip. Today’s palate, however, is well and truly open for business. What a veritable explosion of flavour; a kaleidoscopic array of the best of both traditional and modern Rioja, all of it fresh, none of it tired, with a pure and ethereal presence of black and blue fruits, flowers, vanilla bean, clove, clementine and macerated cherry. When wine folk talk of a long finish, this wine gets a nod - it leaves an imprint on one’s palate that lasts minutes. I’m quite amazed by the improvement that two years has afforded this wine, both bottles bought at the same time and stored side-by-side in my cellar. At last, this has begun to show its potential and I cannot wait to see how it develops in the coming 20, 30, 40 years.

In the meantime, do not sleep on the 2010 Viña Ardanza, a wine that I have enjoyed many a time in the last two years, and one that would be included in my all-time list of value fine wines, were anyone to ask!

96+
— 5 months ago

Severn, Bob and 3 others liked this
Josh Morgenthau

Josh Morgenthau Influencer Badge

Great notes. Looking forward to trying this again!
Will Stanley

Will Stanley Influencer Badge

@Bob McDonald it’s a wine that rarely misses, so any vintages you have I’m sure are well worth having!
Will Stanley

Will Stanley Influencer Badge

@Josh Morgenthau in a good spot for sure!

Descendientes de José Palacios

Pétalos Bierzo Mencía 2017

Benchmark Mencia! Unusually elegant style for Spain grace to the cool Galician climate while the old vines ensure intensity. Slightly oak driven and not overly complex. — 3 years ago

Ira and Peter liked this

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015

First New Zealand Pinot...really enjoyed it! Light body and finish, but very flavorful and a bit spicy. — 4 years ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Alex Lallos
9.3

Cork was perfect literally no seepage. Awesome example from a non benchmark year. So lovely. So fresh so clean — 6 months ago

Tom, Shay and 3 others liked this

Château-Grillet (Neyret-Gachet)

Viognier 2010

Prefect Condrieu is hard to come by, but this sets the benchmark. Rare as heck to get your hands on. Started out subtle and a little alcohol peaking out but it grew around that with air and filled in maybe also from some warming up to room temperature. Gorgeous wine! — 7 months ago

Daniel P., Brian and 1 other liked this

Las Vertientes

Benchmark Red Blend 2013

Drinking with Maya. 2022 5/27. Good. Wine nice and dry — 2 years ago

Grant Burge

Benchmark Shiraz

Very good solid Shiraz. — 4 years ago