Doug Powers

9.0

Pretty sure we tasted Guy Bossard’s 2009s in barrel in January of 2011, we were WAY late for our appointment that day (drove 90 minutes in the morning from our B&B near Chinon, started at Luneau-Papin, then lunch (which took seemingly forever), which in turn made us late for our visit to Marc Ollivier at Domaine de La Pepiere. After a great (albeit long) visit with Marc, he was then kind enough to call Guy for us to tell him the 3 idiot Americans who were his 4:00 pm appointment would hopefully make it by 5:00-5:30 pm. Guy was nothing if forgiving and gracious, he had a young Dutch gentleman there when we arrived, Fred Niger, who we found out later was in negotiations to buy Domaine de l’Ecu from Guy, which DID happen (and Fred and his wife still own the estate). Domaine de l’Ecu had already been biodynamic for some time (and remains so), and was maybe the first of the Muscadet producers to do so (???). This wine, the top end Granite cuvée, is still quite alive, but it’s time to drink up. Fun times wine tasting in Muscadet in January of 2011!!! — 8 days ago

with Jim

Scott Kahn

9.3

This declassified IGT varietal Sangiovese wine was an exceptional treat! Bright red fruit to accompany the tertiary aromas that abound. Varietal Sangiovese from Chianti Classico is an expression that is worth experiencing! — 4 months ago

with RC

David Dorn

9.5

The kind of wine you never won’t to end… just sensational. What a beautiful expression of Napa and the wine was drinking beautifully with 15 years of age. — 7 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.2

Spectacular expression of northern Syrah. Inky but approachable. Smaller tannins. Lots of youth but excellent to share now. — 3 years ago

Winton Sweum

9.3

Light straw; smokey nose that suggests an impactful palate to follow; this is very mineral and masculine somehow. The chalky minerality is all I remember, that, and today this upstaged the 2015 Special Club. Base is 2019.
— 4 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.6

Deg feb 2019 — 5 years ago

Jason Miller

9.0

Amy likes it but may have been influenced by prior wine taster. — 7 years ago

Clare

9.2

Celebrating Knicks in 5!!! — a month ago

with Michael

Jay Kline

9.2

First pour of this and I was like, “uh-oh”. It was clearly full of flaws (Brettanomyces, VA and maaaaybe some slight TCA) but would they be too much to appreciate the wine? Only time would tell so into the decanter it went. After a lot of air, it became clear this was Brett and VA. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) with notes of blackberries, umeboshi, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, red Flintstone vitamin, horse blanket, wood varnish, and sous bois. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An elegant, complicated bottle. This is my second time with the 1997 vintage and due to the flaws, a different adventure than previous. That being said, this decidedly grumpy, Burgundian expression of Clape’s Cornas paired really well with the dry-aged steaks. Drink now, with a lot of patience, through 2037? — 2 months ago

Dave

9.3

Ah, Vietti. Always good. Our dear friend Val has flown in for my wife's birthday, and we are popping a few bottles tonight. This is a very nice expression of Nebbiolo. Lively and fruity, with a touch of rose petal and a little chocolate (on the nose).
We are listening to Sabrina Carpenter — 5 months ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.0

A beautifully subdued Bordeaux blend with dry plum flavour at the forefront — 8 months ago

with Gillian

Lauren Goetz

9.6

The 2021 Bedrock Heritage Wine is a great expression of this site. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, leather and tobacco are front and center. This dark, virile Zinfandel-based field blend packs a serious punch. There's plenty of detail and nuance behind all of that intensity. The 2021 is a big wine, but also less monolithic than some previous editions. There's a bit more whole cluster in the 2021 than in the past, so perhaps that explains the wine's nuance. The 2021 is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from the Bedrock vineyard, and I say that as someone who is not yet fully convinced of the potential here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023) — 3 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.4

Good muscadet is ethereal. — 5 years ago

John Hagood

9.1

From Domestique 4/13/19 for tagine, but only opened 2013 in garden on 4/27/19. Chlorine smell for J; lemon, thyme, chives, cloves, vanilla. Mouthfeel and long finish of pine. Pretty rich for Muscsdet. Expected salinity. Malted Easter egg shells. — 7 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.6

And now a Bordeaux blend expression from… well Bordeaux! Left bank that is. Our favorite left bank Bordeaux fantastic quality for reasonable price. This wine was intense, still rather edgy tannins but already great complexity of waves of dark and red fruit laced in subtle pipe tobacco and spiced oak. — 2 months ago

with RoAnne, Tammy and 2 others

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

vintage 2022 | Finally! Le Puy has been on my bucketlist for years. Icon of nature wines. Winemaking with little or non interventions. Right bank Bordeaux. It is a wonderful wine, 22 is drinking fine now. Cassis, leather, clove and laurel. Warmth. Fine structure. It made my dinner with steak frites. At restaurant Amsterdam in Amsterdam. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Léoville Barton 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Saint-Julien expression showing clarity, harmony, and structural polish, driven by a 77% Cabernet Sauvignon–led blend with 20% Merlot Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc as a support. The wine balances ripe fruit concentration with restraint, delivering precision, finesse, and a seamless flow from attack through finish.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, red plum, cassis, graphite, cedar, subtle baking spice, crushed stone, light tobacco and gentle floral lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with finely woven tannins, excellent balance, fresh integrated acidity, supple texture, and a long, graceful finish that feels effortless rather than forceful.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, roasted duck breast, grilled filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
An elegant, dependable Saint-Julien that delivers purity, structure, and drinking pleasure without excess. Refined, polished, and quietly authoritative, a wine that rewards both immediate enjoyment and patient cellaring.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of wine that wins through composure and precision rather than horsepower. Easy to enjoy today, yet layered enough to keep you leaning back into the glass. Subtle sophistication done right. — 6 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Along with the majestic 2010 one of my favorite Stella vintages. So giving right off the bat, never any heat, just so fresh and clean. Amazing expression of Sangiovese. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

Signature manure and violets on the nose, purple flowers and forest floor. Very balanced and pretty, incredible acid and chalky minerals all the way through the finish. Great if not quite the brilliant energy and structure of 2014. Such a unique and iconic expression of cab franc. Upgrade to 9.4 after a few days open. Just beautiful. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Light gold color. Has a nose that immediately takes me to Chablis. Notes of honey, citrus, wet river stone, ocean breeze, tan spice and white chalky soil. Perfectly balanced in the mouth with lots of fruit and acidity. Screams Raveneau. I guess 2000 Raveneau Valmur. Had this side by side with the 2000 Fevre Clos… the 2000 Raveneau Butteaux had 4 hours of air in the decanter, the 2000 Fevre Clos only 30 min… it clearly showed (1) why you age Chablis and (2) why you give them hours of air to open before consumption. The Raveneau was outstanding and the Fevre didn’t have time to show its expression. — 5 years ago