Substance
Jacques Selosse
Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
D:11/20 superlative bubbles, held their own through the full meal. Richer and rounder than prior initial bottling, almost felt glimpses of Substance.. — 7 months ago
Sandlands
Contra Costa County Red Table Wine 2020
The 2020 Red Wine (Contra Costa County) is notable because of its complexity. Nothing in particular stands out, all the elements are so harmoniously put together. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and menthol are some of the notes that open with a bit of air, but more than anything, I admire the energy and delineation leading into a finish of real substance. The blend is 65% Carignane and 35% Mataro. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023) — 2 years ago
Château Lafon-Rochet
Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002
Jacques Selosse
Substance Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
The Selosse flagship that uses a solera style blend with vintages dating back to 1986. May 2016 disgorgement is just superb, explosively aromatic and infinitely layered with magical depth of Selossien flavors and such a singular texture that you just can’t forget. It wraps around the palate with incredible volume and concentration before giving way to a salty mineral laced finale with stunning length and persistence. — 2 months ago
Domaine Pavelot (Jean-Marc et Hugues)
La Dominode Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2018
So young and primary but shows the substance of 18. Nose is so mineral and deep with dark red cherry and mid season cherry and wonderful, expressive minerality. A deep earthy scent as well. Really wonderful depth on this. Palate is juicy and explosive with endless depth and super primary red and black cherry fruit. Super concentrated, structured with a huge, mineral and acid backbone: An epic Dominode. Wait a decade. At least.
Wow on day 2 this is so good. Smoothed out and full of fruit and silky yet substantial tannins. 9.4 to 9.5 overnight. I continue to strongly believe in the 18’s. They are modern day 93’s but better and more overall success across vignerons and appellations.
— a year ago
Vieux Château Certan
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2011
The 2011 Vieux Château Certan, which the Thienponts compare to 1983 and 1988, has a much lighter, simpler bouquet compared to the previous vintage. Maybe a bit conservative with tobacco-tinged black fruit, though it opens nicely with shavings of black truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, firm tannins that frame the black fruit laced with cracked black pepper and graphite. Vibrant and vivacious, this is drinking well but has the substance to age in bottle. A dark horse! Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 months ago
Wines of Substance, LLC
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Consumed in late 2023 — 10 months ago
Domaine Maume
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2010
Gorgeous, flinty nose with hint of barnyard. Grippy tannins. Hint of coffee and soy sauce after 3 hours. Almost Valentini Cerasuolo-ish. Imperial Treasure Teochew Ion with Andrew Dutton.
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. There I was suggesting that Maume's Mazis-Chambertin 2011 was clearly not the pick from the domaine this vintage and lo and behold, it trumps all in a blind tasting. It has quite an earthy note on the nose with mint-tinged red fruit and black plum unfurling at its own leisurely pace in the glass. Later, this is joined by fennel and rosemary scents, creating an intriguing aromatics profile. The palate is medium-bodied, a touch foursquare on the entry, but with good substance, the texture grainy and quite peppery toward the finish. There is a lot going on in this grand cru and it will be fascinating to see how it develops and if it maintains this stellar quality. RP95, 2011, issued Nov 2014
— 2 years ago
Rob DeShane
Substance makes one of the best <$20 wines I’ve had in the last year. So I had expectations. Jeb Dunnuck rated this very high and I agree: a nose that reminds me of northern Rhône with a meaty flinty mineral quality complimented by violets and purple fruit. The wine has a lithe quality with dry tannins tending towards an earl grey tea in character and medium finish I wish was longer. Overall, a good wine. Is it 3x’s better than the cheaper bottle….I would say yeah…sure. 2018 vintage, Powerline vineyard. — 24 days ago