Alain Martin
Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery
Synthesis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Sweet-and-sour nose. Silky tenants that cook the tongue. Long delicious finish with only a hint of oak at the very end. I would buy again. — 2 months ago
Alain Jaume & Fils
Domaine Grand Veneur Les Champauvins Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend 2022
2022 vintage. Decided grip and zip this one. Excellent QPR. Medium body. 4.29.26. — 5 months ago
Alain Hudelot-Noellat
Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir
2023. Dark red raspberry. Pepper and a touch of baking spices. Super powerful. This is not a delicate pinot. There are wines that are a privilege to drink. This is that. — 6 months ago
Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery
Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
2015 vintage. Light-medium/medium body. Elegant with just the right mix of primary and secondary characteristics currently. Some earthy tones, some pretty tones. Picked up 3 cases for an affordable ($35 a btl) domestic Cab with a decade of age on it. 2013 effort (not reviewed) had a slightly, off-putting, prunish note on the finish that wouldn’t leave the party so passed on it and went with this instead. 3.11.26. — 7 months ago
Alain Jaume & Fils
Domaine Grand Veneur Vieilles Vignes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2007
Deep rich color and nose. Dark fruit and leather. Will likely mature over next decade. — 9 months ago
Alain Hudelot-Noellat
Les Murgers Nuits-St. Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2017
Amber. Complexity. Leather. Mushroom. Spices. Oak vanilla. Roasted. Matured raspberry fig mineral. Fe. Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M Acidity M+ Tannin M Soft Body M Finish M 13.5%
Elegant Balanced Alain Hudelot-Noellat Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 17 @1380/G, Fred, 260910 — 20 days ago
Domaine Laroche
Saint Martin Chablis Chardonnay 2018
2018- Good time to drink- lemon custard, lemon oil, chalky/ stoniness , med/med plus acidity( maybe a little bit low) neutral oak ? - nice finish at 8 years old- but definitely glad I drank this now — 2 months ago
Domaine Alain Voge
Cuvée Les Vieilles Fontaines Cornas Syrah 2012
In a great place now. Dark fruit, plum, spices. You could taste crisped bacon saltiness. — 6 months ago
Alain Graillot
Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2014
Fantastic! — 10 months ago
Domaine Alain Voge
Les Peyrouses Côtes du Rhône Syrah 2012
Syrah planted on very decomposed granite slopes, locally called “gore” — 6 months ago
Martin Woods
Jessie James Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
A profoundly backward Jessie James that took a strange, winding path over several days. Initially reduced and giving maybe 10%, with matchstick, damson, sour and mid-season cherry, mineral and very little aromatic expression. The palate was completely discombobulated at first, but the material was obvious: beautiful velvety tannins, tiny-berry fruit intensity, tremendous depth and an extraordinarily long, persistent finish. After about ninety minutes it briefly opened into something spectacular, with deep, voluminous perfume, sweet and sour cherries, mossy minerality and exotic spice, the nose easily operating at a 9.7 level. Then it closed again, the tannins took over and both nose and palate retreated. Two days later it is much more composed, silky and elegant, with pure red fruit, sour cherry and beautifully refined tannins. Very good, serious and clearly built to age, but not at the level of the great 2021 or 2022 Jessie James. — 2 months ago
Domaine Alain Voge
Les Vieilles Vignes Cornas Syrah 2015
John Pavlovich
Given Voge reputation, I expected more from this wine. Maybe it’s not quite ready yet, but it was a bit underwhelming. Quite shy on the palate, the length was there, but not the complexity. The acidity was pronounced on the second day. I’ll wait another few years until I open the next bottle. — 16 days ago