Anonymous
Michel Naddef
Les Champeaux Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2023
Domaine Clarence Dillon
Clarendelle Red Bordeaux Blend 2017
Tried this a few years ago and was unimpressed. I guess I was a little young. Elegant. Fruit, wood, acid — anonymous in that it tastes more like “wine” than those individual flavors, but tastes like … wine should. I can’t believe it, but Suckling was right. 91. — a year ago
Domaine François Lumpp
A Vigne Rouge Pinot Noir 2018
N. Kendall
Nathan K. Finger Lakes Chardonnay 2020
Steely but rich, impeccably made, though maybe a bit anonymous; not overflowing with terroir. High acid. — 4 years ago
Screaming Eagle
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
In an evening of pleasant surprises, this may have been the biggest of them all. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been, but looking at the lineup of legends, can one blame me? Screaming Eagle is one of those wines you read about but rarely see, let alone get an opportunity to drink. An expensive, cult Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville? Hardly original these days (though it could be argued that Screaming Eagle was the OG for the “category”). But, this was not some anonymous OTT Napa Cab. This was a brilliant, impeccably balanced, varietally correct expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville and perhaps, one of the best I’ve ever had.
The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) and utterly brilliant with perfectly wisened black currants, brambles, dried leaf, tobacco, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, salmiakki, a lovely mix of cool and warm spices and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, silky and punctuated with pleasant minerals. Looking at the label and seeing 13.8% ABV brings a smile to my face. This wine has remarkable confidence. To say I’m impressed would be a gross understatement. I’m smitten. Drink now with some air and enjoy through 2047+. — 6 days ago
Anonymous Wine Collective
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023
Full disclosure, I just tasted six well made 22 Burgundies. This is tough follow. Also, I am not the biggest fan of CA Chardonnay. But this is decent.
This is not what I would call a traditional CA Chardonnay. It has a fair amount of tropical fruits. So there is lemon, lime, green apple, but has white stone fruits, tropical melons, pineapple, kiwi, honey notes, white spice, a light wood backbone with a pronounced chalkiness. Excellent viscosity & acidity. It really tastes more like a white blend. Yellow & white flowers and a well polished, elegant finish that lands chalky. — a year ago
Château Passe Craby
Cuvee de l'Esperance Bordeaux Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
NOSE: violet, heather, stone, wild berries (dense and dark). Slight tobacco. A little oak.
TASTE: nice mouthfeel, good acidity and structure (but not overpowering), rich fruit - ripe cassis. A little anonymous but a great deal for the price! I will try this again. 90. — 2 years ago
Stags' Leap Winery
Napa Valley Merlot 2018
Pop-and-pour through an aerator. Nose: burned orange. Fresh turned soil. Cranberry. Rose (very subdued). A little more anonymous than I had hoped, but well made - “elegant.” Taste: red fruits (ripe pomegranate), dry tobacco, aromatic wood. Coconut. Bay leaf. Chalk and clay. 90-91. EDIT: A LOT of raspberry comes out with air. Also, a bit of pineapple (?). Point being: tart fruit. — 4 years ago
Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
A huge disappointment given the pedigree and price. The fruit is unquestionably beautiful, with extreme concentration, density and flashes of real finesse, but the wine feels pushed too far. The 13.5% alcohol never fully integrates, and more importantly, there is almost no sense of place. It could come from anywhere. For a high-end boutique bottling costing roughly twice as much as the regular Philippe Naddef Champeaux, that is a serious problem. There is impressive raw material here, so judgment is reserved until day two, but for now this is powerful, polished and anonymous rather than compelling Burgundy. — 14 days ago