Pinotman /// Andreas

9.7

Second from right. Beats red burgundies with ease…The 2022’s red and whites might be the best vintage they ever made. The whites are creative and unique - but the reds just floored me. Like a 1er Cru Gevrey Chambertin but better. Much better. Deep dark cherry galore, but also spice and it improved with oxidation over 48 hours, hints of lime, bark, just a touch of pine needles…fantastically framed at this point by high amounts at tannins. Even this mid level wine blowed my socks off. With a sense of place which the chiseled and fine tuned wines in Burgundy have lost. — a month ago

Ron from VA

9.2

This RESERVE offering was opened at 6yrs old and has proven Dave Collins is an east coast premier winemaker. He has overseen the complete development of those 60+ acres and understands how to elevate what the terroir gives. This extended aged Chardonnay had all the class and finesse of an aged burgundy. Beautiful crème brûlée, Fuji apple, and a touch of poached pear on the palate with tremendous mouth feel and an elegant extended finish. I have had some losers in my aging library project, but this was a clear walk off home run! — 2 years ago

Casey Schneider-Mizell

9.2

More is more! It’s one of those Honeysuckle, fermented pineapple, guava, wax sorta wines. You know, the usual. ;) This thing is bonkers and yet makes total sense at the same time, like Sleigh Bells or 100 gecs. — 4 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

Same comments as before. Needs a decant. An hour + in it really softens and opens us nicely. At that point it all comes in balance. Black fruit, high acidity, strong tannins and ease up with air. Drinks well. — a year ago

JKT

9.2

Tasting at winery 9/18/22 prior to BD dinner. An eye opening 100% Cab Franc from Chianti Classico! Apparently a 15 year project. Lovely wine light on its feet yet with weightiness. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.2

A striking transparent medium gold in the glass. Really nice effervescence and intensity. Fine, consistent bubbles. Pronounced notes of mushrooms and herbs here fresh out of the gate. Really nice honeysuckle aromas and a little light yeast. A whiff of chalky minerality but it’s only momentary. Pretty floral notes with lemon peel and plenty of apples.

This is so Bollinger like, for a good reason. Fabrice Gass worked at Bollinger before starting his own project in Damery. This has all the characteristic Bollinger power and finesse. This is one of the most exquisitely balanced champagnes that I can remember, everything exactly where it should be at all times. Stately and baronial, this is quite vinous. Pinot Noir dominant with almost equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.

Fresh, almost cutting acidity for a Brut and very lively. A lovely bit of caramel glides on the tongue with vanilla behind it. More mushroom magic and apricots. Ripe apple and limes with melon. Performed excellently in the Lehmann Grand Blanc. One of the more precise and laser focused champagnes that I have had the pleasure to try. Highly impressive. — 2 years ago

Jeffrey Montesano

8.9

Needed 30 minutes to open up, long finish, strawberry jam, low acidity, low tannins. 2014 vintage so at 9 years was probably past it’s prime — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2021 vintage. Note that there is no Touriga Nacional in this wine, it is a blend of 40% Aragonêz, 30% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Trincadeira and 10% Castelão. Fitapreta was the project of young winemaker António Maçanita and the late consultant David Booth ( who sadly died from a heart attack at age 47 in 2012). Maçanita favours minimal intervention, indigenous yeasts and low sulfites. Terrific value, bursting with fruit and spices with a ripe tannic backbone. Aged 50% in stainless steel and 50% in neutral barrels. Abv. 14,5%. — a year ago

Martin Sher

9.4

Love this Philippe Melka project at Long Shadows. I’m going to attempt to hold off on my remaining bottles for a couple of years. 2016 is clearly a great year for Pirouette, it’s still a teen at this point. — 3 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Nose has charred cigar box, sauteed cherries, dried blueberries, freshly whipped cream, sliced black cherry, old-dark chocolate shavings, oak bark and mashed blackberries.
Palate has earthy blackberry juice, chocolate covered cherry, wet cedar shavings, grilled raspberries, muddy-mashed cherry with a medium+ finish.
Our second to last bottle from an experimental case project, bought on release ($15) and I'm just floored on the presence of this wine in our glasses today, expressive on all fronts, quite satisfing after many years of patience. — 4 years ago