romo

9.2

Almost too good for local backyard harvested clams, mussels, oysters. Almost. — 10 months ago

heidi schlegel

9.5

Lovely fruit and dry brut finish. Great for summer in the backyard. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This was presented to me at Tasting Group; double-blind. The wine appears a bright straw, nearing light golden color with a silvery, watery rim; medium+ viscosity. No signs of gas. On the nose, it reminds me of the lime tree we used to have in our backyard in Southern California. There’s also some lemon verbena, citrus blossom, and minerals…though hard to pinpoint what kind. On the palate, more of the same with lemon/lime citrus and minerals which are more chalky now. Acid is medium++. Long finish. I thought this leaned more towards its structure so I was in the Old World. Possible varieties being Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay with possibly places of origin being Germany or France. I was leaning towards Rielsing but then I smelled my empty glass and there it was, the slightest touch of French oak. So I called 2018 Chablis 1er Cru, “Vaillons”. I’m not beating myself up too much for missing the vineyard 😜 — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Nose has amazing Gardenia aromas, sweet honey, freshly milled white pepper and cold wax.

Palate has over-ripe cantaloupe, honey drizzle on green melon, (light) lemon/orange zest and juiced Clementine (faint). Light on the acidity and a bit long on the finish. Decanted 60m. (92-93 points, very nice)

Spectacular pairing to fried eggs (backyard egg factory paying its dues even in the cold of winter) over toasted couscous, softened garlic & red onion, fresh green onion and the star of the dish za'atar (I could eat this on cereal!). — 5 years ago

Bloody Amateur

9.1

Super-fun, super-cloudy — satisfies my craving for chilled, balanced light reds, perfect for a backyard barbecue. — 6 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.1

An early Saturday evening happy hour with a Marcassin Pinot in our lovely backyard. Cloudy garnet in color. Strawberry-cherry hits the nose with a funky forest floor, mushroom pop and caramel-vanilla cinnamon lingering. Strawberry-cherry subtly sweet on the front of tongue; spicy mineral and pencil lead gives a soft bitter on the mid to back pallet—finish is medium to long. The tannins are not completely resolved but have integrated since the last time we opened a bottle a year ago. Definitely improving and becoming a soft elegant wine; should drink well in a few years. — 6 years ago

with Tom, Karin and 1 other

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.2

Brown purplish color. Barnyard, plum strawberry fruit nose with some floral and leathery notes. Full fruit sweet plum and strawberry taste that pops in the mouth with a bitter coffee and tobacco finish. Sitting out in our backyard on the green with perfect spring early evening weather. What a joy! — 7 years ago

Norman

9.0

Backyard nightmare project fixing erosion from the green space above us is finally approved after literally years of back and forth. This was ok, getting this permit finally might have set the bar too high. — a year ago

John Bratincevic

9.1

NOSE:cassis, black cherry, leather, both baking spices and savoury herbs (like nutmeg and bay leaf). Plum and mulberry. Nutty vanilla. Smells like proper, grown-up wine - though not especially heavy.

TASTE: initially very good. Dry, bitter cassis, cherry, herbs, medium weight with nice velvety mouthfeel - but not a lot of the other fruit from the nose (more air improved). Tannins bring a long, dry, bitter finish - sticks on the tongue- burnt-plant. There’s a bitter herbaceousness that is almost like straight cassis berries (which I have in my backyard, so speaking from experience) - very elegant in its way. Went very well with steak and smoothed out with air, the dark fruit became more prominent...I think a long decant is in order. Many different impressions here … real stuff. 91-92. — 4 years ago

Nina Zie

9.0

Nice blend! — 5 years ago

with Dominika

Severn G

9.2

Perfect pair of pairings to eggs in a curry sauce over jasmine rice. Good to have the backyard egg factory 👍 — 5 years ago

Joan Ziegler

9.0

Enjoyed in my backyard with Manami on a beautiful Friday night — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Spring! It’s one of our favorite points in the year. More; daylight, a little warmer in CA and everything starts to bloom which, means a long summer of gardening and being outdoors every day/night is not far off.

Since it was such a great day and basically most Californians are shut-Ins, the voluntary self quarantining was getting to me. I did the landscaping and got an afternoon of fresh air today. A breath of fresh air...ahhh! Wow, was it needed after Gavin’s Newsom’s estimate of 25.5 million Californians would be infected with Coronavirus over 8 weeks yesterday.

So, a good night to celebrate another day of being virus free with my 2nd favorite N/V Rosé Champagne.

All my numerous previous notes apply.

Stay safe everyone and remember the new terminology of the new decade...social distancing! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Photos of; Spring in our backyard & a Billecart Grand Cru Vineyard.

— 6 years ago

Emily MacKinnon

9.2

Breakfast bubbles. — 7 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.2

No formal notes.
I had during a little bossanova jazz concert that truly blew me away, specifically more for the location than for the music.
We were in a very cosy backyard.
The wine definitely kept me warm cause it was freeezing🥶
Top of my head it was juicy, round and very friendly. LoFi wine.
I would buy another bottle..it wasn't expensive.
I actually bought it 8n the middle of nowhere in Northern Rivers, Burringar🙄 — a year ago

Joan Ziegler

9.0

Wonderful bubbles as part of our Palo Alto backyard wedding! Enjoyed meeting the winemaker at K& L wines a few years ago. Refreshing & crisp on June 29 2024 — 2 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Nose has tart strawberry, ripe black cherry, blackberry, dried soil with peat and faint creamy oak notes.

Palate has ripe blackberry, ripe cherry, dried garden soil, thawed strawberries, light cedar influence, decent finish but we're underwhelmed overall. Maybe closing up now, revisit in 3-5Y, 2025-27.

Cork pulled, slow oxidation for 3H.

Solid pairing to toasted Israeli couscous, za'atar and lightly fried eggs from the backyard egg factory. For us, eggs are always a great pair to Bourgogne Rouge, they balance wonderfully.

(Also, for the record, no photo trickery on the food pic, our Australorp eggs are indeed that orange; Good diet equals good eggs.) — 4 years ago

Richard Thresher

8.9

Nice drinker over a charcuterie board near a backyard fire-pit. Some translucent fading near rim shows age. Garnet. Fruit/flowers forward give this medium body red a thumbs up. Medium to high tannins on the tongue. Thumbs up! — 6 years ago

Joan Ziegler

9.2

Veronique & Phil just married - cheers to them socially distanced in my backyard in Menlo Park. What fun! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

@Plate & Bottle Dinner

Dessert Course, Warm Berry Cobbler, House Made Vanilla, Lemon Verbena Ice Cream.

Amazing dessert. Pairing the cobbler with the Ruinart Rosé and the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve as well. Both good/appropriate for the dual aspects of the cobbler.

Dessert has blackberries and raspberries with lemon and crumble on top (tiny bit of cinnamon) and vanilla lemon verbena ice cream. There are flavors here that call for Rosé & Blanc de Blanc Champange.

Photos of, the dinner & our friends Jeff & Hedy beautiful backyard. — 7 years ago