Jan de Weerd

9.0

We had the battle of the Shiraz at our family gathering over Christmas. A Shiraz from South Australia and South Africa. Both 2016. This Shiraz, despite from the Adelaide Hills where I think it is a little cooler, was very rich, very bold and broad and a slight jammy note on the edge perhaps. People liked it, but all the votes when for the Shiraz of Cederberg from South Africa. Fun!!! — 6 months ago

with Tammy

Brandon Boesch

9.6

This is amazing. So much fruit and flowers on the nose. Continues on the palate with a battle of fruit punch with floral notes and some blood orange. Tomato, good acidity, a bit of spice. A bit of earth. Excellent with pasta. — a year ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Nose is that blackberry filling at the bottom of the yogurt cup.

Tart cherry, flinty fruits, lots of mineralogy here, citrus and red fruit battle royale..
A unique blend from a hot region. Literally and figuratively.

— 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

My first time trying one of the wines from Cantina del Pino, an estate with greater ties to Barbaresco’s roots than most. The Vacca family were long a part of the Produttori but in 1997 branched out (yes, a pun: it was they who in the 1920s planted the now iconic pine tree on the highest point of the Ovello lieu-dit), and now produce two single vineyard Barbaresco bottlings (this, and an Albesani), as well as a generic Barbaresco and Langhe, Barbera and Dolcetto wines.

Tragically, winemaker Renato Vacca died in March last year after a yearlong battle with cancer. The 2016 vintage, just bottled, is supposed to be superb.

For now, though, the Ovello from the less lauded 2012 vintage. This is a knockout wine, still young, and with great promise. The nose is very exotic, quite heady & oaky even after a two hour decant, but opened up as the evening progressed, to give gorgeous aromas of macerated cherry, blackberry preserve, cinnamon, cedar and old leather. It screams Nebbiolo, and it’s the first Nebb I’ve had in a year or so.

The palate is very concentrated, with ripe and intense flavours of cranberry, dried cherry, cured meat and tobacco leaf. There is great tension and energy through the mouth, which only this village - or its neighbour - can achieve. The finish is long and impressive. A seductive, ageworthy wine.

94+ — 5 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.0

I miss the tastings with this semi-confinement we are still in and stole the idea of @Benoit Duhamel here, so we made one at home with my son and my wife who are both wine fanatics as I am too. We chose 6 red Burgundies Villages 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune and 3 Côte de Nuits and we tasted these blind, each of us giving ranks and points for each wines. Tasting blind usually doesn’t lie and it can bring numerous surprises which it did in that case. All wines were fo a good level here, no bad wines and all were fun and good indiviually but the results were pretty clear cut in terms of the Côte de Beaune winning this battle.

1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

DelaGrange: spices and a touch animal too on the nose. Vivid acidity with a nice medium bodied structure, very balanced, good length and delicious finish. My number 3. 90-91


On s’ennuie des dégustations et j’ai bien aimé l’idée de @Benoit Duhamel , merci Benoit. Alors s’en est fait une à la maison à trois (en respectant les règles bien sûr). Nous avons choisi 6 Bourgogne Villages Rouges 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune et 3 Côtes de Nuits, nous avons dégusté à l'aveugle et accordé des points à chaque position, il n’y avait aucun mauvais vin dans le lot et tous étaient très bien si bu individuellement, mais la dégustation à l’aveugle ne ment pas et les résultats peuvent être surprenants, les vins de la Côte de Beaune ont remporté la palme facilement ici, alors pour s’amuser un peu, voici le classement que cela a donné :
1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

DelaGrange: Fruits noirs, épices, une touche animale aussi. Belle structure de corps moyen avec une acidité vive, bel équilibre et assez long en bouche. Mon no 3 personnellement. 90-91 — 6 years ago

Chris A

9.0

An interesting blend of tastes here - like a classic naval battle on the high seas, but played out on your palette: Big, luxurious oak as you might expect on an Californian red, but on a delicate Sicilian red. Well balanced, fruity and a great oaky meets plum and ripe red fruit finish. Pair with an Italian dish and your passport is stamped without the flight. Good stuff, this! — 7 years ago

Jan A

9.2

Battle of the ports. We had a port/cheese night with some friends and I opened 7 late bottled vintage ports from well known producers. Some notable wines included:
Favorite was 2019 Taylor's LBV: as with the vintage port of Taylor's which is always amongst my favorites, this LBV was balanced with hedonistic fruit and just the right amount of tannins.
2020 Dow's LBV was dark and dusty
2020 and 2019 Grahams LBV were very structured, needing a couple more years of cellar time.
2018 Quinta do Noval gave the most floral vintage port profile on the nose, close after the Taylor's.
2020 Niepoort LBV was also notable, with a different, typical Niepoort profile compared to the rest with the least amount of tannins. — 7 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.4

2004 base
Disgorged 2010
A very fresh nose of apricots, nuts, spice and brioche. Very powerful when it hits your palate. Apples, pears, and lemon zest battle for supremacy of your taste buds. Prominent acidic bite — 2 years ago

Roger Ray

9.4

94 point Wine Spectator
"A bright, dry berry flavor and warm, velvety mouthfeel while forgoing any chemical herbicides. The result is a wine with a complex, battle hardened nose of dark cherry and cacao, bright and spicy on the palate, and warm in the mouth."
"A handmade natural wine"
Beautiful wine and one of my favorites of the year. — 5 years ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

Baby Monte Bello, with big California Cab oomph and gripping tannins. This dark red also featured the typical fruit, earth and mineral notes that you would expect, but I just can’t get past those big, bruising tannins. Improved considerably after an hour of decanting. This 2017 vintage probably needs another half decade at least to soften and mature. Paired well with prime ribeye steak, cutting through the richness like a battle ax. — 5 years ago

Thor S

9.1

This one comes by way of a good local area restaurant. Really impressed by how smoothly this Pinot presents. It’s medium bodied and simple but not at all unpleasant. This one makes for a good dinner selection. — 6 years ago

Andrew Kirwan

9.2

Developed with age, rich oak flavour with nice long finish. Very good. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Battle of the 04’s! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

My first time trying the CH rosé champagne. Their Brut is my favorite NV champagne, so I was glad to finally get my hands on some of this. Not surprisingly, I loved it. Similar to the Brut, certainly a battle between fruit and savory yeasty notes, but more strawberry skin and rhubarb pie adding some spice to it. It’s got that streak down the middle showing the older vintage wines they add to these (which I love) adding a bit of English biscuit and caramel. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This estate owes its name to Connetable Talbot, the English general & governor of the province of Guyenne who was defeated at the famous Battle of Castillon in 1453. Deep Ruby color, with aromas of black fruits, herb, tobacco and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of plums and black currants with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well balanced frame. Fine tight tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and cedar character. Nice! — 8 months ago

Roger Ray

9.1

The Spanish tempranillo grape faces off against the Portuguese touriga grape in this complex but compelling blend — 9 months ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

Old style wine
I love the detailed description attached to the neck of the bottle telling you all about the site, the winemaking and how to deal with the wine

This is a Barbacarlo's brother, not minor though

It starts quite fruit orientated, but it does unfold over many hours in the decanter

At first you can mistake it for a robust sparkling shiraz(given that it has a fizz when opened).
Day 2 the blue mineral it's all over and it is smoother and more enjoyable too( the tannin is more digestible too)
Very long and to review again in many years

Ps after a battle in Marengo(Italy) Napoleon stopped by in the area and sipped on this delicious nectar; from there the vineyard hill is also called Napoleon's hill(as well as Montebuono hill). — 2 years ago

Paul K

9.0

@Jason and Jennie in your neighborhood tonight before heading down to Bandon Dunes for four days of golf. Dropped by the storefront for Battle Creek. Nice Pinots and great people! Nose is really great on this. — 5 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

I miss the tastings with this semi-confinement we are still in and stole the idea of @Benoit Duhamel here, so we made one at home with my son and my wife who are both wine fanatics as I am too. We chose 6 red Burgundies Villages 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune and 3 Côte de Nuits and we tasted these blind, each of us giving ranks and points for each wines. Tasting blind usually doesn’t lie and it can bring numerous surprises which it did in that case. All wines were fo a good level here, no bad wines and all were fun and good indiviually but the results were pretty clear cut in terms of the Côte de Beaune winning this battle.

1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

The Auxey-Duresses: gets more complex with air and extremely aromatic with dark fruit, violets, black berries. The palate has a mice medium strong bodied, some good structure, nice energy, the most balanced I believe too with this elegant power and some nice class. My no 1 but close with Ramonet. 91-92


On s’ennuie des dégustations et j’ai bien aimé l’idée de @Benoit Duhamel , merci Benoit. Alors s’en est fait une à la maison à trois (en respectant les règles bien sûr). Nous avons choisi 6 Bourgogne Villages Rouges 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune et 3 Côtes de Nuits, nous avons dégusté à l'aveugle et accordé des points à chaque position, il n’y avait aucun mauvais vin dans le lot et tous étaient très bien si bu individuellement, mais la dégustation à l’aveugle ne ment pas et les résultats peuvent être surprenants, les vins de la Côte de Beaune ont remporté la palme facilement ici, alors pour s’amuser un peu, voici le classement que cela a donné :
1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

Auxey de Alain Gras: Nez qui évolue beaucoup avec le temps, fruits noirs, mures et violettes. Bouche avec du corps et de la structure avec une belle énergie, le plus équilibré selon moi avec cette puissance contenue et qui a de la classe. Mon no 1 mais assez près avec Ramonet. 91-92 — 6 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

2017 La Staffa Verdicchio with pesto pasta & veggies. Pretty much perfection in dinner right there. This was a little shy on the nose, but is opening up beautifully. This is a nuanced, beautiful wine that I’m fighting a battle not to to drink too quickly as I want to savor & enjoy it. The record finds Damien Jurado delivering some of his finest work. He tells great stories in his songs, but the arrangements are irresistible that accompany his brilliant words. Hope everyone’s Saturday is ending as nicely as ours. — 7 years ago