Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château de Fesles – La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes Chenin Sec 2010. Anjou, Loire Valley – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A limited-edition bottling from one of Anjou’s most historic estates, this Chenin Blanc comes from old vines (“vieilles vignes”) rooted in schist soils surrounding the chapel of the domaine. Château de Fesles is renowned for producing some of the Loire’s most age-worthy Chenins, and this 2010 shows just how gracefully the grape can evolve.

Aromas & Flavors
Complex layers of baked quince, dried apricot, acacia honey, chamomile, and lanolin, underpinned by beeswax and a mineral flintiness. Secondary notes of almond and brioche hint at its decade-plus of bottle age.

Mouthfeel
Dry (“sec”) yet textured, with a medium+ body, bright acidity still intact, and a long, savory finish. The balance between freshness and maturity is remarkable, showing both vitality and evolution.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented in oak and matured patiently, with low yields from old vines contributing depth and concentration. Loire Chenin’s natural high acidity is what makes wines like this so age-defiant.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted chicken with herbs, veal in cream sauce, or rich seafood like lobster and scallops. A natural match also for aged goat cheese (think Valençay or Crottin de Chavignol).

Verdict
A stunning example of aged Loire Chenin Blanc: vibrant, layered, and endlessly complex. Proof of why Anjou and Loire whites belong among the world’s most cellar-worthy wines. — 21 days ago

Shay A

9.4

A polarizing wine without question, but one that I am absolutely enthralled with every time I open a bottle. This, SQN and Andremily’s rosés all belong to a special group that does not follow red wines steps, nor rosés…a category all to their own.

This would be a perfect candidate for a black glass tasting. Texturally and structure wise, this is like a mix of whole cluster Pinot with a hint of Syrah. Dark ruby in the glass. Aromatically it has ripe strawberry, sage and whole cluster spice. Concentrated, yet light and vibrant on the palate. Bing cherry, cran-raspberry, black tea, peppercorn crusted rhubarb notes but also a light streak of iron down the middle. Not quite sanguine, but plenty of punch and spice to the fruit.

These can age really well (oldest I’ve had was one with 6yrs, and it was fantastic), so no rush. If you’re looking for a typical rosé profile, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something you’ve likely not experienced before, you’ll be glad you tried this. — 4 years ago

David Walser

9.2

As I keep saying, this isn’t my favorite Melka wine. It comes as part of the care package...that’s why I don’t belong to the club any longer...just don’t like getting expensive stuff that isn’t my favorite. Doesn’t mean I don’t like his other wines. Had with Indian take away at out hotel. — 6 years ago

Tom Kohli

9.6

Repris Left Bank wine is our favorite. We belong to the wine club & have a bunch of bottles in our basement aging mostly since we forget they are there. This bottle was especially magnificent. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

I was completely unfamiliar with this winery until a visit to Dry Creek back in 2019. We randomly booked an AirBNB in neighboring Geyserville that happened to belong to the proprietors of Unti. They invited us to visit the winery and I’m so glad we made the effort to do so. They specialize in varieties that grow in and around the Mediterranean. This bottle of the 2016 Montepulciano was brought back from that winery visit and enjoyed over two days. It showed best on Day 2 and these notes reflect that experience.

The wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and a slightly watery rim; medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium intensity with raspberries, blackberries, lingonberries, baking spices, purple flowers and crushed concrete. On the palate, a mixed fruit set with mostly blue and black fruits, figs, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherry, baking spices and minerals. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. This finish is long and dry. Came across quite young and primary. Years to go on these. — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Nice Wednesday keto bottle, with some pesto topped barramundi
K&L notes,

This Champagne is composed of juice from all old vine Grand Cru grapes on property that used to belong to Krug right in the Cotes de Blanc… so you know they’re working with great land and great fruit. The nose is earthy, almost a little sandy toned, but there’s also good fresh fruit here with scents of citrus peel and Golden Delicious apples. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a great apple/pear balance that becomes more intense in fruitiness and even borders on tropical flavors before coming to a gradual vanilla finish. — 5 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Wowie holding up great. Thought it was raisiny to start with but it then went in reverse and tightened up with an hour. Really lovely dried herbs, red fruits, sandalwood and a little nag champa. Stellar and super fun to try a 22 year old Pinot. It could be nothing other than California and honestly SLH in particular which is a good thing because Burgundy belongs in burgundy and the Pisoni’s belong in SLH. Bravo — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

My first Belong wine and I am impressed. Light on its feet at 12.5% ABV and yet another example of the gems (and QPR) coming out of the Sierra foothills AVA. — 4 years ago

ESF

9.1

Kitchen sink blend from South Africa: sorta all over the place, complex nose of lemon custard, apple, orchard fruit, white flowers, roasted nuts, butterscotch & honey. Silky suave on palate, oily, vibrant acidity - clean finish w/lanolin - quinine. Don’t know if these varietals belong together but it holds together just enough to pull it off. — 4 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.7

This was pop and pour and drank over three days. Amazing!! Everything in balance, great structure and nothing sticks out or doesn’t belong. Absolutely loved this! — 5 years ago