John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.1

Delish. Fruit forward in a good way. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pale to medium salmon color with aromas of berry fruits, yeasty and nutty earthy notes. On the palate flavors of  fresh cherry and raspberry, nice mousse, rapid bubbles, adding citrus & toasty apple flavors, crisp & refreshing, long ending with creamy lemon, smoke & yeasty earthy mineral notes. Nice! — 9 months ago

Dave

9.5

I had a bottle of this 3 weeks ago and needed another. PnP on a rainy day. This is such an excellent value Margaux. Fruity, tannic, and singing.
Listening to Merle Haggard, one of the finest poets in music. — 10 months ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Very young and accessible, suspect will stay this way for another 9 to 12 months perhaps. Good stuff.
— 3 years ago

Ricardo Bohn Goncalves

9.2

Casa Sylvia Loeb Set21 — 5 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Beautiful concentrated expression of Cabernet-Francs. Natural wine, without input, not filtered. Deep purple dress. Open nose. A round, fresh mouth that honours the fruit with marked floral notes. Allow to aerate one hour before serving.

Belle expression très concentrée du Cabernet-Francs. Vin nature, sans intrant, non filtré. Robe pourpre profonde. Nez ouvert. Bouche ronde et fraîche mettant le fruit à l’honneur avec des notes florales marquées. Laisser aérer une heure avant de servir. — 5 years ago

Tripp Borstel

9.5

One of my favorite champagnes. Toasty with a nice acidic backbone. — 6 years ago

Simone Pizzi

9.2

Fresh and youthful, the sensation is that to grasp a handful of freshly picked raspberries in the forest. Very clean, focused, with a good nerve. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2022 vintage. This is a huge estate, with 240 hectares of vines in a single plot between Corbières and Minervois. The estate used to sell bulk wine, until 2020 when family members took over. With very good results apparently. This white Corbières is made from organically farmed Grenache Blanc, Vermentino and Roussanne. Light golden colour. White stone fruit, beeswax and flowers. It's probably meant to drink very young, but it is delicious now at 4 years old. Great value. Abv. 13%. Tasted twice with consistent notes — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Blason d’Issan – Margaux 2010
Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Second wine of Château d’Issan (a 3rd Growth Grand Cru Classé), this Margaux reflects the finesse and elegance of its prestigious sibling at a more approachable level. The 2010 vintage is composed of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot, delivering structure, freshness, and the signature grace of the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark red fruits, cassis, and plum supported by notes of cedar, graphite, and dried violets. Subtle earthy undertones round out the bouquet.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with silky tannins, still carrying freshness and vibrancy. The fruit remains integrated with a polished balance, showing that the wine has aged beautifully without losing Margaux’s hallmark delicacy.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted lamb, duck breast, or a classic beef tenderloin. Its elegance also pairs nicely with mushroom risotto or aged Comté.

The Verdict
A graceful, approachable Bordeaux that demonstrates how even the second labels from Margaux can age impressively. Still drinking beautifully today, with finesse and balance that embody the spirit of Margaux.

Personal Pick Highlight
One of my favorite “second labels” from Bordeaux — proof that patience rewards, as this bottle aged with remarkable elegance and still charms after more than a decade. Also, the 2010 vintage, a benchmark year in Bordeaux, lends added structure and longevity. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Andrew Belzer

9.0

Round, earth, blackberry — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

A racy Chiroubles. Charming purple dress, medium concentration and beautiful brilliance. Superb peppery nose, airy between bright floral bouquet (Rose, Iris) and vibrant fruits (cherry and raspberry). Concentration, as expected on solar vintages. The mouth is fresh, tense, with few tannins but beautiful chew. Great drinkability, served refreshed (12/14 degrees) and airy, it's a dangerous drink!

Un Chiroubles racé. Charmante robe violine- pourpre, concentration moyenne et bel éclat. Superbe nez poivré, aérien entre bouquet floral éclatant (Rose, Iris) et fruité vibrant (cerise et framboise). De la concentration, comme attendu sur les millésimes solaires. La bouche est fraîche, tendue, avec peu de tanins mais de la belle matière. Belle buvabilité, servi rafraîchi (12/14 degrés) et aéré, c’est une boisson dangereuse! — 4 years ago

Christos Philippou

8.9

Southern Rhône blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre & Grenache. Medium plus body and acidity, nicely balanced. Good intensity and complexity.
As expected from this region ripe red & black fruits with plenty of secondary and tertiary notes. Picked up vanilla, mushroom, tobacco, earth, wet leaves and black pepper. Slightly astringent tannins. Could do with a little more aging. — 5 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Tasted at the producer, this is a primeur / pleasure to drink young vintage. 100% Cabernet-Franc. Light purple color, clear and limpid. Raspberry and herbaceous nose. Supple mouth blending raspberry, notes of cedar, cypress.
Slightly acidity, but the typical Touraine mineral structure, reminiscent of slate, pencil lead, or charcoal, bringing a refreshing salivating tension. On salads, aperitif-dinners, cold meats, cheese pastas, it's easy to drink, and pleasant.

Goûté chez le producteur, c’est une cuvée primeur/plaisir à boire jeune. 100% Cabernet-Franc. Robe pourpre légère, claire et limpide. Nez framboise et herbacé. Bouche souple mêlant, framboise, notes de cèdres, cyprès.
Acidité peu marquée mais la trame minérales typique de la Touraine, évoquant l’ardoise, la mine de crayon, ou le charbon, apportant une tension salivante rafraîchissante. Sur des salades, apéro-dînatoire, charcuterie, pastas fromage, c’est facile à boire, et plaisant. — 6 years ago

Adam Baker

9.4

La Voile. Drank by the glass. Really good CNdP. Lots of flavors, deep red berries, herbs on the midpalate. With or without food. Long finish. Some tannins, but smooth. — 7 months ago

with Elissa

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Blason de Bourgogne – Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay 2015
Mâconnais, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Mâcon-Villages is often considered the “gateway” to Burgundy whites, made for freshness and early drinking. What makes this bottle remarkable is its survival—cellared for a decade, it defies expectations for such an entry-level Chardonnay. Proof that even modest Bourgogne whites can occasionally surprise.

Aromas & Flavors
Candied baked pear, hints of honey, and touches of bruised apple. Some oxidative tones, but still carrying a thread of orchard fruit brightness.

Mouthfeel
Rounded and softened with age, medium-bodied, and gently waxy. Less about crispness now, more about mellow textures and faded fruit.

Food Pairing
Best suited for soft cheeses (Brie, Délice de Bourgogne), roasted chicken, or simply enjoyed contemplatively on its own for its curiosity factor.

Verdict
Not the most refined or expressive, but undeniably fascinating—especially given it was crafted for youthful freshness. A gentle reminder that Chardonnay, even from humble origins, can age with surprising grace.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: Zero expectations, but cellaring proved me wrong—this modest Macon-Villages still showed character after 10 years. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Roannaise gamay. Very distinctive, like a cru Beaujolais but there is some plummy depth here that adds some extra dimension. — 2 years ago

Kerri

9.2

Loved this light Cab Franc — 4 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Simple, light, but full of charm. Clear purple dress, beautiful shine. Nose typical of the cabernets-francs de Loire. Raspberry, geranium, violet, blackwood, green pepper (but not too much). The mouth is fresh and tense, with a beautiful mineral weft reminiscent of rifle stone, slate or chalk. Served at 15 degrees, it’s a nice treat.

Saumur simple, léger, mais plein de charme. Robe pourpre limpide, bel éclat. Nez typique des cabernets-francs de Loire. Framboise, géranium, violette, bois de ronce, poivron vert (mais pas trop). La bouche est fraîche et tendue, avec une belle trame minérale évoquant la pierre à fusil, ardoise ou craie. Servi à 15 degrés c’est une belle gourmandise. — 5 years ago

with Peter

James Gourley

9.4

The winner! Earthy, succulent blue fruit, mouth coating tannins balanced by just enough acidity. A great wine. — 6 years ago

with Colin