Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine is a deep garnet color a near opaque core and some significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some signs of maturity. There are fascinating notes of tart, ripe and dessicated black and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, tart red cherry, accompanied by some tobacco, cigar box, green bell pepper, some leather and beautiful baking spices. It smells like money (expensive, lavish oak treatment). On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins (well integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some coffee and cocoa also showing up to the party. The finish seems to go on forever. This is a very balanced wine in a very fun spot.

Initial conclusion: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, a Tempranillo or Sangiovese-based blend from the United States, France, Spain or Italy with 25+ years of age. However, the fruit was kinda the star of the show so, final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from the United States, from California, from Napa; vintage 1990. Ha!! 1992 Bryant Family!? Suhhhhweet! This is in the zone. Drink now through 2032. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Served to be double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a beautiful garnet with a deep but translucent core and significant rim variation; from magenta to orange to watery. There appears to be loads of sediment. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful aromas of desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, brambles, plum, pipe tobacco, some green pepper, old leather, damp forrest, mushrooms and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium(+?) acid. Confirming the notes on the notes. The finish is long and delicious. Alcohol is medium.

I was pretty confident that this was a Bordeaux-variety/blend however, I was between two minds as to whether this was left-bank Bordeaux or Napa Valley as I believe the lines truly begin to blur with age. Ultimately, I called St. Estèphe from a classified growth and a warmer vintage like 1985 or 1990. I settled on 1990. Shit. I should have known it was Napa…and as more time went on, the fruit did seem to get a little more heady. Anyway, I don’t hate my call but I should have not rushed my conclusion and considered it a little longer. As for the wine itself, this bottle has excellent provenance and was really quite lovely at 37 years old. Plenty left in the tank. There’s good color and energy with no worry at all about the fruit hanging on. Alcohol is modest at 12.5% ABV. Well-cellared examples should be enjoyed now but will drink very well over the next 5-10 years, easy. — a year ago

David Kline

9.3

Underripe pineapple nose shows lemon zest, steely lime, ethereal jasmine, cool grapefruit, green pear, pea purée. Zesty lemon leaps from the glass and races along the palate, finishes lime and key lime, with a mineral oscillation. Chalky and refreshing simultaneously. Very satisfying dance of exotic starfruit and yellow pear tomato. Ginger and grapefruit build to a crescendo on an refreshingly buoyed, boisterous conclusion.


#phillipegonet #champagnephillipegonet #champagne #bubbles #alesmesnilsuroger #mesnil #mesnilsuroger #brut #blancdeblancs #champagnephillipegonetsignature — 3 years ago

Antonella Criscola

9.0

Smell: distinct smell of soy sauce combined with multiple kinds of woods and hints of tobacco.
Taste: very nice taste of black fruits blackberry and plum. Medium sweetness with low acidity and medium tannins.
Appearance: full bodied clear liquid with a garnet deep intense color.
Conclusion: very good Portuguese wine — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass the wine is a pale straw color with a silver rim. Medium viscosity with no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is very expressive or grapefruit, lime, and lemons withs some grassy, herbal qualities, yellow flowers and flint minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with acidity that I perceive as high. Confirming the notes from the nose. Finish is medium+. I don’t get any obvious use of oak…it would have to be extremely judicious if at all. Initial conclusion: this could be Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Albariño or maybe even Chardonnay from France, California, Germany or Spain. But I don’t get the petrol thing I associate with Riesling and it’s missing the white flowers and lanolin for Chenin. Not enough salinity for Albariño and the acid just seems too high for Chardonnay, even from Chablis. I think the structure is the key here. Final conclusion, this is a Sauvignon Blanc, from France, from the Loire, from Sancerre, 2020 vintage. Welp…at least I was in the right ballpark! This was a wine full of energy and one I would be happy to drink again. Drink now to enjoy its lovely fruit and acid. As a side note, it’s becoming harder and harder to find distinction from Old World and New World (which is probably why the CMS has stopped using the terms altogether), particularly with Sauvignon Blanc. A combination of climate change and winemaking has certainly blurred the lines.
— a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

The 2020 Sancerre Les Chasseignes is a ripe and round expression with sweet pineapple fruit flavors. The limestone proportion of the clay-limestone vineyard brings tension and texture that lightly holds the mouth, providing a satisfying finish. It's a gently refreshing acidity, leaving a gently fresh rather than zesty conclusion. For drinking now to the medium term. (Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, August 2022)
— 2 years ago

Kenneth Rosal

9.0

Appearance: Med Ruby

Nose: Med Cherry & Tobacco

Palate: Dry. Med Acidity. Med Tannin. Med Body. Med Intensity of Black Current, Cherry, Oak, Tobacco, Earthy & Mushroom. Medium Finish.

Conclusion: Very good Quality Wine — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass, the wine is a garnet color with some significant rim variation, moving towards a burnt sienna rim. The core is hazy, translucent. Viscosity is medium with some slight staining and there appears to be some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Lovely notes of desiccated brambles and purple flowers accompanied by tobacco, old leather-bound books, damp earth, gentle warm spices and something that was reminding me a bit of pyrazines but more on that later. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, on the finish (which was long) there was a strong impression of fine ground black pepper. Alcohol was medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend with associated Bordeaux varieties), Tempranillo or Syrah from France, Spain or USA. But there wasn’t enough focus on the fruit for me to be in the USA and the oak came across more French than American so I ruled Spain out. Then there was that black pepper on the finish. Bordeaux doesn’t traditionally have that character so it had me thinking those pyrazines I perceived on the nose was actually rotundone and this was whole-cluster Syrah. And, because the wine was showing so much maturity, I felt this had around 30 years of age.

Final conclusion: this is Syrah, from France, from the Northern Rhône, from Côte Rôtie, 1989 vintage. Wow…2007! This is advanced for its age. That likely has something to do with with the solar vintage but having recently enjoyed a 2007 Côte Rôtie from another producer, this was showing a lots more tertiary character than I would expect. This is a new (to me) producer. Enjoyable! Drink now. — a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Unlike his Savennières, the fruit for Boudignon's 2020 Anjou Blanc is purchased. The result is a pure, clean wine with delectable purity. There are delicate flavors of just-ripe pineapple, citrus, nettles and a subtle hint of vanilla. It is fermented and aged in both 500-liter barrels and oval Stockinger 'cigars'. A line of acidity pulls this wine through to a refined conclusion. It can be approached now for its fine fruit but will go on. (Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, September 2022)
— 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2019 Cuvée Edmond is an outstanding Sancerre, but it has a price tag to match. It is already drinking beautifully with its ripe apple, white stone fruit and subtle savory characters enveloped within its succulent, round and concentrated core. The conclusion is a delight with a chalky coating covering the entire mouth and a fine line of tension weaving the wine together. (Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, August 2022)
— 2 years ago