Wow. Apricots, crème brûlée, and honey. As a dessert wine, this is stunning — 5 months ago
On the nose and palate are concentrated notes of crème de cassis, juicy blackberry, plum, purple fig, mulberry, violet, black licorice, anise seed, peppercorn, clove, vanilla, cardamom, leather, and forest floor. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, high alcohol (14.5% ABV), and velveteen tannins with a persistent finish.
— 2 years ago

The description: The sweetly frivolous and fruity side of Central Otago Pinot Noir is bound up in this bottle of Stolen Kiss Rosé; once unleashed into your glass its candy-floss and crème-brûlée aromas shall sashay into a flirtatious toffee-apple and simmering strawberry palate smeared with cherry lip-gloss; most fun to drink chilled on sultry summer afternoons and evenings.
The opinion: Accurate and very good. Stolen Kiss is somewhat variable but 2022 and 2023 is very good. Summer afternoon with a well chilled bottle, can’t go wrong. — 3 years ago
Word has gotten around about how obsessed I am with this wine/vintage, so the bev director surprised me with a dessert pour. Same wine, same vintage, but different bottle & a week and a half later. Still a mind blowing wine, though this encounter (bottle had been open a bit longer) leaned more into the crème brûlée, toffee characteristics with less perceptible fresh fruit. Still one of my candidates for best of 2022… — 4 years ago
Dark gold. Crème brûlée, toffee, toasted brioche, great acidity. Amazing length. Spectacular and this is over 70 years old. — 2 months ago
Crisp but balanced with citrus and crème brûlée. Great acidity for food but has enough flavor to stand on it’s own. — a year ago
Still quite vibrant and buttery. Taste a lot of crème brûlée, nectarine, fig, lemon zest, and honeysuckle. Rich, well-balanced, and nice minerality for a satisfying finish. — 2 years ago
The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is composed of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre. The 2020 displays fragrant aromas of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, crème de cassis and dried herbs. Tightly structured, full-bodied and layered, the ripe tannins are very well integrated into the wine, as is the 15.5% alcohol. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, June 2023) — 3 years ago
Stupendous stuff. Soft, sweet and sexy in the nose. Structured, sultry and cedary on the palate.
Black cherries, Crème de Cassis, vanilla-caramel-mocha swirls. Topped off by some whiffs of earth, ink and soysauce.
Spectacular.
Dive in now or any time in the next decade. — 4 years ago
Château Cantegril – Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle / 2019
AOC Barsac – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Overview
A Grand Vin de Sauternes crafted by the Dubourdieu family in Barsac, this 2019 vintage blends the region’s classics: Sémillon dominant, Sauvignon Blanc, and a touch of Muscadelle. Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) weaves its magic here, concentrating sugars and intensifying aromas.
Aromas & Flavors
Lush notes of apricot, candied orange peel, and pineapple rise from the glass, layered with honey, acacia blossom, and a hint of saffron. The sweetness is deeply expressive but never cloying.
Mouthfeel
Silky and opulent, yet balanced by Barsac’s hallmark freshness and mineral tension. A luscious golden core with excellent length, pure heaven in a glass.
Food Pairings
Perfect with Roquefort, foie gras, or blue cheeses, but equally divine alongside fruit tarts, crème brûlée, or spicy Asian cuisine. For a daring contrast, try with fried chicken.
Verdict
2019 Château Cantegril is heaven on earth, an elegant and classic Barsac that shows the Dubourdieu family’s mastery. A wine that proves Sauternes and Barsac remain unmatched when it comes to liquid gold.
Did You Know?
Barsac AOC wines can legally be labeled either “Barsac” or “Sauternes.” Château Cantegril is often described as one of the “entry gates” to the Dubourdieu family’s sweet wine heritage, offering top quality at a more approachable level than their Château Doisy-Daëne.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: This is one of those wines that makes you stop mid-sip and smile, it’s just that magical. — 9 months ago
The 2015 Late Harvest Wine is redolent of tangerine peel, crème brûlée, spice, ginger, coffee and new French oak. This mid-weight, intensely aromatic late harvest dessert wine is very nicely balanced. Drink it over the next handful of years. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Medium gold color. Nose and color suggest this has a lot of age. Notes of apricot, gravel road, tan spice and lemon crème. Good weight and mouth feel. Nice structure. This is slightly advanced from where it should be at age 20 but drank nicely. Better than the other 02 Leflaive Pucelles I’ve had. — 4 years ago
Un nez assez peu expressif car le vin était trop froid au départ mais le nez s’ouvre un peu en réchauffant avec des notes de fruits blancs, de poires, de menthe.. La bouche est magnifique, une belle classe, une bouche toute en finesse et élégance tout en ayant une belle tension sans être tranchante, un vin avec un équilibre exemplaire et sans aucun excès et une finale délicieuse de belle longueur. 92-93.
A moderately expressive nose in the beginning as the wine was too cold but then opens up more with white orchard fruit, pears, some floral scents and a touch of mint. The palate is amazing, complete, so well balanced, fine, elegant, classy and with just good backbone and tension without being too crisp, great length and delicious finish. — 5 years ago
Matt Schwartz
Cedar Hills Liquor store pick. Caramel, crème brûlée, vanilla and cedar. — 3 days ago