Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you like Ca Chardonnay with firm wood-warmer climate backbone structure, this probably isn’t for you. It is closer to white burgundy, which is why I buy it occasionally. It reminds me of the a leaner, less viscous, 2014/16 Domaine de la Bongran Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet.

The palate is perfectly ripe; green apple, lemon/lime juicy pulp w/ zest, grapefruit with pith, tropical melon, white stone fruit, marmalade as it warms & opens up, Bosc pear w/ skin & lychees. Honey notes, but less than Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet, caramel, milk froth, vanillin, dry limestone powered, toast crust, some white spice, grey volcanics, saline notes, yellow lilies, white flowers, jasmine blossoms, mixed in greens, very pleasant acidity, well; knitted, balanced, good tension, medium structure and a smarty polished 90 second finish that settles on spice and minerals. — 4 months ago

Bruce Leboff

9.1

Classic Tom Eddy - big wine full of dark fruit and blackberries on the nose. Tannins are there - giving a good backbone- but feels a bit astringent in the mid palate… a little less alcohol ( it’s a whopping 15.8%) would probably have served for a more balanced wine. — 5 years ago

with David

Andrew Belzer

9.1

Going through our 2014 Designate Pinots looking for a special library selection for upcoming Tower Club allotments! Earth, raspberry, sage, star anise, cedar, gram, caramel. lengthy tannins — 6 years ago

Hanibal

9.1

Side by side testing the 97 and 99...the 99 was much better with still a good tannic backbone and length. Both however were still very much alive. — 6 years ago

Nikki Vlasic

8.9

Friday night alone with Muffin, opened this up for myself! 🍷 — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.3

A new experience for us tonight. A 34 year old C-D-P to celebrate our 36 year anniversary. Beautiful old red/orange color from the glass. Dried fruit and herbs, licorice and wet flint on the nose. Flavors of dried red plums and cherries, licorice , herbs and some earthiness. Still showing a slight tannic backbone. A nice long finish. — 7 years ago

with Lisa

Daniel M

9.1

Fourth time tasting Lapierre in 2017. I've got a bit of a cold so I'm not enjoying this one as the previous ones. The nose is still a cherry bomb and bears a violet stamp. The palate is still very well balanced with a strong acid backbone, lots of ripe cherry all over the place, some grip, some width. The palate is a cherry song that plays for a very long while. 24 hours later it's still singing. Great! — 7 years ago

Doug Powers

9.2

Medium-dark red-purple color, beautiful redfruit aromas and flavors, with medium-toast oak showing as a seasoning the background, pretty sound structure and backbone, solid acidity, long, lingering finish, excellent California mountain Merlot (w/25% Cabernet Sauvignon). The sheer quality and complexity of this bottle is a wonderful tribute to the vision of Barbara and Jim Richards, who I am certain would be very proud, with Paloma now being ably run by their son Sheldon and his family. — 6 months ago

with Jim

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Of course this is young and primary but 2015 is just so juicy and giving and offered plenty to justify an early pop, especially from a list at a good price. Previous Roumier experiences with surrounding vintages like 12, 13, 14 and 16 across the line always seem to be shut down and just simply not ready to drink. But 2015 Les Cras wafts from the glass with gorgeous floral and juicy dark fruit aromatics. The palate is pure silk with an incredible purity and focus to its ripe fruit expression and underlying mineral backbone. It saturates and wraps around the palate with stunning length, fine grained tannins and vibrant lift. Lovely at this stage, but in 10 years it’ll be a true stunner. — 4 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

Forgotten bottle at my in laws. What a good surprise! Didn't know I had left it there 🤷🏻‍♂️.
This is again a very biaised review as this comes from a vineyard located 10 miles away from where I grew up. A blend of negrette and syrah.
There is a strong violet, blackberry, irony, pepper nose. Very inviting. The palate is very much defined by its acid backbone and its vibrant blackberry and cherry note. There is a huge tannins wall in the middle here, drying up everything in its wake but making way to a fruity, peppery finish with a fruity twist. Huge wine for less than 10 euros — 5 years ago

Daniel M

9.3

There is an irony thing in the nose along with violet and rose petals and cherry and a bit of black pepper. This is the nose I fell in love with 10 years ago. The palate is very well designed with a strong acid backbone, a very nice round and radiating fruit, a bit of a sweet touch, some nice oily, scratchy tannins which kick things up for a rather long finish with that fruit, pepper and a long lasting floral aftertaste. So great. This is 7 Euro when you buy it from the winery directly and it's 15 kilometers from where I am right now 😍 — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.2

Once again I indulge in this pretty sin... Cherry, almond, Raisin, pencil lead, maybe chocolate too? The palate is tremendous : it goes in every direction with a huge acid backbone, a superlative width, a dense and silky matter with a soft touch on the sides, a bright fruit which shows off all along, a bit of drying tannins that kick off a fantastic finish with fruit, a bit of bitterness, some raisins and a indisputable length. Man I love this one. This is bohemian rhapsody by Queen — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Last of several bottles, 2005 vintage- still strong but perhaps some wear & tear. Still, an elegant (for Etna) wine, brick red in appearance, strong acidic backbone yet lithe in its medium body. Black fruits, no blueberries here, & the strong tannins are mostly integrated.I can imagine the Pinot comparisons, but feel this kind of Etna is even more unique. Has a slight petrol character, not unpleasant, reminds of a modern Alsatian Pinot noir. Nothing suave here either, but the in house aging & overall old school approach reminds too of old school Rioja like Lopez. Oh, & these sell for under 30$. Crazy. — 7 years ago

with Owen

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2012 Cheval Blanc has a lovely bouquet with raspberry coulis, hints of marmalade and just a touch of espresso, nicely detailed though not intense. The palate is medium-bodied with a strict entry. This is quite backward and tight, lightly spiced with a touch of sour cherry and cracked black pepper on the finish. This is a delicious, well-crafted Cheval Blanc. A second bottle demonstrates just a little more backbone and persistence. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 4 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

Cherry, hay, earth, plum somehow. Nice typical nose. The palate is well designed with a great acid backbone, a nice cherry note that shines all through the palate, soft, almost cushiony mouthfeel, a great build up in the rear with a tiny tannins effect that create a tiny distorsion in the mouthfeel before a fruit forward finish with a tiny bitter note that pops up. In a much better place than the last bottle. 2 more bottles out of the 6-box we bought in August last year — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

100% Tempranillo, about 14 mos in new French oak. Deep Ruby, aromas of dark fruits, spice, floral and earthy oak. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry & plum with tobacco, licorice and sweet cedar. Tannins, still tight, support the backbone of the wine, needs more bottle age. Well balance with acidity, full body, lingering finish ends with some fruit, oak, spice, and earthy character. Nice! — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Solid producer, no new notes:
Nose has wet strawberry, orange peel, ripe stone fruits, pineapple core and light, fresh brioche notes.
Palate has strawberry-raspberry mash (light), orange/grapefruit pith, ripe peach (light) and wonderful limestone backbone. — 6 years ago

Laith A

9.3

Good cab .. starting to show some secondary and tertiary characteristics like incense, smoke, leather but with a persistent backbone of black and blue fruits and a whiff of eucalyptus/mint! — 6 years ago

Eliza Singer

9.1

Mineral, good acid backbone. Delicious with rich food — 7 years ago

Scott Soren

9.5

Deep garnet purple wi a lushness of mouthfeel. Long finish with tannic backbone. Macerated cherry on the pallet, signature Saxum. Awesome — 7 years ago