Discoveries Vineyards
Domaine des Bérioles
Autochtone Tressallier 2019
Don’t know why the other ratings for this wine are so low as it’s easily one of my wine discoveries of last year. An insane wine. You can smell the acid on the nose along with lemongrass, wet stones, greengage, and just and aromatic mineral rainbow. Stunning. Smells like Grand Cru Chablis X Grand Cru Chenin. So good. A true sense of place here. A 9.7 nose. Like a scene in nature. What a palate. Huge concentration and an elegant density lead to very very strong acids and a an engaging lemon-like piquant aspect. Structured. This needs mega air as my last bottle showed. Perfect balance and just unreal purity. What textured and roundness yet juxtaposed with incredible acids, minerals and freshness. Genius! After air this gets an awesome treacly texture and becomes a liquid wine sweet tart. What a finish. That finish just cranks after air. 9.6 to 9.7. — 3 years ago
Ink Grade Estate
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
I convinced a friend to attend a pop and pour tasting for Heitz Cellar last night. The lineup included:
* 2017 Lot C-91 - Previously made once in 1961.
* 2016 Trailside Vineyard -
* 2016 Martha’s Vineyard -
* 2017 Howell Mountain Ink Grade
I love producers that have not strayed from what I call that “classic Napa style,” and I also love mountain fruit. The Heitz Trailside and Martha’s were both really nice (Martha gets an extra star from me), Ink Grade was next level.
Ink Grade is hugely massive, complex, powerful, and fresh, all at the same time. This wine easily falls in my top 3 favorite discoveries in 2022.
Details: 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest Date September 6, 2017. 100% French Oak. Bottled on March 8, 2021. ABV 14%.
This wine deserves a fabulous pairing. Our loss that the Jimmy Hendrix/Miles Davis collaboration never happened, but if it had I would be listening to them with this bottle. — 2 years ago
Vinessens
La Casica del Abuelo Monastrell Blend 2019
One of our greatest discoveries of 2020. Vinessens knows its job perfectly, we've been trying every single one of their masterpieces. Incredible value. Just buy 6 at a time, seriously. — 4 years ago
Dark Horse Wines
The Original California Rosé Blend 2016
One of my favorite rosé discoveries! Dry, crisp, and adequately fruity. Would drink again! — 6 years ago
Domaine Des Lampyres
Contre-Attaque ESPIRA DE L'AGLY Roussillon Red Blend 2021
Roussillon trip #3
100% Mourvèdre in the biodynamic style. Very beautiful (unfiltered) pomegranate dress, at medium depth. The nose is very fresh on aromas of pomegranate, sour cherry, and floral notes. In the mouth it is juicy, light, carried by an invigorating freshness-mineral reminiscent of northern wines, and a welcome bitter touch. One of the very beautiful discoveries of our stay in Roussillon allowing us to apprehend in an original way this grape variety generally worked in blends.
100% Mourvèdre dans le style biodynamique.
Très belle robe (non filtrée) grenade, à la profondeur moyenne. Le nez est très frais sur des arômes de grenade, un peu de fraise et des notes florales. En bouche c’est juteux, léger, porté par une fraîcheur-minérale vivifiante rappelant les vins nordistes, et une pointe amer bienvenue. Une des très belle découverte de notre séjour en Roussillon permettant d’appréhender de manière originale ce cépage généralement travaillé en assemblage. @Delectable — 2 years ago
Cantine Viola
Biancomargherita Calabria Mantonico Guarniccia 2018
65% guarnaccia bianca 35% mantonico bianco
I am going hard local and i must admit i am enjoying it even though i know already i will never find gold in the glass
A touch aromatic perhaps, granny smith apple, sage, thyme, iodine.
Not elegant maybe, but definitely enjoyable
Fairly long
I am happy with my little discoveries
I am meeting young guys that believe in the territory
With taralli and eggplant pure with chilli it was spot on — 3 years ago
Changyu
Riesling Blend
An excellent Riesling! If you were suspicious about NZ whites 20 years ago, well, life is a journey, full of discoveries, and China is a rather big country. hell, good food demands great wines. The rest is eurocentism and, worse, Porterism for wines. We had a blast! This Riesling (not a blend) is fresh, fruity, bright, balanced, fun, v drinkable w/o any undesirable aftertastes and leaving your head okay the morning after. A friend brought it from London, a 2017 harvest, and boy, were we suspicious? Then again: Coming from a 19th vineyard - how would they not know their thing? It‘s us not knowing their wines! — 6 years ago
Romain Fitoussi
Second tasting. Always so nice. Beautiful introduction to the Amarones style at a reasonable price. A style to taste at least once for wine lovers curious about discoveries. — 2 years ago