First Foot Forward

First Drop Wines

Mother's Milk Shiraz 2022

Delectable Wine
9.0

The fruit-forward and charming 2022 Shiraz Mother's Milk offers up a wild ride of dark cherry and coffee bean aromas with a dark, earthy tinge. It's well-pitched, fresh and vibrant, with a supple core of tannins that fits the overall package of red berry flavor well before the gentle finish. $20.00 (Angus Hughson, Vinous, November 2024) — 24 days ago

Shay, Lyle and 14 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

1984, surprisingly tanic, acidic, and Heavy dried fruit, prunes and dried figs. over oxidized tasting at first but interesting. From producer to cellar at breakers in palm beach. Small leak out the bottle on one side of the cork. Over time it settles and the dried fruit subsides and then the lighter acidic flavors of fresh berries comes forward. — 2 years ago

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2018

One of the few producers that I purchase each and every vintage. I find that Laurence Feraud’s wines are consistently some of the more interesting and enjoyable wines made in all of Chateauneuf du Pape; particularly when value comes into play. This bottle is my first experience with her 2018 vintage and the first bottle of a small tranche that I swooped up upon release. Popped and poured; consumed over 5 hours. The color is deep ruby with a near opaque core; glossy and gorgeous to behold. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this is classic Pegaü with loads of dark cherry and bramble fruit, a veritable hillside full of garrigue, lavender, black pepper, and something that reminds me of old books. On that palate, the fruit is equally generous, brambles and cherries, exotic spices, Herbs de Provence and a somewhat sanguine-like character to it. Substantial structure, though it seems to be a notch lower than the previous three vintages at this point in its young life. The tannins are very sneaky. Almost imperceptible for the first hour and yet, by hour four, they were very much making themselves known (in the Medium+ range). Acid is also Medium+ indicating these have an exciting life ahead. The finish lasts for well over a minute. All in all, another lovely Pegaü that will likely live in the shadow of some of the more heralded vintages in the last ten years however, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a stunner. Absolutely lovely stuff and I very much look forward to enjoying these well into the 2030’s. — 4 years ago

Ira, Ely and 16 others liked this

Villa San-Juliette

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Nice Paso cab. Fruit forward with grippy tannins. A quality wine. First time I have encountered this producer. — a year ago

Daniel liked this

Domaine Leflaive

Les Pucelles Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2002

Tasted blind. Light gold color. Fruit forward nose, almost tropical. Notes of green apple and orchard fruits, wet river stone, apricot, white flowers. Notably younger in its evolution than the first two bottles today, with a slightly lower heaviness and depth. I go with a guess of 2000 Leflaive Pucelles. Nice to see a young 02 Leflaive sans premox, with a lot of upside in front of it. 94+ — 2 years ago

Ira, Juan and 16 others liked this

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

2018 vintage. Forest floor, mushrooms and überripe plums in a peek-a-boo nose. Tremendous, consistent drive from intro palate to and thru the finish. Verry polished and ripe. Medium+ bod. If blind tasting this, would have guessed Napa with a small % of mountain fruit. Some tannins afoot but they’re not currently prominent-more fruit forward. First go-round with this producer. An auspicious first impression. It would be difficult to find a decent Bordeaux smoother than this. I ain’t signifying a 30 year lifespan-or even a 20 spot-but it’s ready to party now. Only had a handful of 2018 Bordeaux and they’ve all been fruit forward…detecting a trend there. — 3 years ago

Ira, Eric and 8 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016

First Pinot produced from this Kendall Jackson vineyard named after Jess Jackson’s daughter, Julia. Fruit forward with tons of fruit aromas, herb and oak notes, aged for 12 months in French oak, 25% new, making this wine fresh and vibrant good for drinking now, and some short-term aging. The 2016 was a good year with an early harvest with perfectly ripe fruit. On the palate, strawberry and cherry flavors with baking spice and gentle oak. Fine tannins, lingering ending with fruit and subtle spice character. — 5 years ago

Jason, Eric and 5 others liked this

Hubert Lamy

En Remilly Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Chardonnay 2017

Served this beauty on 2 occasions with Vinloq Preservation

DAY 1
👃Precocious yellow fruit (grapefruit and lemon) and green apples, flinty minerals, white pepper, and grassy herbals
👅Lemon oil with white pepper and spirited minerality. The fruit is more round and more restrained than on the nose.
Salty. Great acidity. The oak treatment is spot on. Long dry, mineral laced finish. So good

The remaining wine was Slow Decanted in my refrigerator and finished a week later

DAY 7
Such a glorious nose on this burgundy. Really delightful. White flowers and peach and even some tropical fruit notes. Flinty and expressive. Totally lovely on both occasions

I knew this was likely young but I was curious to try my first bottle. It's clearly drinking well now but it's going to be stellar with more bottle age.
I am looking forward to revisiting another bottle in time🥂
— a year ago

Tom, Daniel and 20 others liked this

Realm Cellars

The Tempest Napa Valley Red Blend 2017

First time trying Realm’s merlot driven blend. Dark ruby. Black cherry, chalky tannins. Chocolate, plum. Fantastic structure. A big bold merlot. I’ll look forward to trying the 18s and 19s for comparison. — 3 years ago

Paul, Joshua and 1 other liked this

McKinlay

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012

First of five...notably fruit forward wine. Strawberries and rhubarb most prominent. Tight flavors needs time to open. — 4 years ago