Jay Kline

9.1

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity: no signs of sediment/particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of green apple, white tree flowers, a hint of freshly struck match, lemon curd and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and full of minerals with a creamy texture. The alcohol is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be Chardonnay, Albariño or Pinot Gris from France, the US, Spain or Italy. This is giving me Chardonnay vibes and while my first thought was Chablis, this has the markers of a Sashi Morman wine. So I’m going with that. Final conclusion: this is Chardonnay, from the US, Oregon, Eola-Amity Hills, 2022 and because I said it, Evening Land. LOL! Do I get credit for calling the winemaker and not the winery? Scoring points for sure. Tasty stuff in the style I’ve come to expect. Drink now through 2032. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This was a real treat after the Gentaz-Dervieux since Rene Rostaing is Marius Gentaz’s son-in-law. While the vineyards that belonged to Marius are now famously part of the Rostaing domaine, that vineyard goes to Rene’s Côte Brune; this is his Côte Blonde and arguably his most famous bottling. This 2004 pours a cloudy ruby with brambles, purple flowers, blood, dust and leather. Slightly rustic which is what I want from Rostaing. I love the individuality and how it paired with the Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. Plenty of life left. Drink through 2034+. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Burgundy 🇫🇷 is renowned for its Chardonnay, but did you know that Aligoté is the second most planted white grape in the region? 👀

Some of the finest Aligoté comes from ‘Bouzeron,’ an appellation in the Côte Chalonnaise region (north of Mâconnais, south of Côte d’Or).

In a land of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, Bouzeron AOC is 100% dedicated to producing Aligoté 🙌🏻. In fact, it first became a legally-recognized AOC in 1998 thanks in part to the efforts of Aubert de Villaine, the winemaker behind this beautiful bottle. 👏🏻

Interestingly, Aubert is also a co-owner & co-Director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) (and, as an aside, was on the tasting panel for the 1976 Judgement of Paris 😆)…

Yet, instead of devoting himself exclusively to DRC — one of the world’s most famous and prestigious estates — he and his wife, Pamela (a California native), were enchanted by the possibilities of Aligoté, and terroir of Bouzeron, where they put down roots through “Domaine de Villaine”.

This wine is Domaine de Villaine Bouzeron AOC (2019). It has a shimmering lemon robe and bouquet of white blossom, just-ripe white peach, yellow apple, pear, citrus, fennel, and wet slate notes. It’s remarkably fresh on the palate with mouth-watering acidity balancing the warm (14% ABV) and fruit-driven profile. It’s positively delicious!

We’re pairing it w/ pan-seared sea scallops, roasted asparagus, & lemon-herbed farro…

Cheers to nurturing the diversity of Burgundy in all of its splendor! 🥂
💙🤍♥️ — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Delectable Wine

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9.9

The 2019 Lynch Bages is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel, if not moreso. What a wine! Towering and vertical in its bearing, the 2019 is a total stunner. There is plenty of Lynch Bages charm, but what distinguishes the 2019 most is its spine of tannin and energy. Time in the glass brings out sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate and mint. The 2019 is a great, great, great Lynch Bages. It reminds me of the epic 1989, but with the youthful grip of this vintage. A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar. (Antonio Galloi, Vinous, February 2022)
— 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Founded at end of 1800 when Lavinio Franceschi, Florence land owner, visited the area. Over a century later, Tenuta covers an area of 530 hectares (140 planted with vines; 50 with olive trees). Aged in French oak for 36 months, 100% Sangiovese hand picked from 20-year old vines. A Gem! Deep Ruby. rich berry fruit aromas with complex spice. Palate has rich berry fruit flavors, baked cherry, with tobacco, cacao & subtle spice. Soft tannins, long finish ending with seductive earthy tones. Nice, aged well! — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

I’m a sucker for Ornato but this was so awkward for an hour, warming from cellar temp and getting some air at 17 years young. After 90 min decant (+airation) powerful nose of blood red🌹and asphalt, not a single hard edge on the big but light and round gem, bloody beautiful, feminine leather and sour 🍒. Finish went on forever with just a twinge of drying tannins suggesting it’s time to drink these. Best news: I have 3 more. — 5 years ago

Her Mir Tage

9.5

Rayas 08 exceeded my expectations — it was in great condition. We decanted it at 3 PM and started drinking at 7 PM. In the first phase, it showed sweet red fruit notes. In the second phase, herbal/vegetal notes emerged. In the third phase, a cooling mintiness appeared.

This bottle wasn't as explosively aromatic as the 07 I opened last time — that 07, after two hours of decanting, unleashed an incredibly rich and enchanting floral bouquet. It was like the scent of a garden transitioning from summer into autumn — grand and opulent, with a hint of fading beauty. Notes of black cherry, rose, and blood orange intertwined, and the aromas kept evolving over time — garrigue, incense — complex and alluring, with a grand structure and a rich, round palate.

The 08, on the other hand, feels more like a refined lady from a scholarly family — graceful, gentle, intellectual, with no aggressive edge. — 12 days ago

Neal Ferry

9.4

One of the best Chards out there $86 and from Oregon ??? — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2021 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is bright, aromatic and wonderfully effusive. Crushed rose petals, mint, blood orange and cinnamon give the 2021 notable aromatic lift. Vibrant acids drive through it all, adding tension and persistence. This is a superb Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot from one of the appellation's historic families. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

A beautiful vintage study! It was really nice to look at the 17’ Greta Carbo after the 19’ the day before - this was grittier, less fruity, and more concentrated to me. MH and I thought it might have been some winemaking changes, but after a quick text with the producer, it was revealed that no stylistic changes were made and the differences were mainly due to hail and lower yields than 19’.

This was firing on all cylinders and incredibly different from my first bottle (cleaner and less of an oddball, though the same DNA was present - see previous notes). Aromas of red fruits, roses, herbs, and a tinge of nectarine. On the palate, it was juicy with flavours of pomegranate, raspberry, and blood oranges, along with black tea and grass. Super silky texture with a notable “furry” edge. Finishes with spices and a light earthy savouriness. Complex and super drinkable - a win in my books! — 3 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.1

Very much in the style of the Sandhi wines from Santa Barbara. Touch of flint, matchstick, lemon pie and cream. #oregon #chardonnay #eolaamityhills — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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10

The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Effusive aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit make a strong first impression. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive energy, the 2005 is a towering masterpiece. Today it is just at the beginning of a long drinking window that will last another few decades. Red cherry, plum, leather, spice, gravel, smoke, blood orange and pomegranate infuse the palate staining finish. In 2005, La Mission is a wine that satisfies all the senses, from the intellectual to the hedonistic. Magnificent. Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 5 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

Year in and year out, this is one of my favorite wines from one of my labels. A mild garnet color with thin edges. The exceedingly pleasing nose features notes of green tea, shy red cherries, and fresh herbs. Faded rose petals and raspberry crumble round things out.

I hate to use the term Burgundian to describe domestic Pinots. It’s almost always false and just plain isn’t fair. This definitely deserves the moniker. Silky smooth in the mouth with medium acidity and body. Well integrated tannins and some lively spice add to the prettiness of this.

The combination of rusticity and elegance really takes this to another level. Sly and delicate red fruit shine on the palate while the earthiness takes hold. Moist earth, dried forest, and straight up gravel. Long finish showing more spice and just a little kick of cinnamon. Spectacular stuff that really shows what Oregon Pinot is about. — 6 years ago

Joe Fischer

9.5

A superb Chardonnay! Aromas of Anise and Honeysuckle. Apple and Honey on the bud. Crisp and smooth with a long finish. Great with our Salmon tonight. Need to order more from Evening Springs as we were extremely impressed with their wines when we visited earlier this year. — 7 months ago

Ericsson

9.3

What a beautiful Pinot. One of the best I’ve tried from Oregon. Elegance. Balance. Depth. Just lovely. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.5

This magnum was a gift from co-workers at my old job when I left to take a new one. Nice coworkers! So rich and resolved. This wine reminds me of Neil Young’s Vampire Blues. “I’m a vampire babe. Suckin’ blood from the earth.” Grenache pulled from God’s earth. Incredible intensity and length, but still entirely in balance. Length for days. Iodine, stones, blood. — 3 years ago

with Dan and Angelo

Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

The 2019 God Only Knows Grenache from wizard winemaker Christophe Baron is a radiating beauty. Pale ruby-colored, it displays fragrant aromas of violets, blood orange, exotic spices, raspberry liqueur, ripe cranberry, forest strawberry and crushed rocks. Medium bodied and layered, the ever-so-silky tannins and balancing acids contribute to a seamless mouthfeel so characteristic of Barons wines. It ends with a bright finish and should provide ample drinking pleasure over the next 15 years. — 3 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.3

Although this is still a young wine, I am glad to say that after atleast half-a-dozen recent disappointments with wines from @SaintJoseph this one is both exciting and of great quality. Dark fruit, spices, meat, blood, mint, and some flower petals; a rich, tannic and food-craving wine. — 5 years ago

J Levenson

9.1

The quality for price is outstanding. In 1936 “Caillou’s owner had no desire to join the governing ranks of anything, let alone a wine appellation. This brazen act excluded the estate from the AOC and essentially carved out a chunk of Châteauneuf-du-Pape‘s border. Today it continues to be an ‘unclassified’ section in what is otherwise some of the most prized vineyard land in the area“-Ian Cauble, master sommelier — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Medium deep pink moving toward reddish orange. Citrus melange aroma... orange, blood orange, sour key lime and pink grapefruit. Powerful weight on the palate but round and creamy in texture. The finish is awesome—long, sweet, savory, lasting almost a minute... with just the slightest hint of funky, cheesy forest-floor. Perfect foil for fresh broiled salmon with grilled broccoli and a Dijon cream sauce. So very glad I kept this wine so long before popping... far from over the hill.. could see enjoying the wine at 25 years. What a wonderful pink wine! — 5 years ago