Eric Urbani

9.4

LF always impresses — 14 days ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.2

Golden color. Green apple and vanilla (light oak) on the palate. Age worthy. April 2026. — 3 months ago

Damian

9.2

Medium golden color. Right after opening, a honeycrisp apple, citrus, grapefruit and mineral notes on the nose and palate are evident. After some breathing, wine shows plenty of oxidative notes. It has a medium rich, creamy mouthfeel. First vintage to go through malo — 5 months ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Very solid zin. Definitely more on the elegant side, though still over 14.5%. Haven’t had before and enjoyed. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First, if you haven’t had this producers wines at 15-20 years of age, you’re missing some spectacular juice. I bought this at auction for $38-$40 a bottle and because I was unaware of its storage, I was prepared to short decant it. Well…until I pulled the cork, smelled it and saw the color. This nearly 20 year old bottling is still big but with nice integration & evolution. I would say it has another 5-8 years of good life in it.

The palate fruit is ruby, ripe and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum. Mid berry cola, dark chocolate to pudding, mocha powder, wet clay, light, black pepper, Asian spice, dry-ish tobacco, black licorice, some dry herbs-sage dominate, limestone, dry top soil, dry brush, used leather, sandlewood, fresh to slightly withering, dark, purple, red florals set/framed in violets and lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The well balanced, structured, knitted finish is excellent and lingers minutes. Steal for the price. Another excellent gourmet burger wine. Beef Patties from El Salchichero. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Celebrating our wedding anniversary, with a Vintage Champagne from the same year.

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of bread, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, yeast, white pepper, lemons, yellow apples and river rocks.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and soft, small bubbles.

Dry on the palate with light citrus, over ripen apples, spices, yeast, bread, river rocks, herbs and white pepper.

Short finish with limes.

This 28 year old Champagne is still delicious, although probably on its last leg.

Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Soft and elegant.

Not much fruit is left, but enough to make it tangy and interesting.

Thank you Judy for sharing this with us.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with caviar and good friends. Very tasty, especially with the caviar.

12% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$550. — 5 years ago

JKT

9.2

At Cindy’s with Fing. Mistaken bottle. Golden color, clearly aged with touch of oxidation but lots of complex aromatics. Excellent — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

More golden in color and triple the brioche since I had it 3-4 yrs ago.

Happy Birthday to me. — 4 months ago

ESF

9.5

Outstanding — 6 months ago

Brian S

9.0

Dried flowers, red currant, cranberry, cherry, minerals — 9 months ago

Brennan Roy

9.0

Golden honey with legs. Can’t get enough of that apricot blossom and honeycomb nose. Complex but balanced with a smooth, silky mouthfeel. Sweet, but not overpoweringly so, with a delightfully long finish. — 3 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

8.9

Soft fruit, some bacon, smoked meat, & herbs. Not very complex. Lovely BBQ wine. Unlike many WA syrah, not an alcoholic fruit bomb. However, terrible QPR for the level of vinous complexity on offer. — 4 years ago

with Alsu

Nik Kannan

9.4

Really incredible wine. Not paired with any food, the wine is flavorful, quenching w/ oak flavor adding the right dryness and notes of plum & vanilla to finish - really well balanced and opened well. Bottled was empty far too quickly : ) — 5 years ago

with Emily

Stefan Dolhain

9.7

2017 vintage. Another spectacular Suduiraut. The 140 g/l residual sugar is balanced by the fresh acidity. Michael Broadbent used to say that Suduiraut always looks older than its age, but this bright golden colour shows no signs of age. Beautifully complex nose with pineapple and vanilla, flowers, beeswax, cinnamon and lemon confit. Opulent, rich and fresh at the same time, impressively layered and intense, with an extraordinarily long finish. A fabulous meditation wine that is amazingly affordable too. Abv. 14%. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1988 vintage. Medium body. Lighter Sauternes color. Plenty of golden/ripe notes along with exquisite caramel influence but it was the acidity that stole the show. Didn’t even have to cross the fingers, hold my breath or “pretend” it was still alive. Fully mature and raring to go. Not improving but not declining either. So much life ahead. I think “Woof!” accurately sums it all up. 3.20.26. — 5 months ago

Chad Powell

9.6

Highly rated for a reason. It’s quite good. — 7 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

From mag. Golden in color. Soft bubbles. Dried apricots, hazelnut, toast. Very secondary and soulful. Drink up — 10 months ago

with David, Bex and 1 other

Sam Wood

9.1

Simple Merlot Lagrein Blau blend but I’m not sure why it’s so compelling. Delicious. — 3 years ago

Martijn

9.4

Bright dark golden color. Already almonds in the nose. Sweet, apricots, hints of lime zest. Paired so well with some tete de moine and Utrecht cheese. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 6 years ago