Shay A

9.3

100% Pinot for national Pinot noir day. It’s 111 here today (8/18), so bubbles are the only choice. Jan 2020 disgorgement, 4g/l dosage.

I’ve been a fan of LF champagnes for a while now as I feel the champagnes can maintain an elegant grower vibe with appropriate richness. Spiced pear; very cider-like in profile. Rich and ripe yet bright; honeyed fruit aromatically and on the palate; 4g/l dosage which it wears quite well. Initially herbal and green, it turns more yellow fruit driven. Not citrus, but more underripe tropical notes. Compared to LF’s Grand Crayeres BdB, this extra bold profile from the Pinot shows up here in a bright way. Paired with truffle chips as a match made in Heaven! — 3 years ago

Joe Davant

9.5

Incredibly tasty after hiking up to 10,243 feet. Of course, just about anything would have tasted good after that. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy National Champagne Day in France. My wife tells me I would give up my US status for French as I love & drink more French wines than any other, which is true. So, why not a little 2007 Bollinger La Grande Année?

On the nose; perfectly ripe red & green apple, pineapple, lemon, lime, quince, touch of ginger, caramel, cream soda, grapefruit with pith, sea spray, beautiful soft chalkiness, some white peach, spring flowers, jasmine and yellow lilies.

The body is rich, creamy, beautiful and heavenly over the palate. The micro bubbles are tiny and delicate. Length is just how one would like it. The acidity is near perfect. perfectly ripe red & green apple, pineapple, lemon, lime, some white peach, quince, touch of ginger, caramel, cream soda, grapefruit with pith, green melon, guava, sea spray, beautiful soft chalkiness, deep palate penetrating grey volcanic minerals, spring flowers, jasmine and yellow lilies.

Photos of; House of Bollinger, their oak barrel room; which I believe this cuvee sees. Slumbering cellar bottles and one of their Grand Cru Vineyards. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Happy National Wine Day! This producer was of interest to me after seeing Carla's post a couple of weeks ago. I don't find many good Pinot's out of Germany. Especially, out of Mosel. I've never understood why they persist in growing Pinot in a very marginal climate in blue slate when it prefers limestone. After researching this Baden producer, I purchased a bottle through the app. I like to support them from time to time. In reading about Enderle & Moll, I found that the winery is really only the two of them that make a very small production of wines. Basically, two Grand Cru Pinots and this is one of them. They also produce some small amounts of; Müller-Thurgau, Auxerrois, Weissburgunder and Grauburgunder. They only have a few hectares of vines but are already getting a lot of attention in Germany and now the International stage. A number of German's consider them the best producers of Pinot Noir made in Germany. The Enderle & Moll Pinot vines are amongst the oldest in Baden. They also get their barrels from Dujac in Burgundy that are from 1-5 years in age. On the nose, sweet dark cherries with a little touch of sourness. Strawberries, dark raspberries, dry cranberries, black cherry licorice/cola, light presence of dark spices, dry brown earth with a touch of black earth and bright red florals. The body starts light, fresh and thickens as the M tannins and earth take hold. Ripe, bright fruits of; dark cherries, strawberries, dry cranberries, dark raspberries & pomegranate. Black cherry cola/licorice, light dark spices with some heat, powdery sticky chalkiness, soft yet grippy minerals, powder of dry crushed rocks, dark moist earth & bright red & pink florals. The wine is lean, fresh, clean and quite nice with high acidity. While I had slightly higher expectations from my research, this is still a very nice Pinot and certainly one of the better ones I've had out of Germany. Photos of, one of their Baden vineyards, Sven Enderle and Florian Moll, their very small cellar and a example of Bunter sandstone similar to what's in their Buntsandstein Vineyard. — 9 years ago

David Denham

9.0

National Championship preamble.... — 11 years ago

Chris Salyer

9.8

Ahhhmazing! A wonderful Corton after a lovely visit to the National Museum. — 12 years ago

Daron Watson

9.5

Vintage Lambic “which has matured for three years in oakwood barrels and has been selected for its exceptional colour, taste and flavour.”
“Powerful yet elegant, Bruocsella can be considered the missing link between the worlds of wine and beer. Since there is no secondary fermentation in the bottle Bruocsella is a flat, non-sparkling beer.”
“This aristocratic beer is to our national beer patrimony what Mouton-Rotschild, Petrus or Romanée-Conti are to the wines.”

apples, dried apricot, candied ginger, honey, soft cheese rind

addition of artisanal bread, cantaloupe, apricot marmalade ~ ricola

gritty woody breadth w an intense sour acidic mid palate lift
— 4 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.3

Happy National Wine Day to all, the Smith Haut Lafite is simply delicious, at the age of 15 the wine is at its peak with an enchanting nose of: black fruit, black plum, ash, beef broth, baking spice, cedar, cigar box, espresso, earth , medium to full body, with a touch dry well integrated tannins, sublime acidity and a long delicious lingering finish of coffee and earth, my score 93, drink to 2021 — 7 years ago

Shauna Jones

10

Excellently balanced cherry wine. — 8 years ago

Jonathan Bennett

9.1

A great wine to celebrate a fantastic Bennett/Hyzer vacation. Chicago, Rexburg Total Eclipse, Yellowstone, Jackson & Grand Teton National Park. So many great experiences & memories! Thanks Family Hyzer......👍😀👍 — 9 years ago

with Jennifer

Perry Riddle

9.3

A treat from Jacques Devauges at the National Sales Meeting — 9 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.0

Garnet color with brown shades. Intense powerful nose with tertiary flavors of candied fruits, leather, mold, confiture and oaky notes of barrique. Full and rich mouth, with lingering velvety finish. The name "Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus" refers to an old story of this exceptional vineyard. In 1791, when all national property was sold, Bouchard Père et Fils put in a bid for it and still has the monopoly today. Les Greves Premier Cru (35ha) is on the midslope of the Cote d'Or overlooking the streets and houses of Beaune itself. The slope in this part of Beaune is considered the best terroir in the commune, despite the lack of Grand Cru status making full-bodied, balanced wines with red fruit characters.
Rating 4,0/5 — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Happy National Wine Day!

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, cola, licorice, tobacco, chocolates, mocha, light vegetables, light earth and coffee.

Full-bodied, bold and big. Rich and extracted with medium plus acidity.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Still very young and extremely fruit forward. Needs 5 to 10 years of bottle time to relax, but already drinking very nicely. Very chocolatey with lots of coffee notes.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show the complexity. Really comes home after 4 hours of airtime, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

A great wine to sip on, and would be great with a nice piece of steak too.

Aged for 2 years in French oak barrels, 60% New.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

93 points. — 6 years ago

Erik

8.9

Pretty notable, unique flavor. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Getting Saturday started with a 375ml of Ruinart Rosé as we continue to plan our trip to Stellenbosch and three national parks.

The nose is so delicate & subtle. Perfume pink rose petals, sea spray, saline, sea fossils, soft powdery chalkiness. Pink grapefruit, strawberries, dark cherries, lean watermelon, hints of tangerine, cherries and watermelon. Some brioche & bread dough.

The palate fruits are, deep, ripe; pink grapefruit, strawberries, dark cherries, lean watermelon, hints of tangerine, cherries and watermelon. Sea spray, saline, sea fossils, soft powdery chalkiness, powdery grey volcanic minerals that penetrate and stick to the palate. Brioche & bread dough and pink rose petals. The acidity is perfect. The mouthfeel beautifully rich & lush. The finish is well balanced and well polished.

Photos of, the House of Ruinart, famous painting of Dom Thierry Ruinart, cellar and Grand Cru vineyard. — 8 years ago

Ben Levy

9.7

Soft to medium supple mouthfeel. Not dissimilar to a soufflé of snake skin and spaghettios. I recommend pairing with pop rocks and curb your enthusiasm. The producer kneels for the national anthem. — 9 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.4

Delicious, strawberry forward. They know bubbly in Champagne like they know hoops in Chapel Hill. First time drinking Grand Cru, first time appreciating a national title as an adult. Life is short, titles are few and far between. Heels for life baby! — 9 years ago

boyd

9.2

Clemson is national championship bound! — 9 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Early '80's Grandad. Carmel, Carmel, Carmel! — 11 years ago

Audrey Hiraki

9.7

Had a bottle at the grand opening of the tasting room at the Angeles National Golf Club — 12 years ago