G Miller

9.0

Delicious! 12 months in French oak. Reminds me of burgundy Pinots. — 2 months ago

Alison Maddox

8.9

Pretty good after letting it breathe — 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Haven’t sipped this in quite awhile. 375ml to refresh my palate memory.

40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier. Varietals fermented separately in stainless steel vats. 5 to 10% of wine is vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels.

Texture is round and elegant. The fruits are; both peach, mango, apricots, slightly oxidative white citrus-lime hovers the edges & pineapple juice. Nougat, marzipan, toasted nuts, brioche, saline, crushed chalk, white spice that presses into the palate, notes of cheese cloth, limestone marl, moist, pulpy, grey volcanic minerals, yellow lilies with spring white flowers, jasmine blooms, round, soft acidy and a well; balanced, structured & tensioned finish that lands squarely on mid minerality and lasts 90 seconds.

Photos; Charles Heidsieck signage, Charles Heidsieck, chalky tasting area in their cellar and Cote de Blanc vineyard. — 10 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Syrah (20%). Walla Walla (Rocks District) fruit. Dark purple color with a ruby rim. Lovely aromas of dried cherries, black plums, Earl Grey tea, iron, cardamom and black pepper. Same fruits on the pallet along with hints of black currant, black olives and that ever present touch of black pepper. Just a hint of mint on the finish. The Syrah really shines through on this one. Mouth drying (but smooth) tannins. Soft texture with a nice balance of acidity and alcohol. Aging beautifully! Revisited in March 2023. Still outstanding! — 2 years ago

James Gourley

9.6

This wine is aging gracefully. Secondary and tertiary notes coming to the fore. Floral/spicy nose that is so fragrant. The cherry has turned dark, supported by more spice, clove, cinnamon. Truly an excellent wine. — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Simply great with this age for $45.

2008 was a Sonoma fire year and while this has some smokiness it does seems that it’s from smoke taint.

Ruby, dark, slightly, sour cherries, blackberries, black plum pudding, black raspberries, dry cranberries, blueberry hue’s, touch of baked rhubarb, moist clay with grey volcanics, alluvial limestone, dry rock powder, red licorice/cola, steeped tea, some dry herbs, lightly grilled meats, dark spice w/ a touch of heat, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanillin, dry twigs, fall leaves, withering; dark, red, blue florals framed in violets with hints of lavender, summer rainfall acidity with a lush, elegant, well balanced, mid tensioned/structured, two- minute finish, that falls on earthiness. — 7 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Powerful yet elegant Aussie Shiraz. Dark ruby color. Aromas of raspberry, eucalyptus and cocoa. Palate is rich with plum and raspberry fruit along with notes of root beer, baking spices, black licorice and Earl Grey tea. Hint of vanilla on the long and lingering finish. The tannins are concentrated but well integrated. Plush, rich and intense but beautifully balanced. Aging nicely. — a year ago

Donald Williams

9.1

Nice versatile red. — 2 years ago

with Bonnie

Bob McDonald

9.5

A highly awarded Grenache from Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, possibly the best terroir for the varietal in Australia. Its gnarly old bush vines were planted in 1946. It is dry farmed on a 1.7 hectare block sitting on the deepest sand with the lowest vigour and yield. Not as raspberry as many Australian Grenache - more balanced, restrained and excellent. Wine of the Year at the 2020 Halliday Wine Awards receiving 99 points. On the medium weight palate red berries and cherry finishing with ultra fine tannins. Jancis made the comment, “Might give the odd cult Spanish wine a run for its money too.” — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Love Margaux wines with rack of lamb. It is a classic pair as long as you are not doing a Mediterranean mint prep. This is salt, pepper, Napa Valley rub and red wine.

As it airs and intermixes w/ the meal, it rises from 93 to 94.

The wine is approaching its peak. Still has another 10 yrs of appropriate drinking.

The fruits are ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries, raspberries with hues of purple & blue fruits. There is excellent integration & evolution. Led pencil shavings, fresh & dry herbs, moist grey volcanic minerals/clay, fresh & dry tobacco, sandalwood, used leather, soft, dark spice with heat on the long set, limestone, dry crushed rocks into powder, touch of black pepper, saline, fresh dark, red flowers with violets, excellent, cool rainfall acidity, well woven, balanced, softly tensioned & structured with a pure elegant finish that lasts a full two-minutes. — a year ago