G Miller

9.0

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

Alison Maddox

8.9

Pretty good after letting it breathe — 4 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. — 10 months 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. — 2 months ago

Ron R

9.4

Never had a poor bottle. At the price, possibly the best SB out there. Although I understand that the winemaker is a “character.” Got these cheap, so I bought them, but otherwise, I drink other SB’s. These wines have longevity - this is as fresh and vibrant as a spring daisy 🌼 — 6 months ago

with Anne-marie

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite light ruby garnet , wide garnet rim . Quite open and powerful on the nose with sweet cherry , rose , mint , porcini , earl grey tea , dried herbs and liquorice . On the palate lovely herbal tinged red cherry and raspberry , mineral and saline also , those porcini and earl grey notes coming through also . Fresh acidity and ripe but pretty grippy tannins , good length and balance . Overall there is a sense of elegance and freshness with the sweet fruit balanced with fresh acidity. This is showing well though quite young with pretty noticeable tannins that need some air and food to ameliorate. Probably even better in 5 years or so and will last a further 10-15 years — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

It’s been about 6 months since I last checked in on the 2016 vintage of Terre Nere’s Rosso di Montalcino. I was very impressed with the wine on release and I’m falling for how this wine is developing! Popped and poured; consumed during the duration of our Tuscan-inspired dinner. In the glass, a bright ruby with medium viscosity. Medium+ intensity. On the nose, waxy bing cherry fruit, flower shop, medium-aged Manchego cheese, bergamot, and dusty attic. I could smell this wine for hours and be satisfied! On the palate, a mix of red and dark cherry fruit, Earl Grey tea, tomato, orange citrus rind, and dusty earth. The freshness of this wine is simply awesome. Loads of structure for an RdM (some Brunellos may be jealous)…but it could also just be 2016 being 2016. The finish is long and as it lingers, comes across slightly saline. A fabulous wine with a long and exciting future. — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

An amazing Sauvignon Blanc with a great potential to age, enticing citrus notes with some powerful yet not overwhelming tropical fruit flavors. Great wood notes make this one very distinctive and expressive white from Sonoma. A bit hazy with some sediments which fall almost into a natural category of wines. However; it’s meant to improve as it ages. A bit not so common for a white from this region. Paired with seafood (salmon and tuna fish). Solid! — 3 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. — 8 months ago

Sean Lyons

9.5

I hate to say it, but this stuff really is a higher class of vodka. No off, medicinal notes. No cloying artificial sweetness. It just tastes like the cleanest, purest spring water was made magically alcoholic. — 3 years ago