Dad’s 60th @ HC; Cuban made it a 10; from UR — 4 years ago
My favorite in the HC lineup — 9 years ago
Gathered with LTC, LDC, JC, WC, PB. Thanks to HC. — 9 years ago
Medium ruby with quite watery pink rim . Ripe strawberry, raspberry and red cherry , rose and touch of sous bois. On the palate bright red fruit focused with good balance from fresh acidity. Ok length with rounded ripe tannins . Drink now and over the next 5-8 years . Enjoyable and refreshing, well made HC de Beaune . — a year ago
Awesome Konsgard the JUDGE Chardonnay 2014 at end of year wine dinner with friends. Thanks big time HC! Great fruit and on trying reminded me of Grand Cru Withe Burg similar to Montrachet in there Best Years. Flavors of Coconut yep first time here. Layers of tropical fruits.,other flavors of peach and nectarine. I have this a 100Rating! Not the last one tonight! CB 2014 Vintage — 8 years ago
Again, these are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. This was part of a blind lineup for “Rhône style wines”. These wines are a bit difficult not to identify in a blind lineup due to their distinctive aromatics.
My note here is pretty similar to the 2011 I opened a year and a half ago. In true to Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. At 10yrs, the palate is almost a dead ringer for high end northern Rhône Syrah. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue but there is great acid followed by stems, herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I found the 2011 to have a lighter/more floral profile, but this one certainly has more stuffing and aging potential. This seems to just now be entering a peak drinking window.
Also in the lineup was a 2014 Hors Categorie (also from Christophe Baron), and I found the 2012 HP to taste younger, while the 2014 HC had a bit more heft in the mid-palate. Love both. — 2 years ago
Big full bodied red from Gaja. The 1998 stands out here at start of our wine dinner at Il Villagio. Great night with friends. Brought by Henry. Big chewy tannins with bright cherry and blackberries. Rich and powerful. Great start to Monday night wine dinner. Bravo HC — 8 years ago
Shay A
My choice for a Rhône style theme with my local group.
Definitely the oldest No Girls I’ve opened. As expected, these have a Burgundian flair to them in the way they are made when compared to Cayuse/HP/HC. Not as much depth/richness, but there is great acidity and the use of stems is clear. Faint ruby in the glass. Stemmy/green aromatics with herbs de Provence, black olive, Cayuse funk/iron on the nose. Saline, red and black berry driven on the palate with black pepper spice, truffle, beef jerky and big phenolics. Tart and acidic, I followed this over two days, and to my surprise, held up very well. Pop now. — 8 months ago