Ian Flannery

9.0

Easy drinking good all rounder — 8 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

“Nothing added, nothing removed” is a phrase some use to describe the philosophy of low-intervention (or “natural”) winemaking. 🌱

The winemaker is like a vessel, carrying Mother Nature’s gifts from the land (and vintage) to your glass, where each sip can transport you to a particular place and time.

Nicolas Joly is an illustrious vigneron revered for his deep commitment to biodynamics and minimal intervention winemaking. 👏 He leads his family’s estate – Famille Joly – located in the prestigious appellation of Savennières in the Anjou-Saumur region of Loire Valley and specializes in top quality, cerebral, age-worthy dry whites made from the Chenin Blanc grape.

This takes patience, strength, and resilience for which the seahorse is a spiritual symbol (among other things). 🌊 It’s no wonder the Famille Joly features this beautiful, gentle creature on its bottle and labels.

This wine comes from ‘Les Vieux Clos’ where vines are harvested at 25 hL/ha which is HALF of the appellation’s allowance of 50 hL/ha.  👀

As a result of favorable growing conditions and these low yields, the grapes were allowed to become ripe, which explains the high alcohol at 14% ABV and round but balanced fruit expression.

This wine underwent a wild fermentation, followed by a natural malolactic conversion (MLC), and then it aged 12 months in large neutral oak with no fining or filtering before bottling.

The color is pale gold. On the nose and palate are harmonious notes of yellow apple, quince, papaya, dried orange peel, citrus blossom, chamomile, ginger, saffron, cinnamon, cream, white pepper, lanolin, wet slate …

It has power and elegance, nuance and vibrancy, with a persistent finish.  We think it pairs nicely with the baked herb & lemon salmon, asparagus and couscous.

Cheers to winemakers who share a piece of their land and heritage with the world one glass at a time! 🥂🥂🥂
— 2 years ago

with Deked1

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Located just outside the walls of the illustrious Clos St. Jacques, Rousseau’s old-vine 2009 Cazetiers is fabulous tonight showing serious power, intensity and concentration, yet remaining impeccably balanced and detailed. It’s super expressive and aromatic with deep layers of ripe black fruit, tea leaves, violets and exotic spice. The palate is pure silk with balanced acids, vibrant energy and a mineral laced finale that keeps on going. Just ~10 cases of Cazetiers are imported to the US per vintage. Special wines… — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Similar tasting notes to previous note in July 2018 with mulberry and herbs. An easy drinking Margaret River Cabernet from a good vintage. Great value at around $40 compared to its illustrious neighbours but also lacking the finesse and complexity of those $120+ wines. — 4 years ago

Ron from VA

9.1

It took a day, but I finally pegged the very distinct profile of this terroir/build combo: Lodi Zinfandel that is brooding and lacking clarity/crispness of black cherry fruit. So, that is just the taste-like reference. The blend is both compelling and illustrious of Jumilla’s verve. 15$ is a great value - punches at twice the price. What is unique: the high, roof of the mouth tannin effect and the subsequent long sinus-driven finish. Almost the Ricola of wines ;) — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Indeed early on in what will be a very long life, but oh so giving even at this stage. It is clear Fourrier, with absolute Grand Cru weight, density and intensity. Red and blue fruit, hints of winter citrus, a fine mineral infusion and fresh violets. There is exceptional delineation, finesse and seductive texture and the finish is supremely long with great precision and fine tannins. Surely many more fantastic years ahead but a joy to try at this stage and to find on the illustrious Per Se wine list. — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

From one of the relatively unknown and elite producers in Burgundy and a close friend of the illustrious Jean François Coche’s son, Raphael. Even this Bourgogne Blanc comes from old vines in Meursault which clearly evident in the wine. Vibrant energy and acidity intertwines with lemon curd, hazelnuts, a pixelated minerality and a striking intensity. Maybe lacking the depth and length of premier cru burgs, but what a tremendous entry level Bourgogne this is and a true over performer. — 6 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The sleeper vintage, one at this time I bet to be even more showy than the illustrious 2000. It’s simply just ready to go after a short decant wafting from the glass with layers of cassis, black truffle, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture and elegance, as Margaux should be—It’s liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins and a black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Superb showing tonight, with still a long life ahead. — 10 months ago

Matt

9.7

Ah, "Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Albariño'-a veritable jewel from the spectacular landscapes of Spain's Galicia, specifically the picturesque Rías Baixas DO, where the Atlantic whispers sweet nothings to the vines. This splendid Albariño unveils a bouquet of zesty lemon, fragrant white flowers, and a hint of sea breeze, tantalising the senses like a playful flirtation. The producer, Bodegas Terras Gauda, founded by the illustrious Ramón V. de Garay, is famed for its commitment to sustainable practices. Fun fact: they pioneered the use of genetic research in their vineyards-a cleverer endeavor than my attempts at crossword puzzles! Albariño, that beguiling grape, is renowned for its bright acidity and versatility; a wonderful partner in crime for seafood, particularly oysters, as the minerality complements their briny sweetness. It also loves the spicy embrace of Asian cuisine, where its zesty notes dance playfully. This delightful nectar has garnered praise, earning a commendable 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Truly, it's one to uncap whilst contemplating life or... other intimate matters far too risqué for polite company! — 2 years ago

Ryan Kravitz

9.0

delicious salinity minerality great with the homemade garlic ginger chicken pulls your socks right off from the top. illustrious maneuvers abstracted twirls for a luscious taste — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.6

Well this is just about damn perfect. First things first, the cork was in excellent condition. The color of this baby is glorious. A dark golden illustrious color in the glass. A bit of diesel gas on the nose initially but that fades rather quickly. The nose here is outrageous with plenty of floral notes and well defined fruit. Brown sugar and cinnamon, pineapple and stones. The citrus fruit comes through over time.

I don’t want to be too effusive in my praise of this gem but it’s hard not to. Sexy and showing so much depth at this stage. In tip top condition and evidently with much more time left, this is drinking so well right now. The acid still shows a bit and the sweetness level is optimal. More wet rocks and still lively fruit on the palate. Long sumptuous finish with just the faint whisper of warm spice. This Riesling captured me a little bit, and I like that. Gorgeous. — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

2nd day on this one👍🏼

A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the fruit for the 2019 The Bard fetches from Calistoga to Coombsville, including portions from illustrious vineyards such as Dr. Crane, Moonracer, Houyi and Larkmead. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous notes from November 2020. Herbaceous is the word together with plum and blackberry - some earthiness with a note of mushroom. In summary - Herbal, Mineral, Bay leaf. Not the complete package like it’s more illustrious Wilyabrup neighbours like Woodlands, Moss Wood, Vasse Felix, Cullen etc but also half the price so good QPR. Tasted again 60 weeks later on 6th September 2022 with similar results A good wine that drinks to its price point. Not quite the standard of its illustrious neighbours. Not as much maritime influence? — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Leafy, tomato bush aromas - herbal- classic Cabernet descriptors from Margaret River. A sweetish blackberry note on the palate but essentially savoury with a tarry earthy note. With time in Decanter this wine improved even more - a really good medium weight Marg River Cab. Gralyn is in Wilyabrup and has illustrious neighbours like Vasse Felix, Cullen, Woodlands, Moss Wood and Pierro without their reputation as yet. They recently made this a “Museum Release “ charging $500 which is over the top. I’m glad I paid $80 at the cellar door about 10 years ago. Used to be served in Qantas Business Class back in the day when Qantas was flying internationally ✈️✈️🛫🛫 — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Rich and mouth filling in the luscious Felton Road style. Only 20% whole bunch letting the quality of the ripe fruit speak. Intense red and black fruits - raspberry to the fore. This is just a “village “ wine in comparison to their illustrious Block 3 and Block 5 but it more than holds its own. Impossible not to enjoy this wine. — a year ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

I joined this white wine blind tasting session for a taste of the illustrious Chard duo from Catena Zapeta, despite knowing full well that white wine condition in my area has a pretty lacklustre record; and I’m pretty glad I did. The White Stones, thankfully, was [mostly] singing. Yes, there was a touch of honey and musk in the back end, but I felt it didn’t distract from the general message. Perhaps the reticent winemaking style here helped give it a little more resilience against the arduous travel. On the nose, there was nearly no fruit at the start - just sulphurous, flinty aromas. It does eventually yield to heavy swirling in the glass, revealing some pear and nutty notes. The palate was textural, sharp, and mineral. In fact the name could not be more apt. It was like licking stones, all covered in salt, lime juice and chopped sage. I really enjoyed it, but the wine that could have been still lingered on the back of my mind. One to revisit for sure. — 2 years ago

John Tan

9.3

Sorn. Rich, ripe fruit nose. Beautiful dark golden colour. Medium sweet, textured, complex.

The Fallers’ 2009 Pinot Gris Altenbourg (from lower-lying, non-grand cru parts of that site) introduces a sense of primary juiciness and buoyancy relative to its Saint Catherine counterpart, with only a bit over 14% alcohol and prominent residual sugar. Overripe peach, musk, black truffle, and orange are the prominent elements of this decadently rich, satisfyingly long Pinot Gris likely to be best drunk over the next 3-5 years. (No Cuvee Laurence was produced from this vintage.) Both 2008 and 2009 were clearly challenging at Domaine Weinbach, many of their wines from the latter illustrating that vintage’s weaknesses. (Catherine and Collette Faller elected not to present me their – admittedly, at the time not yet officially approved – 2009 vintage V.T. and S.G.N. bottlings.) Harvesting at this estate is generally on the late side and in this instance continued until October 20, which I hypothesized while tasting might have been a bit too late for such nearly uniformly ripeness as seems to have prevailed by late September of 2009. The first vintage from this estate that I tasted as young wine was 1979 (‘though I did not visit until 1984), so I’ve experienced a full range of collections from cool, late growing seasons such as have nowadays become scarce; but only from a couple of genuinely ripeness-deficient vintages of the 1980s, and then again from 1996, can I recall acid levels as prominent as those harbored by the Weinbach 2008s, and this has rendered some of them youthfully severe or nervous, though one hopes and indeed expects that the best will calm down, round out, and harmonize over time, without losing their vivacity, focus, and in some instances power. Don’t be misled by the scores I have assigned to this 2008 collection: really, a question mark hangs over them all because it’s how these wines respond to bottle age which will determine the verdict that matters. A look at the 1996s provides some tantalizing clues but little confidence. Some 1996s have evolved beautifully, while others seem caught in a time warp, their agitated, faintly aggravating adolescent Sturm und Drang almost unseemly for their age. With all this in mind I recently revisited a bottle of 1981 Weinbach Gewurztraminer V.T. – a wine whose residual sugar was lower than that of most non-V.T. Gewurz at this address today, and whose acidity in youth was formidable – and that wine was spectacular. And as you’ll see from my notes, Gewurztraminer is the most likely candidate for stardom in the 2008 Weinbach collection. (For considerable detail on the slope origins of the many Weinbach cuvees, consult my reports in issues 188 and 175.) I can’t resist noting that suggested retail prices for the most recent releases are little more than half what I was being quoted as recently as three vintages ago, making the best of the current crop especially worthy of wine lovers’ attention, even though neither 2008 nor 2009 is among this illustrious domaine’s most consistently successful collections. — 3 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

8.9

Solid weeknight southern red blend, well-made if lacking the complexity of its illustrious big brother. Nice fruit, minerals, legs—would benefit from another year or two in the cellar. Decanted 6 hours. — 5 years ago

with Alsu

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

I always loved griottes it is undeniably a Chambertin but it is more perfumed and a touch lighter than its illustrious neighbors. Silky red fruit and spices, super long burn totally at its plateau. Great wine. — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

From the cellar of Blue Hill at Stone Barns. One of the steals of the wine world and very hard to come by, as this sub $70 bottle is made by the illustrious Château Rayas and Emmanuel Raynaud. By no means am I a Merlot drinker and by no means does this bottle seem anything but Syrah. Funky and animalistic showing boysenberry, sweet red currants, dried flowers and garrigue. Finishes with good length and impressive complexity. — 6 years ago