Vanessa

9.1

At Flying Goat, the goal is to produce unpretentious, playful wines while retaining a serious quality focus and commitment to a purity of expression from single-vineyard sites such as the Solomon Hills Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Rancho Santa Rosa, to name a few.

This intention is reinforced by everything from the whimsical labels (Flying Goat, Goat Bubbles, YNOT), to the critical acclaim Flying Goat Cellars has garnered for its impressive wines, to the impeccably balanced and delicious Pinot Noir and vintage, traditional method sparkling wines.

This 2016 blanc de noirs sparkler — made with Pinot Noir hailing from the Bien Nacido Vineyard — is medium gold in appearance, with a fine and creamy mousse, and fresh notes of just-ripe yellow apple, pear, white peach, lemon zest, citrus blossom, biscuit, toast, brioche, toasted almond, and marzipan. It has a lingering, elegant finish.

@Delectable Wine this is the blanc de noirs bien nacido vineyard 2016 vintage sparkling (Goat Bubbles, Flying Goat Cellars) — a month ago

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Jay Kline

9.4

Okay, so there are haters out there that don’t appreciate Joly’s approach to winemaking and question his vineyard practices. Something about his commitment to biodynamics and not doing his vineyards justice. Well, people are entitled their opinions and if those opinions keep his wines away from some people, that’s okay because it just means more for me. The 2014 Clos de la Bergerie is a wine of tremendous soul. For the uninitiated, it’s going to bend the mind. Visually, it pours an almost alarming, burnished gold color that is slightly turbid. On the nose and the palate, it’s a wonder. Bruised apples, marmalade, honeysuckle, lanolin…whoa. The acid makes the whole thing work so well. This is drinking really well right now but I expect these will drink well over the next 5-10 years…possibly more. These wines really need a crazy amount of air. Like…insane. I really wish I could drink them more often. Unfortunately, I’m not that privileged. — a year ago

Vanessa

9.0

Châteaux Pradeaux is located in Bandol AOC, of Provence, France, near the magnificent coastal town of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer, situated on the Mediterranean Sea. I imagine there are breathtaking views of the azure waters from the vineyards and estate of Château Pradeaux. 🌊

Generations of the Portalis family have produced wines from this estate dating back to 1752. The land has seen devastation such as the French Revolution, Phylloxera, and World War II, and yet today it remains strong, carrying forward the family traditions, thanks to the fortitude, will, and courage of the Portalis family. 💪

👁 It is medium ruby with garnet rim variation. It has a subtle haze, perhaps because this wine was not fined nor filtered.

👃 On the nose this wine has a baked, black fruit quality, with notes of blackberry, plum, and black cherry 🍒 ; also notes of dried lavender, anise, clove, cedar, nutmeg, tobacco, leather, peat moss, meat, and barnyard.

👄 On the palate, this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a medium(+) body, medium alcohol, high tannins, and medium(+) intensity in flavors that are consistent with the nose.

The grapes were not destemmed in the winemaking process, which has undoubtedly contributed to the strong and grippy tannins experienced in the glass. This wine benefits from decanting and could also benefit from more time in the bottle. 👍

In sum, this wine tells a story of commitment, perseverance, and respect for the land from which it’s cultivated. It’s made with minimal intervention and has 95% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache. 📚

Château Pradeaux, Bandol Rouge, 2014, ABV 13%. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2018 vintage. Last tasted 10.18.23. Rated that a 9.4. Still excellent concentration throughout without the big body commitment. Medium-body. 2.21.24. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Okay, so I cheated…sort of. I made a commitment to drinking only Greek wines on my trip however, when Kostas Lonis pours you a glass of Egon Muller’s Riesling from Slovakia, you don’t turn it down. This is a powerful Riesling that gives me serious Austrian vibes. I’m not sure how long this bottle had been open but it was gorgeous. Bright, ripe tropical and lemon/lime fruits, some petrol with almost palpable minerals. High acid but not punishing due to the effect coming from the abundance of fruit. An unbelievable value. I wish I had access to more of this. — 7 months ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.4

Who doesn’t love that feeling when you point to a wine on the list and the sommelier’s eyes light up and they make an involuntary “ooh” of excitement. This bottle was spectacular tonight and so incredibly youthful for its 15 years. Still showing greenish gold in color and positively vibrating with stony minerality underneath Asian pear and honeysuckle, mandarin orange and star fruit flavors. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, there’s no better bang for the buck in the wine world than aged Riesling. @weingut_hexamer FTW! — 3 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Floral because it’s Fleurie? Maybe not but I’ll never stop commenting on how much I love that Cru Beaujolais sounds like it tastes. Violets just throw themselves at you like a bridal bouquet (don’t know if violets are traditional to a bouquet but if I ever have one maybe they will be) and anyway even if you are a commitment-phobe like me you’re gonna catch this wine. There may be rose or so and some plums and then just this wine wants to flow through your veins with happiness and if happiness flowing through your veins is something a relationship could bring then I am at least giving this a second date. — 3 years ago

Vino Joe

9.7

I sometimes wonder why I drink other wines…. This wine is so fantastic and so consistently fantastic it’s hard to justify my commitment to variety. Lovely violet color. Nose is full of robust lingering perfume. The balance and length always gets me. It’s constructed so well and deep. The fruit is mature but still has some kick of youth. Outstanding. — 7 months ago

Vanessa

8.9

This wine is chock full of juicy, ripe blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red plum, and strawberry notes, violet, leather, and soft tannins.

Winemaker Maxime Graillot is the son of the revered Northern Rhône winemaker — Alain Graillot — who passed away in March of this year. Surely his father left an indelible imprint on Maxime’s winemaking, and his commitment to quality, which he will carry forward.

This style of Syrah reflects youth, innovation, and a personality of its own that is so approachable, textural, and delicious; it would make a great choice for any holiday gathering. A crowd pleaser.

We chose this wine to pair with roasted chicken and it’s lovely.
— a year ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to the wines of South Africa 🇿🇦

This Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is unique in that the grapes used to produce it primarily came, not from Hamilton Russell vineyards, but rather from neighboring vignerons.

Hamilton Russell made this unprecedented decision in the aftermath of devastating wild fires that imparted smoke taint to its estate-grown grapes. Unwilling to compromise on quality, I applaud Hamilton Russell for its tenacity and willingness to forge ahead to create this delicious Pinot Noir for its customers. 👏👏👏

This wine is comprised of fruit hailing from three different Hemel-en-Aarde (aptly meaning “heaven and earth”) Wards within the Walker Bay District, in the Cape South Coast Region of South Africa’s Western Cape.

This wine is a reflection of community, camaraderie, and commitment to excellence.❤️

👁 It is medium ruby with pale fuchsia rim variation.

👃 On the nose this wine has a medium(+) intensity of youthful aromas. The aromas include candied cherry, strawberry rhubarb preserves, violet, dried orange peel, white pepper, star anise, clove, and nutmeg.

👄 On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium(+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins, and medium intensity of flavors consistent with the nose. This wine has a medium finish.

Hamilton Russell, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, ABV 13.5%. Vintage 2019. — 3 years ago

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