Layer Cake Wines
Domaine Le Roc
La Folle Noire d'Ambat Fronton Negrette 2020
After the Sicilian off dry white which I drank only a glass of in disappointment, I decided to open something I knew would make me happy. We are watching Dunkirk while drinking this wine and the contrast between the on-screen drama and the funky liveliness in the glass is stunning!
As usual the nose is a bit funky at fist and takes a good 20 to 30 minutes to set into place. Then it's violet, blueberry, clay, that iron thing too, which I always smell in this cuvée, no matter the vintage. The palate is big, bright and fruity. There are blueberry notes all along, some cherry too. Some width, a nice and soft mouthfeel, some tannins in the rear, and a really nice anf long finish with fruits, some pepper, and a nice tannic layer. There is a subtle savory note too, almost meaty, that makes it more complex than you would have bet at first. Of course this is, as always, a very biased review, but I mean, what's not to like there? — 3 months ago
Layer Cake Wines
Mendoza Malbec 2015
Very drinkable. I like it a lot- it has that easy oiliness about it. Not that complex. But good east wine. — 2 years ago
Moulin Touchais
Coteaux du Layon Chenin Blanc 1981
Last of the 1981 bottles I bought for my dear wife’s birthday and I believe this was the best. The cork was in incredible condition, looked only a few years old - Ah So made easy work of it. After allowing it to warm a bit - caramel apple, some barnyard funk on the nose, plus an under layer of fresh green apple. Palate is beautifully balanced, no sign of fatigue at all - this #coteauxdulayon #cheninblanc could coast for ages it seems. Caramel and honey notes, fleshy texture, some lemon, piercing acidity cutting through that sweetness, and more fresh green apple underlaying the baked notes. This was a nice counterpoint to the Sauternes we had closer to her actual birthday and a compelling alternative. — 2 years ago
Château Guiraud
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2005
Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.
In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.
This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.
Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.
Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 3 days ago
Château Cos d'Estournel
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Nano hazelnut chocolate on coffee rye, blackened sponge cake, well done steak, black sesame, lavender and baked blackberry. Well knit.
Graphite glimmers on dark chocolate and cedar-oak slivers, smoky tobacco leaf, and tea. Immersive.
#cosdestournel #grandcruclassé #bordeaux #stestephe #appellationsaintestephecontrolée #misenbouteilleauchateau #saintestèphe — 2 years ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Cheval Blanc has an attractive nose with brambly red fruit, sous-bois, a pencil box and a touch of Xmas cake. It does not take too much aeration before it develops further aromas of black truffle and morels. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fleshy, ripe and tensile with red peppercorn hints toward the slightly granular finish. Very harmonious and persistent. It is outstanding in the context of the vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago
Château Climens
Barsac 1er Cru Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2003
Happy New Year!🎈🎆🎊
This is a pairing I’ve been talking about doing for a decade but, couldn’t find a bakery to make one. So, I had to make it. The Sauternes is a 96. The pairing is a 10
Everything about the Sauternes is married in the pineapple upside down cake. Old school meets old school. Clemens the second best Sauternes producer after D’ Yquem.
At En Primeur in 2014, we spent a day in Sauternes & Barsac…eight Chateau’s and multiple vintages. We component tasted at Clemens. Great day. The highlight wasn’t D’Yquem, it was component tasting at Clemens. After eight Chateau’s, we went to Guiraud to taste 50 more Sauternes in an hour and then dinner. When we finished the 50 Sauternes, I wanted to go to the dentist for a teeth cleaning rather than have dinner I had so much RS in my mouth. Tasted nearly 2500 wines in 6 days.
This note is being written the next day with leftover Pineapple Upside down cake and 2003 Clemens.
This has a classic Sauternes nose of heather honey, marmalade, dry citrus and stone fruits with nuts with skin & waxy notes.
The palate is super thick, lush, waxy with ripe botrytis fruits of dry; pineapple, stone fruits. Orange-tangerine, lemon, lime, grapefruit citrus, marmalade, honey dripping, coconut shavings, nuts with skin, candied walnuts, saline, white spice, caramel, vanillin, wet marl, soft but strong edgy chalk, molasses notes, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies & flowers, spring white florals, excellent, very round acidity, balanced, excellent structure, well woven and smartly polished finish that lasts minutes.
From 750 ml — 4 months ago
Clown Shoes
Space Cake Double IPA
Love the sticker. — 2 years ago
Marcy McNeely
Nice and oaky — 14 days ago