This is a BENCHMARK dry Bordeaux blanc made w/ 65% Sauvignon Blanc, lending aromatics, acidity, and brightness; and 35% Semillon, lending weight, body, and softness.
It was fermented in stainless steel, then aged 10 months in oak (25% new), with routine bâtonnage.
It has a brilliant lemon hue with concentrated aromas and flavors of lemon curd, vanilla, cream, gooseberry, freshly cut grass, boxwood, chervil, lemongrass, white peach, white blossom, cheese rind, gunflint, and wet stones. It’s dry with mouth-watering acidity, a medium (+) body, medium alcohol (13% ABV), and a lingering, elegant finish.
It’s complex and balanced, with runway to age and a capacity to develop layers of tertiary characteristics such as honey, dried fruit, and nuttiness.
It comes from the Pessac-Léognan AOC in the Graves region, on the “left bank” of Bordeaux, just south of the Haut-Medoc; an appellation known for its high quality red and white wines. — 2 months ago
A wine from Jorge Ordóñez and his winemaking team. Pale lemon color with crisp stone fruit and citrus aromas. On the palate flavors of apple, pear and melon with lemon citrus, consistent offering from La Cana. Medium finish ending with fruit, spice and mineral tang. Nice value. — 3 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2022 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart orchard fruit: passion fruit, lemon, sea spray, white flowers, lanolin and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a wooly texture and lovely minerals. Drinking now through 2037. — 20 days ago
The 2010 Montée de Tonnerre pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, this is an absolute powerhouse; sizzling with energy, tropical and orchard fruit: passionfruit, tangerine, green apple, crushed seashell, lemon curd and chalky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of minerals. A supercharger of a Chablis. Tonight, this was truly sensational and an experience I won’t soon forget. Drink now through 2040. — a month ago
Tasted alongside the Kistler Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay of the same vintage, this wine opens with nose of ripe peach, lemon curd, lightly toasted almond, and a whisper of vanilla—echoing the Kistler’s profile. However, the resemblance stops there. Pineapple and underripe star fruit emerges, lending a refreshing, aromatic lift. On the palate, the tropical theme persists, layered with zesty lime and wet stone minerality. Bright, sharp acidity is balanced by a softly textured mid-palate. Clean precise finish. — 13 days ago
Medium lemon colour . Very little perlage . This is quite mature on the nose with some orange rind , touch of honied brioche , dried chanterelles and some oyster shell . Some roasted almond , really quite intense on the palate , high refreshing mineral tinged acidity , orange peel , nutty , slightly honied long and quite electric finish. This holds up pretty well in the glass becoming more chalky and mineral. Drink now and over the next few years, at least on this showing . — 23 days ago
Medium lemon yellow , fine bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral focused on the nose , then lemon confit , quince, touch of orange flowers, with some pastry notes , white flowers , honeysuckle also . Quite intense and mineral on the palate , fills out well with some lemon oil and pastry notes also , but this is reserved and elegant in style , more mineral , chalky and more intense than the 2013 had last week. Really refreshing acidity . Long and complex on the finish , I would imagine this needs more time than the 2013 too. Come back in 5 years , will show well for a further 10-15 years , perhaps longer. Very promising . — 2 months ago
Rob van Kalmthout
Pale colour. Nice gooseberry scent. Candied lemon. Tropical fruit. Good balance. Medium length — 21 days ago