Literal
Choco Vine
Pleasantly Sinful Dutch Chocolate Red Blend
A great dessert wine in the most literal sense. Very rich chocolate mixed with a red wine. One glass after a meal and you’ll be set. — 4 years ago
Winzerhof Thörle
Probstey Spätburgunder 2018
Holy moly. This is psychotic. What a nose. Deep, penetrating, wild cherries, forest floor, so so perfumed. An earthy sweetness is just overwhelming. Amazing. So elegant and delicate. Yet so deep and vivid. Best young Probstey Pinot nose ever. Just ridiculous. Palate is sweet, dense and so clear. The clarity on this is bananas. Sweet, silky and super deep. Velvety tannins and so much energy. Terrific wood spice on the nose. Adds so much. Complexity on fleek. Almost painful concentration. Amazing cherries. A literal tiny berry fruit cherry explosion. Genius. Finish is all limestone, sweet cherries and velvet. A masterpiece. — 4 years ago
Petit & Bajan
Nuit Blanche Grand Cru Brut Champagne Blend
Petit & Bajan have been one of those “growers” to watch for a few years now. A literal marriage of Chardonnay (Richard Petit) and Pinot Noir (Véronique Bajan) with some mentoring from the one and only Ansleme Selosse makes for a pretty compelling story. As it turns out, the wines are pretty darned good! Popped and poured. The “Nuit Blanche” is a BdB showcase of Petit’s family holdings in Avize with some fruits coming from Cramant and Oger as well. The wine pours a light straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, mix of lemon curd, white peach, limes, pear, almonds and brioche with chalky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with really good acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with distinctive chalky minerals. This was very nice and I look foreword to tracking their wines. Bottled on July 2, 2015. Disgorged November 2021. — a year ago
Jean Bourdy
Côtes du Jura Savagnin 2018
Sensational. In both the literal and traditiional senses. And this is all about senses. Cerebral switch flicker. Vin-neutropic. You can let it breathe for a week at room temp and it won't give an inch.
The aromas are beautifully saturated with oxidized notes. Honey butterscotch, beeswax and Kentucky bourbon. Tropical notes. Papaya apricot. Floral stuff. Violets, white jasmine. And the chemical residue of a new leather handbag.
It tastes hot, but its only 12.5%. Finish powerful and long to completely exhaust your neurons. — 3 years ago
Radio-Coteau
Laguna Pinot Noir
Radio-Coteau - Laguna 2017 is described as Ripe red cherry, crushed raspberries, and fresh Santa Rosa plum excite both the nose and palate with their elegant vibrancy. Dried rose petals dance along the mid palate, joined by warm spice notes of nutmeg and cinnamon, and a touch of woodland earthiness.
Radio-Coteau are two conjoined words derived from the northern Rhone region of France. The colloquial meaning is “word of mouth,” but the literal translation is “broadcasting from the hillside.” — 2 years ago
Konzelmann Estate Winery
Lakefront Series Niagara Peninsula Shiraz 2020
Peppery, spicy on the tongue with dry finish, mild fruitiness but mostly spice. Almost tastes like there's literal pepper in it, but that improves as it breathes. Its a neat wine, I enjoyed it — 3 years ago
Domaine Faiveley (Joseph Faiveley)
Les Villeranges Rully Chardonnay 1525
Wow. The critics are tough on this wine. It’s literal Heaven in a cup. Paired with fiocchi pasta purses with pears, gorgonzola, walnuts, shaved Parmesan, and drawn sage butter. It’s Heaven. I wish I drank this without food but I have another vintage so we shall see. #wharfrat
— 4 years ago
Ray Vanderhoff
100% Arinto grapes. Straw golden color with an interesting green hue. Grapes are grown in literal cracks in the volcanic soil. Intense mineral aromas along with hints of grapefruit. The palate is full of minerals and grapefruit as well along with an infusion of lemon. Nice note of salinity on the long and lingering finish. Beautiful freshness and acidity. Fresh and persistent. Outstanding and unique! — a year ago