Mendis Special

Elizabeth Spencer

Proprietor Blended Special Cuvée Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Ted
9.1

Seems high in alcohol. I didn’t check the bottle. Wet tobacco and black fruit. — 8 days ago

Jeni
with Jeni
Ron, Tom and 7 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

That’s disappointing. That stuff ain’t cheap, either. I have their chard at home, and those are a nosebleed at the checkout too.

Marc Hébrart

Special Club Brut 1er Cru Champagne Blend 2018

This is the 2018 Marc Hébrart Brut ‘Special Club’ – a beautiful bottle of vintage bubbles hailing from a collection of premier and grand cru sites in the Marne and Montagne de Reims regions of Champagne, France.

When you see “Special Club” on the label of a bottle with this distinctive shape, you’re dealing with essentially a prestige cuvée of a grower-producer who’s a member of the “Club Trésors.”

Marc Hébrart joined the Club Trésors in 1985, which is an association of quality-minded grower-producers. Grower-producers operate differently than the big champagne houses (e.g., Veuve-Clicquot) in that they are smaller-scale vignerons who own the entire production process from the vineyard to the winery and cellar.

They have helped raise awareness and appreciation of artisanal champagne wines that speak to a sense of place and personality, unobscured by extensive, widespread blending.

To achieve the status of “Special Club” a wine must undergo a rigorous application process and meet minimum quality metrics culminating with in two blind tasting panels – the first tasting evaluates the base wine after the first fermentation; the second and final tasting occurs after a minimum of three years aging sur lie.

From our studies we’ve learned the 2018 vintage bore above-average fruit; the warm and dry summer paved the way for a riper expression in an otherwise marginal climate. This wine is made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.

The bouquet has a medium (+) intensity of yellow and green apple, lemon zest, white peach, gardenia, almond biscotti, nougat, pastry, biscuit, and toast notes. The palate is creamy with vibrant acidity, adding lift, a fine-beaded, persistent mousse and long, elegant finish.

— 2 months ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Vin and 16 others liked this
Vanessa

Vanessa

@David T Isn’t that interesting considering it has more than doubled in membership since then and seems to be a successful venture. Do you why the other founders left?
David T

David T Influencer Badge

In no way did I mean to lessen SC bottling’s if it was interpreted that way. There are producer ego driven personalities intermixing here and that accounts for the fair amount of change. I believe there are still 29 SC producers.
Vanessa

Vanessa

@David T Oh I was truly just curious! It is an interesting fact. 😆 🥂 Thank you for sharing it.

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

2018 with homemade pizza - nice solid wine. Lots is sediment in the bottle. — a month ago

Vinhos Barbeito (Rare Wine Company Historic Series)

Boston Special Reserve Bual Madeira

Delicious. Coffee, toffee, very nice acidity, quite sweet (it says semi dry). Mandarines. A perfect dessert wine. Would be a ridiculous great match with Tiramisu! — 2 months ago

Vin, Tom and 1 other liked this

Mas de Boislauzon

Tintot Special Cuvée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

With winemaker. Lovely, complex and very smooth finish. — 3 months ago

José Michel & Fils

Special Club Brut Champagne 2014

Meunier party in your mouth. A touch too sweet. — 4 months ago

Shay, Severn and 2 others liked this
Daniel M

Daniel M

What a tasting at the bowling alley 👍🏻

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2005

What a special treat! — a month ago

Joe, jesus and 7 others liked this

Bollinger

Special Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Medium straw color. Smalll delicate bubbles, lemon skin, brioche and biscuit. Amazing citrus flavors, funky and yeast finish.

Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
— a month ago

Pinotman, Daniel and 11 others liked this

Paul Bara

Special Club Brut Grand Cru Champagne 2002

Tom Elliot
10

Truly spectacular! — 2 months ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

2014: spectacular at a decade. Could nose this all day. A special wine starting to develop those tertiary notes reminding one of Bordeaux. What a treat! — 4 months ago