Eric Urbani

9.2

In the early 1850s the first significant vineyards were planted in Sonoma. Over the next half century, through a rigorous process of trial and error, the components were narrowed to four distinct varieties – petite Sarah, Zinfandel, Carignane , and Alicante Bouschet– each demonstrating extraordinary quality. Ravenswood ICON is a revival of this traditional “native Sonoma mixed blacks“ blend produced from old, low production, vineyards planted before Prohibition and is a tribute to Sonoma County’s incredible ancient vines. 14.8% ABV. — 2 months ago

Vanessa

9.1

Burgundy 🇫🇷 is renowned for its Chardonnay, but did you know that Aligoté is the second most planted white grape in the region? 👀

Some of the finest Aligoté comes from ‘Bouzeron,’ an appellation in the Côte Chalonnaise region (north of Mâconnais, south of Côte d’Or).

In a land of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, Bouzeron AOC is 100% dedicated to producing Aligoté 🙌🏻. In fact, it first became a legally-recognized AOC in 1998 thanks in part to the efforts of Aubert de Villaine, the winemaker behind this beautiful bottle. 👏🏻

Interestingly, Aubert is also a co-owner & co-Director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) (and, as an aside, was on the tasting panel for the 1976 Judgement of Paris 😆)…

Yet, instead of devoting himself exclusively to DRC — one of the world’s most famous and prestigious estates — he and his wife, Pamela (a California native), were enchanted by the possibilities of Aligoté, and terroir of Bouzeron, where they put down roots through “Domaine de Villaine”.

This wine is Domaine de Villaine Bouzeron AOC (2019). It has a shimmering lemon robe and bouquet of white blossom, just-ripe white peach, yellow apple, pear, citrus, fennel, and wet slate notes. It’s remarkably fresh on the palate with mouth-watering acidity balancing the warm (14% ABV) and fruit-driven profile. It’s positively delicious!

We’re pairing it w/ pan-seared sea scallops, roasted asparagus, & lemon-herbed farro…

Cheers to nurturing the diversity of Burgundy in all of its splendor! 🥂
💙🤍♥️ — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Turd Ferguson

9.5

Oof that’s good. All nectarine and creme fraiche. Impeccable balance. No butter or wonky barrel issues. For my taste, at this price, up there with the best of California chardonnay. Petaluma Gap. $50 at the winery but you can find it a bit cheaper. Winery Technical Notes: 76 clone, Whole-cluster pressing, 100% native yeast primary fermentation, 100% wild malolactic fermentation, 11 months in low toast, air-dry 3-year-old French oak, 25% new — 4 years ago

Donald Williams

9.5

Wonderful Chardonnay, with perfect acidity. — 6 months ago

with Bonnie

Gwen Merino

9.6

Great flavor. — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

My first taste of this native Greek white grape. Lemony golden color. Lemon is also the dominant aroma and flavor of this wine. Additional notes of white flowers, nuts and honey. Crunchy minerality and a bit of saline on the long and creamy finish. Possibly some lees aging? Bright acidity and a bit of effervescence. A bit sharp right out of the bottle (possibly a bit oxidated) but the wine softened quickly. Interesting. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

👁This wine is pale ruby with a delicate haze.

👃On the nose, it offers medium(+) intensity of youthful aromas, including notes of ripe cherry, strawberry rhubarb, fresh raspberry, 🍒🍓 also tulip🌷, violet, red licorice, fennel, dill, nutmeg, and wet moss.

👄On the palate this wine is dry. It has med (+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins, and medium(+) intensity of flavors consistent with the nose. It also has a medium(+) finish. I find it has good complexity and balance. 👌👌

This wine was fermented with native, wild yeast in concrete or steel and then aged in neutral oak barrels for about six months. According to the @scribewinery website, it comes from "vineyards planted with equal parts of two California heritage clones ideal for the region’s dense clay: Martini and Pommard. The Martini grapes add spice and fresh, high tones complemented by the Pommard’s natural earthiness."

Scribe, Carneros, XII. Beauty Blue, Pinot Noir, Vintage 2018. ABV 13.5%.

Los Carneros, meaning 'the rams' in Spanish, is a unique wine region because it is shared between Sonoma County and Napa Valley. It is one of my favorite places in Califorina for Pinot Noir. With the coastal breezes and fog channeling inland from San Pablo Bay, the vines have a combination of sun and cooling moderators, to aid in both the ripening and the preservation of acidity / brightness of character, which can ultimately lead to a well-balanced, but also well-concentrated wine.

I picked this up at @france_44 and would definitely buy it again. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: smoke.

Palate : plum. Silky. Burgundian.

$44 $25 btg — 9 months ago

Paul J

9.6

This was drinking perfectly! Dark red color with minimal bricking. Could be mistaken for a Bordeaux as this is an elegant Napa Syrah. Meaty, rustic, and a touch of floral. Would love to buy more. — 9 months ago

with Geoff and Brooke

Adriana Fabbro

9.4

Incredible food wine — a bright, beautiful orange wine with just the right amount of grip. Apricot, orange marmalade, seashell, and an elusive floral perfume.

With all the hype around skin contact wines (and the Friulan mastery of the style) I’m amazed that these Skerk wines aren’t more of a thing.

Also amazed that Vitovska, native to the Carso of Friuli / Kras in Slovenia, isn’t more of a thing. This variety fucks…. — 2 years ago