Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2009 | Deep dark colour. Smell with cedar and chocolate, in transition to more tertiairy impressions. Taste is smooth with impressions of clove. Part of the vineyard is from 1920. A treat. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Not the champagne I had in mind for tonight, but sometimes circumstances play their part.

This is pleasant enough. It will go well with my almond tart later.

The mouthfeel shows nice mousse, somewhat lively acidity, bruised golden/red/green apple to apple sauce, bruised pear, white citrus blend-grapefruit w/ pith leading, quince, touch of brown sugar, some yeastiness, baguette crust, graham cracker, volcanic minerals w/ clay, white spice, caramel notes, vanillin, sea spray, grippy, grainy chalk, sea fossils-oysters, limestone marl, withering lilies, spring flowers, nice acidity and a well balanced, good length, elegant finish that lasts nearly 90 second and lands on mid intensity minerals and spice.

Photos of; the champagne house of Veuve Clicqoit and the widow herself. You see her under the metal gage and plated over the cork.

#DSLounge — 6 months ago

Brian lindke

9.4

One of my all time favorites, never ever disappoints.
The winery, caves and vineyard on Howell mountain are just as amazing! Never pretentious or over done. Pure, and true to the artist expression from the family founders/ owners to the incredible wines! This particular 2016 vintage was at its prime and thoughly enjoyed! — 9 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Dark ruby color with purple highlights. Dark berry, purple flower and mineral aromas. Red and black fruit flavors along with hints of black tea and baking spices. A bit of a green/sour note on the finish. Tannins have softened and the acidity and alcohol are nicely balanced. Medium-plus body. Part of a five bottle Garzon Tannat Reserva vertical tasting. — 2 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

2003. Last bottle was 3 years ago, and this one I liked better. Starts out austere with evidence of a difficult hot year. But after hours in the decanter it cycled thru some almost port like caramelized tapenades and ended the evening with a somewhat strange but delicious red crème brûlée thing. So if you have one… I suggest patience thru the awkward opening hours to get to the awkward good part. Cheers. — 5 years ago

Heather Rostker

9.1

Another wonderful wine - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, rich and delicious. Part of the Roberto Donna dinner with Arrow Wine. — 5 years ago

with Dave

Simon Templar

8.9

Great bang for the buck! Whiffs of Great Grandma's sofa and a smooth plumby finish. Very easy to drink without being too light. Just might become part of the weekly rotation! — 6 years ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.5

2023. 15% super full gas. Brambles a good descriptor. Tight acidity with a solid body of sweet dark fruit from the Mourvèdre. Bit cloying and not elegant but super pure fruit. And great. — 4 months ago

Paul K

9.7

This is incredible. Such great balance of so many parts. It’s dense, savory, smoky, floral, and juicy with great acidity. The fruit is there but not pronounced, blackberry and cassis- just a balanced part of the whole. I could drink this every night. — 5 months ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.5

Magnum, last part of the decanted bottelen — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. Early on, this was a probably my favorite of the three Moutons and showed well throughout the course of the evening. Expressive red and dark forest fruits with tobacco, leather, earth and baking spices. The structure was still showing its tensile strength. This has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2040. — 2 years ago

Michael Greene

9.4

Part of Roulot + Roumier tasting. Flowers, mandarin. Open and expressive — 3 years ago

Brian Lindke

9.4

One of my favorites.
Incredible winery on Howell mnt with outstanding winemaking history and culture.
Don’t miss them on your next trip out. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A rich crimson red in colour. Cassis , bay leaf mulberry and notes of violets. On the palate black currant, restrained yet sweetish - see notes from a year ago in March 2020. Sam Middleton, part owner and winemaker likes to drink Quintets between 10 and 15 years of age although I have had much older examples from friend and longtime Mount Mary collector, Dr Peter Sklavos. One of Australia’s classiest Cabernets. Not as minty as Coonawarra or as herbal as Margaret River. Commemorates the passing of founder, Dr John Middleton in 2006 as on the label. — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

Day two with the 2016 Brovia Barolo Villero, and this was frustrating in exactly the way certain 2016s can be frustrating. Brovia Villero, for me, is one of the great wines of Langhe. The material here was obvious. The site nobility was obvious. But at 14.5%, this bottle leaned too far into the heat side of the vintage for my taste. That is the 2016 crapshoot in a nutshell. The producers who mastered the year made some of the greatest wines I have ever tasted. The producers who let the vintage lead made wines that feel more dominated by the year than by the site. This landed in the second camp. Beautiful raw material, absolutely, but the heat kept stepping in front of the vineyard. And the cruel part is that maybe you do not get that level of material without the heat. So there is no clean complaint here. Just a tradeoff I felt in every glass. — 4 months ago

Dave

9.4

I'm not a Napa expert, but many of my Delectable buddies are. Have you had this wine? Pulled it last night, and while my palate was overloaded from other wines we tasted, I knew I was into something good. Revisiting it today for a 2nd day taste. Exceptional! The 31% Cab Franc is the star of the show here, adding great structure and depth. The wine is soft but tannic, with prominent flavors of blackberries, currant, tomato, and violets. This could have waited 5 more years. Beautifully constructed wine, and the best I've had in months. I only wish I had another bottle or 14.
Listening to Chet Atkins — 7 months ago

Michael Greene

9.4

Part of Roulot + Roumier tasting. More typical in style than the 2019, the fruit-forward hedonism is toned down. Angular and precise. Super mineral finish. Needs time…glad I have a few bottles stashed away — 3 years ago

Martinez

9.0

Good Pomerol from one of the appellation’s largest estates, with around 12 hectares on the southern part of the Pomerol plateau, in an area known for its iron-rich clay subsoils. Known locally as “crasse de fer” or iron dirt, this type of subsoils have a high content of iron-oxide, which gives Pomerol wines their characteristic aromatic richness. It was also the inspiration for the estate’s name (“taille fer” translates to “carve the iron”). 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc, aged for 12 months in oak barrel (40% new). Aromas of dark fruit, plums, chocolate and earthy notes. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated. Noticeable tannins. — 4 years ago

Mark Turner

9.3

Really nice blend. 48% cab sauv, 21% cab franc, 21% Syrah, 10% Malbec. Nose was blueberry, earth, pepper and a hint of vanilla. Smooth mid plate with a medium weight and good balance of fruit and acidity. Oak, blackberry and raspberry with pepper, spice and forest floor that lingered for a long time. Enjoyable. — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Just in from Jersey, $22.00 no tax free shipping. Buy it by the case all day long. Skip the Bevan & buy this
Retail notes,

There’s a sweet-spot for domestic Sauvignon Blanc found in a special part of Bennett Valley that experiences a strong maritime influence as it flows through the Petaluma Gap to Sonoma Mountain. Within that funnel of cooling coastal air, the Dry Stack Vineyard is in a prime location at 550 feet elevation at the base of Mt. Taylor. I’m continually drawn to Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Stack and the vineyard produces fruit with detailed notes of fresh guava, rocky minerals, ripe tangerine and mineral infused citrus. You might be familiar with Russell Bevan’s version from Dry Stack, and Grey Stack has been a pillar on our tasting list in Yountville.

With Grey Stack, everything begins in the Vineyard with exceptional quality fruit, but from there, the wine is given a voice by winemaker Patrick Sullivan, whose experience includes making wine at Peter Michael, Paul Hobbs, Lewis Cellars and Rudd. This is absolutely one of the finest examples of California Sauvignon Blanc with its superior focus and incredibly vivid, distinctive flavors. If you love Sauvignon Blanc, or better yet, even if you don’t… Try this one and you’ll probably never look back. — 6 years ago