Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 1989 | for me an obscure domaine, it caught my attention at an auction. I do love ripened Chenin Blanc, which sometimes seems immortal. So I thought: give it a try. The wine was sent from France. Lovely ripened colour, old gold. Shy smell, good taste that combines honey and bitters. The cuvée is ‘moelleux’ but very good balance with the acids. Paired good with rilettes and pheasant pâté. — 4 days ago

Pooneet K

9.0

I generally like Fratelli Alessendria. Was hoping this 2013 barolo would be at the 9.3 - 9.4 level but not quite there. On the lighter side for barolo, both in terms of the fruit as well as the overall body and finish. Still a nice wine and a good pairing with some pheasant and elk loin, but slightly disappointed. — 2 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.1

2021/4 with roast pheasant breast with pheasant fond, truffle butter and cabbage. As seems to happen with reds from my (overly cold?) cellar, this still seemed to be emerging from adolescence - not quite what most would expect from a 14+ year Chalonnaise wine. Then again, I’ve always found the 2006 reds from Burgundy to be a little blocky, and little blowsy. Still, this was tasty and had hints of emerging complexity. It also still had the price tag on it, and I marveled again that de Villaine has barely raised prices in well over a decade (the recent, pricier line of 1er crus being new additions to the lineup). Please, please, never change. — 4 years ago

Ron from VA

9.0

Yes, I am reviewing this at 10 years old - and I’m impressed with its preservation, I just think the beginning point was a little on thin side (sugar development). Definitely a nice effort at a difficult varietal to mature on the east coast. Raspberry and mulberry notes lead - not a bad effort! — 2 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2019 | Butterscotch with awesome balance | paired with pheasant pâté — 2 years ago

Mary H

9.2

Tannins are really smooth now, wine is super round and balanced. Classic red aromas, wood, spice. Luscious chocolate and a hint of red fruit, cedar box, tobacco. Really great wine now, drinking much better than when I first tried it 6+ years ago. Well done Walla Walla. — 3 years ago

with Louis

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2019 | soft minerality and honey in smell, excellent body and balance. I chose this bottle to pair with choucroute and pheasant with trumpet of the dead mushrooms. — 3 months ago

Tristan Bradshaw

9.1

Rich, deep Chianti flavour. Mum, dad, helen and pheasant potroast — 10 months ago

Jon Ebsworth

9.2

Delicious with Pheasant at Quality Chop House. Pure fruit natural wine with none of the funk. — 2 years ago

Todd Anderson

9.1

Drinking lovely - paired very well with Everest pheasant (such fine take out) — 4 years ago