Philosophy Winery & Vineyard

Thibault Liger-Belair

Vieilles Vignes Moulin-à-Vent Gamay 2016

One of my favorites in the in Bourguignon-style of Beaujolais are those of Thibault Liger-Belair. What I adore about Thibault’s approach is that his winemaking philosophy seems to suit M-à-V so well. Popped and poured; no formal notes. The 2016 “Moulin-à-Vent VV” is full of the undeniable dark fruit and structure and yet, incorporates a funky charm that seems to bridge Nuits-Saint-Georges and Beaujolais perfectly. To my palate, these 2016 VV’s are just entering the early part of their drinking window. I still think this is developing and it will take another few years before the secondary characteristics begin to show and that’s when the magic really starts to show with these wines. All of the pieces and parts are there…all that is required at this point s a little more patience. Good now but better with a little patience and after 2026. Should be awesome well through 2036 — a year ago

Peter, Daniel P. and 5 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Delectable Wine
9.8

When I tasted the 2018 Pontet-Canet in barrel I described it as a "freak of nature." The 2018 is more than that, it is a freak of nature. Made from yields of just ten hectoliters per hectare, the 2018 possesses off the charts richness, phenomenal balance and head-spinning intensity. Crushed red berries, flowers, mint, cedar and rose petal saturate the palate in a Pauillac of breath-taking richness. The silkiest of tannins frame the phenomenally pure, long finish. This is a towering achievement from the Tesseron family and former Technical Director Jean-Michel Comme, who together spearheaded biodynamic farming in Bordeaux and built the present-day estate around a philosophy of non-interventionalist winemaking. In 2018, grapes were crushed solely by hand. Because of the tiny yields, the entire production was vinified in Pontet-Canet's new smaller concrete vats. All winemaking was done manually, without the aid of external temperature control or electricity. Put in another way, if Lalou Bize-Leroy made Bordeaux, it would taste like this. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2021)
— 4 years ago

Jan liked this

Marie-Thérèse Chappaz

Dôle la Liaudisaz Valais Gamay Pinot Noir 2018

Beautiful dôle. Natural, earthy, elegant and complex. Pinot aromatics and Gamay sweet spices, good acidiy, well it's pure pleasure. Marie-Thérèse grows her fabulous vines up on the hills of Fully in Valais, she is one of the most iconic swiss "vigneronnes". In spite of the difficulty of working such a land, she follows the biodynamic philosophy and does an impressive work to produce world-class wines in a respectul way. This Dôle is very young and could be considered an "entry-level" red and yet it shows already all of its personality ! Paired well with a roast-beef from "race d'Hérens" beef, roast potatoes and coleslaw. — 5 years ago

Longevity

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Longevity is…A lifestyle. It’s about loving what you live, and living what you love. The heart on our label represents this love of life and family. Our family practices this philosophy everyday in developing our wines. Ultimately it’s about the experience, it’s about living, loving, and sharing that experience with others. — 2 years ago

Raina

Montefalco Rosso Sangiovese Blend 2014

Here’s a deliciously intense rosso wine from the Montefalco DOC in Umbria, Italy (Central). 🇮🇹 It’s comprised of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 15% Sagrantino grape varieties. 🍷 Prior to release this wine spent 24 months in large oak barrels, 6 months in stainless steel, 6 months in bottle. 🪵

This is a biodynamic wine, which means it was not only farmed organically, but also pursuant to a philosophy holding that the soil and vineyard are part of a bigger, higher system involving the cosmos. 🌙 This philosophy focuses on biodiversity and using natural and homeopathic preparations to enhance and strengthen the land and vines and their natural defenses. 💪

“Raina” is the nickname of the farmer who previously tended to the land from which this wine hails, a way of honoring the past and paying tribute to this history of the vineyards. 💗

This wine is deeply colored. It has markedly savory aromatic and flavor notes punctuated by blackberry bramble, juicy plum, dried mint, peppercorn, nutmeg, cardamom, smoked meat, leather, earth. Yum!
— 3 years ago

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Deked1, Daniel and 19 others liked this
Jonathan Wall

Jonathan Wall Influencer Badge

Great review!
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Jonathan Wall Thank you! 🙏🙏 Cheers!

Domaine Henri Perrusset

Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay 2015

philosophy. Ripe fruit, creamy body with slightly tart finish, well rounded. pure chard fruit — 5 years ago

Greenhill Winery

Philosophy Merlot Blend 2015

When this wine was released in the fall of 2017, I thought it was absolutely brilliant and layered with exquisite nuances of baking spices, florality and mixed berry freshness. Maybe it was the luck of bottle shock, The blend has radically changed as it has aged in bottle - for the worse :( While I wasn’t completely disappointed in the aeration of this for-year-old wine, I am hoping that it settles into a better place over the next 3 to 5 years. The released-date rating would have been a 92! — 5 years ago

E. Guigal

Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 2018

The first of 12 and an annual purchase for me. Must be the best value red wine on the planet - $24 AUD per bottle. 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre. I don’t know what the annual production would be but it would have to be well over a million bottles. I love Phillipe Guigals philosophy in that he says the CDR is the most important wine they produce because it is the wine most people will first be introduced to the Estate. Fresh savoury red fruits with raspberry to the fore. Quaffable and smashable. — 2 years ago

Jamie, Jan and 26 others liked this
Ray Vanderhoff

Ray Vanderhoff

Agree with you completely, Bob. Outstanding quality for the price.
John Bratincevic

John Bratincevic

Astonishingly, I’ve never had this (that I can remember). Will pick up a bottle on my next run.
Bob McDonald

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I had to Google the annual production of the Guigal CdR Rouge and would you believe for 2018 it was 4,500,000 bottles!!! A phenomenal effort.

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

Pierre Aiguille Gigondas Red Rhone Blend 2017

While this doesn’t make an impression like Saint Cosme or charm quite like Gour de Chaulé, this is noteworthy for its accuracy and QPR. Let’s try not to overthink this wine. It’s quaffable and tastes like Gigondas from 2017 i.e. abundant red and dark fruit with good structure and silky texture. Continuing the trend towards higher quality, this is yet another example of Caroline Frey’s philosophy taking over at PJA. — 4 years ago

Daniel P., Peter and 7 others liked this

Breggo Cellars

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2006

Palmer Emmitt
9.0

My philosophy on aging wine - wait until the winery sells and changes its name, then wait another 8 years! Most would assume this wine is over the hill but it shows really well. Lots of red fruit to offer along with some dust, mushroom and other tertiary character. — 5 years ago

Palmer, Shay and 7 others liked this
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

I think I have one bottle that matches your criteria,