Preface
Preface
Alexander Valley Red Blend 2016
This Melka / Skipstone ‘Preface’ towers in tiered structure. As a preview wine for the prominent portfolio, it is accurate and a relative bargain. Great stuff! — 3 years ago
Château Canon
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
2nd half bottle of the night. 30+ minutes open in the bottle. I’ll preface this by saying it followed a strong nosed Bordeaux. One that has me checking my shoes for cow shit!
Dark red color. Nose could be mistaken for Napa but has French elements. Vanilla and cherries dominate. Not kidding, tastes like cherry cheesecake! The OH is definitely noticeable even though it’s only 14%. Medium+ finish. Very nice but totally different from the preceding wine so it’s tough to rate, especially as this is too “American” for me. — 5 years ago
Bello Family Vineyards
Marsanne 2009
I really enjoyed this wine and loved that it was holding up beautifully - I must preface I enjoy older wines, and love wines on all lengths of their journey. Apple, melon, lanolin - rich mouth feel - finishes elegantly and soft. — 6 years ago
Laherte Frères
Extra Brut Champagne Rosé De Pinot Meunier
There are outstanding wines and then there are really really good wines that just get you: for me, Aurelian Laherte gets me every time from his entry level wines to his tete de cuvées. Fuck it, why do I need a preface—this is an outstanding wine, with both low and high brow appeal.
There’s a nostalgic & almost primal appeal that reminds me of 90’s strawberry / cherry jello layered mousses. Perhaps because this is one of the most fruit forward champagnes out there (tart cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cranberry, pomegranate) as a blend of red wine, saignee meunière and direct press meunière. The wine is enriched by decadent layers of vanilla and pastry (no hate for the genius use of oak barrels here). The color, the packaging, the generous nose — everything about it is very easy and enjoyable if a little bit confected—hedonistic, yet complete & complex.
This wine treads the line between red wine and champagne offering the best of both worlds. On the one hand, you get fascinating depth and richness with a dosage of only 2.5g/l —fruit is prominent, flavors are concentrated but the acid delivers an unbuffered punch. The vibrancy and character of the Laherte Freres wines across the spectrum and vintages continues to impress me.
Please don’t spread the word though as these are still some of the most affordable grower champagnes out there…
— 2 years ago
Preface
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
From a 375mL. Popped and poured. Preface was, allegedly, a re-label of some project that Philippe Melka was/is involved with. This was my last bottle from an original purchase of seven. Much more complex at this stage in its development. Fascinating nose of cassis, plums, pipe tobacco, chunky beef stew, leather, spices, and alfalfa. On the palate, it’s rich with dark berries, espresso and spices. Tannins are fine and mostly integrated at this point. Long finish. Probably drinking at peak pleasure right now but has plenty of staying power. — 6 years ago
Dyer Vineyard
Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Franc 2014
A great way to end a 6-day vacation. Bottle enjoyed with family over a great meal. I will preface this by saying this bottle is extremely young. Will do much better in about 5 years. After an hour of oxidation, this one had a lot of candied black cherry, wildflowers on the nose. Entry of black cherry, cola, middle which is a combination of sweeter yet more ripe black cherry with a hint of bacon fat. Finishes acidic, even after 2 hours. This wine is great structure, but still extremely young. Will develop very nicely. — 6 years ago
Château Philippe-le-Hardi
Montée Rouge Beaune 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2016
I’ll preface this with the fact that I don’t drink a lot of Pinot as I’m not a huge fan.
This was an awesome rec from the guys at Amathus! 30+ minute decant. Lovely red color with ever so slight brown edges. Nose contained oak, vanilla, and strawberries. Cherries, cream, maple syrup, and cinnamon on the palate. Definitely on the sweeter side. This was like drinking cheesecake with cherries and cinnamon on top. Reminded me of the Dimchurch Shiraz, except in Pinot form. Could have been a little deeper, but had a great finish! Paired lovely with a sausage stuffed chicken breast, small Cornish potatoes, and cinnamon covered pears. One of the best dinners I’ve cooked in a while too, so I’m sure that impacted the experience and rating :)
Best Pinot I’ve ever had!! Buying more! — 3 years ago
Giacomo Conterno
Riserva Monfortino Barolo Nebbiolo 1985
Must preface this post with the admission that a wine like this can never fully live up to its hype; regardless, it was a sensational bottle: powerful and muscular with precision and grace; dried orange peel, sandalwood, cedar, red brick and just a hint of sour cherry fruit. We didn’t decant or open early for fear of losing those delicate, appetizing, evocative aromatics (sotto bosco, white truffle, roasting game, roses, sandalwood again) unique to old Barolos. This wine is wonderful today, but don’t anticipate it getting any better—then again I don’t foresee a wine built like this falling apart any time soon. A wine for kings (and birthday week princesses) indeed! — 4 years ago
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
Will preface this review with saying that I had a healthy tasting but didn’t share a bottle, or eat any food with it. It’s composition is predominant Cabernet. Without looking at the price tag, it’s a great wine. Smells of freshly picked berries. It’s colour is almost black. Very velvety, royal dark fruit that is balanced extremely well with medium tannins. It’s silky smooth. But it lacks a certain “forte” characteristic that I look for wines (if you haven’t noticed yet). If this was a somewhat more affordable wine to buy on special occasions, I would nearly be in love. For the price (2012, $500 euro), and my own personal tastes, I truly think you can save yourself a handful of money and enjoy your best personal favourite wine and not have any fear that you are somehow missing out. Because of the reasons mentioned above, my rating is good, but not breaking 9/10 — 6 years ago
Most quality producers of Bordeaux and 1st Growths are the rule not the exception to my point but, they are simply not that appealing this young.
When you consider the critical drinking window of this wine is from 2027-2060, this may speak to your disappointment. It’s only been in bottle around four years and It’s likely in a shutdown cycle of its evolution.
Additionally, I find even drinking a number of first & second growth producers on the early side of their drinking window distasteful. The general rule of thumb is you don’t open first growth Bordeaux for 20 years even a good vintage, longer for grand vintages. I realize of course this is a Chateau tasting and you not opening your own bottle.
I tasted the 1995 Lafite at the Chateau after it was in bottle for ten years. I found the experience just as disappointing. Maybe, more so.
My long story short, these kind of wines don’t reveal their true beauty for decades. You can judge them on, tannins, structure and acidity etc. for quality while they are young but, your palate isn’t likely going to do the happy dance.
I’ve tasted this vintage while it was in barrel...while it was still fresh and not closed down. From that experience, I would say there are much better experiences down the road for this wine.
@Mark Flesher If the 82 was well stored, you are in for an experience you won’t forget. Cheers all! 🍷
Martinez
100% Gamay from the lieu-dit “Les Berthaudieres” in Brouilly, the southernmost and most extensive of the Beaujolais crus. Aged in concrete and barrels. Super smoky on the nose (smells like mezcal!). Elegant, savory, crunchy red fruit. Unusual, very interesting bojo. — a year ago