Radiance Winery

Billecart-Salmon

Cuvée Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2009

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2009 Brut Blancs de Blancs Louis Salmon is a rich, heady wine. In 2009, Billecart-Salmon opted not to use lots aged in oak, which, along with partially blocked malolactic fermentation, helps explain the wine's freshness and verve. Lemon peel, white flowers, white pepper and chalk are all beautifully delineated. There's gorgeous density and power here, along with a good bit of vintage 2009 radiance. What a gorgeous Champagne this is. The Louis Salmon is a blend from Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly and Cramant. Dosage is 3.75 grams per liter. Disgorged: second trimester 2022. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago

Stella Rosa

Il Conte Black l'Originale Semi Sweet Red Blend 1917

Love the radiance of the sparkling fruit forward blend. — 2 years ago

Lanna Berkun
with Lanna

Poliziano

Asinone Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Sangiovese 2017

Delectable Wine
9.5

The 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone is ample and creamy, with all of the natural radiance of the year on display. Ripe red cherry, rose petal, cedar, lavender and spice all build as this extroverted Vino Nobile shows off its considerable allure. Even with all of its exotic beauty, the 2017 retains quite a bit of energy and plenty of structure, with a good deal of translucent vibrancy as well. In a word: superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 3 years ago

Alex and Shikha liked this

Domaine Gerard Metz

Riesling Grand Cru Muenchberg 1998

New place who dis?

Woah. To mark the occasion, we’ve got 22 year old wine.

The color on this is just breathtaking. I honestly didn’t think this would be that good because I got the bottle for $25 in a now closed wine shop, Taste Wine. The guy selling it to me didn’t have much to say, so my expectations were set at basically nothing.

Bouquet notes of cheddar, honey, apricot, and marmalade.

Honeycomb, definitely that characteristic petrol. Bae isn’t a huge fan of the aftertaste, but it adds a bit of complexity for me. A slight pear note right at the end. It’s got body and mouthfeel. Color and radiance. What an interesting thing age has done: create maturity and complexity, and most of all beauty. Also just a touch of raspberry on the end note. Just keeps giving and giving.

Also, finally a little bread pudding, this sort of unctuous, sweet, funky note lingers.
— 4 years ago

Mike, Eric and 5 others liked this

Le Clos du Caillou / Domaine du Caillou

Nature Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend 2021

Second tasting confirming the sensations of the first: CDR a little original, 100% Grenache, in carbonic maceration, natural trend. Translucent black fruit dress with beautiful radiance. Very expressive nose on floral, juicy fresh fruit, notes of pomegranate, blackcurrant, pepper. In the mouth it is characteristic of wines in carbonic maceration, a lot of extraction and few tannins, aerial character. Very nice wine for aperitif dinner.

Deuxième dégustation confortant les sensations de la première: CDR un peu original, 100% grenache, en macération carbonique, tendance nature. Robe fruits noirs translucide au bel éclat. Nez très expressif sur floral, fruits frais juteux, notes de grenade, de cassis, de poivre. En bouche c’est caractéristique des vins en macération carbonique, beaucoup d’extraction et peu de tanins, caractère aérien. Très jolie vin d’apero dînatoire. Un glouglou très bien réalisé.
— a year ago

Sharon, Tom and 14 others liked this

Brooks Hill Winery

Radiance Kentucky Semi-Sweet Chambourcin

This sweet combination of black and blue berry wine instantly hits the palate to pleasure the senses. The medium bodied wine envelopes the senses from taste to the pleasant fruit smells when first poured. — 3 years ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Delectable Wine
9.8

One of the real highlights on the Left Bank, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is a dark, potent Pauillac. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and leather all take shape in the glass. The 2005 is a dense, powerful and explosive wine endowed with tremendous energy and pure power. The fruit is just starting to emerge, but Mouton remains a very tight, super-classic wine. With time in the glass, some of the natural richness and radiance of the year starts to emerge. Even so, the 2005 is still very young and closed. A few more years in bottle will only be beneficial. Impressive. Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 3 years ago

Domaine de Chevalier

L'Esprit de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2020

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier is brilliant. Bright, poised and wonderfully pure, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier marries the radiance of the year with tremendous freshness. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, star anise and cinnamon all meld together. The 2020 is a wine built on aromatic presence and persistence, more so than heft, with all the elements very nicely balanced. What a wine! Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — a year ago

Daniel liked this

Dominus Estate

Napanook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Delectable Wine
9.4

A fabulous effort, the 2019 Napanook punches well above its weight. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2019 is a big, generous wine that captures all the radiance of the late summer heat. Black cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, licorice and incense fill out the layers. As always, I tasted the 2019 from two bottles, one opened on the spot, the second double decanted a few hours prior. Aeration makes a huge difference for this wine. — a year ago

Henri Goutorbe

Special Club Grand Cru Brut Champagne Blend 2006

My goodness, it seems as if these Special Club offerings always hit the mark and this is a great example. Minuscule bubbles that dissipate rather quickly but maintains creaminess. A rather intense nose upon opening featuring ripe apples, butter, and raspberries. There’s a steady streak of smoke beside the lemons and ginger aromas.

70/30 PN/CH from the Grand Cru village of Aÿ, this is a precise and full bodied champagne. Disgorged on 7/19, there’s a nice level of maturity and refinement here. Rich and well structured, this has years of life left but is in such a beautiful spot at the moment. Plenty of tension and radiance.

The palate is robust and complex as befits the maturity. Baked apples, spun honey, caramel, and tropical fruits. Hot buttered toast on the long finish. This is an outstanding wine with so much depth, complexity, and vitality. Special Club strikes again.
— 3 years ago

Kevin and Chris liked this