Vanessa

9.3

✨ Cheers to treasures of the Côte des Blancs!

🥂 Allow me to introduce Champagne Agrapart & Fils, a fourth-generation grower-producer based in the Grand Cru village of Avize – right in the heart of the Côte des Blancs region, where Chardonnay reigns supreme.

🍾Pascal took the helm of his family’s winery in 1984 and is now joined by his son Ambroise, carrying on the family tradition of meticulous winemaking to craft exceptionally beautiful champagnes that offer an authentic sense of place.

🌿 In support of this aim, Agrapart pursues an ancient approach to farming the family’s 12 hectares of vines, in harmony with nature, according to the natural rhythms of the calendar, trading chemicals for compost, and working the land by hand.

🍇 In the winery, Pascal & Ambroise allow fermentations to happen naturally through ambient yeast found in the surrounding environment & on the surface of the grape skins. They neither fine nor filter their wines, and riddling is done by hand – a rarity in this day and age given efficiencies that can be gained through mechanization (e.g., gyropalette).

👉 Here we have Agrapart’s “Terroirs” bottling made with 100% Chardonnay from a blend of vintages and vineyard blocks from the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oiry, and Oger. It’s extra brut with 5 grams of sugar / liter in dosage.

😍 It is a stunning Blanc de Blancs expression giving voice to the Côte des Blancs.

👌 This wine is focused, nuanced, & elegant with perfumed aromas of lemon meringue, lemon pith, crisp apple, star fruit, white tea, blossom, oyster shell, salinity, toast, smoke, chalk, river bank, frozen pie crust, and blanched almonds.

On the palate it’s bone dry and laser focused with an electrifying acidity that is balanced by a creamy mousse and concentrated flavors consistent with the nose.

💫 Cheers to delicious wines of authenticity & soul! — 8 months ago

with Deked1

Randy Fillingim

9.3

Wow. Amazingly wonderful- still - at 17 years young. Tannins and fruits still doing their jobs in harmony. An excellent example of this varietal -done by this legendary producer. — 4 years ago

Turd Ferguson

9.4

Lovely wine. Has a bit of a Russian River fruit profile but lifted, higher acid. High complexity and good concentration for only 12.8%. As it should be. — 5 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Wow. What a great wine. No it wasn’t complex, it wasn’t really tanniny. Medium body. But it was so flavorful. So well balanced. Bright red fruit, strawberry!! and.... in total harmony with the ribs Tammy bbq’d tonight. That wine was disappearing faster than snow in mid Idaho summer. It was awesome! — 7 years ago

with Tammy

David Kline

9.6

The Jolly green giant! Ho ho ho. Wow! This heavy chocolate toast head hangs around, stuck like steamed milk. Rich coffee and Belgian chocolate compete for dominance, a lovely harmony to their struggle. Raw chocolate chunks mixed with cacao nibs, and refined dark chips. Pure aromas of chocolate factory meets shop. Sips as rich and delicious as chocolate syrup, mocha coffee, decadent, dark ice cream and caramel, toffee, brittle, chocolate wafer rafting through a subterranean river of Mississippi mud, encompassed by wet espresso grounds, black as basalt. There is an electric streak of hot wire running through the middle to keep it buoyant. Fig purée, dates, black raisins and licorice. Unimagined depth of interplay between the creaminess from barrel and the acidic heart of coffee. Immense. Colossal, Jacked, black as giant squid ink, and twice as thick. If we are going to get stomped, let’s do it together, you Philistines! — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Matt

9.1

Loved this. Classy wine, its harmony and grace coupled with crystal lear fruit make for an awesome drop. Texturally engaging, wonderfully perfumed, cleary earns its benchmark status — 7 years ago

David Lincoln

9.3

Bloody hell this is what a Cali Pinot should taste like: orange peel, cherry, potting soil. Perfect harmony of tannins, sweetness, and acidity. — 8 years ago

Randy Fillingim

9.1

Have had the pleasure of drinking a few Carlisle Zins the past few years. All have been delicious. Wonderfully made. This 15-year-old is still in near perfect harmony with the tannins and fruits. The continued high-quality from this winery is impressive.  — 2 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Earthy spices! Wonderful GSM in full harmony. Finaliy a wine that stands up to aged Gouda cheese and creating a symphony. Dark, vibrant complex fruit that meanders to satisfying finish. Did I mention spicy?! — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Mark Farrell

9.9

Second time having this wine. Dark ruby with a nose of blackberries, cassis, violets, and lavender. Also picking up notes of anise and vanilla this time. Perfectly balanced, everyone is playing well together on this wine. The acidity, tannin, and fruit are in perfect harmony across the long, powerful finish. Had to pair this with a nice steak. Did a steak tasting along with this wine. Cast iron seared Snake River Farms(SRF) ribeye medallion, SRF sirloin, and a local grocery store NY strip. I would have expected the ribeye to be the winner, but the sirloin was the favorite for all of us. All that being said the wine paired perfectly. Also had a glass of this wine with my wife’s pot roast the day before and it was divine. Hearty beef is a perfect pairing for this powerful wine. — 3 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.1

A Margaret River-producer from the beginning, whose inception was coached by Mondavi; deep purple; nose of dark mulberry, black currant, ripe cherries, black pepper, anise and nutmeg; showing great on the palate, forceful yet elegant, with tannins, ripe fruit, acid levels and alcohol in good harmony, and a long dry finish. Promising future. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Every major holiday demands a celebratory wine. This Saturday Labor Day weekend, it’s a 1986 Leoville Las Cases.

The other weekend, we had Ribcap’s with a good Bordeaux & Napa Cabernet but, it was not what I was looking for with an Allen Brothers Ribcap. Allen Brothers steaks are the top 1% of beef in the country.

This 86 Leoville Las Cases started slow but, in short order excelled. The cork (not from my storage) made me hesitate to an extended decant. Even with the Durand corkscrew, it was a little tricky to remove the cork. However, the wine was still sound.

My favorite pairing is a Ribcap & an old Bordeaux. For me, no meal is slower or better. I grew up the youngest in a family of seven...raised by a single mother. My father passed away while I was four months conceived. So, we ate fast and fought for every scrap.

The nose reveals classic Bordeaux notes & style. Ripe, funky barnyard fruits of; cooked; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, black plum, dark cherries, slight dry cranberries, pomegranate, blueberries & rhubarb. Steeped tea, cola/red licorice, anise, golden brown to slightly burnt pie crust, dark, rich, turned earth, dry stones, limestone, cedar notes, old tobacco, underbrush, graphite, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, bay leaf, hints of eucalyptus/mint, old, soft leather, touch of mushrooms, just a hint of band-aid/va, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, blue, purple flowers framed is soft violets.

The palate is; smooth, elegant, ripe and juicy. The 86 still shows some baby, slightly tarry & teethe tannins. The structure, tension, balance and length are incredible. This 86 has years of life ahead of it if you enjoy them at this age and older as I do. Ripe, funky barnyard fruits of; cooked; blackberries, dark cherries, black, strawberries, black plum, dark cherries, slight dry cranberries, pomegranate, blueberries, faint raspberries notes, & rhubarb. Steeped tea, cola/red licorice, anise, golden brown to slightly burnt pie crust, crispy toast, dark, rich, turned earth, dry river stones, charcoal w/ ash, limestone/sandstone, dry clay, cedar notes, old tobacco with ash, underbrush, graphite, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, bay leaf, some vegetal characteristics, hints of eucalyptus/mint, old, soft leather, touch of mushrooms, used expresso grounds, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha powder, hints of band-aid/va, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, blue, purple flowers framed is soft violets. The acidity is a gentle rain shower and perfect. The long finish defines elegance, balance in fruit & earth, well knitted and goes on for several minutes in perfect harmony ending with dry earth & juiciness over the top.

What a treat it is to drink Bordeaux of this age & older. I love the style of 80’s Bordeaux and really appreciate the 12-13% ABV of that decade. Wish that never changed.

Not sure this makes it to 2060 but, there is still plenty of life in it. Don’t be afraid to decant it 1-2 hours without question on well stored bottles.

Photos of; Chateau Leoville Las Cases, old large wood vats, their archway you see as you enter the property from the D2 & staff working their Estate vines. — 6 years ago

Zach Jindra

9.0

Tasty, still great Pinot acid, but seemed just a touch over the hill. Definitely still enjoyable and it's obvious it's a good wine, but the fruit felt just a bit out of harmony and falling apart.
Cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, leather, baking spices, touch oxidative with age. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Tonight’s sipper is really beautiful. I found the 06 Walter Hansel Cahill after pairing & pouring their 08 a few weeks ago at Hedy’s Plate & Bottle dinner here at the house.

The 08 was really good but, this is even better. Much brighter, not as dark. A wine to pair or enjoy on its own. While the 08 shined better with food.

On the nose; bright, ripe cherries, raspberries, poached strawberries, softened blackberries, blue floral fruits, hint of rhubarb with a touch of brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, medium dark spice, wood shavings, limestone, dry clay mixed with dry, powdery top soil, just a whiff of dry herbs, fresh red flowers & roses.

The palate is medium full and nicely resolved. It’s just a shade the other side of its top peak. Beautiful texture and mouthfeel. The wine is completely seamless wire to wire. Bright, ripe cherries, raspberries, poached strawberries, blackberries reduced, blue floral fruits, hint of rhubarb & pomegranate extract. Slightly burnt brown sugar, red vines, cherry cola, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, medium dark spice, wood shavings, dry stems, limestone, dry clay mixed with dry, powdery top soil, just a whiff of dry herbs, fresh red flowers & roses. The acidity rains on the palate. The structure, length, tension and balance are in perfect harmony. The long, elegant, well balanced finish is beautiful and lasts minutes.

Photos of; Walter Hansel winery restaurant, Pinot freshly harvested and headed to the WH winery, Stephen Hansel in the vineyard and one of beautiful Sonoma vineyards.

One producer note, Stephen was mentored by Tom Rochioli, who helped him in the early years of his winemaking, which began out of a garage! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Simply stunning! Especially, for a Sonoma, not a Napa Cabernet. 😳

Follow up AB Cowgirl wine after the Saxum. If ever you thought a Sonoma Cabernet could not stand tall with a great Napa Cabernet, have a well aged good vintage of A. Raf..

4 hour decant.

Still medium plus, round, velvety tannins. Lush, rich, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, ripe strawberries, hints of heavenly raspberries, plum, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mid/dark berry cola, dark, dry Indian/Asian spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, caramel notes, malt balls, dark chocolate baking bar, black licorice to anise, dry, crushed limestone powder, soft, fresh tobacco, dry, used leather, softened tarry notes, some dry herbs-bay leaf sprinkled with sage, dry crushed rocks/river stone, dry top soil, candied & withering, dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets & lavender, crazy, round, excellent acidity, well structured & balanced for days, elegant, polished and an endless finish. Harmony on the palate.

Find an 07, you’ll thank me later. My highest recommendation for Napa/Sonoma Cabernets.

10-15 years of good drinking left in this 07. — 2 years ago

Adi

9.1

What a lovely Syrah comes from the north of the Rhône Valley, from my favorite St. Joseph.

🍇The domain extends over the longest river stretch in the north of the Rhône. The nature of the soil is very reminiscent of the neighboring Hermitage: granite, with the addition of sand and gravel, the east-facing slope receives less sunlight than the Hermitage, which results in slightly fewer berries, but it knows how to create competition for the Hermitage, Cote Rotie or Cornas.

🍇It usually doesn't need much time in the bottle compared to Cote-Rotei or Hermitage, and the prices are more affordable, which is why it's a particular favorite of mine.

🍇 It has power, infinite tannins run through it, ripe and delicate, perfect seasoning and lots of harmony. It has character, it has depth, full body, 14% alcohol, it has aromas and flavors of smoke, refined barrel, herbs and lots and lots of red and black fruit, maybe raspberry, maybe black cherry, maybe plum.

🍇The finish is soft, long and caressing.

🍇 Elegant, young, full of life, opened before its time, but I really loved it.

Cheers ! 🌿🥂

(From "Raisins in Facebook- it's all about wine and good people" — 4 years ago

Jim Maynard

9.5

2011 in February 2021. For me, this is about as good as I have had. No sign of age or oxidation. Great round tropical and stone fruit. Firm acid that would carry it another couple years. Wonderful balance and harmony. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Yeah...this is really delicious.

If you like Paper Planes style, this is a similar style but, fuller, richer with more pronounced saline & minerality.

The nose reveals, floral, ripe, slightly candied fruits of; steamed strawberries, summer, lean jolly rancher watermelon, cherries, tangerine, blood orange, black cherries, black raspberries, slightly, baked rhubarb, steamed, white spice, cream soda, vanillin, hints of ginger with pink rose pedals with in a field of spring flowers.

The palate has nice richness, ripeness with excellent viscosity. The fruits are, candied, gummy, ripe and freshness. Steamed strawberries, summer, lean jolly rancher watermelon, cherries, tangerine, pomegranate, blood orange, black cherries, black raspberries, slightly, baked rhubarb, orange rind, pink grapefruit with pith, white spice with just the right amount of heat, lava volcanics, excellent, choppy chalkiness, cream soda, vanillin, hints of ginger with pink rose pedals with in a field of spring flowers. The acidity is like shooting fresh mountain river rapids. The really long finish is; well knitted, harmony fruit & earth with polish, elegance that is persist for several minutes.

Appreciate the 11.8 ABV.

@Dawn E. highly recommend their 18 for you. 👍

Photos of, their Frei Vineyard, two photos of Winemaker Matt Courtney and barrel room shots. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

From Magnum. Had been decanted for about an hour and s half. Quite stinky which largely blew off to reveal leafy herbaceous characters with mint. Just medium bodied but such good balance and harmony. At that stage of just “damn good claret “ with nothing in particular standing out. A few years ago it was stunning and more powerful. Jancis Robinson still scores on the old 20 points score and gave this wine 19 points, a score generally reserved for 1st Growth Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy. Great wine but time to drink it. — 7 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.4

This one sang like a 60s pop quartet. Harmony. #freundfest2018 — 8 years ago

with Mark and Rob