Albeit young, 2008 Cristal is drinking very well at this point in time, even if unsurprisingly not yet showing all that it can be. Drank solo over the course of 3 hours in a Burgundy glass, it had plenty of time to evolve and express. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 08 Cristal flaunts a gorgeous bouquet of fresh white flowers, yellow orchard fruit, baking spice, vanilla bean and crushed seashells. The palate is searingly intense with ripping citrusy acids, incredible elegance and pin point precision in its delivery before giving way to a saline and mineral infused finish that just keeps going. Again, very young, no doubt, and while already terrific, it’s easy to see what the fuss is about and how special the vintage will be down the road. But in my opinion there’s no harm in drinking now if you accept and enjoy the stage it will be in. — 3 months ago
Un nez assez peu expressif car le vin était trop froid au départ mais le nez s’ouvre un peu en réchauffant avec des notes de fruits blancs, de poires, de menthe.. La bouche est magnifique, une belle classe, une bouche toute en finesse et élégance tout en ayant une belle tension sans être tranchante, un vin avec un équilibre exemplaire et sans aucun excès et une finale délicieuse de belle longueur. 92-93.
A moderately expressive nose in the beginning as the wine was too cold but then opens up more with white orchard fruit, pears, some floral scents and a touch of mint. The palate is amazing, complete, so well balanced, fine, elegant, classy and with just good backbone and tension without being too crisp, great length and delicious finish. — a year ago
Last bottle of the 2020 vintage, 130 cases made. Orange with a hint of pink, excellent clarity. Floral and stone fruit aromas, subtle. Lactic, citrus and subdued orchard fruit flavor. Some skin astringency on finish but less than you would expect after a 72 cold soak before fermentation in used wood. An orange wine with finesse, or at least a light touch. Refreshing — 19 days ago
Lemon and cream, excellent intensity and vibrancy. — 7 months ago
Yeast and orchard fruit. — 9 months ago
The 2019 Sancerre Les Chasseignes has a ripe and open expression. It fills the mouth with a sense of effortlessness, which Stephane Riffault puts down to both the caillottes soil and the ripeness of the vintage. It is in the riper spectrum of Sauvignon aromatics. This wine leaves the variety's green flavors far behind and focuses instead on orchard fruit and almost heads into the realms of tropical fruit, which isn't something you normally associate with Sancerre. Gently refreshing with the caillottes providing a line of chalkiness on the finish. One for the short to medium term due to the vintage's ripe profile. (Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, August 2021)
— a year ago
Nosing the 2020 Cervaro della Sala is like waking into a French bakery in the early morning, with notes of lemon oil, butter cream, crusty bread, fresh dough and vanilla bean contrasted by a whiff of crushed oyster shell, which may not be on the menu, but still works perfectly here. This glides effortlessly across the palate with the silkiest of textures, steadily gaining in tension, as mineral-drenched orchard fruits give way to sour melon and, finally, pretty inner florals. The 2020 lingers impossibly long and lightly structured, displaying notes of candied citrus enriched by almond custard. I'd love to toss this blend of 92% Chardonnay and 8% Grechetto into a blind tasting of white Burgundy. Beautifully done. (Eric Guido, Vinous, November 2022)
— 2 months ago
Brendan Baker
Bright citrus and orchard fruit, mineral, med + acid, crisp ✨ — 9 days ago