Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on March 30, 2023 at Home with Jay]

Red plum and currant fruit, with loamy earth, spice and root beer notes. — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

10

Hoisin sauce, so so so sick. Just why we drink wine. Leather. Just so so good. Hard to write a note as it’s so profound. Palate is perfect. Stunningly balanced. Root beer, ginger tertiary flavors. Just a wine is at double peak. Still has a youthful tang. Perfection. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Congratulations to TB12 on going to his 14th Conference Championship.

The nose shows; more macerated green & golden apple, pineapple than usual. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, chalk, sea spray, roasted white spice, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale with withering lilies and some spring flowers.

The palate has softer mousse & less lively acidity than previous bottles. Still nice but, it’s giving cause to wonder when this bottle was disgorged. Macerated green & golden apple, yellow peach, pineapple juice. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, grey volcanics, gritty chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, roasted white spice, nuts, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale that has the high notes of root beer, vanillin with withering lilies and some spring flowers. The acidity is ok but, seems off a bit. Change in base wine for this bottling? The finish still rich, elegant, well balanced persisting minutes.

Bottle is off slightly from the many others we’ve enjoyed.

Photos of; the House of Bollinger, branded cave with resting bottles, their Cooper making barrels and one of their Grand Cru vineyards.

1/17/21 — 4 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

New vintage of a benchmark Semillon, 82/18 blend with Sauvignon Blanc. Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Some grass and funk notes in nose on initial pour. Pear and peach flavors, rounded mouthfeel, viscous body, slightly hot finish. Orchard and stone fruit aftertaste with very slight skin astringency. Let it open a bit… Not a wine for sipping, more a heavy duty food wine for a veggie, dairy-intensive or fat-rich meal. Gratin or forno dishes for autumn or winter come to mind. Root veggies too. — 2 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Dusty minerals, some purple fruit, a little va and a minty, slightly soapy aroma. The nose never uncoils fully. The palate more than compensates. It is lively, bombastic, clean fruited and fun. Musty herbal black currant flavors, plus some ripe red fruit and a clever balance of structural tannins & acids with a juicy sweetness, though this is definitely dry. Good wine.. root day? — 4 years ago

John Willison

9.1

Pure red fruit, red licorice, licorice root, some reduction. Clean finish. — 4 years ago

John Willison

9.0

Black cherry, licorice root, sarsaparilla, a bit herbal. Sweet berry and tannic finish. — 2 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.2

Lime peel, green candy, petrol, yellow Gatorade, marjoram, sage, slate, jasmine, fresh ginger root, saffron on finish — 2 years ago

Rebecca Cooper-Mullin

9.0

Funky to the nose sweet to the palette. Root fruit. Like rhubarb. Citrusy. Fun! Happy Birthday Sarah! — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It has taken a long time for this 95 Calon Segur to settle in. Finally, after two previous bottles. If you buy this producer, expect to wait 20 plus years for really good things with better vintages. While it’s very good, it has not revealed its best self. I think another 5-8 years before it peaks with another 15 years of good drinking ahead. Properly stored of course.

This still needed a two hour decant to settle it earthiness & funk.

The nose still reveals a fair amount of earth but, it has calmed. Classic Claret older nose. Ripe, candied & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strewed strawberries, baked plum, macerated cherries, cooked rhubarb with hints of blueberries and raspberries softly over the top. Old tobacco, old, soft leather, limestone, dry stone, dark spice, nutmeg, vanillin, dry twig, graphite, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, forest floor, mushrooms, raspberry cola with withering to fresh, dark; red, purple, blue florals framed in violets.

The body is round & leaner from age. It’s clean wire to wire. The structure, tension, balance and length are just starting to hit their stride. It is gloriously lush on the palate. Ripe, candied & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strewed strawberries, baked plum, macerated cherries, cooked rhubarb with hints of blueberries and raspberries softly over the top. Old tobacco, old, soft leather, limestone, grey volcanics, dry stone, dark spice, nutmeg, vanillin, dark chocolate, some caramel, shades of black licorice, dry twig, graphite, sage, hint of cooked green pepper, sweet tarriness, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, forest floor, mushrooms, raspberry cola with withering to fresh, dark & candied; red, purple, blue florals framed in violets. The acidity is dead on. The long finish is; balanced fruit & earth, elegance that slides into persistent earth and dark spice with just the right amount of heat.

Paired with New York Strip w/ Root Vegetables Tain, Cipollini, King Trumpet & Peppercorn Demi-glaze & Duck Fat Fries.

Have yet to have anything but a very good meal @Compline Napa. As well, they have a very nice selection of reasonably priced wines in their retail shop. Owned & operated by Master Sommelier Matt Stamp & partner(s). — 4 years ago