Shade Winery

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Le Petit Haut Lafitte Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

This needs more time to knit together, but does show promise, even if I feel a shade less impressed than the first time trying a couple of years back. It’s initially very herbaceous, with tomato leaf and green pepper, eventually giving way to a svelte personality with plush oak and sweet fruit. Not perfect now, but should be great in four years’ time. — 7 days ago

Severn and Bob liked this

Cavallotto

Langhe Nebbiolo 2018

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. No formal notes. Best on Day 3. I know there is some shade being thrown on the 2018 vintage in Piemonte but when Cavallotto is producing a Langhe Nebbiolo that’s this enjoyable, perhaps the vintage should be explored a little more. I found this to have really solid balance in fruit and structure. It was enjoyable on the pop and pour but fleshed out quite nicely over a few days. Charming, very charming. — 2 years ago

Eric, Severn and 9 others liked this

Pehu Simonet

Grand Cru Brut Rosé Champagne

First off, just look at that color. Mesmerizing! A beautiful shade of clear deep red with almost no bubbles. At this point it’s reminiscent of a nice liqueur. A subdued nose featuring strawberries and sweet cherries. Plenty of smokiness and a little nearly stale bread.

Deep, rich, and almost nectar like. It’s such a delightful pour. 70/30 Pinot Noir/Chardonnay, with 10% of the Pinot vinified as still red wine from Verzenay. Disgorged in 2010 and still showing well. The acidity has certainly mellowed out making it exceedingly smooth.

The smoke travels to the palate but never overwhelms. Herbs really take charge here along with more autolytic notes. Yeast and whole almonds. The fruit grows more ripe as it evolves in the glass. A nice bit of ginger on the long and persistent finish. A rare, aged treat for me and one that definitely did not disappoint.
— 3 years ago

Dawn, Trixie and 2 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

A real cozy factor to this picture. Nice! Cheers!🍷
Willie Carter

Willie Carter

@Trixie Aww thank you so much

Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2015

In a nice place at shade under 10 years. Popped and poured and was surprisingly ready to go, though 30 mins in the glass helped for sure. Nice mouthfeel and density. Tannins are there but very well integrated. Good dark berry fruit and some pepper on the long finish. Delicious with steak and a pork chop at The Grill. — 8 months ago

Lyle, Bob and 2 others liked this

Domaine Amiot Guy et Fils

Vieilles Vignes Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay 2020

Softest golden straw with glints of green gold. Hint of gunpowder melts to reveal a pudding-soft, dried lychee which peels away to white roses, citrus pith and avocado cloud glistening with flintlock shavings in ginkgo shade. Extraordinary palate leans hard into a soft wall of olive, evaporating lemon oils, cottonseed oil, and lime nodules. Tangerine-pear impossibilities flower, riveting the tongue with pithy, zesty, and blossoming evocations. Ginger, tea and nano bits of Wrigley’s original juicy fruit.



#chassangemontrachet #guyamiot #domaineguyamiotetfils #bourgogneblanc #whiteburgundy #burgundy #appellationchassagnemontrachetcontrôlée #whiteburg
— 2 years ago

Severn, Sharon and 7 others liked this

Aston Estate

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015

Ron R
9.4

Nose is dominated by flowers and cinnamon. Palate displays coffee notes, sandalwood, smoke and star anise. Tannins are still prominent, as is the acidity. It’s so vibrant and textured. The finish just extends and expands. Another one of our domestic pinot faves.
I was thrilled to read in a recent WS article shared by a friend, that TRB has taken full ownership of this winery. He has a compelling vision for its future. Schrader inadvertently threw shade on this. That’s going to change going forward.
— 4 years ago

Arden, Tom and 40 others liked this

Bodega Balnea

Rueda Verdejo 2017

ESF
8.9

tasty - darker shade of yellow w/effusive nose of ripe mandarin orange & stone fruit, some vegetal notes along w/a savory muskiness. Rich & round, well-integrated acidic backbone thru to clean finish. Fairly muscular effort here & very well done. — 4 years ago

David, Bob and 5 others liked this

Clos de la République

Lavaux Passerillé

Golden yellow color, topaz shade. Beautiful clarity and significant viscosity.

Discreet nose at first glance. Allowed to breathe, the second nose opens up with aromas of dried fruits (apricots, grapes, oranges and peaches).

The attack is supple, structured and tangy.

The palate is spherical, rounded with the impression of biting into a ripe tangerine, then melon and acacia honey complete the aromatic palette during the evolution in the mouth.

Elegant finish with a retro olfaction of fruit paste.

With a lamb tagine with apricots. Or on a caramelized apricot with Etivaz honey, vanilla ice cream. Or on a duck foie gras cooked in a cloth.
— a year ago

Villa Wolf

Ernst Loosen Pfalz Pinot Noir Rosé 2020

Purchased from Dan Murphy’s for $16 and a real crowd favourite. Very yummy and would definitely buy it again.

Pink diamond shade in the glass with notes of strawberry, grapefruit and some kind of herb, maybe coriander, on the nose. It’s super smooth and easy drinking with hints of watermelon 🍉 and nectarine 🍑 on the palate. Light and bright 🥰

All opinions are my own. Drink what you enjoy!
— 3 years ago

Casey, Paul and 3 others liked this

Maison Ilan

Les Chaffots Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2013

There's been a lot of shade thrown on these wines and particularly, towards the wine maker...most of it probably deserved. As for some of the more recent low scores, there must be some bottle variation because I’m not gonna lie, this was a really strong showing. Popped and poured; consumed over two hours. Bruised strawberries, tart brambles, rhubarb, forest floor, and sandalwood. Tannins are well integrated…but still there. Acid is pretty high but perfect for a nice meal of whole, roasted chicken and root vegetables. The wine is otherwise quite balanced and if my bottle is representative, this still has a long life ahead of it and should drink quite well through 2030. My last of the Maison Ilan “Les Chaffots”. — 4 years ago

Andrew, Peter and 10 others liked this