Mark Rosse

9.3

A co-fermentation of Roussanne 46%, Marsanne 41% and Viognier 13%. Neutral French oak barrels 11 months. 283 cases made. Bravo 👏 — 5 months ago

Ming L

9.3

My first Falanghina and I absolutely adore this bottle.

Aromatic nose of peach, pineapple, start fruits, fresh herbs, and orange blossom. Elegant medium body with lovely round acidity and smooth texture. The palate is clean, fresh with mineral undertone yet has the feel of richness. Very impressive.

Via del Campo is planted entirely with Falanghina. Fermentation in 70/30 stainless steel/new French oak barrel. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded 1972, Tom & Sally Jordan, from CO, went to CA’s wine country & produced inaugural vintage in 1976. A Fav of mine with a steak, and the ‘17 hits the mark! Blend of mostly Cab Sauv with Merlot, Petit Verdot & Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruit, floral & spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, blackberry and fig with oak, sweet spice, leather & cacao notes. Rich tannins, well balanced and integrated with fruit & oak. Very Nice! — 4 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.3

Black cherry, vanilla, raspberry preserves, plum, currant and oak. Full-bodied and moderate tannins. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. Co-owned by Stephan von Neipperg (La Mondotte and Canon La Gaffelière in Saint-Emilion). A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. Very attractive nose with black cherries, blackberries and strawberry marmelade, mixed with smokey oak and Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, with concentrated black fruit, smooth tannin and great spicy length. Super sexy hedonistic Bordeaux. Amazing value too. Highly recommended. — 5 years ago

Adam Beasley

8.9

Well made Zin that is delicate, with very pure fruit and tasteful oak treatment, but has a little more heat on the finish than I prefer. — 5 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

In my mind, there’s no better way to celebrate another trip around the sun than with loved ones, watching the sunset, while sharing a delicious meal and wine pairing. This evening hits the mark!

This wine is a 2nd growth Saint-Julien from the Médoc, left bank, region of Bordeaux, France. When I say 2nd growth, that means the Château from which this wine hails received the second highest quality designation as of part of the “1855 Classification” that took place during the Universal Expedition in Paris in 1855. This quality designation remains intact today despite the centuries that have passed.

This wine is clear with a deep ruby hue and garnet rim variation. On the nose this wine has medium intensity(+) of developing aromas with a large focus on blackberry, fig, cassis, prune, potpourri, incense, anise, cedar, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, earth, leather, and tobacco. On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a medium(+) body, medium alcohol, high tannins, and medium intensity in flavors consistent with the nose. The finish is long.

Interestingly, the fermentation took place in various vessels, including those made from oak, steel, and concrete and then this wine aged in oak barriques (small oak vessels) until it was ready for bottling.

It was also cellared at the Château from harvest until shipping in 2015.

Château Léonville, Grand Vin de Léonville du Marquis de Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Médoc. Vintage 2005. ABV 13%.

This wine has complexity, balance, structure, and length. It’s outstanding. I’m not surprised to see a 100-point rating from Wine Spectator. Thank you @Deke for the amazing Birthday selection! — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Dave

9.4

If someone had never tasted a Napa Valley Cab, I would happily pour this for reference. It's bold and great. I'm enjoying the balance of ripe, dark fruit with tasteful oak additions. There's a hint of eucalyptus, and pleasant leathery tannins. I personally would take this over Silver Oak or Heitz with my ribeye, and that's not just my wallet talking. $50 well spent.
Listening to Arctic Monkeys, again. — 9 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.1

Pretty tasty. A well made wine. Subtle use of oak. Not too ripe. — 3 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.0

2019 vintage.
Giuseppe Vajra is one of the nicest and most pleasant people you will meet in your wine travels.
I have had the pleasure to host Giuseppe and his wines at a “Vajra “ dinner in Vancouver years ago. 50 % Stainless steel, 50% French oak (20 % new)
Dark fruit, cherries and a touch of smoke on the nose.
Medium weight with bright acidity, bright plums, pomegranate and cocoa with a smooth finish.
This wine loves different foods….don’t be afraid to experiment. — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.4

Today we began with a visit to Billecart-Salmon, which has been family owned since 1818. They are 7 generations strong, producing between 2 and 2.5 million bottles per year. We received our informative tour from Jérôme Lafouge. 👏

He explained how Billecart-Salmon grows and manages many of the vines used to produce their wines; they also source grapes 🍇 from other growers, but otherwise own the production process from the pressing of the grapes on… the facilities are pristine and processes are executed meticulously.

Each wine is vinified by vineyard plot. A unique feature of Billecart-Salmon is its decision to have a slow, cool fermentation process for all of its wine - both those vinified in barrels and those in stainless steel tanks - a process that takes 6 weeks to complete.

Each winemaking decision is customized based upon the type and condition of the grapes, e.g., some undergo a malolactic fermentation (where tart malic acid is converted to soft, lactic acid) while others may not, some have a first fermentation in oak where as some are stainless steel, etc.

At the end of our tour we had the pleasure to taste a few beautiful wines (pictured here).

Our favorite was the 2002 Vintage Cuvée Nicolas François comprised of 60% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ, Aÿ, Ambonnay, and Verzenay and 40% Chardonnay from Chouilly, Cramant, and Avize.

This wine was clearly developing lovely tertiary aromas. It also had great complexity retaining its primary and secondary notes. It was disgorged January of 2016, resting over a decade on the lees.

The aromas and palate had caramel, toffee, brioche, pie crust, toast, hazelnut, cream, melted butter, honey, ginger, candied lemon peel, quince, fig, and chamomile notes.

What an enjoyable experience and we loved meeting some new friends on the tour from Savannah, Georgia and Canada.

Santé mes amis 🥂🥂🥂 — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Sheila G.

9.5

Beautiful silky tannins. Oak. Cherry. Mighty fine find! — 6 years ago

with Mike

Steve Anderson

9.4

Extra time has done this one well, taming the original 200% new oak. One of the three Bedrock expressions from the Hudson Vineyard. For ‘08. With all previous bottles from that group consumed five or more years ago, glad I saved this one. Loved it. — 6 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

‘Les Blanchots’ is a Grand Cru climat in Chablis, situated on a steep, southeast-facing hillside known for its white clay subsoil (after which ‘Les Blanchots’ takes its name) sitting above Kimmeridgian limestone, comprised of clay, chalk and fossilized oyster shells. 🙌🏻

This wine fermented in a combination of French oak barrels (70%) and stainless steel (30%) followed by 16 months aging on the lees in the cellars of a medieval monastery (L’Obédiencerie) acquired by the Laroche family in 1985.

It is medium lemon in appearance with an elegant expression of lemon peel, fresh white peach, apple, honeydew, star fruit, kumquat, white blossom, seashell, crushed stone, wet slate, struck match, toast, cream, and vanilla characteristics.

On the palate, it offers vibrant, racy acidity and a well-balanced structure.

It is superb! 😆😆😆 — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Michael Chelus

9.1

Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, currant, cranberry, licorice and oak. Light-bodied and soft tannins. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Aromas of lemon myrtle developing toasty notes. The palate showing that waxy lanolin texture you see in aged Hunter Valley Semillon - they put on palate weight as they age. Still retaining that zippy citric acid. Pros in the UK often swore that these aged Semillons saw oak maturation but the reality is that only stainless steel is involved. This is the 2nd of 8 in my cellar. I believe that good Hunter Valley Semillon should only be approached after 10 years. This will age until the late 2020s. Had another bottle 94 weeks later on 6 January 2024. Still very lemony with a long life to go. Exceptional Semillon. — 4 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of bubbly purple, quite dark. Nose of dark fruits (cherry, currants, blackberry), aldehyde, tobacco leaves, powerful alcohol, not too shabby. Taste of ample acidity, plentiful tannins, oak, spicy sweetness, ripe grapes, and indeed some warm bourbon like note. Aftertaste of more warmth, note tobacco note, some more zesty and sweet note. I am quite happy with it. I am quite happy with this 2nd bottle even though the notes are slightly different. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Though the brutal TX heat is back, it means plenty of time for grilling, and this was a fun red blend to pair with burgers.

A fun field blend where everything but the kitchen sink seems to be in here…mostly zin, with 6-7 lesser known varietals. A bit funky upon opening (pop and pour), this opened to reveal a brambly, tobacco leaf, weightless yet jammy profile. Soft and supple mixed fruits aromatically (mostly red and black fruits), with some added woody notes (more earthy than oak driven). The mid palate here reminds you this is zin to its core with plenty of black cherry compote and then the vibrant acidity driven finish sports some black pepper and spicy rhubarb. Mostly integrated at this point, I think this is at its apex. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

straw yellow, glints of green, pale watery rim; aromatic, grapefruit, honeydew melon, freshly cut grass, subtle oak; medium body, dry, crisp acidity, 13.8% ABV; made by Dan Petroski who makes Cabernet Sauvignon for Larkmead, 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented 70% in stainless steel, sourced from Juliana Vineyard in Pope Valley in Napa Valley, vines originally planted in 1993 for Robert Monday to produce their Napa Valley Fumé Blanc; $30 — 6 years ago

Kirk Irwin

9.5

Wonderful strong pear nose, edges of oak. Sipped caramel, slight hot sugar cookie notes. Really great chard. — 7 years ago