Jan A

9.4

Found this forgotten bottle at the bottom of my Burgundy section in my cellar. Drank this at release and then thought: forget this a couple of years. That couple of years became 8, and today a completely different wine has emerged in the glass. Golden color and aged nutty Burgundy tones emerge. This is a wine that has a little bit of residual sugar but today's bottle has integrated it into the wine which makes it way less obvious. Still a rich tropical profile but there is enough fine filligrine acidity to support and bring balance. I think this is just past peak, so I'm going to drink my other bottles soon. Awesome wine and still relatively affordable. Worth seeking out. — 2 days ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.2

The 2021 Riesling Poet's Leap is decidedly green in character, wafting up with notes of lychee, lime zest and crushed green apple. This flows across the palate with grace, displaying a pleasant inner sweetness, as tropical citrus and saline-minerals add a lovely tension throughout. This tapers off with young mango notes accentuated by a salty flourish through the long and crisply refreshing finale. The 2021 is so balanced and refined, just 12.5% alcohol, and at just under one gram of residual sugar per liter. (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023) — 4 years ago

Paul J

9.3

Half bottle. Lovely gold color. Different nose from most Sauternes I’ve had, and really enjoyed it. It had more brown sugar and herbal tones to it. Wine was lighter than expected but very clean, which was honestly nice especially with the great texture it had. Orange, pineapple, and peach dominate. Solid finish. — 6 years ago

with Brooke

Catherine Leith

9.7

Love this. Tons of flavour. Vanilla, brown sugar, toasted oak. Pairs well with food but also great on its own. — 6 years ago

Richard Campbell

10

Drank it while I smoked a cigar (Gran Habano Blue in Green) on a patio in the Old Town, Panama City and it was delicious — 7 years ago

Baku Nagai

9.6

Not a hint of sugary despite the residual sugar. Elegant, long, amazing. — 7 years ago

Ángel Rodríguez

9.8

At Eric's in New York — 8 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.7

2017 vintage. Another spectacular Suduiraut. The 140 g/l residual sugar is balanced by the fresh acidity. Michael Broadbent used to say that Suduiraut always looks older than its age, but this bright golden colour shows no signs of age. Beautifully complex nose with pineapple and vanilla, flowers, beeswax, cinnamon and lemon confit. Opulent, rich and fresh at the same time, impressively layered and intense, with an extraordinarily long finish. A fabulous meditation wine that is amazingly affordable too. Abv. 14%. — 3 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Light golden color. Aromas of unripe stone fruit, dried flowers, wet slate and lemon zest. Flavors of peaches, nectarines, lemon and minerals. Long, mouth coating and tingling finish. The moderate amount of residual sugar is more than balanced by the bold and abundant acidity. Light bodied, crisp and refreshing. Wonderful precision and quality. Great pairing with our Christmas ham. — 9 months ago

John Bratincevic

9.3

Forgot to save my thorough notes(!!!). From memory - the nose hits you with overt apricot, fresh figs, lots of nuts (including pistachio ice cream), and a bit of faint tangerine. It tastes like a pastry - almonds, sugar, coconut cream, apricot, cookies and cakes and dessert oh my. Finished with honeycomb. Very different than the Sauternes I am accustomed to, but very good. 93. — 4 years ago

Ming L

9.5

375ml. A magnificent 30-year young Sauternes. Orange peel, molasses, caramel, ginger spice, and brown sugar. The intense flavors waltzed across the palate with grace and precision. Fresh, vibrant, and not as rich as expected. The finish lasts forever.
Paired with homemade chocolate chip cookies using Levain Bakery recipe and vanilla bean ice cream. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

This is a nice surprise. A great Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.

Showing black fruits with chocolates, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, mocha, coke, maple, brown sugar and peppercorn.

Full bodied, bold and very fruity. Dry to off dry on the palate.

Nice length on the finish with soft tannins.

Good by itself or with food and good for parties.

15% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$53. — 7 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.0

Dark purple, magenta, rich sugar blueberry, blackberry smell, syrupy, bit too sweet I think, I wish the fruit came out more! It’s definitely a lot. — 7 years ago

Aivars Lode

9.4

A cognac esk rum delectable — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.6

Drinking this pre-release bottle of this iconic wine from Bordeaux.

Light gold in color.

Strong nose and Full-bodied.

Sweet on the palate with high acidity to balance the sugars.

Showing melons, tropical fruits, apples, light earth, guava, herbs, spices, papaya and honey notes.

Long finish with herbs and tropical fruits.

This is a gorgeous sweet wine from Bordeaux. Sexy, seductive and fresh. Creamy and buttery.

Showing great potential, but oh so young. Already delicious and complex. Round, opulent and powerful.

Loved the nose once it opened up (20 minutes in the glass).

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and intense, yet elegant. Well balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Drunk from a Magnum.

A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
154 g/l sugar.

14% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$500. — 6 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.3

Great now and will age beautifully. Typical Muscat florals, but I love the balancing act of sugar concentration and acidity in this vintage. Elderflower and bruised stone fruit. Wonderfully fresh. 👌🏼 — a year ago

Dan Michael

9.4

This wine certainly delivered! Magnum in fantastic shape. Have loved every Aubert Chardonnay I tasted but first time having the Sugar Shack. Beautifully integrated ok in the nose and well balanced on the palate. Complex while still being lean. Perfect weight, long and rich finish. Awesome! — 5 years ago

S.R.Alexander

9.2

Lady marmalade, apricot, caramel with grapefruit sugar. — 6 years ago

with Eric

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Seasonal Grand Opening of the D&S Lounge. That’s going to require some BSR to celebrate.

As well, going to detail notes of this with my new Riedel Vintage Sommelier flutes, center picture. I’ve been wanting to write notes on this Champange in the new flutes as I wanted to do it one I am very well acquainted. As @Paul T- Huntington Beach & @Severn Goodwin have pointed out the many times I have posted it.

The nose is definitely more vibrant. Tangerines lead where they haven’t in my previous notes now using the new flutes. More pink rose petals, blood orange, pink grapefruit, leaner; strawberries, watermelon, warmed, creamed raspberries, apricots & cherries, liqueured marmalade, hints of scorched rhubarb, lemon/lime aid, chalky powder, delicate, grey volcanics, sweet, sea spray, bread dough, baguette crust, touch of brown sugar/molasses light, haunting, dry herbs, limestone and bouquet of; white, red, pink & orange roses.

The body is round with some gummy or gluiness. Everything about the mouthfeel is more delicate and softer. The bubbles smaller & more refined. Pink rose petals, blood orange, pink grapefruit, leaner; strawberries, watermelon, warmed, creamed raspberries, apricots & cherries, liqueured marmalade, hints of scorched rhubarb, almost a date presence on the long set, chalky powder, delicate, grey volcanics, sweet, sea spray, lighter intensity of white spices but, still has the heat & palate penetration, bread dough, baguette crust, touch of brown sugar/molasses light, haunting, dry herbs, limestone and bouquet of; white, red, pink & orange roses. The acidity is all fresh & lively with this cuvée. But, even that seems better. The finish is as always; well knitted & balanced, polished, fresh, persistent and never disappoints.

Photos of; the best room in our house for 6+ months of the year, our backyard. Aka, the D&S Lounge on Memorial Day Weekend 2020. — 6 years ago

Tim Schroeder

10

The intense summer heat turned into this huge, CA Zinfandel monster that somehow, after bowling you over with jammy fruit and brown sugar, gets more complex and interesting. Light on char and tannin. Not for the faint hearted. — 8 years ago

with Amanda