Disg. 2/14…Always my favorite of the Lieux-Dits and without question one of the very best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the planet, it’s particularly special to have with some bottle age. It’s stunning today, rich and powerful with crazy depth to its layers with a deep, complex core of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, old rum barrels and candied white flowers, all seamlessly integrated. The palate is generous and detailed, with racy acids, waves of saline laced, chalky Le Mesnil minerals and a finish that stays with you. A BdB benchmark for my tastes. — 4 months ago
The 2013 Comtes de Champagne is a towering Champagne, as it was last year. Rich, sumptuous and explosive, the 2013 soars out of the glass with a captivating mix of tropical fruit, apricot, passion fruit, baked apple tart, mint and yellow flowers. It is one of the most explosive, extroverted Comtes I have ever tasted. Impressive. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 7 months ago
This is stunning. A beautiful nose of bright fruit with fresh lemon and yellow flowers and hints of secondary notes coming through. On the palate gorgeous full sweet fruit with some brioche and lemon oil and perfect balance. Long and seductive and wonderfully pitched. Really good. — a year ago
You know you are drinking $400 plus a bottle Grand Cru Burgundy with the first sip. Is it worth it? If you have the money sure but, think you can find very good and near same quality for less money.
Another gorgeous 22. I know someone who has been going to Burgundy as a professional for 40 years that compared the 22 vintage to 59 and that is a huge statement that has the potential in time to prove itself out.
It is magic with the first sip. Perfect ripe and round. It is lush; Granny Smith apples, lime flesh w/ zest, lemon meringue, pineapple, green melon and white stone fruits. Honeysuckle, caramel, white cream froth, sea fossils & spray, beautiful chalky powder, limestone powder, biscuit, just a hint of mint leaf, field of spring flowers, yellow lilies framed in jasmine, perfect rainfall acidity and a round, elegant, lush, well balanced, well knitted finish that lasts minutes and fall on powdery mineral & white spice. — 2 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed as an aperitif prior to dinner. The NV Brut Rosé pours a very pretty pink color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberry, strawberry, spring flowers, some brioche, lemon citrus and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. The fruit is round in a good way. Balanced. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and chalky. This is a classy NV Rosé that’s easy for the wine nerd and the crowd to appreciate. Drink now. No disgorgement data. — 5 months ago
Drinking nicely but still quite youthful.
The nose shows ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, plum, poached strawberries & and soft mix of purple & blue fruit hues. Dark spice but not overpowering, chocolate fudge/pudding, dry tobacco, leather, sandalwood, some nutmeg & clove, vanillin, crushed limestone, dry river stones, dark, rich earth, soft herbaceous notes, hint of eucalyptus, brambly/dry twig, dry top soil, delicious lead pencil notes, moist volcanic ash, withering; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets, very good acidity with a well balanced, nice structured & tensioned finish that lasts 90 seconds.
Excellent w/ the Bone in Ribeye.
This has 15-20 years of good drinking life in it.
@Cole’sChopHouseNapa. — 10 months ago
96 that leans deep into 97. Always stunning from this producer regardless of vintage. Producer trust.
This still has dark, round, meaty, backbone tannins, dark currents w/ Indian/Asian spices. Ruby, lush; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum w/ dry skin, darkest of cherries, raspberry hues, purple fruits hues, deep baking spices, dark chocolate bar, mocha, caramel, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, dry tobacco/leather, dry herbs-bay leave/sage, dry, slightly candied to withering flowers framed in violets/lavender, excellent, round acidity with a finish that is well structured, balanced, nicely tensioned & elegantly polished finish that falls onto dry earth & lasts minutes.
This 2001 is still youthful & has at least another decade well stored. — 4 months ago
Deep Ruby color with aromas of red fruits, cedar, flowers, herbs and spice, aged for 12 months in 15% new French oak. On the palate flavors of sweet cherry and blackberry with toasty notes, tea, herbs and pepper spice. Full-bodied, fine savory dusty tannins, long finish ending with fruit, herb, oak and a savory earthy character. Nice! — 5 months ago
Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.
I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.
It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.
Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — 8 months ago
Marc Melser
We had the 2017 Vintage on 10/23-25/24. A real good PN that had classic Sonoma Coast flavors of cherry, strawberry, cola, sassafras and minerals. Well balanced, medium bodied with a velvety mouthfeel. — 20 days ago