Ian Hamel

9.2

2024/8. Still very young and rather dense for the style, but the spicy strawberry could and vanilla cheesecake are textbook for classical Rioja — 2 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Nose has tart strawberry, ripe black cherry, blackberry, dried soil with peat and faint creamy oak notes.

Palate has ripe blackberry, ripe cherry, dried garden soil, thawed strawberries, light cedar influence, decent finish but we're underwhelmed overall. Maybe closing up now, revisit in 3-5Y, 2025-27.

Cork pulled, slow oxidation for 3H.

Solid pairing to toasted Israeli couscous, za'atar and lightly fried eggs from the backyard egg factory. For us, eggs are always a great pair to Bourgogne Rouge, they balance wonderfully.

(Also, for the record, no photo trickery on the food pic, our Australorp eggs are indeed that orange; Good diet equals good eggs.) — 4 years ago

Michael Kent

9.1

Lovely, simple dessert wine. Paired beautifully with a mango cheesecake. Definitely worth trying. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Not very sweet at all, tastes of cocoa powder, light cherry red wine (Sangiovese?) and almost no tannin. Soft, lower alcohol than a red table wine, possibly. Paired well here with cocoa-dusted pumpkin cheesecake. — 6 years ago

Sally Burge

10

Wow! Superb dessert wine which is not too sweet. Excellent with Millionaire’s cheesecake. Will certainly buy again from my local Adnams. — 7 years ago

Dmitri

9.0

Serve it up with salad, the seafood, the cheesecake and be damn happy another year had passed without a total climate collapse so that you can enjoy this inexpensive delicious wine.
#vinewinenyc — 8 years ago

David Monaghan

9.2

The brown eyed SIL rocked in with this fantastic bottle of taste sensation ... is there such a thing as a bad crianza/Rioja.. well it ain't this.. it's rare I think wine enhances food but with a barbecued steak it is heaven.. so many flavours that my palette can comprehend... this is a NADAL — 9 years ago

with Baroness

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 1999 | bouquet from vanilla, spicyness and coniferous forrests. Pure elegance in taste. Good acidity. Paired with a Basque cheesecake. — 3 years ago

Nic Anderson

9.5

Yum! So smooth. Cherries, strawberries, licorice, and smells of rich soil and floral. Paired perfectly with ribeye and chocolate cheesecake. Goodness. — 5 years ago

Erika Bird

8.9

Sweet n defends well against cheesecake — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Perfect pair of pairings to eggs in a curry sauce over jasmine rice. Good to have the backyard egg factory 👍 — 6 years ago

Ross Chernin

9.3

Beautiful fruity raspberry. Pairs amazing with rhubarb cheesecake. Looking for something with age but still fresh fruit after an earthy night.

Raspberries and truffle on the nose, velvety on the palate with the — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

A very nice SB. Pours a light to medium straw color in the glass. Viscous. The nose is peach and honeysuckle and a hint of lemon. Full bodied SB from the start with a soft, rich mouthfeel. Peach, pear and lemon cheesecake. Sharp acidity still from front to back with great finish and went well with Calamari, Salmon and a spicy fish dish. Probably would have paired well with lemon cheesecake since this note is in abundance on the front.... but it was GONE before it got to that. If this isn't current vintage, it's only one vintage off...these are typically held back a few years and I think that does these WELL. Bravo Jones Family. — 8 years ago

James Fura

9.6

Special treat, factory direct from bodegas Gonzales Byass. Better shared with those who appreciate a special sherry. 30 years in the making, very sweet, very complex. Loved it. — 9 years ago

with Naara

Tree Kilpatrick

9.4

The standard French drawing of the Château label. Color of blood. Deep red. Smells like cherry, pumpkin pie spices and potpourri. Maybe a little berry cheesecake? Flavors are nice. Complex and dense. Cherry mixed with green herbs. Nice chewy tannins. Fresh for a red. Perfumed. Black licorice and black cherry in black tea! This is lovely. The two grapes complement each other and this is one of my go to terroirs. Well worth the $14 splurge at Grocery Outlet. — 4 years ago

Megann El

9.0

Easy drink almost like dessert. Tasted like strawberry cheesecake! Wow. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Nose has amazing Gardenia aromas, sweet honey, freshly milled white pepper and cold wax.

Palate has over-ripe cantaloupe, honey drizzle on green melon, (light) lemon/orange zest and juiced Clementine (faint). Light on the acidity and a bit long on the finish. Decanted 60m. (92-93 points, very nice)

Spectacular pairing to fried eggs (backyard egg factory paying its dues even in the cold of winter) over toasted couscous, softened garlic & red onion, fresh green onion and the star of the dish za'atar (I could eat this on cereal!). — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Pale Lemon in colour. Smoky sulphidic notes - struck match to the max - like a burnt matchbox factory. A totally different story on the beautiful medium + bodied palate verging on opulent. A sweetish peachy palate - downright delicious. Some good judges say this is the best Chardonnay in Australia. If not, definitely in the top 3. Wonderful with fresh oysters. — 6 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

Fresh olive and sugar free boysenberry chutney waft in this nose.

More of that sugar free fruit leather, purple sage and fig smoked over cedar staves.
Good foggy fruit play with a dark back palette, where anise and herbaceous acidity take this wine to frontal chewy tannic afterthought.
Lingering chilly bits. Poor Alexander. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was the Champagne I selected for our Plate & Bottle dinner last weekend to pair with the cheese and apps reception. Appetizers & cheese were Gougeres with Gruyere and Cherry Mostarda. Summer Spoons with Melon, Basil, Tomato, Whipped Burrata. Caviar Cheesecake with Smoked Salmon.

Not only is this Champagne beyond serviceable, the people I’ve had it with need to stop being surprised how good it is each time we open it, including me. In addition to being very good, it prices at an incredible value. You’ll be hard pressed (next to impossible) to find a better Champagne for the money.

It has a beautiful body, nice acidity and small bubbles. Peach, apple, pear, lemon, lime, brioche, spring flowers and paired perfectly with the Caviar Cheesecake with Smoked Salmon. Poured from Magnum.

Hedy, our friend & Chef dishes are amazing. If she wanted to open her own restaurant, she would earn at least a Michelin Star and perhaps two. You can find her on FB @Plate&Bottle If you live in the Bay Area a must experience! — 8 years ago