Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1982 vintage. Last tasted 6.1.24 (9.4) and nearly 9 years ago (9.0). Courtesy of Monsieur @Bill Bender. Sweet fill. Opened with a Durand. Cork 95% saturated. A little reticent in the early going and decanted a third of the bottle to see if that would pull the juice out of a sullen funk. It did, so the remainder got decanted whilst throwing much less sed than expected. Medium body still. Slightly brickish and plenty fleshy with well-integrated complexity. Very pleasant and lingering finish. A great bottle with more than could reasonably be expected at this juncture. Thank you, Bill! 4.24.26. — 2 months ago

with Bill

Jay Kline

9.2

This was presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appeared deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. There’s slight staining of the tears and the viscosity appears medium+. On the nose the wine is intense. It’s slightly funky with an almost cheese rind sort of thing going on. There’s a combination of red and dark fruits with some purple flowers, dried tobacco leaf, something that sort of resembled pyrazines and a little bit of baking spices which suggests there’s some French barrique being used. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and fiercely tannic. Acid is medium ++. It’s definitely on the darker fruit side with some black berries and blue berries, black pepper and baking spices which all but confirms French barrique at this point. Long finish. I’m scratching my head with this one. It’s wild. Clean and fresh…but wild.

I could see this in a few places: Moulin-à-Vent is one possibility considering all the darker fruit and firm structure. However, I find some real Italian sensibilities to this wine. Despite the monumental structure, I cannot place this in northern Italy. Given the presence of French barrique, I could see this being a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Super Tuscan with a little Syrah and Sangiovese for good measure. So that was my call: 2015 Super Tuscan.

Wow…what a lovely surprise. I mistook the Rotundone for pyrazines (a recurring issue for me) which had me thinking Bordeaux varieties instead of Syrah. And to be fair, we don’t see a lot of Côte Rôtie at Tasting Group. This was my first time tasting the 2016 “La Chavaroche” and while it was a real treat (big thanks to the generous member of the group), it was also a reminder as to why I cellar my bottles of “La Chavaroche” for so long. This is a wee babe and frankly, pretty tough for me to love right now. That being said, the quality and character is unquestionable. I say give it until 2030+ and these will light up your right prefrontal cortex like a supernova.
— 4 years ago

Rob N

9.1

This wine was quite tart — granny smith apple. But the intensity of flavor was remarkable. Afterwards Rombauer tasted subdued by comparison, albeit much oakier. Very little oak, if any, that I could detect on this one. — 5 years ago

Wulf Losee

9.0

My 2020 rating and my 2023 rating (below).

This wine is 9 years old but it’s still really too young to drink. I think it will take another decade before it mellows out. This is the most intense GSM I’ve ever tasted! — Or rather, it’s an SMG with a little V. Mint and oregano on the nose. Perhaps a little tobacco, too. unripe cherries on the front, and they transition into a complex but astringent tannic structure at the mid-palate. These are redeemed by some softer tannins at the end. Nice finish with some mineral high notes. Frankly, this wine is pretty harsh in its current state. I’m giving it a 9.0 based on its potential. I’m going to try to put another one of these bottles down for another five years, and I’ll report back. Potentially this could be a 9.5 in a decade.

———

It’s late in 2023 and I’m checking in on this wine again. I can’t believe how much is changed in three years. I’m not increasing my rating though. This wine seems mature now, and it may be starting on the downhill side. I thought it would last longer, but I stored it suboptimally by mistake

The herbal notes on the nose are gone replaced by intense cherries. The tobacco is more pronounced. The fruit on the front has mostly faded. The tannic structure remains — however its astringency has mellowed. But the finish is a bit stronger — with some mineral notes that remind of the wines from volcanic soils. Long finish. I’m not gonna change my rating —distinctly different but still very nice.

Yikes! It’s fading in the decanter as I write this! Yes, I got to this bottle just in time! — 6 years ago

GaryWEdwards

8.9

Nice summer red , fruit forward, that needs a little patience after opening. Probably not worth laying down for 10 years but it could easily handle it. I suggest open for an hour to best enjoy. Cherry comes through. Maybe lavender — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Good wine, but I'm just not vibing with it. May just need some time to shed all that rich fruit. Decent minerality, but could do with a little more cut.

NB: Not my photo - took it from Google Images — 7 years ago

Will Blakely

9.1

Heck yeah, chenin! Chenin might be my favorite white grape- it made the first white wine that blew my mind, and it is consistently delicious.
This particular offering showcases its versatility with an oxidative style, more savory and rich. The acid is plentiful and enjoyable, mouthwatering even. I could not stop pouring more; frankly, it was better than the food I ate with it.
I only hesitate to recommend it due to its polarizing nature. — 7 years ago

Some Dude

9.0

I can never say too much about how wonderful Gruner is, and this one was fabulous. We served it with steak, alongside a chateauneuf du pape and a Barolo (!), and it held its own. This is the little wine that could. Delightful in every way. — 10 months ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Bright light purple dress. Pure explosive nose on fruits (red and black) and flowers, typical of carbonic maceration. In mouth the first is light, airy, confirming the nose; carried by a beautiful necessary freshness balancing the little terroir extraction. A modern, "natural" wine, on the fruits at first fond that does not prevent a certain complexity from expressing itself on a peppery and mineral finish. A very beautiful juice to drink from the aperitif, which blindly could pass for a rosé.

Robe légère violine éclatante. Nez pure explosifs sur les fruits (rouge et noirs) et fleurs, typique des vins en macération carbonique. En bouche l’abord est léger, aérien, confirmant le nez; porté par une belle fraîcheur nécessaire équilibrant le peu de terroir extrait. Un vin moderne, “nature”, sur les fruits á l’abord friand n’empêchant pas une certaine complexité de s’exprimer sur une finale poivrée et minérale. Un très beau jus à boire des l’apéro, qui à l’aveugle c’est pourrait passer pour un rosé. — 4 years ago

Elizabeth Harris

9.9

This is a wine I imagine sipping all summer on the coast, feeling the cool breeze balance out the day heat as I watch the sunset. Its so juicy, naturally sweet, fruity, light, and crisp! Just delicious! It's a wine you'll be sipping on the porch, with a salad, or maybe with a light caprese pizza.

Color: Very light that it almost clear like water.

Aroma: It could be the ambiance, but it smells fresh and sweet like white grape juice on the warm summer afternoons growing up in SoCal. It smells very juicy, like peaches and apricots. It has an aroma that reminds me of white peach tea, a super subtle floral aroma.

Taste: A light, delicate, refreshing flavor that's crisp and juicy in feel. It's very light in body with some lovely sweetness. I find the finish on my back teeth and cheeks and not on the tongue. It tastes like summer. It tastes juicy with very little minerality and just enough acid to provide some balance. — 4 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.1

Runner-up for Wine Of The Night but definitely the pleasant surprise of the night. Little funky nose and not particularly effervescent for a sparkler. Acidity is muted and feels like a “real wine” as opposed to those chemically enhanced science experiments that pass for luxury wine life in some quarters. Definitely would serve this to my most discerning guests like @Sam Shepard @Brendan Devine and if I could be so blessed, the GOATs of the wine world like @Ron R @Mike R @Willie Carter, a little something off the beaten path. — 5 years ago

with Caroline

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We met & visited a number of Bordeaux producers while 2005 was still in the tank or just into barrel.

In talking with Winemaker-Owners about the 2005 vintage, you could see the twinkle in their eye as they were asked questions. They knew they had Bordeaux magic for the first time in five years.

We tasted this at what was deemed an “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting.” This was on the higher end of that tasting at $35. It is delivering a little better than its young expectation and the jewel to date from that tasting.

With and without protein, the 05 Chateau de Candale moved between 92-93.

The nose reveals; warm alcohol, immersed fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked, dark cherries, dark spices, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender.

This is a very good first look at this 2005. God willing, I have another look in on bottle two of three in another five years. This 05 has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.

The body is full, tarry with big, sticky, chewy tannins. Baked/poached, floral fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, pomegranate, dark spices with a heavy, heated presence, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, loads of graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, dry top soils, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, muted eucalyptus, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender. The acidity is round & full just holding, for me, the slightly higher ABV in check. The long, heavy, dark, well knitted, more earth/spice dominated finish is showing the quality of the vintage. Yet, it still needs more time to be its best.

Photos of; Chateau de Candale, harvested Merlot fruit, recent buyers of Chateau de Candale - Thibaut Decoster and Magali Decoster and their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.7

My notes seem a little lacking here. I believe this was the last dry riesling opened in the night and I didn't have much of it. All I could say was this - Whoa. High pressure wine. Superbly elegant balanced. 97.

NB: MFW gave this wine a whopping 99 pts. I'm gonna leave their tasting notes here to make up for my lack thereof.

This offers a breathtaking yet finely sizzled nose made of peach, pear, bergamot, sea breeze, flowery elements, mint and flint stone. The wine proves superbly elegant and refined on the palate. It develops density and a compact structure coupled to juicy complexity. Salty elements add freshness to the gorgeously focused palate. The finish is all about airiness, precision, focus and elegance. The overall balance is that found in the finest of Clos Sainte Hune or some of the mythical bottles of Künstler from the 1990s. This is a modern-day legend in the making! — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Probably a little more full bodied than the Wrattonbully Shiraz from Bellwether a few nights ago. It’s interesting that Shiraz was initially THE grape In Coonawarra back decades ago but now much better known for Cabernet Sauvignon. A whiff of vanilla oak together with black plum and dried meat/charcuterie notes on nose and palate. Great value at only $30 per bottle. Redman are one of the original producers In Coonawarra established in 1908. Bought at the Cellar door. Had another bottle 146 weeks later on 18/2:/26 with similar notes. Good but not great. Excellent value. — 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Thought this blind was an aged red burg, so colour me surprised when it was revealed to be a young NZ pinot. Clearly a little more developed than it should be (colour and aromas), but credit where credit’s due, this was quite elegant. Even after the reveal I could not detect that marmalade finish I find so often in NZ pinot’s. This was all red cherries and ripe strawberries, with savoury spices and earthy notes. Perhaps the quality of the oak, which left much to be desired, and rich velvety texture were the only indications of it’s origin. Finished a touch short. There were wines with more intrigue on the table so I didn’t drink much of it, but it definitely wasn’t a bad drop. One to revisit. — 4 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.1

Surely young, surely delicious !!
I consider the vernatsch, which we call in Italian Schiava gentile, our petit pinot noir.
This is an established label of an old vines version, a rare example of schiava that does age very well.
This is a wine somehow that if you blind taste it you could mistake for a white, absence of tannin and good freshness. With time it builds up a bit of flesh, but it does remains generally a grape to drink when young. Best examples are in the St. Magdalener denomination.
Still i enjoy this label everytime and also the other schiava Girlan produces.
Cheers🍷 — 4 years ago

Daniel M

9.2

The nose is made of lemon, crushed rocks, chalk and there is little touch of juicy pear that pops up after a while and when the wine is warming up slightly. We could add a tiny touch of vanilla from the barrel but it's very discreet. Lovely. This is everything I'm expecting from a 1er cru chablis. The palate is made of a massive acid backbone, almost overwhelming! There is matter to balance it but it's trodding on a very thin edge. Notes of chalk and lemon, and lemon peel are showing all around the way making for a super dynamic, vivid mouthfeel. The finish lasts for ever with this lemony and chalky notes but that vanilla touch that appeared in the rear on the nose makes a discreet comeback in the end and on the sides and that almost reminds me of white burgundies from way down south around meursault and puligny. Awesome, intellectual wine that delivers! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Meat sauce night part II. Always even more complex after it refrigerates overnight.

The nose expresses, ruby, lush, floral fruits of; blackberries, both black & regular plums, dark cherries, black raspberries with strawberries & creamy raspberries along the edge of the glass. Still a good presence of toasted barrel, anise to black licorice, vanilla, dark spice, nutmeg & clove, sweet tarriness, French expresso roast, mixed berry cola, used leather, dry & fresh tobacco leafs, sandstone & limestone, black pepper, herbaceousness-sage dominate, graphite, shades of menthol & mint, underbrush, dry clay, dry crushed rocks, stones, rich, turned, dark earth with bright, fresh & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple framed in violets & a field of lavender.

The body is round, juicy, clean & full. Wire to wire beautiful on the palate. The tension, structure, length and balance have hit second gear but, still needs more time in the bottle to flourish. This is bottling that will long haul to 30 years plus with proper storage. I will be saving at least one bottle to that age. The tannins are still sizable & meaty. Ruby, ripe, lush, candied/floral fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, both black & regular plums, slight sour/tart dark cherries, black raspberries with strawberries & creamy raspberries. Still a good presence of toasted barrel/shavings, anise to black licorice, dark spice with heat, sweet tarriness, French expresso roast, bright mixed berry cola/licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, dry & fresh tobacco leafs, sandstone & limestone, black pepper, herbaceousness-sage dominate, graphite, shades of menthol & mint, underbrush, dry clay, dry crushed rocks, stones, rich, turned, dark earth dry top soil with bright, fresh & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple framed in violets & field of lavender. The acidity is a cool stream & light on its feet. The finish is well balanced, elegant, nicely kittened that goes from ripe & juicy into dry tannins, earth & spice persisting endlessly.

The only faults that stick out to me is the ABV (a little hot) & believe they could dial back the amount of new oak & barrel toasting level. These do calm some with more time in the decanter but, not enough. — 6 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.1

Waxy citrus and mineral, with a bit of that petrol that reminds of Riesling - could be even better with a little time to come together — 7 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

@Dominik SonaYou're the best! Walks off into the cellar, comes out carrying a massive bottle in a sleeve that could barely cover the label. I just love how ridiculous magnum riesling bottles look! I mean, we could see that it's a Koehler-Ruprecht for sure and the table shot straight to a warm vintage on the first sip (warm finish). Didn't take long for Franzi to identify the vintage and the rest of the pieces fell together subsequently (the body = spatlese, forget identifying the "R"). Guess making wines at the winery itself helps 😂

What to say about this wine? It's pretty intense, but the acidity and minerals kept it in check. Finely strung with pitch-perfect tension. This is the kind of wine that needs very little to push it over the edge into the hedonistic territory. Begs for time (like other 09's), as it's true elegance only revealed itself with air (bring on the crushed rocks and chamomile!). The nose is deep, with exotic fruit aromas, flint, toasted almond, florals, and that classic KR funk. Immense palate with lots of lychee and grapefruit, plus superb minerality with air. Creamy and long finish. Yes, the wine finishes a little warm and could be touch more focus, but it's a real class act for 09'! Power without weight, if you ask me. — 7 years ago