David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Birthed the year we were married and one of the more stunning producers we learned to embraced.

Love you endlessly Sofia! ❤️

Just picked when we were married & likely still in tank.

I can’t tell you enough how much you need to find a well aged & stored bottle. — 3 months ago

Atticus Honore

9.4

This is bizarre but excellent, very dry, traditional out of a unique varietal — 2 years ago

with Hallie

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”

The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.

The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.

Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,

Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.

The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.

All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

100% Tank Vinified! Pale lemon with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with slight floral notes. On the palate flavors of apple, peach and melon with a lemon citrus tang. Medium finish, lively acidity, ending with citrus mineral character. Good value! — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Deep Violet color with aromas of dark fruit, licorice, floral and earthy herbs, non-oaked aged from dry-farmed vineyard planted entirely to Tempranillo at high elevation, tank fermented and bottled without fining, filtration or SO2. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry, licorice, earthy herbs and tobacco notes. Drying fine tannins, medium finish ending with earthy notes. Drink now! — 2 years ago

Brandon Beldengreen-Karas

9.4

Rated 99 points by WA, and for good reason. The first release for Arterberry Maresh’s new Tan Fruit project, the Tank Fruit expresses beautiful white peaches, cashews, honey suckle with a very long, clean finish. — 3 years ago

Philip Patston

9.0

Taking a Kansas beer to a Super Bowl party hosted by SF fans. Perfect. And the beer is good too! — 5 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.2

Beautiful wine I had last night. Still has a few more years left in the tank. Seamless with no hard edges. — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Annual Cliff Lede valentine's dinner in their tank room.  Always a great time with wine, food, live music (plenty of pours on the wine)

WINES:
2015 FEL Brut sparkling
2021 Cliff Lede Marla Blanc(semillon)
2020 FEL Pinot Noir
2019 Cliff Lede High Fidelity cab
2009 Cliff Lede Songbook cab
2019 Cliff Lede Songbook cab

DINNER:
Appetizers of Kumamoto oysters, Maine lobster arancini, goat cheese coquette.
Beet Salad
Potato gnocchi with truffle
Prime beef tenderloin with truffles
Chocolate framboise and red velvet cake — 2 years ago

with Karin and Brenda

Shay A

9.6

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

Theorem was one of our highlights last year, so we made sure a return visit was lined up this year. Base of Diamond Mtn with one of the most beautiful properties I’ve seen. Over the last 12 months, they’ve added a couple new wines (with more to come from Moon Mountain). TRB is the winemaker.

In the running for red wine of the trip. When visiting last year, I preferred the ‘14 (ripe, balanced, savory) over the ‘15 (more acidity, touch lighter, high toned)...this ‘13 takes the best of each and marries them. This is a classic high end TRB Cabernet from a stellar vintage. Truffles raspberries, candied black cherries, cocoa dusted mixed berry pie and graphite aromatics accompanied by sweet blueberries, freshly squeezed blackberries, toffee and espresso, baking spices, and fine grained tannins. Built like a tank. Superb. — 5 years ago