Threshold

Domaine Bart

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2022

David T
9.4

My continued quest to try as many 2022 Burgundies as possible.

15 months in 40% new oak.

When you put this to your nose and then taste, you know you have crossed over to Grand Cru. I would buy this but $300 crosses my price threshold.

The body and mouthfeel are gorgeous. Stunning in fact. Dark, rich, ripe, slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, plum, dark cherries, red cherries, poached strawberries with excellent purple and blueberry hues. There is dark chocolate powder, dark, rich, earth with dry leaves, hue of maple syrup, dry river stone, dry herb buffet, dry tobacco, dry, used leather, barrel shavings, dark spice, light baking spices, some vanillin, black tea, wet, grey volcanic clays, candied, bright, fresh, red, dark florals with violets, near perfect acidity and a gorgeous, elegant, well made in every way long finish that lasts minutes.

If $300 a bottle burgundy is no issue for you, a definite buy.

This one is best in show of the tasting.
— 16 days ago

Bob, Tom and 11 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay 2005

Sayonara, 2021!! You brought periods of joy and excitement, apprehension and challenge, intense sorrow and grief; a panoply of emotions spanning the spectrum of the human experience…

So, we’re putting one foot in front of the other, crossing the threshold into 2022 with hearts full of gratitude and hope, while sipping delicious wine and savoring this quiet moment together.

We want to pause to say THANK YOU all for being a part of our wine journey and a constant source of inspiration, positivity, and learning for us. Cheers and Happy New Year!
— 3 years ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Milissa and 22 others liked this
Serge S

Serge S

🥂🎄

Domaine Parent

Selection Pomone Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2017

Shay A
9.1

Attended a virtual tasting with Anne Parent, winemaker for Domaine Parent. The Domaine started making wine back in the 17th century. Many thanks to my good friend @Mike R for setting it all up.

What makes this wine special (aside from the fact that it’s only produced in special years) is the fact that it’s not a typical Bourgogne...70% of this wine comes from the Village of Pommard (70+yr old vines) and 30% of this wine comes from premiers crus vineyards. Clearly a step up from most producers typical Bourgogne, which is a massive amalgamation of fruit. A true testament to Domaine Parent and the threshold for quality.

30min decant and then followed it over the next two hours. Beautiful out of the gate, with so much floral and spice aromatics. Potpourri, spiced rhubarb, dried cranberries, fleshy black cherries, black tea herbal nuances and a brief sweet note of brown sugar. Fairly mellow and plush on the palate with classic underbrush, typical Pommard dried red and black fruits, and a tart, energetic and delicious finish. Nothing thin or overly herbal here. Like a Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast with more restraint. Wonderful QPR.
— 4 years ago

Tom, Eric and 43 others liked this
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

@Shay A just brilliant description
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Great write up. Thanks

Calera Wine Company

Reed Vineyard Pinot Noir

Approaches the oak threshold but does not cross. Pretty substantial bottle! — 2 years ago

Azienda Agricola Cianfagna

Militum Christi Aglianico Riserva 2008

Pardon the absence - we’ve been ravaged by COVID (despite being 3x vaxxed) and our olfactory sense has finally crossed the threshold—no longer feel like I’m smelling everything though a thick blanket. For our first wine back we chose a big one - 2008 Molise aglianico from @Lyle Fass - served cellar temp we’re able to pick up on some nuances - leather, tannin, medium finish, but not much else. Lovely to be drinking wine again and looking forward to full olfactory recovery. — 3 years ago

Alsu Shakirova
with Alsu
Bob, Jim and 17 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Fingers crossed
Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass Influencer Badge Premium Badge

If any wine can wake up the olfactory senses it’s this wine!
Andrew Schirmer

Andrew Schirmer

Thanks everyone. Doing much better. 90% of olfaction back in service. Stay safe !!

Ruinart

Brut Rosé Champagne

David T
9.2

Another go to n/v Rosé Champange because of quality & availability in 375’s. Although, most people think their recent price increases are unwarranted. In large part, I agree. They just haven’t passed my threshold.

Lots of strawberries, black cherries, blood orange, uncooked rhubarb, blackberries, peach, Rainer cherries, loads of white spice w/ heat, sea fossils, dry yeast, some bread dough, weighed, crispy, crunchy minerals, excellent, powdery chalkiness, red flowers & both pink & red rose, lively, crisp acidity, great length and balance with polished, ripe fruits and falling onto pronounced minerality on the long set.

The bottom photos tell you all you need to know as to why the region of Champange is so excellent. Not many places in the world have that kind of chalk & for me, that’s what makes them special.
— 3 years ago

Shay, Aravind and 20 others liked this

Bevan Cellars

Ontogeny Napa Valley Red Blend 2017

Ron R
9.1

I bought half a case of the 17, since the price and quality didn’t exceed my pain threshold. Very extracted and dense. You can certainly taste the fault lines in the vintage, but they are in the background.
Saluting those men and women who paid the ultimate price, and those who serve, or have served. Thank you one and all.
— 2 years ago

Jose, Daniel and 44 others liked this
Jose Lorenzo

Jose Lorenzo

Appreciate your thoughts and all the heroes I had the pleasure to serve and be mentored by. The good in my life comes from the lessons from those heroes. 🙏🙏🙏

Brice

Bouzy Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

Lyle Fass
9.3

Beautiful nose. Yeasty, bready, lemony, mineral. Hint of saline. Just lovely. Has that BDB intensity and driving force. Palate is juicy, clean and pure with wonderful lemon fruit and terrific sappiness and lovely treacly texture. Super elegant and intense. Just so good but will be better with air. With air this gets so refined and so elegant and compact. Almost a 9.4. Think it will cross the threshold. — 3 years ago

Brent, Andrew and 6 others liked this

Azienda Agraria Lisini

Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2015

Past notes apply, but let's go through the motions. Decanted for 45 minutes. Nose: Tobacco, pine needles, soil, and a cherry base. Deep ruby in color, medium plus bodied, medium plus alcohol, medium acidity. More red cherry emerges on the palate, and pipe tobacco... More precisely, my dad's Captain Black from the 1980s. Taste not quite as complex as the smell. Finish is medium. Tannins are perfectly centered. This just misses my 94 point threshold.

93 points
— 3 years ago

Matt, Byron and 14 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2006

Very reticent nose. Lovely secondary fruit on palate, has plenty of stuffing, but mute aromatically. On day 3, developing an interesting cigar and ashtray, even meaty aroma. Love produttori, but complexity and fruit I expected never fully emerged with this bottle. Maybe in a transitional period or just an off bottle? (No detectable TCA but my understanding is this could also be consistent with below threshold presence) — 5 years ago

Chris, Eric and 20 others liked this
Lyle Fass

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Low level TCA for sure