Russ W

9.3

Bought at the winery, cracked open for anniversary dinner. A rich wine, have decanted it for 7 hours and it’s still somewhat shy. Plenty of life left here, primary fruit and secondaries poking through the veil. Black fruit, cassis, olive perfume, sweet and woodsy nose. Texturally weighty, w/decent acid (14.8%abv), and muy picante on the finish. Spicy. — 3 years ago

with Krystal

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.4

The 2020 Les Mémoires is a round and elegant Cabernet Franc. It's a not-trying-hard wine that exudes a sense of calm and ease as it rolls around your mouth seamlessly. Maybe it's the 100-year-old vines doing their thing. There's no oak getting in the way, allowing the purity of fruit to shine. It remains true to its variety and place, while its light spice meets dark fruits. Forget the fruit flavors, this is all about refined texture and its fine, chalky, powdery veil of tannins lightly coating the palate. Long and textural, this is not a wine you'll regret... (Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, August 2022)
— 4 years ago

Martinez

9.2

Clean, precise Vin Jaune (100% Savagnin wine, aged under a veil of flor for 6 years and 3 months), from a plot in the village of Menétru-Le-Vignoble, on clay soils. Farmed biodynamically, like all other plots. Pale yellow. Complex nose, reminiscent of a Fino, with aromas of yeast and some subtle spicy notes. Elegant, saline, easy to drink — 5 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Raised under veil. Just shy of being a vin juane. A pinch of acetaldehyde goodness mixed with mild oxidative notes, but not totally sherryfied. All the nuts (walnut, hazelnut, almond) golden apple, and pear. Long finish with caramel, more nuts and a hint of petrol. Round, smooth and viscous. Surprisingly good pairing with souvlaki. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

captivating blend by winemaker Michel Friou, the 2018 Almaviva Red Wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Carmenère, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Weighing in at 14.9% alcohol, the wine was aged for eighteen months in French oak (73% new) before bottling, a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch less Carmenère than the ’17 bottling. Right away the allure of green bell pepper notes entice alongside Turkish coffee, creme de cassis and blueberry compote that all take shape in the glass. The palate is dense and plush but shows a sterling veil of tension that runs through the core of the wine. Layers of anise, green bell pepper, blackberry cordial, and Black Forest Cake all parade on the palate. Absolutely gorgeous to consume in its youth, this really needs a two hour decant fully evolve if you can’t hold back from enjoying this gorgeous wine. Drink 2022-2040- 97 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The absolutely gorgeous 2016 ‘Queens Road’ was aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. This stunning wine takes on a hedonistic nose with banana, buttercream, green papaya and suggestions of nutmeg infused hazelnuts that all marvelously combine in the glass. Mouth-watering acidity and a sensational texture greet you alongside a strong veil of salinity. The combination of weight and freshness is outstanding. Once on the palate you are enticed by the seemingly endless layers of orchard and tropical fruits along with nutty and stony undertones complete this sensational wine. While a delight to savor right now, the 2016 ‘Queens Road’ still has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2028- 94 — 6 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.3

Tasted at the winery with winemaker César Deriaux, the 2018 L‘Étoile Savagnin is delicious. It has aged for 3 years under a veil of flor in a dedicated part of their cellar which is a bit warmer and drier than the rest. It wafts from the glass with a wide array of nutty aromas, bread dough, bruised apple, dried ginger and a pinch of curry. The powerful mouthfeel is driven by excellent flavor concentration and balanced by lively acids. A lingering saltiness marks the complex finish and calls for a refill. — 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Not typically a producer I like, but this was solid. Although the 17’ Il Poggione BdM was certainly more tannic and robust than the 18’ Biondi Rosso, I thought it was still quite elegant with its zesty acidity, floral aromas, and a chewy palate fruit. Needed some 3 hours in the decanter to peep through the veil and calm the tannins. Dark-fruited, with tobacco, spice, wood, dried roses, and herbs. Tasty. — 4 years ago

web bond

9.4

Veil of brett, but not suffocating personality of wine. Exotic, wild, Verset character. — 4 years ago

Martinez

9.2

Exceptional Vin Jaune 💛

Savagnin aged in oak under a veil of flor for 6 years and 3 months as required, plus a few extra years in bottle. Elegant, complex nose with aromas of hazelnuts, spices, sourdough and a hint of caramel. Dry, mineral, balanced. Green apple, loads of hazelnuts and a very long finish. Should have bought more. — 5 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

A little bit of funk on the nose at first then a big bright cherry note takes the stage along with hay. The palate is very fruit forward with that big bright cherry note all over the place, a good width and a soft mouthfeel with an almost sweet, delicate layer on the sides. A nice tannins layer kicks in in mid palate with a drying veil over a long fruity finish. It's simple yet delicious. More of that! — 5 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Intense and expressive. Vibrant dark red fruit cloaked in a light veil of oak that integrated with the wine over time adding to the back bone and complexity. Dry finish. — 6 years ago

with Tammy

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

Sourced from a host of vineyards, the 2018 ‘Washington State’ Chardonnay was aged for nine months in 100% new French oak before bottling. The nose is gorgeous with bright pear and citrus rind tones that mingle with vanilla cream and shades of baking spices that all march in unison in the glass. The palate is ripe and beautifully textured with layers of citrus zest, vanilla cream, baking spices and amazing length and tension. A light veil of salinity caps off what is truly an outstanding Chardonnay with some good aging potential. Drink 2020-2030- 93 — 6 years ago

Kevin Cahoon

9.2

High toned floral aromas with peach fruit wrapped in a smoky mineral veil. Lush and dense on palate with floral notes, apricot and pear fruit with a smoky spiced accent. — 7 years ago

John Tan

8.9

Gout de Jaune. Intense, petrol bomb nose. A little austere.

The textbook 2013 L'Étoile Vin Jaune has a deep golden color and a captivating nose with aromas of exotic spices, iodine, forest floor, green nuts and a touch of volatility that added freshness. 2013 was a cooler year in the region, and despite the 14.5% alcohol, the wine feels quite fresh and balanced, with clean, focused flavors, pungent and long, very tasty, with a bitter and salty touch on the finish. It's very long and has a nice combination of power and elegance. This matured for the mandatory six-plus years in barrels under a thin veil of yeasts and was bottled in the 62-centiliter Vin Jaune bottle, clavelin. 2,500 bottles produced. RP93+, 2013; issue date Apr 2021 — 3 years ago

Maryam

8.9

Cherry pepper! — 4 years ago

Vanessa

8.9

Domaine Jean Bourdy has been a family-owned and -managed operation since 1579. It’s both heart-warming and inspiring to imagine how each generation has carefully carried forward the family tradition and passion for producing wines expressive of the terroir of Jura, France, located between Burgundy and Switzerland.

We’re new to Savagnin, an ancient, subalpine variety indigenous to eastern France. All we can say is “wow” we were floored (no pun intended) by the aromatics of this pale gold wine.

From the outset, it offered a bouquet of dried herbs, anise, licorice, white pepper, Comté cheese rind, bruised apple, toffee, nutmeg, and nuttiness.  We gave it some time to decant and open up. Overall, it had a salty, briny, savory character with excellent food-pairing potential. We paired it with sauteed shrimp and it was lovely.  

This wine was aged four years in old, neutral oak barrels under a veil of yeast – sous voile – contributing to the secondary and tertiary aromatics.

If you’re a lover of Manzanilla or Fino Sherry, and haven’t experienced this wine yet, you must try it!  I hate to even compare, because it offers its own, distinct personality and history, but it shares characteristics associated with maturation below a layer of lees - the flor.   

Domain Bourdy, Savagnin, Cotes du Jura AOC. Vintage 2012. ABV 12.5%. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

Now at the ten year mark, the 2010 ‘Romas’ by Clarendon Hills, is really hitting its stride. Right away the red florals and cigar box tones entice, giving way to layers of pretty red fruits and shades of wintergreen that all march in unison. The palate is plush but also quite vibrant, with a great veil of tension. Ripe red currants and blood orange zest tones mingle with creosote and bing cherry cordial on the palate. The freshness and viscosity is seriously good here, as is the silky texture. Performing marvelously at the ten year mark, the 2010 ‘Romas’ has another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2030- 93 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

The 2019 Miraval Rose is sourced from their 500 hectare vineyard that is set in valley in the ancient village of Correns in the center of Provence. A blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle, the vineyard is set on limestone and clay soils. A light dusting of salted damp earth combines with pretty rose water and melon tones on the nose. The palate is fresh and wonderfully textured, showing layers of bright melon and red fruit flavors with a great veil of tension. Fantastic now, this beautiful effort will cellar well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2020-2027- 91 — 6 years ago

Lauren Kessinger

9.0

Gentile and refined in color and flavor. A little watermelon, apricot and flowers from behind a wispy veil. A beautiful wine. — 6 years ago