Her Mir Tage

9.7

DRC Richebourg 2017: A fragrance untainted by the world～

The 2017 DRC Richebourg is a perfume explosion—a captivating interplay of woody clove and spice, both flamboyant and impeccably controlled. As we tasted, I asked my friends if they knew of a perfume that echoed this wine's aroma. They replied they had never come across one, but would purchase it without hesitation if they did. To my nose, the closest relative would be L'Artisan Parfumeur’s Dzongkha.

It offers that bracing, airy coolness with smoky, peppery spices, laced with the subtle sweet-herbaceous touch of magnolia and clove—reminiscent of the complex scent that washes over you the moment you push open the massive door of an ancient, solitary temple: the crisp, thin air of the high altitudes meeting the first ethereal wisp of incense smoke. Then unfolds layers of ancient wood, the dust of old books, musk, and earthy vetiver. The overall character is intensely crystalline, spiritual, and weightless—evoking visions of high plateaus and vast wilderness, of isolated lamaseries. Some DRCs also possess a temple-like quality, but theirs is a temple down here among us, bustling with devotees and heavy with the common smoke of popular devotion— a more earthly presence. — 10 months ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Second tasting one year apart and still as much pleasure on this original Australian Syrah cuvée shaped by Alain Graillot. We find the purity of the fruit from the nose, with floral accents, and in a less anticipated way green notes such as Vetiver or Eucalyptus. Plus the peppery notes here very fine but well present. In the mouth it is charmingly flexible, almost confit but paradoxically dry. To be tested at least once for syrah lovers in search of originality!

Deuxième dégustation à un an d’intervalle et toujours autant de plaisir sur cette cuvée originale de Syrah australienne façonnée par Alain Graillot. On y retrouve la pureté du fruits dès le nez, avec des accents floraux, et de manière moins attendues des notes vertes type Vétiver ou Eucalyptus. Plus les notes poivrées ici très fines mais bien présentes. En bouche c’est d’une souplesse charmante, quasi confituré mais paradoxalement sec. A tester au moins une fois pour les amateurs de syrah en quête d’originalité! — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Very nice interpretation of Malbec "on the fruit" on lands usually reserved for Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah ... in addition to the usual notes of the grape variety: prune, very ripe cherry, graphite, fresh ink etc. we have notes of fresh herbs, mint, verbena, vetiver. Round and crunchy, very good for its price range.

Très belle interprétation du Malbec « on the fruit » sur des terres habituellement dévolues aux Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah... outres les notes habituelle du cépage: pruneau, cerise très mûre, graphite, encre fraîche etc. On a ici des notes d’herbes fraîches, menthe, verveine, Vétiver. Rond et croquant, très bon pour sa gamme de prix. — 5 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.0

Made a butternut squash/burrata/kale/sage/pumpkin seed/fig pizza last night and combined the leftover slice to a pie of Motorino’s I got from Saltwater’s (my coffeeshop) neighbor in the East Village. I’ve been going to Motorino’s since 2012 and it’s one of my favorite Neapolitan pies in the city.

Sharp as a sporty, citrus cologne of vetiver, pine, and sage. Lemon peel and grapefruit mist. Really love this unusually fresh and zippy bouquet.

It’s got the freshness of a Chablis and the citrus and melon notes of Sauvignon Blanc. Love the high tone acidity here — it just works. It doesn’t try to belabor itself with subtlety, just announcing straight up, this is who I am. Grapefruit, melon, lemon rind, sage, and even some of the juicy unctuous qualities that ripe blackberries can have.

Solid. — 6 years ago

Mark Woodall

9.0

Lots of fun to smell. Look for the toast. Dry. Drink with grilled octopus. Cedar plank fish. — 10 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.3

Precocious and fresh, redolent of honeycomb-spiked alfalfa and white citrus blossoms. Tangerine and honeydew flirting on the nose. Pomace stone baseline.
👉🏻On the palate: Nice, brisk, lime-y acidity, with piquant minerality hovering over a jalapeño jelly soupçon. Padrones, vetiver and 7-Up. Lemongrass and musk. Smile.
👉🏻Finish lingers, in spite of the generally zippy nature of this one. Takeaway is confidence--in crafting a laser-focused but still fun Sauvignon, and a general craving for ceviche, beach breezes and long, unfettered afternoons. — 11 years ago

Alessandro Starita

9.4

The vineyards are treated in the perfect climate. The grapes are harvested by hand after careful selection of the bunches. The must, obtained by soft pressing, lends itself to a gentle maceration on the skins and undergoes a light fining in the bottle before being released for sale. It produces a strong, intense ruby color with violet reflections. It releases aromas of blackberry and cherry, tobacco, chocolate, spices, and vetiver, harmonious and persistent. Great expressiveness and completeness.
This wine is a tribute to this successful combination of craftsmanship and technology, an authentic expression of experimentation. — a year ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.3

Superb dress, brown gold, thin nose reduced nuts, apricot kernels, ginger, straw, vetiver, honeysuckle, of a beautiful finesse with vivacity. The energy of a sweet young wine in the force of age. Balances between polite but still lively young notes, and already an evolution that is being felt. Superb as much to start with as for dessert or on a marbled cheese.

Superbe robe, or brun, nez fin réduit noix, noyaux d’abricot, gingembre, paille, vétiver, chèvrefeuille, d’une belle finesse avec de la vivacité. L’énergie d’un jeune liquoreux dans la force de l’âge. Equilbre entre notes de jeunes polies mais encore vives, et déjà une évolution qui se fait sentir. Superbe autant pour commencer qu’au dessert ou sur un fromage à patte persillée. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Pretty Moulin-à-Vent in typical style of the appellation. Deep ruby color, rich but discreet multiple nose, with notes of raspberry, pepper, herbs (vetiver), undergrowth. Fine mouth. A wine with discreet charm and many subtle nuances that amateurs will appreciate. Great finesse. Can still age 5/10 years.

Très jolie Moulin-à-vent dans style typique de l’appellation. Robe rubis profond, nez multiple riche mais discret, aux notes framboise, poivre, végétal (vétiver), sous-bois. Bouche fine. Un vin au charme discret et de nombreuses nuances subtiles que les amateurs sauront apprécier. Grande finesse. Peut encore vieillir 5/10 ans. — 4 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.0

100% Tempranillo Blanco 12% ABV

I have had Tempranillo Blanco in blends, but never 100% until now.

Nice fruit quality, med+ acidity. Simple characteristics, clean, crisp, “lemony”, straw. Could easily be called a simple Sauv. Blanc or young vine Viura in a blind tasting. Non-descript. Food/table wine. Good with Turkey and sides.

Very nice, recommended, would purchase again.

Personal preference for a 100% blanco from Rioja is Viura. Originally went to store for ‘Vetiver’ (Viura from Ontañón), store had a data entry error and was stocked with Tempranillo Blanco in its place. Happy Accident. — 6 years ago

Jared O'Connell

9.0

Purchased at the Texas winery in March 2018, returned it to its native homeland to sit in our Brooklyn basement for 2 years. Crystals galore on the cork. Gave it about 45 mins of air. Consumed with Le Fond lamb takeout on Easter at the end of week 4 of quarantine. Stewed spring strawberry inside an unfrosted freshly toasted pop tart. lil bit of sautéed portabello mushroom. Put it in your mouth and it’s tart unsweetened cranberry juice with some vibrant bretty thing that jumps around on the tongue. Continues to rich floral bergamot and vetiver and hyacinth. Finishes back to ocean spray cranberry cocktail. Lots of sediment. — 6 years ago

Nicholas Livingston

9.4

'66 and oh boy! Fresh cassis in that thick skinned gamey tension, a vetiver green edge to balance the cracked pepper and tobacco. Tasting this one tastes what so many fuss about in vieux BDX. Superlative! — 11 years ago

jerod peitsmeyer

9.4

mid palette to die for — 11 years ago

Shuhui Ng

9.0

Dark purple, heavy bodied, moderate tannins… velvety mouthfeel with bouquet opening up notes of plum, black berries, herbs, vetiver, black pepper, liquorice, leather and caramel. Great pairing with red meat 😋 — a year ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Second tasting one year apart.. still as charming. Raspberry colour, unfiltered. In addition to the varietal notes, the bouquet tends towards the peppery herbs, between tea, vetiver, rose, dried herbs. As the wine opens, notes of blood orange, or sangria, develop giving energy to the whole. The tannins are very fine but persistent, with chew. We would drink it from breakfast.

Deuxième dégustation à un an d’intervalle.. toujours aussi charmant. Robe framboise, non filtré. Outre les notes variétales, le bouquet tend vers le végétal poivré, entre thé, vétiver, rose, herbes séchées. A mesure que le vin s’ouvre, des notes d’orange sanguine, ou sangria se développent donnant du tonus à l’ensemble. Les tanins sont très fin mais persistants, avec de la mâche. On en boirait dès le petit déjeuner. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.2

Very vegetal and fine expression of gamay. Nose mixing cherry, raspberry and herbaceous notes, infused, hay, vetiver. With 4 years of aging 2017 has magnificently evolved on notes of dried flower petals (rose, peony), truffle and humus, the mouth also displays liquorice and root notes. A precise wine, of great delicacy, with very fine tannins. To ventilate a good hour before tasting so as not to miss it. For this price range, it's a very beautiful wine.

Expression très végétale et fine du gamay. Nez mêlant cerise, framboise et notes herbacées, infusées, foin, vétiver. Avec 4 ans de garde 2017 a magnifiquement évolué sur des notes de pétales de fleurs séchées (Rose, pivoine), truffe et humus, la bouche déploie également des notes réglissées et racines. Un vin précis, d’une grande délicatesse, au tanins très fins. A aérer une bonne heure avant dégustation pour ne pas passer à côté. Pour cette gamme de prix c’est un très beau vin. — 5 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.0

Vetiver, pine, cherries. A darkness in its bouquet, I fell in love.

Reminds of an amaretto sour. Tart and succulent. Fun to drink. Bae approves.

Gulpable. — 6 years ago

Tobin Spratte

9.4

Drinking at its peak with complex aromas of petrol, wet silica minerals, dried apricots, vanilla, vetiver, must, lemon, and flowers. Very layered like an exotic perfume. Outstanding. — 8 years ago

Nicholas Livingston

9.4

Trefethen 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley | A pulchritudinous Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from a legendary house which at 22 years on is gloriously balanced and still full of ripe fruit but at an en pointe equipose in a Bordelaise expression a la Saint-Estèphe. Plenty of red currants, lingonberries, dried cranberries, black currants and blackberries but at this age these are underscored with a vetiver aroma, a pheromonal appeal, and a welcomed edge of currant leaf, cedar, allspice and a penetrating life start to finish. — 11 years ago

Anna Azaham

9.0

Flavors of honeycomb, tropical fruit, vanilla and vetiver. Creamy and oaky. Delicious 😊 — 11 years ago

with Max