Tom Garland

9.2

Charlie's(St Helena) Maitre De Chai(Berkeley, CA) wine dinner.

Limited intervention, old school wines using old vine organic grapes from Sonoma/Napa/Sierra foothills.

WINES:
2019 Maitre De Chai Mara Sparkling Solera
2017 Maitre De Chai  Heron Sav Blanc
2017 Maitre De Chai  Heron Chardonnay
2017 Maitre De Chai Stampede Zinfandel
2019 Maitre De Chai Gala Mtn Cab Sav

FOOD:
Canapes: Petaluma fried chicken, smoked St Helena sausage, Tamales Bay oysters, Angwin avocado & Regis Ova cavier.
1st: grilled escarole Caesar salad.
2nd: Jamon Iberico and Rancho Gordo grits.
3rd: Double cut wolf ranch pork chop.
Espresso martini affogato. — 19 days ago

with Brenda

Brad Jensen

9.4

This was the original wine that taught me what Chardonnay was capable of, and this one, with 8 years of aging still impressed. My friend Eric said it best, “it’s a schizophrenic wine”, the nose is wild and natural, super funky malo, with incredible tartness and yellow citrus, like an underripe pineapple and musty funk. The palate though on this slightly opaque, pale golden liquid is very different. Lemon curd, baked silky citrus explosion, with a woody, forest floor, and mineral like spine that rolls right down the middle, and ends with a surprisingly chalky and stony finish. Such a special site for wine, elevated by the measured hand of a veteran winemaker. @Chris Brockway — 3 months ago

Belén Sathicq

9.1

Cabernet Franc Mara de Catena
Muuuuy fresco y para nada taninico, me encantó pese a que los Franc no son lo mío — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.3

With some inconsistencies the last year or two with Ultramarine, this was a nice refresher of how enjoyable they can be when showing well. I chose this as one of my 2018 Cali BdB sparklers I opened to see how the sparkling wine scene is evolving (also opened was a 2018 Haliotide BdB, 2018 Ultramarine Michael Mara BdB and 2018 Brick & Mortar Manchester Ridge BdB).

Over the last 7yrs or so of opening Ultramarine, I’ve found the Charles Heintz to show the classical vineyard expression of pure and ripe tropical fruit (guava), a small amount of oxidation of the fruit, and a distinct cream soda note. This 2018 lined up fairly close to those expectations (whereas the Michael Mara has been a bit more austere in the past, yet not as much barrel character as the one today). More “funk” and texture than the classical Haliotide, but not too far (nothing vegetal). The dosage feels on-point here. Follows the grower champagne vibe, but more to the natty side. — a month ago

Craig Phares

9.0

Bolder than expected. Dry and slightly acidic, with tobacco, plum, and cherry notes. Will get again. — 2 months ago

Belén Sathicq

8.9

Otra vez muy bueno para hacer un cabernet Frank creo que me están empezando a gustar
No se compara con el de Mara pero es bastante más barato. Para nada astringente muy amable — 5 months ago

Paul J

9.8

Wow! Awesome bottle/wine! Lovely gold color. Butter, minerals, Meyer lemons, camomile, and melons on the nose. Same on the palate with a refined texture and massive depth. Super complex wine that could go toe to toe with high-end White Burgs!! Prime drinking age, sad it’s my last of this vintage.

I thought this started to get overpriced, I am dead wrong!! Worth every penny!! — 8 months ago

with Brooke

Shay A

9.2

My last of a 3-pack the last few years. I chose this as one of my 2018 Cali BdB sparklers I opened to see how the sparkling wine scene is evolving (also opened was a 2018 Ultramarine Heintz BdB, 2018 Ultramarine Michael Mara BdB and 2018 Brick & Mortar Manchester Ridge BdB).

45 months en tirage, 4 g/l dosage

Clean and pure style. If you love Chablis or leaner champagnes, this is your jam. Grilled lemon, sea spray, hint of and honeysuckle aromatically. On the palate, it is mineral heavy (slate/limestone-esque) with sea salt, lemon scone, oyster shell, all wrapped in a crystalline profile. This is undeniably BdB and presents as a grower champagne type profile. Bright and elegant (showed a bit more classical compared to the other three). — a month ago

Shay A

9.2

@Delectable Wine : This is the Brick & Mortar Blanc de Blancs Manchester Ridge Vineyard. I didn’t see it in the database.

It has probably been 4-5yrs since I last had a sparkler from Brick & Mortar, so when some buddies visited their winery recently and raved about them, I ended up with a BdB and a Rosé to try. I chose this as one of my 2018 Cali BdB sparklers I opened to see how the sparkling wine scene is evolving (also opened was a 2018 Haliotide BdB, 2018 Ultramarine Heintz BdB, and a 2018 Ultramarine Michael Mara BdB).

48 months on lees

With hardly any experience, I had zero expectations of style. After the comparison, I’m a bit surprised to say this showed fairly similar to the 2018 Ultramarine Heintz BdB. Both have a bit richer fruit profiles with some funk and oxidation. Aromatically, there is more of a honeyed profile than the others, with floral and orange citrus accents. The leesy profile is evident on the palate with rich layers of herb-crusted yellow fruits and a hint of lemon pastry. I’d like to re-visit this on its own to see how it shows away from comparisons. — a month ago

John Willison

9.2

Round yellow fruit, herbal, rich yeast. — 8 months ago