Lee Pitofsky

9.8

Disg. 2/14 (07 base)…Always my favorite of the Lieux-Dits and without question one of the very best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the planet, it’s particularly special to have with some bottle age. It’s absolutely as stunning as hoped—rich and powerful with crazy depth to its layers with a deep, complex core of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, old rum barrels and candied white flowers, all with seamless integration. The palate is generous and detailed, with racy acids, waves of saline laced, chalky Le Mesnil minerals and a finish that just stays with you. A BdB benchmark, legendary bubbles. — 9 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

While 05-16 may not be my favorite era of Leflaive (08 & 14 excluded), tonight 2013 is excellent, exceeding expectations and still markedly youthful. It’s rich, mineral and incisive with fantastic depth and layers, wafting waves of yellow orchard fruit, lilies, toasted sesame and lemon zest. The palate is deep and full bodied with piercing citrusy acids and a long mineral and saline finish. When Leflaive hits it hits 🤩 — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Consumed as a pop-and-pour, as my wife decided she wanted to drink it ASAP instead of decanting, ha. My previous thoughts hold true that Aubert’s Hudson is consistently the most approachable of the portfolio in its youth.

Yellow-gold in the glass with the slightest tinge of green. Everything about this is undeniably Aubert…aromatics of tropical fruit (pineapple), white peaches, nutmeg, and honey roasted cashews. I find Hudson fruit to normally be big/juicy with an abundance of ripe yellow fruit, and this has it in spades. Aubert’s signature waves of lemon cream with marzipan and spiced green apple on the palate. The acidity seemed more pronounced here than previous vintages at this age, which added a nice backbone to the hedonistic style profile of the wine. Great now, likely great in 5yrs, but this seems ready for corks to be popped! — 3 years ago

Willem Booij

9.4

My first thoughts are: light as a feather, finesse and elegance. This is so delicate in the nose and mouth that it gives goosebumps. With some air the smooth and delicate waves of butterscotch, light and pure vanilla beans rolls over my tongue. Like it and love it! — 4 years ago

Andy Stabile

9.3

Hit me in a. Few waves. Kind of a cool soft spicy finish. Enjoyable.

Merois, West Hollywood. — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

The 2018 Pichon-Lalande was given an hour’s decant and then observed over the next 24 hours. It has clearly retained the showstopping nose that I encountered from barrel, those same “gentle waves" of black cherries and blueberry, incense and violets lending it a Margaux-like allure. The palate is vibrant and full of tension from the start, the acidity slicing through the layers of quite plush black fruit, judiciously laced with tobacco and mint. There is a beguiling sense of harmony conveyed by this Pichon-Lalande and although there is clearly plenty of structure, the tannins are so pixelated and pliant that it might well be broachable in 4–5 years’ time. Personally, however, I would prefer to cellar it for 8–10 years (by which time I hope that the new Cure album is finally released). However long you decide to keep it tucked away, this is a quite brilliant Pauillac. (Neal Martin, Vinous. March 2021)
— 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

When Lafon is on they’re as good as any name in white Burgundy. 2012 Genevrieres is superb after sufficient air, seamlessly balanced between richness and elegance and perfectly developed wafting waves of defined fruit, pastry cream, butterscotch and toasted almonds within its layered minerality. It wraps around the palate with killer concentration and density and a massively long, silky finish. Top tier Chardonnay. — a year ago

President Obama

8.9

Apple cider vinegar, cloud burst, 00 pizza flour. Slight funk $35 waves. — 3 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Just rock-solid Châteauneuf, this is exemplary and for me personally my exact sweet-spot in terms of the varied styles from this region. The nose takes a little coaxing, but has a great yin / yang profile of pure, fresh blue fruit, liquorice, violets, and garrigue, versus seared meat, iron and loamy earth. This all puts it square in the middle of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ schools, broadly speaking, and it’s a wine that has the best of both worlds as a result.

The palate is huge, an iron fist in a glove of velvet and so much more, but in no way imbalanced or over-extracted - not overtly alcoholic, at a modest 14%. It spreads out in waves across the palate, ripples which are felt long after the finish. This is clearly a baby now, but it drinks well and will see its 20th birthday in damn fine fettle. Excited to have a case in the cellar.

Decanting not required nor recommended. — 3 years ago

Ellen R

9.1

Trader Joe's under $10 — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

An absolute monster of a wine. 4 hours in the decanter served perfectly to allow this 2001, perhaps one of the best Hommage vintages ever, to flaunt its incredibly complex aromatic array of black fruits, roasted Provençal herbs, licorice, campfire smoke and Christmas spices.

It’s still youthful with ripe tannins and a ton of muscle. Nowhere near its peak. But it’s entering its drinking window seamlessly, being incredibly giving and expressive with sufficient air. Similar to how VV Gonon differs from the regular bottling, Hommage just cranks everything up to 10 and it’s concentrated flavors come at you in waves. But it never gets heavy as there is just enough lift and precision to keep everything harmonious. A very special bottle from a very special vintage indeed. — 5 years ago

Mike Smith

9.0

Juicy tasty red! Big and bold but not too much. — 5 years ago

Edo Wachters

9.2

The Tenuta di Castellaro - Nero Ossidiana originates from a very beautiful spot in the world - the island of Lipari, one of the seven Aeolian Islands, near Sicily. This is a warm wine, full of red fruits, cherry, cassis, blackberry and some spice. Made of a blend of 60% Corinto, 25% Nero D’Avola, and 15% local grapes. It is very smooth and velvety, with a long after taste, as the slowly setting sun leaving a purple orange shine over the gentle waves. — 5 years ago

Roberto Carli

9.5

So beautiful. Packed herbal notes lie under a nutty front. On the palate the magic happens: it explodes with mineralityy in waves, electric acidity (yes, acidity, in grüner), lemon zest and oil, tingling for 30+ seconds — a year ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

I was surprised how youthful this is. A wonderful compote nose. In the mouth waves of honey, lemon , apples , and spice.. Full body but not fat. A very extended finish. — 2 years ago

President Obama

9.3

Waves. Mild funk. — 3 years ago

Jason Gelman

9.3

love this one too. so much going on here. waves of acid, very flinty. perfectly ripe orchard fruits and maybe into the stone fruit world too. the semillon adds a lot of body. great finish. great wine. — 4 years ago

Weston Mallgren

9.3

This offers a lot in a small package! — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.2

The 2017 Faro is spicy and perfumed, the violet and rose tones giving way to peppery herbs, earthy minerals and musky black cherry. Its fleshy and enveloping textures are well balanced by zesty acids, as waves of tart wild berries and sour citrus wash across the palate, leaving a tactile mix of minerals and grippy tannins in their wake. This tapers off lightly structured and with a pretty inner sweetness, resonating on a vivid note of salted black licorice. The 2017 could use a few more months to a year to come fully into focus. Bonavita’s Faro is a blend of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Nocera that is refined for 24 months in a combination of 30-hectoliter oak barrels, cement and steel. In a word, spellbinding. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2021)
— 5 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

A nice dark cherry red color with a wide brim. The nose opens up with some nice spice and green earth. Plenty of funk and fun on display here. Dense moss and forest woodland screams before the bright red fruits show up to play. The floral aromatics really set this one off.

45/30/25 of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah, this is a Central Coast take on Chateauneuf du Pape and baby, it works. It’s a gentle onslaught of goodness. Mounds and mounds of bright, fresh fruits come in waves. Wild strawberry, red cherry, and raspberry. A hint of dark chocolate with menthol and more greenery. It seems like people don’t know how good these are and that’s a crying shame. Beautiful wine and so hard to beat. — 5 years ago