Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Solid producer. Their entry level n/v is quite nice, consistent in 375ml and still a good value in today’s champagne pricing. A producer that uses a bit more neutral wood than most other champagne houses. They were one of my stops in October 2023.

Lemon/lime w/ zest, grapefruit w/ pith, oranges w/ rind, pineapple, white stone fruit, baguette crust, grainy, pronounced volcanics/limestone/chalkiness, white spice, sea fossils, frothy cream, very light caramel, vanillin, yellow and white flowers, lively acidity and a well balanced, nice tension/structure with a nicely polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on splendid minerality.

The owner is quite a talented stain glass maker. He made all their tasting room windows in authentic 13th-14th century style. — 5 days ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Smells like your kitchen on a Saturday morning.

Warming blueberry pancake syrup, splattering bacon grease, chicory steeped coffee, baked cinnamon and nutmeg, and fresh air passing through open windows directly through a bouquet of violets.

Charismatic and vibrant, it's also chewy with a rich, sweet concentrated core of raisins, dates, and compote.

Not as complex and distinct, and multilayered as I was expecting, but hard to complain in a weekend state of mind. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Normal Barolo descriptors but in this case a little detuned. Notes of earth, red savoury fruits and a touch of orange peel. Persistent tannins need to be resolved. In hindsight this is my first of three bottles and may have been drunk a little too young but drinking Windows from the Pros are widely divergent here. Ornato is only produced in outstanding years. James Suckling liked it with a 98 point score. I must be missing something. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

The colour is a surprisingly a youthful deep Ruby with purple tinges considering its 17 years of age. Dusty plum and herbal aromas. Ultra savoury on the medium bodied palate. An excellent example of perhaps the best terroir for Mourvèdre - Provence. Jancis’s drinking window was 2010 to 2020 which proves yet again how drinking windows are an inexact science considering that this wine was still kicking goals in 2025. — 3 months ago

William Paley

9.5

like sucking candy coated stones thru a straw……so-called salamander sassafras, you’ve heard of it. car crushes. weed windows. blanket statements. torch songs. — 3 years ago

with Jess

Brendan Devine

9.6

Just incredibly smooth and balanced. Blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon, and some notes of cedar. Probably would be better with time but babies don’t care about drinking windows. Welcome Rhys. — 4 years ago

with Briana

Bob McDonald

9.2

I had a previous bottle earlier this year with similar notes. A lovely perfume, typically Vosne Romanee - red florals, earthy, mushroom - forest floor. Sweet fruited reflecting the warmer vintage. Lacked a little complexity. I was following Jancis’s drinking window (Julia Harding MW) of 2019 - 2025 which I feel is too early. This could easily go on for 3 or 4 more years. As a point of comparison I have another 2015 Les Chaumes made by Domaine Francois Lamarche where the drinking window from Jancis is 2026 - 2042 which is a big difference. Drinking Windows are an inexact science. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Lanolin, citrus and citric acid. Only 11.5% ABV. From the excellent 2014 vintage in the Hunter Valley. A good Hunter Semillon without the intensity of their premium Semillon Cuvée, Lovedale. Very clean and fresh. I think its best days are in front of it when it should develop more complexity - toast and honey. Many recommended drinking windows are too short now that I’ve tasted it. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid to deep Crimson in colour. Fairly contained nose - hints of raspberry, violets and a peppery note reflecting some whole bunch in the ferment. Palate is also latent showing much promise - still with raspberry notes, red fruits and plum. I have had this “latent “ experience with Dry River Pinot Noirs before which is at odds with the pros drinking Windows. This is my first of six and will have the next in 2023. Tempted to say a Shiraz drinkers Pinot but it’s better than that. — 4 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.4

Oh mama is this good right now. Love that Jeff posted a chart on their site about drinking windows. Would have happily drink this whole bottle by myself. — 5 years ago