Shay A

9.4

@Delectable Wine : This is not a Tokay Pinot Gris. This is the Grand Cru Kanzlerberg Pinot Gris.

Opened for a quarterly BNO (theme was Cali cabs pre-2016 and Alsatian whites) alongside a 2005 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet.

Brought back from my first Alsace trip back in ‘23. In my opinion, when it comes to Grand Cru Pinot Gris, the clear top belongs to Gustave Lorentz, Paul Blanck and Zind-Humbrecht.

When I bought this at the winery in ‘23, it was a current release (I believe they may now be on 2015/2016). When pinot Gris is intentional, the power (and most importantly) texture becomes a true highlight. Golden in the glass with aromatics of honeyed dragon fruit, spiced pear, citrus and a sweet marzipan note. Texturally such a joy with a nearly oily viscosity that has just enough acidity to keep it lively. More honeyed yellow fruits on the palate, pineapple (but not overly sweet) and apricot. Killer companion with foie gras and also mushrooms (which we had with our dinner).

I believe Alsatian Grand Cru Pinot Gris is best at a drinking window of 10-15yrs, and this bottle is squarely in the pocket. — 9 hours ago

Shay A

9.4

93-94

One of the few domestic Pinot producers I really enjoy. Close proximity to the coast and whole cluster use normally gets me intrigued, especially when you see ABVs in the 12-13 range.

Pop and poured for a quarterly wine dinner. Theme was domestic Pinot and Sauvignon Blanc (I also opened a 2023 Mowe SB…lights out good). 13.6ABV. Winner of the night was a 2000 Marcassin.

Translucent red/purple in the glass. Gorgeous and fragrant…lovely floral notes on the nose (potpourri spice, violets). The palate sports crunchy red and black berry fruits, herbs/green and spice from the whole cluster use…some mint and black tea too. Bright and nervy acidity with nice mid-palate depth (can be tough to do at lower ABVs). Followed over two days and held strong. Lovely.

Compared to the ‘17 Doc’s Swan & Calera, this showed a touch more weight and power with a little less complexity at the finish. Very much enjoyed both for different reasons. — 25 days ago

Shay A

9.4

I’ve been on the lookout for Mayer wines here in the US and happened to find a bottle in a retail shop while out of state visiting some family. I’m shocked much makes it to the states with roughly 160 cases of this wine produced.

100% whole cluster; 13.5%ABV

My immediate thought after popping and pouring was that if Cayuse made a Pinot, it would smell like this. So much stemmy/herbal/savory aromatics with peppered rhubarb and red berries. Translucent ruby in the glass (closer to darker-style rosé’s in color). The funk continues on the palate (in a delicious way) with more stemmy and savory spice, cranberries, and black tea. The stems give this nice tannin structure while the acidity here is vibrant…keeps you going back for another sip. I followed over two days and it stayed pretty consistent.

This is 100% up my alley and a wine I’d love to acquire more of. Very curious how these age (because it seems like they would hold wonderfully). — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.3

Love FBalthazar’s Chaillot Cornas but never had his SS offering. I’d rather catch most SS wines in their youth to not roll the dice and get them super fresh.

Splash decanted; followed over two days.

Deep purple in the glass with hallmark Cornas aromatics…smoked meat, charcoal, dark potpourri/florals, cassis, blackberries. On the palate, the typical Cornas rusticity is more elegant, with peppered black fruits, sweet smoke, mocha, savory spices. It undoubtedly has a very “pure” profile, showing Syrah without any sort of mask. Good acid and tannin. Day two showed the mid-palate lose steam a bit, which isn’t a big surprise. Lovely bottle. If I could guarantee its evolution, this seemed like it would cruise another 7-10yrs, but who knows with SS! — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.3

93+

Opened for a quarterly BNO (theme was Cali cabs pre-2016 and Alsatian whites) alongside a 2012 Gustave Lorentz Grand Cru Kanzlerberg Pinot Gris.

My last of three bottles, and all three showed a bit of variation. The second bottle I opened up in Jan of this year was a bit more powerful and leaned toward the darker fruit spectrum whereas this one was very much classical and pure red-fruit driven.

Pulled the cork two hours before consuming. Everything about this wine spoke to a classical style of Cali cab before ripeness got pushed to the limit. Most people agreed this wine showed a good bit of youth. Aromatics of dark cherries, raspberries, red/purple potpourri, hint of graphite. Very fresh and juicy on the palate with ripe red fruits, some herbs and earthiness and a fantastic spine of acidity running through. Even after two hours of being open and consumed over the next 2-3hrs, the tannin at the finish was grippy and paired well with a rich short rib. My friend next to me brought an ‘05 Stag’s Leap Cellars SLV which showed more French in style while also being very much in the “not getting better” territory.

I had a full glass worth to follow the next day and it was beautifully integrated a touch more. If this bottle is as the norm, I’d say it has a couple more years in this lovely window before turning more tertiary. — 9 hours ago

Shay A

9.6

My last bottle of six purchased back in 2022. I visited the winery in 2023 and was able to taste this from barrel…that was also when they informed me that this cuvée would no longer be made in 750, only en mag. Unsurprisingly, the price (more than) doubled and I was pushed out of the market. Such a bummer because not only is this an outstanding champagne, it is (IMO) the closest you can get to Selosse.

Equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Pinot meunier; Disgorged December 2019; base 2015 vintage; 6g/l dosage. Opened alongside a Charles Heidsieck “Champagne Charlie”.

Drawn from a perpetual reserve dating back to the mid ‘80s, everything about this cuvée is lees-y, rich, powerful and haunting (in the best way). Aromatically, there is a whiff of fino sherry that exists nowhere else in Champagne aside from the Selosse lineup. More akin to Selosse’s Initial, the sherry aromatic is there to enhance (not dominate) and is mostly a thin vein throughout the wine. There is truffle honey, spiced pear, caramel dipped apple all in a balanced profile that is both aged and fresh at the same time. Honey and orange roasted cashews too at the finish where a kiss of tangy sherry reappears. Immaculate. I desperately wish these were still available in 750s. — 2 months ago

Shay A

A treat to always open a birth year bottle around your birthday! Shared the table with some heavy hitters ( @Bill Bender
and @Joe Lucca ) and also their heavy hitter bottles!

Based on the first two hours, this showed like a 95-96pt wine. We were shocked how youthful, fresh and fruit-forward it presented. Awesome cork. Deep red/black in the glass with a small amount of bricking around the rim. Aromatics of classic old Napa…dried red and black fruits, graphite, leather. The real surprise was the profile on the palate…youthful! Fresh red and black fruits, old pipe tobacco, green herbs, graphite, coffee beans, wrapped in a beautifully elegant, lifted profile (12.5ABV), vibrant acidity and typical Diamond Creek tannin at the finish. After hour two, this started going downhill and lost most its fruit and showed more chewing tobacco.

Compared to the ‘88 Red Rock Terrace I opened 2-3yrs ago, this was in a different league. Darker and more fresh versus more clay and light bodied. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

For context, I enjoy every wine Hudson puts out. I’ve enjoyed visits to their stunning property (a must visit even if wine isn’t your thing; the grounds/farm/garden are stunning) and have enjoyed a few laughs with Lee. I wasn’t aware this existed until my visit back in ‘24 and decided to finally open it when TX broke the 100 degree mark this summer.

100% Grenache

Deeper color then your typical Napa rosé but not full-on Tavel/deep saignee style. Aromatics of spiced dragonfruit, and rhubarb. Nervy acidity. Very Grenache-like with the spiced fruit profile continuing on to the palate…pink peppercorn, little green-ness but more from an herbs-type profile and not pyrazines. Fleshy black-cherries with nice texture. Not quite a pool-pounder but also not quite a contemplative style. In-between. Most importantly, tasty and refreshing in the heat of TX summers.

(Westborn’s new Weatherford sparklers are insane values, by the way. So freaking good) — 9 hours ago

Shay A

9.5

94-95

A grower champagne I always enjoy, but I’ve not had their special club offering with this much age before. I’ve been missing out! A stunner!

54% Cramant, 31% Chouilly (both Grand Crus), with 15% Cuis (Premier Cru); all old vines. Disgorged July 2012; 6g/l dosage

This may be an example of hitting lightening in a bottle, but this caught me (and others I was with) totally off-guard at how youthful it was…and more importantly, how unbelievably good it was. Channeling an oxidative flair at this point in its evolution, this scratched the itch for creamy, powerful, golden champagne. Autolysis on full display (in the best way) with lemon scone, honey roasted cashews, spiced pears aromatically. Honeyed graham crackers, lemon cream, Biscotti cookie, kiss of ginger and plenty of chalky limestone grit toward the finish (but the sweet autolysis lengthens it out beautifully). For me, this tasted like this was the exact right day to catch this wine at peak.

I wish I had a case of these. — 25 days ago

Shay A

9.3

@Delectable Wine : This is the Kobayashi Sans Soufre Syrah. I didn’t see it in the database.

Two and a half years since my last bottle. As I posted about Balthazar’s Sans Soufre recently, I really aim to catch these in their youthful-uber fresh stage before the roll of the dice goes the wrong way. Love Travis and Mario, and their Kobayashi wines!

Pop and poured straight to decanter and followed over the course of three hours.

My first bottle was one of the most aromatic Syrahs I’ve ever had (nearly filled the room with purple florals, potpourri, blackberries) but was not very giving on the palate (not shut down, just a powerhouse of deep Syrah)…this experience was opposite. Aromatics here were nice and tame with a little leather and herbs (maybe the SS evolution), fresh blackberries, but undeniably a Syrah in its purest form. Beautifully integrated on the palate (but still young) with charcoal, peppered red fruits, grilled blackberries, mocha…interplay of savory notes and fruits. The mid-palate is the current star with great depth and the finish is structured with tannin to support gamey meats (love this with Bonnell’s elk skillet dish).

I’ve always said I think Kobayashi Syrahs are the new world equivalent of Cornas (rustic, sometimes feral, need time but ultimately awarded with purity). Always fun to enjoy a proper SS bottle. — 2 months ago