Ian Hamel

9.2

2024/7/16-17. There’s a little funk that blows off in the first fifteen minutes or so, revealing multifaceted aromas of small red fruits and flowers. The limpidity and elegance of Volnay is on display. D’Angerville is great, but for me, Volnay means Lafarge above all others — 2 months ago

Vanessa

9.3

Happy Bastille Day!  Joyeux 14 juillet! 🇫🇷

A great day to sip something fabulous and French, like this 2020 Maison Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouches. 🍷

Maison Joseph Drouhin is a dynamic, family-run estate, established by Joseph Drouhin in 1880 in the Beaune region of Burgundy.  It’s now run by Joseph’s four great-grandchildren – Philippe, Véronique, Laurent, and Frédéric – with operations spanning from Burgundy to the Dundee Hills of Willamette Valley, Oregon (Domaine Drouhin). 🫶🏻🫶🏻

This wine has a medium ruby hue and an array of aromas and flavors such as strawberry, raspberry, cherry (red and black), mulberry, rose, spice, potpourri, black licorice, forest floor, toast, vanilla bean, crème brûlée, nutmeg, star anise, cardamom, and clove.

It aged 14-18 months in French oak (25% new), lending those baking spice, vanilla, and confectionery notes.

On the palate, it is dry, with vibrant acidity, creating tension, and a medium (+) body, with warming alcohol (14% ABV), medium tannins that are polished and velveteen, and a lingering finish.

This is an outstanding wine capable of long-term aging with potential to gain complexity unveiling additional tertiary dimensions over time. 🕰️ — 2 months ago

with Deked1

Ashley Cabot

9.2

Pale yellow, medium acidity, tropical fruit tones, hay, neutral oak notes..would enjoy with a fatty fish & acidic sauce — 2 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Dark ruby/black color with purple highlights. Aromas of ripe blueberries, dark plum, black raspberry, coffee and mint. The palate is fruit forward (but not over the top) featuring blackberry and ripe strawberry jam and a hint of sour cranberry, pomegranate and bittersweet chocolate. Light touch of oak on the medium-plus finish. Balanced acidity. Ripe tannins and nicely developed for such a young (just a baby) wine. — 2 months ago

Vino Joe

9.5

The complexity has arrived! Lovely color on this one. Not all my 2007 looks this dark yet but this one had a rich depth and most toasted fruit notes. This is a very good but not great vintage. — 2 months ago

Ming L

9.2

From the small Grosse Lage vineyard of Berncasteler Doctor, this Kabinnet tips the sweetness scale at medium dry for my taste, yet still manages to be delicate. Enticing nose of orchard and tropical fruits, honeysuckles, with touches of flinty mineral note. Very long finish. I think it needs at least another 4-5 years to show properly.
Interesting notes about the winery: it’s named after the widow of Dr. Thanisch (Wwe.). The original winery was divided into 2 equal properties in the 1990s: Wwe. H.Thanisch – Erben Thanisch and Wwe. H.Thanisch – Erben Müller-Burggraef. — 2 months ago

Willie Carter

9.4

This champagne house just continues to grow on me, bottle by bottle. A decidedly pretty copper salmon hue in the glass with perfectly precise perlage. The aromatics are evolved and complex starting with fresh strawberries and orange zest. There’s a nice element of tea and raspberry jam that presents after some time and air.

Dominated by Chardonnay with only a smidgeon of Pinot Noir. A bit ethereal and lithe throughout. Even so, there’s a power and clarity here that you don’t find in many rosé champagnes. Zero dosage so the acidity is pure and electric. Refined and gorgeous, this is an iron fist in a velvet glove.

More vivacious red fruit on the palate. Cherries, strawberries, and more raspberry jam. A touch of mint, a dash of citrus. Dry but approachable with plenty of tension and style. A lovely, lovely champagne. — 2 months ago

Ron R

9.3

@Dawn E. Nailed the notes on this wine/vintage. Impressed, girlfriend. But we’ll take a hard right turn on the rating. We were really impressed with how it presented. Less limestone, more citrusy and moderately sweet. In some ways, similar to the Edge Hill.
A lovely gift from @Mike R 🩷 — 2 months ago

with Anne-marie

Ed Chin

9.1

Bursting with dark cherries and a touch of black tea and sous bois. Give it some time to let the fruit calm down to balance it all out, say 3-5. — 2 months ago