Some Dude

9.3

Sigh. Such a lovely experience: a treat for the senses. 2013 was a magnificent year, and after 9 years this one was really coming together. (Fortunately I have two more of this vintage; I will try to wait because this wine has years of string drinking ahead.)

This is an estate wine, and Steve Burgess manages his property with goats to keep the underbrush cleared. I don’t know if that makes a difference in the taste but I do envy those goats who get to spend their days on that lovely Mount Howell slope.

Lots of people talk about the flavors, and the finesse, and the balance, and the succulence of this wine. It is lush and beautiful but built with a restraint and depth that will make your meal sing: even if, like us, you are serving burgers off the grill. With this wine, it will be a memorable experience. — 23 days ago

Some Dude

8.7

This is fine. Very full mouthfeel, but string acidity to balance it out. So it’s pretty good for a rich dish, like a cream sauce or a rich gravy pork. As for patio drinking, I suppose it’s fine.

It’s not a bad Chardonnay—and there are plenty of those. They keep the oak in check. But it’s also not one of those sublime layered beauties. But sometimes not bad is good enough. — 4 months ago

Some Dude

9.0

Very clean and delightful. Bright strawberry flavors and a nice mousse: what’s not to like? — 4 months ago

Some Dude

9.0

What a delightful wine! It has a fresh brightness that keeps you coming back for another sip. And it’s a strong food wine as well. Worked well with slow-roasted salmon. — a month ago

Some Dude

9.2

So delightful and lovely. It has the lively mousse and crisp fruit of a nice grower’s champagne, but because it isn’t dosed it is clean and refreshing. There is still a nice funk in the background. So fun.

And so affordable! — a month ago

Some Dude

9.3

One of the most important dimensions to consider when eating a wine is deliciousness.

That’s what this wine offers. We had the 2016, in 2022, and we decanted it 3 or 4 hours before we drank it. It was awesome. This is a wine that could easily age for another 10–15 years, but it had so much depth and richness and balance. Enjoy the hell out of this one! — 4 months ago

Some Dude

8.8

Light and clean, with lots of cherry fruit as it’s opened. After being decanted and opening up for three hours, it comes into a new balance with softer tannins. Wonderful with grilled lamb chops and a spring vegetable risotto. — 4 months ago

Some Dude

8.9

Really nice moscato. Straightforward fruit with a clean and bright finish. Lovely. — a month ago

Some Dude

8.9

This was a really fabulous wine—but about a year or two past its prime. All the wonderful forest floor aromas and lovely cherry notes were there, but it was a bit thinner that it would have been had I opened it sooner. It is 2922 and I had the 2013, which wasn’t one of those built-to-last years.

So big thumbs up on this delicious wine: get it and open it—you’ll be happy! — a month ago

Some Dude

9.2

If you’re new to Franciacorta, you couldn’t pick a better place to start.

You get a really fabulous mousse, and a wonderful clean and bright Chardonnay fruit with a dry but delightful finish. Don’t look for that toasty brioche that a champagne would offer; this is made differently. But take this as the crisp, refreshing (and very good-friendly) wine that it is. — 4 months ago