4 Brilliant Brains

Domaine Bachelet

Bourgogne Aligoté 2005

Captured in the wild. Bottom shelf, no price tag, alone. 3 days ago...and this really threw me for a loop. Hands down best Bourgogne Blanc I’ve ever had. Malo, Battonage, oak, on a racy mineral ringing nerve of aligote?! Holding up like a fine 1er Cru white. What the hell?! I can’t believe I haven’t encountered this style anywhere. This is some brazen proof from Denis just how brilliant he is when it comes to making wine. Was really shining about 4 hours after opening, kept singing until it was finished about 20 hours later. Pina colada rich in minerals and acid. Hell yes. — 8 years ago

Patrick liked this

Gargiulo Vineyards

G Major Seven Study 575 OVX Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Shay A
9.5

An absolutely brilliant evening at one of the best hole in the wall spots in all of Fort Worth, Nonna Tata. The Italian food is out of this world good, and if you can get there in time (which we luckily did) the patio is perfect for this weather!

To celebrate one of my best friend's coming first child, Kevin and I met up and I wanted to supply the wine as I know he's a Gargiulo fan. Funny thing is, I'd never had Gargiulo, but thanks to
@Martin G Rivard , I had one of these bad boys to open! Martin told me to not worry about the vintage and trust him as it's a killer wine. He. Was. RIGHT. Wow. After about an hour and a half of being open, this was so incredibly supple. Dark purple and almost black in the glass. Blackberries and raspberries on the nose...faint hint of pepper. Absolutely perfectly balanced on the palate...blackberry pie, blackberry preserves, plum, red and black licorice on the palate. This is so delicious now, but in 3-4 years, this will be absolutely divine. Up there with Red Cap in best wines of 2011. Thank you, Martin!
— 8 years ago

Eric, Paul and 32 others liked this
Stephen Jackshaw

Stephen Jackshaw

Check out Outpost True Vineyard. Killer wine that year.
Stephen Jackshaw

Stephen Jackshaw

Sorry, the Cabernet!
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Stephen Jackshaw : Good to know! Haven't had much from Outpost, but I hope to try more.

Gaja

Sperss Langhe Nebbiolo 1996

One of the best gajas I have had. Red cherry mature fruit with some mushrooms and earth. Brilliant. Decanted for 4 hour which helped. — 9 years ago

Justin TalericoDan Sheinberg
with Justin and Dan
Justin, Dan and 22 others liked this

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

Abraxas Scintilla Sonoma Vineyard White Blend 2013

One of the best from one of the best… this brilliant cuvée contains the 4, arguably, most important Alsatian varietals. #SpringForward — 9 years ago

Nolet's

The Reserve Dry Gin

Patrice Breton
10

Nolet's The Reserve Dry Gin - Extremely fine and uplifting. Juniper, verbena, saffron & fresh rose petals. Every sip lingers for 4-5 minutes. Brilliant. 1 of only 494 bottles produced. — 10 years ago

Mike and Stacy liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Riserva Montestefano Barbaresco Nebbiolo 1989

Nothing stops this from just getting younger and younger in the glass after being double decanted 4-5 hours prior. Color darkens, fruit becomes brilliant and fresh, tannins emerge. Dried roses and dark, deep red fruit, some nice wood. Nebbiolo is king. One of the best wines I've ever had! — 11 years ago

Lyle, Aran and 3 others liked this
Lyle Fass

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1989 is awesome there.

Domaine Rousset

Les Picaudiéres Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2014

Lyle Fass
9.4

Been dying to try this. Doesn’t let down. Nose starts out quiet. Granite, Bacon, olive, but subtle. Very mineral. Palate is deep, fresh and super clean. Also wonderful structure and depth but not showing nearly anywhere it’s potential. Wonderful length and minerality. Brilliant wine but needs at least 3-4 hour decent. — 8 years ago

Severn, LM and 7 others liked this

Domaine de la Côte

Bloom's Field Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2014

4 hours in the decanter and the wine starting to unveil. Of course yet an infant but oh such a beautiful wine! Fresh, intense, layered and a great stamina on the palate! 100 % whole bunch and 20 months in 20% new barrels, Brilliant! — 8 years ago

Philippe Colin

Les Chenevottes Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2008

4/14/2017 Classic chassagne nose, prominent minerals well integrated, little bit buttery (vs Pierre Yves) but shines at this age in the nose. Brilliant acidity that will help it stay at the peak for few more years. (If there is any nit, it is a little too tart for me at this stage) — 8 years ago

Chris Stevens
with Chris

Domaine Huet

Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2009

Work is done for 2016. Time to celebrate. This has some sweetness, but is wonderfully balanced with acidic structure and fresh summer fruit which allows me to ignore the 4:30 sunset in Seattle today. Absolutely brilliant. — 9 years ago

Somm, Trixie and 55 others liked this
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

ha. Might be. Will be in Galapagos for a week. Last I heard, no Burgundy stored there so tonight may be it till Jan 1. Big day Jan 1 coming--having Burg buddies over and lighting it up.
Anthony Lombardi

Anthony Lombardi

@Alan Weinberg - travel safely, sounds like an incredible travel opportunity. Look forward to seeing the New Years wines.
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

One of my favorites too

Domaine de la Pépière

Cuvée 4 Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Melon de Bourgogne 2010

Brilliant, for my tastes the best Muscadet I have ever had. Minerally, pure, with nice depth and roundness from the sur-lies aging for 4 years. Citrus and flowers meet rocks and steel. — 10 years ago

Michael, Neil and 2 others liked this

Cape Mentelle

Margaret River Zinfandel 2004

Cape Mentelle was an early pioneer with Zinfandel in Australia with winemaker David Hohnen. This was easily the best of 4 masked Zins including 2 Californians which were admittedly younger but very lolly jelly beans. This has reawakened my interest in Zins. Brilliant wine. 18. — 10 years ago

Sar Collins

Sar Collins

Our French hosts in Nice asked us to bring them a bottle of 2007 Cape Mentelle as they had heard it rivaled their French wines! Not sure how it measured up for them but lovely to see it here!!

Hemera Estate

JDR Barossa Shiraz 2012

Had been decanted for 4 hours in the cellar door.
Brilliant but $110? I wouldn't pay it but I'll swap for it 👍🏽
— 8 years ago

Louis de Grenelle

Corail Saumur Brut Cabernet Franc Rosé

Very nice bottle for the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon, Andris conducting Mahler No. 4 in G (brilliant work), and his beautiful wife Kristine as soprano soloist.
Typical CF nose, and lightly dirty on the palate, yet has minor ruby red grapefruit finish, at $16 this is a star!
— 8 years ago

Steve, Pinotman and 5 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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I'm sure it is, yummy stuff!
Severn Goodwin

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@David T this is another you should check out, if you can find it on the left coast.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Always look for good wine and great value. Thanks.

Mailly

L'air Grand Cru Brut Champagne Blend 2005

1 of the 4 Champagne elements release series (fire, earth, air, and water). The L'air was such an awesome find (current and last release was "O", or water). It is lifted much like clouds ( beautiful sweet brioche toast notes, lemon zest, dried peaches, spiced honey, and and nutmeg. The pallet was creamy and full - full of baked golden apples, créme bruleé, toasted almond, and a bright lasting finish. I think this was an outstanding, and brilliant wine for under $90... yumm mmmm. Happy Valentine's Day! — 8 years ago

Matt, LM and 11 others liked this
Mike Ancuta

Mike Ancuta

You still have this or have you been holding on it ?
Matt Trader

Matt Trader Influencer Badge

Haha. Found it in Lewisville 507. They still have 2 more! I was blown away so I had to buy it.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

#1986 decanted for 4 hours. Brilliant wine. Could not have celebrated my 30th birthday any other way — 9 years ago

Steven S
with Steven
Dustin liked this

Vietti

Castiglione Barolo Nebbiolo 2011

Opening a 4-year old Barolo is often considered infanticide. This however is brilliant. Clean notes of cherries with undertones of bramble and turpentine all the while a glowing hum of violets. The violets are there beginning, middle and end. Fantastic acidity and a refined tannic structure. Not a classically made Barolo, but a modern gem. — 10 years ago

Amanda liked this

Freycinet Vineyard

Tasmania Pinot Noir 2005

Drinking at its peak. One of the top 3 or 4 Aussie Pinots IMO. Has been great for many years. Obviously a brilliant terroir. 18- — 11 years ago