Brent Clayton

9.1

Nice golden color. Crisp but lots of honeydew melon on the palate. Finished with lemon zest and citrus. This is lovely stuff. — 4 years ago

Didrik Wisén

9.4

Frukstigt och ganska sött. Livfullt och den igenkännbara la taupe stilen. Melon. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Am always in admiration of anyone who has undertaken and achieved the Master of Wine qualification. It involves years of studying and tasting the wines of the world with a high possibility of failure. There are I believe less than 400 MWs in the world. Andrew Caillard who made this wine is an MW. His daytime job is with Langtons - Australia’s top wine auction house. He also has the skill and the time to hand paint the art for each Vintage of Mataro label. As to the Wine itself - 100% Mataro (Mourvèdre) from old vines in the Barossa. Very dark crimson with a tawny rim. Aromas of dusty blackberry, plum and herbs. Medium to full bodied with savoury blackberry coming through on the palate but essentially still dense and self contained with years in front of it. Next in a year or so. — 6 years ago

Elizabeth Farren

10

Spectacular wine... hints of rose, lavender, strawberry. Full bodied and smooth...juicy and not tannic in the least. Super wine ( aleatico superiore NOT Sangiovese) which is made from a grape cloned from aleatico and grown 400 m above sea level. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A Bordeaux blend. Spends 22 months in 70% new 400 liter oak barrels. Nose of fragrant floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum. Licorice, anise, dark chocolate and fresh, dark florals. The fruits are ripe and fresh and match the nose. Black licorice, tarry notes, loamy soils, moist dark soil, lead pencil, cedar, tobacco, underbrush, great acidity and a beautiful long finish. The structure is better as is the tension and length. This bottle needs 8-10 years in bottle for a higher score but for many hard not to dry young. Photos of the view from the Long Shadows patio, another one of the glass blown floor lamps and a concrete fermentation egg...interestingly in an inverted shape I hadn't seen before, no real difference in effect. — 8 years ago

Creede Williams

9.3

$400. 2010 Jeroboam. Rich, velvety and strong vanilla. Big but not cloying. — 8 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.2

Smells a little like cotton candy and exhibits notes of cedar, clove, prune, cherry, red rose, eucalyptus with perceivable mint-traits. In another dimension this may be a cousin of Heitz's Martha's Vineyard. Awesome to have with bbq'd steak, garlic bread and knowing this is the only winery for this AVA ( just 20 miles south of where I got to imbibe this 400 case production of local goodness. ) — 9 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.1

Pale yellow. Expressive nose is ripe, honeyed, smoked and wooly. In the mouth, it’s fresh and precise, with green apple and pear, underlying saltiness and a crisp, mineral finish. Lovely, elegant Chenin Blanc from schist, aged one year in 400-liter older barrels. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 5 years ago

Scott Petrus

9.3

Dried hibiscus, dried rose petals, tar, supple tannins, and the mouth cleansing acid you’d expect form berries 400 meters above sea level. — 5 years ago

Dutchbastard

9.3

A quick D can’t it’s ready to go this is Bottle number 63 out of 400 — 6 years ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.1

Nice mineral and acidic despite the hot vintage. Vineyard over 400 mt asl — 7 years ago

Joseph Corso

9.1

Amazing year for California of course and this wine shows it. - aged beautifully, has all of the depth one would expect. Only 400 cases made and happy I had the opportunity to enjoy this bottle. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

On the nose, sour fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, green bell peppers, tree bark with sap and fresh very dark florals. The palate is medium bodied & the tannins are medium soft and round. The fruits are; blackberries, dark cherries, an array of blue fruits, poached strawberries, green bell pepper with additional vegetal notes, dusty, dry, loamy dry top soil, crushed dry rocks, olive pit with flesh, herbaceous notes, nail rust, light funky gym locker notes and a round, soft acidity and a finish that a 1/3, 1/3 and 1/3...fruit, vegetal and earth. 9.0 with the potential for a bit more with cellaring. Photos of; Irouléguy, Jean-Claude Berrouet and a classic Basque dish. Producer history & notes...Irouléguy is located in Basque Country...the southwestern most part of France wine regions and is only a half an hour from Spain. Irouléguy received its appellation contrôlée in 1970, with about 250 acres of vineyards cultivated by 60 growers. Jean-Claude Berrouet is an Irouléguy native who left the area for more than three decades to be the winemaker at Château Pétrus. Jean-Claude eventually returned home. He named his estate “Herri Mina.” In Basque, herri means “country,” and mina means “homesick.” I guess you could say he missed the area he grew up. Jean-Claude also makes a white blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Corbu and Petit Manseng. His vines are planted on the steep south facing slopes of the Pyrénées at around 400 feet above sea level. His vineyard has a climatic influence from the Atlantic. They are protected from cold north wind and receive more sunshine than most other French vineyard regions. Jean-Claude also produces a small amount of this Irouléguy Cabernet Franc; which is 100% Cabernet Franc-Tannat. A classic Basque pairing (shown) for this wine is a flour dredged fried chicken with stewed red and green peppers, tomatoes, onions & garlic.
— 8 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.7

I love these "garagist" wines! This Bellevue Mondotte is sooo sexy and multi layered. Give it 3 hrs air and enjoy the massive fruit explosion. Long life ahead. Only 400 cases. Try to find one... — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”

The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.

The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.

Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,

Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.

The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.

All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 5 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.7

2010 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, Napa Valley. 4 hour decant, deep crimson hued, this wine has a killer explosive nose of dark fruits, cinnamon, baking spices, menthol and flint. Chocolate covered cherries, cocoa and espresso mid palate, with a touch of nutmeg. Moderate trademark Rutherford dusty tannins in just the right proportion. Dense and concentrated. Beautifully layered with a silky mouth feel, and a lingering finish. In this age of $400-$500+ Napa Cabs, this wine takes a back seat to none of them. I’m a fan. You da man Rob Greer! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Made in Maule from a 100% Carignan and vines with an average age of 56 years at 400 feet of elevation. 50 cases imported at a retail price of $50. The Vigno is sourced from two blocks of the Crucecillas vineyard planted in 1958 that are vinified separately and followed by an additional winery selection. The best lots are aged in 3-4 year neutral French oak for 24 months. On the nose; dark currants. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, plums and beautiful florals. The body is full with sticky tannins. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & plums. Black licorice, dark chocolate, black rich soils, loamy dry top soils with violets & red florals. — 8 years ago

Aleksandra Kazachkova

9.0

Чудесное, легкое, без пузырьков. Клубника. 400 в Перекрестке. — 8 years ago

Lynn Gowdy

8.9

My first Mansois, aka Fer Servadou from the tiny VDQS north of Toulouse (161 hectares /400 acres). Raspberry, brambly aromas follow through to the palate which is a bright hello that mellows softly. — 9 years ago

Liz Hale

9.3

Get some of this in your life- 400 case production- it is RAD. — 9 years ago