Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Rezabal is a family owned winery located in the Basque country of Spain in Zarautz and belonging to PDO "Getariako Txakolina". Made from Hondarribi-Zuri grape, pale lemon with aromas of stone and citrus fruits noticing a light spritz in the glass. On the palate flavors of apple and lemon citrus, vivid acidity, low alcohol. Medium finish ending with fruit and mineral character. — 4 years ago

Josh Black

9.1

Grisette Wine Club description:
Wine: Inazio Urruzola Txakolina Rose
Varietal(s): Hondarrabi Zuri
Appellation: Getariako Txakolina, Spain
What I love about it: Spring is here! Last week was such a tease, no? Either way, I see exactly 0 rain and a few days in the 60’s in the 10-day forecast at the moment. This Txakolina (say it with me, Cha-Coh-Lee-Nuh, doesn’t it sound like it would be Buddy the Elf’s favorite word?) from Basque country screams for warm weather and patio chillin. Ever-so-slightly effervescent, salty raspberries, crisp green apple, minerality for days, so fresh and so alive! For ultra authentic drinking, drink it out of a poron (watch some youtube vids). Extra credit for being able to guzzle while pouring with a fully extended arm!
Drink with while listening to: Sunshine and a platter of fruit and basque. Walking on Broken Glass, Annie Lennox — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Kicking into a long weekend to celebrate our Country 🇺🇲 and those who have worked to give me the freedom to enjoy this beautiful wine.

Three hours of lawn mowing in 92°F temp this afternoon, this bottle is my reward, in addition to a breeze that arrived recently to make it a little more comfortable outside.

Prior notes still apply:
Nose has creamy pear mousse, green apple skin and wet mineral paste.
Palate has very nice chalky Pinot fruits, light beeswax, zingy SweeTARTS-like acidity with that touch of tart sweetness on the medium-long finish. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Micro-bubbles galore, Yum! This might be close second for a Friday evening standard for @David T but tonight it is flowing into glasses on the complete opposite side of the Country. A wonderful Blanc de Blanc Champagne.

Nose has freshly scrubbed lemon, grapefruit peel, sliced Granny Smith apple, wet chalk, cold brioche and Gardenia blossom in a breeze.

Palate is fresh orange peel, grapefruit peel (like really wow), tart green apple, fresh walnut, crunchy brioche with a little hint of sweetened butter and a splash of acidic ocean water.

Finish is intense, yet elegant and lasting for many minutes. We are quite looking forward the the evolution of this bottle across the evening, as it warms from 46°F and gains air time.

Thank you @David T @Sofia Jalilie for allowing us into your week closing tradition. The next bottle should have us closer together. — 7 years ago

GabWine

9.2

Color : White
Wine estate : Louis Bovard
Designation : Lavaux
Name : Salix - Chenin Blanc
Country : Switzerland
Vivino : 4.5/5
Note : Louis Bovard makes bio-dynamic culture and has introduced in the Lavaux new grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc. The name of Salix comes from the Latin word meaning the willow, with which one braided the branches to make baskets of vintage. A golden yellow straw robe with a nose of citrus, pineapple and mineral. Once in the mouth, the explosion of flavor with a nice acidity and a taste of citrus and apple. The final is excellent, it remains in the mouth and perfectly accompanied a fish.
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Louis Bovard fait de la culture bio-dynamique et a introduit dans le Lavaux des nouveaux cépages comme ce Chenin Blanc. Le nom de Salix vient du terme latin signifiant le saule, avec lequel on tressait les branches pour faire des paniers de vendange. Une robe dorée jaune paille avec un nez d’agrumes, ananas et minéral. Une fois en bouche, l’explosion de saveur avec une belle acidité et un goût d’agrumes et de pomme. Le final est excellent, il reste bien en bouche et accompagné parfaitement un poisson.
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👍🏻Vivino, FB : GabWine | IG : gabriel_dvl 🥂 — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I bought my first vintage from this producer & terroir beginning with the 2010 vintage and what a vintage to start. I bought four bottles for right around $50 or a little less. They were so amazing, I drank through them in no time at all. For those of you that read my posts, that’s not normally what I do. I like to drink one & age the rest. Since then, I have looked & looked for more. I’d finally given up hopes of finding more until recently I struck gold. I should have bought all nine bottles but a calmer head prevailed. It’s definitely changed since having it fresh. On the nose, the fruits are slightly macerated. Heather honey, beeswax, golden & green apple, pineapple upside down cake, slight orange citrus blend, mango, glazed nuts, soft, delicate, chalky minerals, a touch of jasmine & yellow lilies. The body is much rounder & thicker than when it was young. Waxy. So, beautifully layered across the palate. Much of the palate matches the nose. Heather honey, beeswax, golden & green apple, apricots, peach, pineapple upside down cake, slight orange citrus blend, mango, slight molasses character & glazed nuts with citrus blossoms, yellow lilies & jasmine. The minerals are much more grippy & bold as they cut across and set on the palate. The acidity round & phat. The texture is amazing as is the length, balance & beautiful, rich, long finish that lasts two-minutes plus. So glad I found more of this wine! Hubert Lamy seriously over deliver the terroir & the price point by a country mile. If you are not buying this wine on pre-arrival, you are missing great wine and excellent value. Can’t say enough good things about it. Especially, the 2010. I expect the 15 to hold similar quality. Photos of; Olivier Lamy, Olivier working in this vineyard, barrel room and their Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Vineyard. Producer notes and history...There have been Lamy’ s growing vines in St-Aubin since 1640, today it is run by Olivier Lamy. Olivier is a new breed of Burgundian grower keen to progress. He trained Méo-Camuzet & made a number of vintages before taking over in 1996 from his father Hubert. Hubert Lamy used to sell fruit to négociants, but that stopped in 1997. He grubbed up and sold off peripheral vines, keeping only the best and oldest sites. Currently he is experimenting with different planting densities in a quest to capture even greater expression of terroir. The Domaine produces both reds and whites and now has 16.5 hectares of vineyards, mostly in St-Aubin but also own a few parcels in Chassagne-Montrachet and a tiny plot in the Grand Cru Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. Yields are kept low and recent innovations have been introduced with selection tables in the cuverie to ensure that only the healthiest and ripest grapes are used. His more recent move to reduce the amount of new oak with the introduction of demi-muids 300-600 liter barrels have also helped to improve the wines. Vinification is traditional and the wines are matured with only 20-30% new oak for 12 months before minimal filtration and then bottling. The quality is very high and is often superior to many wines from much more prominent villages that sell at twice the price or more. — 8 years ago

David D

9.1

Blend with local Nebbiolo. Maybe less mineral than 2019. Good tar/roses, brambles, apple, some wet steel, very mellow tannins and acids, pretty young. From Amaro Spirits and Wine. 01/26//22 — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Rezabal is a family owned winery located in the Basque country of Spain in Zarautz and belonging to PDO "Getariako Txakolina". Made from Hondarribi-Zuri grape, pale lemon with aromas of stone and citrus fruits noticing a light spritz in the glass. On the palate flavors of apple and lemon citrus, vivid acidity, low alcohol. Medium finish ending with fruit and mineral character. — 5 years ago

brando cox

9.0

This is super interesting, in a good way. This is going to sound blizzard but this Champagne has a very pleasant aroma which I can only compare to that grainy smell of a country grain or feed depot. It's the secondary brioche and toasty citrus apple notes which follow that are all too wonderful and familiar in a Grand Cru Champ. — 5 years ago

David D

8.9

Bright and on the lighter side. Cranberry, apple, some oak, a little ferrous. Quick finish. From Amaro Spirits & Wines. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Founded in 1877 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, a little village the heart of the Côte d’Or by Jean Bouillot, a wine and spirits merchant. A blend of Chardonnay and Aligoté from both northern & southern Burgundy. Pale yellow with fragrant aromas of stone fruit and some biscuit notes. The palate shows apple and pear flavors, lemon zest with nice texture. Tangy long finish, vivid acidity, champagne like, pleasant, ending with fresh yeast character. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Susan Hanners

8.9

Grapefruit notes, like a Sauvignon Blanc but with body. Green apple notes, no bite — 7 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on September 19, 2018 at Home]

Purchased at winery tasting held at Midtown Wine and Spirits. Blend from three vineyards. 96% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Semillon. 50% stainless steel, 25% seasoned French oak, 25% new French oak. Green apple, lime, pineapple, peach with a hint of vanilla. Zippy acidity and stony minerality. Wine paired beautifully with Mahi Mahi. — 8 years ago

Alexander Vadas

9.4

Apple ice vine from Basque Country! Cider notes. Served with apple sorbet. — 8 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

What an outrageously beautiful wine. Pale, pale straw color in the glass. Slightly seductive nose of green apple, kiwi, grapefruit, and lime. Medium body with some sexy long legs that go on and on. I don’t hate Sauvignon Blanc per se, but I’ve never loved the varietal. This is a game changer. Stone fruits, lemon-lime spritzer, strawberry, apricot, and honeydew on the complex palate. Long finish with minerality and more tropical fruit. One of the best white wines from one of the best producers in the country. — 8 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Liguria is a coastal region in Italy, nestled in the northwestern corner of the country, hugging the Ligurian Sea, with steep mountains defining the landscape.

It offers an ideal mix of warm, dry conditions, moderating influences from the coast and varying altitudes, and nutrient-poor soils (which is good for vine growing!). However, its dramatic topography limits the amount of wine that can be produced from this region…

With that background, we were thrilled to be sipping a glass of this beautiful Ligurian white wine made from the Vermentino grape. What a pleasure to envision us sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea!

Leaping out of the glass was tangerine peel, grapefruit, green apple, passion fruit, pineapple, boxwood, white citrus blossom, elderflower, and wet stone -- a delicious confluence of pronounced fruit and floral aromas and flavors.

It was vibrant, youthful, and fresh, yet also concentrated and juicy, adding a level of richness to the mouthfeel.

Lvnae, Colli di Luni D.O.C., Vermentino, ABV 12.5. Vintage 2019. A fantastic value at $25 / bottle.

Salute! — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Kristin the Wine Girl

8.9

Lovely. Impeccably balanced. Oaky buttery and full on the nose, but opens appreciatively on the mouth with acidity, apples and back-end apple pie crust. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

With Covid-19 and the country in extended lockdown, mass economic shutdown & unemployment, one has extra time to enjoy some extra bottles, explore their creative side & dabble in a third career.

You can now not only follow my notes but, also my wine inspired landscape design. Here are some of my first creations. Strong beginning huh? I think I have a bright future after this is all over.

The nose reveals; lemon chiffon/meringue, lemons, lime zest, green apple, just ripe pineapple, grapefruit, green melon, some slightly bruised golden apple, lychees, cream, vanillin, very light caramel, elegant, soft chalkiness, volcanics, sea fossils/spray, bread dough to baguette with yellow florals, spring flowers & jasmine.

The body is rich with beautiful mousse & excellent micro-oxygenation. lemon chiffon/meringue, lemons, lime zest, green apple, just ripe pineapple, grapefruit, green melon, some slightly bruised golden apple, lychees, white peach, cream, cream soda, vanillin, very more caramel, elegant, soft chalkiness, volcanics, sea fossils/spray, medium white spice (ginger)with just a touch of palate heat, bread dough to baguette with yellow florals, spring flowers & jasmine. The lively, delicate acidity is excellent. The rich, well polished & balanced finish delicious & even throughout with nice, delicate, palate penetrating white spice that persists minutes.

Photos of; David’s Wine Inspired Landscape Designs, LCC. All rights reserved. TM. 😂 — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

As usual, this is the one dry Hexamer wine to perpetuate the tradition of Prädikat, and that is done solely to satisfy the Norwegian importer who takes all of it. (All to one country, yes; but this has become a high-volume cuvée by estate standards.) The fruit comes from the Eisendell as well as from a site known as Grosser Stein for the huge stone that marked the boundary between the holdings of the Rheingrafen (counts) and those of the Disibodenberg monastery. Picked nearly a month earlier than was the highly-impressive 2016, this weighs-in at 11.9% alcohol, and that shows in an attractive sense of levity and spring vis-à-vis Hexamer’s other dry Rieslings of this vintage. Fresh lime, apple, piquant aromas as well as a juicy, crisp-edged and pip-tinged presence on the glossy palate serve for penetrating. Subtly bitter but cooling and stimulating notes of melon rind compound the sense of crunch and piquancy while lovely, bittersweet inner-mouth perfume adds allure. The combination of vivacity and refreshment with floral and mineral intrigue renders the buoyant, bell-clear, seriously-sustained finish next-sip compelling. (David Schildknecht, Vinous, April 2019) — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

Easily the most enigmatic wine of this morning’s tasting. Briny, savory, ever-changing and shifting as I keep coming back to it. Everything from golden apple to tropical to green herbs and white flowers and dash of honey. The sum of its parts only merely suggests Riesling- I’ll admit I would have called this Loire Chenin. Beautiful wine with a unique identity and sense of place, produced from some of the oldest Riesling vines in the country. — 8 years ago