Alexandre Czesnat

9.1

Green apple, citrus pear, honey, pineapple, outstanding aromas, vanilla, little butter, well balanced, bold and medium acidity, great wine — 6 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.5

I love this wine. Crisp citrus and oak with round pear and vanilla. Holds up well to food but enjoyable on its own. — 6 months ago

Shuhui Ng

9.0

Medium bodied, dry, fresh acidity with notes of apple, pear, lemon, passion fruit, persimmon minerals, apricot . Long finish — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

An older Krug Cuvee purchased in 14 showing a rich apple, pear with a toasty, honeyed, brioche, pastry dough & mineral — 9 months ago

Lee Pfannerstill

9.0

Fine bubbles pear apple — a year ago

with Peg

Vanessa

9.1

What a beautiful spring day in Minnesota!

The glorious, golden sunshine called us outdoors and inspired us to crack into this 2012 Arnot-Roberts “Amphora” Ribolla Gialla.

We had the pleasure of blind tasting the 2010 vintage when we visited Arnot-Roberts last year. Check out my IG post (@Sips_Ensemble) from June 9, 2022 for more details on that magical visit!

This wine is made from the Ribolla Gailla variety, an ancient and rare grape grown most notably in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy and neighboring Goriška Brda region of Slovenia (where it’s called Rebulla).

Here is a lovely Napa expression coming from the Vare Vineyard in Napa’s Oak Knoll District, which is farmed organically by the esteemed Steve Matthiasson. Growing Ribolla in the Vare Vineyard dates back to 2001, when cuttings were brought over from Friuli, Italy for planting.

Settled at the base of the bottle we can see the lees (fine particles from the yeast), an indication this wine was likely unfiltered (or minimally filtered), lending richness and texture while also helping to preserve the wine.

It’s justifiably showing some signs of age with its deep golden hue and honeyed, nutty notes; yet it still offers round primary notes of yellow apple, bosc pear, quince, orange peel, grapefruit pith, cantaloupe, honeysuckle, white blossom, and wet slate, with a notable creaminess.

Cheers to sipping delicious wine on a delicious day! — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Joe Christenson

8.9

Very very light and diluted straw color. Lemon & honeysuckle on the nose. Palate is a bit heavier than I anticipated. Plenty of lemon citrus, white peach, nectarine, some green melon, underripe green pear, and some mineral notes. Tart, but lingers on the palate. I dislike using this word but it’s very quaffable, as they say 🙃. A crowd pleaser. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented double-blind. The wine pours a light straw color with medium viscosity and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of apple, pear, underripe pineapple, lemon curd, nuts and minerals. I felt like there was some deft use of oak. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+, bordering on high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and chocked full of minerals. My immediate impression was Bourgogne Blanc and I was having a hard time getting away from it. So I called Chardonnay, from France, Burgundy, Chassagne-Montrachet with 3-5 years of age. Gosh dammit! Margaret River strikes again!!! Blind, I always seem to call these Chablis or some other high quality white Burg. And I adore the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnays. They always impress me. Drink now through 2036. — 6 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.3

Liquid Gold! A beautiful California sparkler with aromas of brioche, yeast, and pear. Nice body and slight tartness. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

The “King of Chardonnay” Mike Grgich farms w/o pesticides and certified organic. Aged 10 months, no MLF. Medium lemon color with aromas of stone & citrus fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & lemon citrus flavors, with honeysuckle, vanilla & toasty oak notes. Nice balance with acidity on long finish with a toasty mineral ending. Not your typical CA Chard, very nice! — 9 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Pop and pour from MAG. A splendid light gold color. On the nose: apple, honeydew melon, banana, crushed stone, floral. Taste: still young at 11 years. Fresh, chalky, with depth and character. Notes of pear, nectarine, lemon & lime, and a white pepper minerally long lean finish. YUM! — 10 months ago

with Brenda

Matt Perlman

9.3

This Freddy’s ready. Deep straw gold color, nose has classic petrol, lemon, pear, apricot, quince bouquet, palate is bone dry, stony and racy — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Something different - a pear cider from Normandy produced from pear trees estimated to be about 300 years old. Poire Granit had 25 to 50 grams of sugar per litre yet it doesn’t taste particularly sweet. The nose and palate are nothing more complex than pear juice with a slight effervescent bubble. Very refreshing and only 6% ABV. I bought 2 other Cuvées from Eric Bordelet - one had zero ABV. Had a 2nd bottle 21 weeks later on 3rd January 2023 with consistent notes. Refreshing, tasty and uncomplicated. — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Every New Years I try to drink and/or to gift. Elegant, near bone dry pear goodness in its most articulate essence. Truly life affirming. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon color with pronounced stone fruit and citrus aromas. On the palate flavors of green apple, pear and citrus with vivid acidity, minerality and spice. Medium finish ending dry with fresh fruit and a touch of stony mineral notes. — 7 months ago

michael pandolfo

9.3

White citrus in the nose. Burst of flavors on the palate. Green apple, quince, slight smoke, pomelo and under ripe pear. Longish finish — 9 months ago

Alexander Bastian Nielsen

9.3

A well balanced wine offering ripe apples, pear juice, yellow cherries, lemon peel, roasted and grinded hazelnuts, sourdough, cream, butter, white roses, white tea with jasmine and a complex mix of mushroom, earth and stemmed ginger. Super delicious — 9 months ago

Ryan Guy

9.6

Fresh apricot, glazed almond, nutmeg, and cardamon spice. Layered with honeysuckle, pear, and green apple. There is a short crust, pear tart character on the nose. Still so grab and lively on the palate. Stone fruit, orchard fruit, toasted almonds, and Danish butter cookies. Linear acidity with bright, zesty finish with pithy lemon notes and tart apple. Lingering finish with a touch of warm spice. Waited a while to pop this one - it was well worth the wait! — 2 years ago

S T

9.2

Aromatic pear and apple, crisp, fresh acidity. — 3 years ago

Marissa

9.2

Crisp, lots of large bubbles, anjou pear with a light kumquat finish. A great everyday champagne. — 3 years ago