Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This is another wine brand from Charles Smith of K Vintner's. On the nose, rose petals leap out of glass. Strawberries, cherries, watermelon, near blood orange citrus & beautiful chalky minerals. The palate is a little gummy...a touch of bubble gum. Fruits are; strawberries, cherries, watermelon & near blood orange citrus. Beautiful soft chalky minerals, very nice acidity and a pretty good round finish. Photos of; Charles's house next to the old tasting room that is still open on weekends, view from the Charles's front patio and more of the stored K Vintner's library wines. — 9 years ago

Darcy

9.2

Absolutely love this Artezin brand. Mourvèdre is smooth and vanilla aroma is beautiful! — 10 years ago

Pierpaolo Petrassi MW

Master of Wine; Head of Beer, Wine & Spirits Waitrose

9.0

This is Larry's take on a minimum intervention Riesling, hence the sub brand name. Typically he has achieved this whilst still making a delicious wine which is complex but still clean & pure. Fantastic, with beautiful lime and elderflower fruit, only just off-dry but with crisp acidity. — 11 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.6

Great way to start a week helping make wine by tasting a brand new bottle of a vintage that I worked on. Unbelievably balanced and beautiful. One of the best Cobb wines I have had and I've tried a lot. Finish is nearing the three minute mark right now. Happy:) — 11 years ago

Matt Sobczak

9.2

Aromas of brand new Bridgestone tires, and roses. Beautiful representation of Neb. — 11 years ago

K U

9.3

Most popular Leitz brand wine. Beautiful blend of sweetness and minerality. Gran-crew parcel. On the top of the ridge line. Great salinity due to be region. — 11 years ago

Anna Marie Dos Remedios

9.8

Fantastic single clone Ponmard Pinot Noir from Alexander-Smith, Paraiso Vineyards new brand in their beautiful new tasting room in Carmel! — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, floral and lightly spiced dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, liqueur notes and dark dry & fresh florals. The mouthfeel is richly beautiful. The palate has; dark cherries, cherries, dry strawberries, hints of blue fruits and then the spices quickly kick in with a heat lifting intensity. Notes of red fruit liqueur. Nice round acidity with a beautiful, elegant fruit and medium spiced finish. Substance is another label under the Charles Smith brand. In fact, I was told, Charles has further evolved the name to "Wines of Substance" going forward. — 9 years ago

Rivka Friedman

9.1

Basically the house brand at Il Pozzo, the bottle in-restaurant was like $22. Drinks fantastically; beautiful ripe fruit, soft tannins, just a happy happy wine. — 10 years ago

Justin Brilman

9.4

Loved this wine. While the 2011 Brio was tasting a little better this day this wine will age better. Big and bold but seamless, just a beautiful wine. Fruit, acidity, silky tannins and all the components to be a stunning wine with some bottle age. — 11 years ago

Gerald Montoya

9.0

Dirty grapefruit and decomposing flint. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc and better than some big brand Sancerre — 11 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.3

Beautiful old Diatom that is still full of life and will be outstanding for many years to come. Congrats to Dr. Katie Meihaus, brand new PhD! — 11 years ago

Tim Baitch

9.3

Watch out Central Otago, here comes the apple Isle! This is big by Pinot standards but still has that beautiful light feel, early finish and leaves you reaching for the next glass. Get on it!! — 11 years ago

Stephanie Kendall

9.4

Beautiful wine to pair with a spicy halibut. Bits of apricot and dried peaches. — 11 years ago

Devin Bray

9.3

Beautiful balance between sherry and campfire smoke. Gorgeous and poised and worth every penny. — 10 years ago

Florian Perolini

9.1

In English and French.

Whisky !

- Kavalan Solist Vinho barrique. 59.4%
Single Malt. Taïwan.
Matured in White and Red wine oak.
Distilled in mars 2010. Bottled july 2015.
212 bottles in the world.
Single Cask. Cask Strenght.

Taïwan is an isle south Est of China.
Kavalan is in the North. Hot and wet climate.
The Angels'share is more important : 10% each year. Scotland : 1% each year.
And the maturation is faster. For exemple, a 7 years old Kavalan Whisky will look like to a 18+ years old Scotch. Impressive.

Best Single malt and best of the best for the 2015 world whiskys ?

The fact ???
Lets try it !!

The color is impressive. Dark brown. Beautiful.

Just 2 cl in the glass and ... explosion !
Old cedar, pine wood, nuts, fresh vanilla, passion fruit, mango and coconut, red fruits to !!. Original.
Love it !

59.4% alcool.... strong, but fatty, so easy to drink. Red fruits, cherry, pine wood, exotics fruits : mango and passion fruit.
Nice balance, you can feel a little sweet sensation.
The finish : cassis, dark chocolate and leather.
Long, very long.

An impressive whisky with high density and good complexity. Best whisky in the world??? That's totaly subjective. For me ? No, but one of the best i ever tried !

Now, in France the price is around 250 euros. Dont know for other country.


☆ Kavalan Solist Vinho barrique. 59.4%
Cask Strength. Single Cask
Distillé en 2010. Édition 2015. 212 bouteilles pour le monde.
Taïwan.
Whisky élevé dans des fûts de vin blanc et rouge.

Taïwan est une île au Sud Est de la Chine.
La distillerie Kavalan se situe au Nord Est.
Climat chaud et humide.
La part des anges est de 10% par an, par comparaison, elle est de 1% en Écosse.
La maturité y est aussi plus rapide, un whisky de 7 ans est comparable en complexité à un whisky de plus de 18 ans en Écosse !

Alors !? Meilleur whisky du monde 2015 ?
Qu'en est-il ?

Après avoir juste versé 2 cl dans mon verre, le bouquet à littéralement envahi la pièce.
Vieux cèdre, sapin du sud-ouest, aiguilles de pin. La noix, gousse de vanille, Fruits rouges. Puis, très exotique, sur la mangue, le fruit de la passion et la noix de coco. On s'y perd ! Puissance aromatique énorme !

59.4% c'est beaucoup! Mais finalement quelle douceur, c'est gras.
Les arômes de cerice et de fruits rouges lancent le bal, le sapin, les fruits exotiques : mangue et fruits de la passion.
La finale s'étire très longuement sur le cassis cuit, le chocolat noir, le cuire et la banane flambée.

C'est très impressionnant !

Alors meilleur whisky du monde 2015 ??? C'est une question de goût ;, subjectif.
Pour moi, non, mais fait parti des meilleurs whiskys que j'ai pu déguster à ce jour.

Un grand whisky ! Comptez 250 euros en France....

À bientôt.
Florian. — 10 years ago

Nathaniel DiMaggio

9.0

A lot of bottle variation on these guys. This is my 5th bottle in 3 weeks. Beautiful bright blue fruit. Yummy! — 11 years ago

Claire Kim

9.0

Nose is dusty roses, more floral than fruity. Beautiful sweetness balanced perfectly by acidity. Slight kick of ginger at the end. — 11 years ago

Cedric Moussé

8.9

Beautiful brand — 11 years ago

Lara Elisabetta Belgrado Barzan

9.6

New brand !!! By profumi d Italia !!! Beautiful !!! Fresh ! Very good euro 15 — 12 years ago