Severn Goodwin

9.0

Nose has strawberry, red apple slice, red currant bunch, ripe cherry and dry earth.

Palate has cherry, raspberry, orange pith, red apple peel, light green herbs with a light tannic grip.

What a color! Nice wine, plenty of fruit to please most palates, decent finish; fun blend of grapes!

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For Opening Night our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading an all BEETHOVEN program (Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor) and Symphony No. 5) with one of our local treasures, Emanuel (Manny!) Ax on piano.

It's been a long time coming to get on the best manicured lawn in the Berkshires, 2020 saw a full withdrawal of the in-person season because of the pandemic. Now we're back with a very abbreviated season, limited capacity grounds and shed; we've returned, all celebrating the greatest orchestra in the world! — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 4), HK GRUBER (Aerial, Concerto for trumpet and orchestra) with the amazing Håkan Hardenberger as the trumpet soloist and then STRAUSS (“Dance of the Seven Veils” from Salome). Andris and Håkan happen to be friends, and both are trumpet players, I expect to see some playful nature to their interaction this afternoon. Mr. Hardenberger is a world renowned and virtuousic player, we're always glad to hear him, this will be his 4th Tanglewood appearance in 5 years. We expect various mutes to be employed over the work, a cow horn (yes it is want you think) and then finishing with piccolo trumpet, exciting to have a soloist work multiple instruments over his appearance!

Nose has green apple peel, dry seashell, cold quince, cut lemongrass and faint green herbals.

Palate has floral/ripe pear, yellow apple, green apple, fresh lemon rind and light sweetness on a medium-long finish. Fun bottle for a warm afternoon!

Off dry blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Valvin Muscat, a new offering for 2019, believe only available to the Wine Club or direct purchase at the winery. — 6 years ago

Armando IBats

9.2

Creo que si lo añejé un poco, vamos a comer — 7 years ago

Bromento Mori

9.8

Rich as a draught of poppies. Slithers across the palate with dope secondary & tertiary notes the way the Grinch be slithering across your floor to steal your Crimbo. This here is wrought, right and got the stink, stank, and the stink.

TL;DR this here a Beethoven wine. Got power, guts, the deep sadness and all the joy. Krug go on eat ya heart out, but when I need that big ol deep bottle, this the King. — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

10

WOTN! Yes., you guessed it....another bottle provided by my friend David Lentine! If the Sinegal bottle that we opened is a Rockstar this bottle was Beethoven!! It's elegance and finesse was immediately noticed. Kirk's head snapped back to look at me after his 1st sip and said "the finish on this is long & complex. It has a lot going on!! WOTN".
There's a reason why this is their flagship wine & why Parker rated it 💯! I'm a believer. This was everyone's 1st Lail but it most certainly won't be our last. Stunning., simply stunning. Everything it did., it did Perfectly. Power with finesse, character with elegance, complexity with purity. It was a true experience tasting this wine. We all left this in our glass for as long as we could. Each sip was relished until the long finish was a distant memory and then we took another. I'm going to have to dig deep in my cellar to find a proper "Thank you" swap for that insane bottle of wine!!!!
This truly deserves the title "Awesomeness in a Glass"!!
😍💯🍷🍷💯😍 I'll even throw some applause in there......yes it was that good!!! 👏👏👏👏👏 — 8 years ago

with Kirk and Christine

Dade Thieriot

10

It's such a privilege to open the fridge late in the evening and discover this marvelous wine waiting for me! 2004 is one I our favorite, classic #Mosel #Riesling vintages of the past 20 years and this #Auslese #6 was truly phenomenal--bright, ripe acidity, zesty, flinty minerality together with a rainbow of exotic fruit components--all in all a very cerebral wine and the prefect accompaniment to Beethoven string quartets! — 10 years ago

with Petra

Severn Goodwin

9.2

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero (Nashville Symphony director) is leading SCHOENBERG (Friede auf Erde, Opus 13 (Peace on Earth), for unaccompanied chorus) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).

The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive moving piece, with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus at 250+ singers, conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one.
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!'

Nose of warmed pear, light toasted brioche and wet limestone.

Palate has warmed lemon curd spread on lightly toasted bread, chalky-saline mousse and honey over yellow apple. Finish is med-long, a beautiful effort.

Disgorged 7/2017, blend of '13/'14 with a 50/50 blend of Chardonnay & Pinot Noir. Noted improvement with some additional bottle age since our prior experience (same disgorgement). — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor, and violin soloist, Leonidas Kavakos is leading an BEETHOVEN (Violin Concerto in D, Opus 61) and then concluding with DVOŘÁK (Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Opus 70). It is a rare treat to have a combination conductor/soloist leading the Orchestra, only the second time I can recall in about 12 years of attendance. The other instance was with Anne-Sophie Mutter, also a violinist, a few years ago now.

Nose has cut yellow apple, bag full of lemons, light vanilla, light oak and limestone paste.

Palate has cold butter, sugared lemon, lemon pith, quince, yellow cherry and creamy oak lingers on the medium-long finish.

Quite Chablis-like, except the touch of wood notes are a little heavier, but the caveat, this wine is very young, likely drinking great 2021-23.

24 Hour Update: Oak has subsided, just a great bottle today. — 6 years ago

Jonathan Wall

8.9

Light bright and elegant. More Beethoven than funk. — 7 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.0

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading MENDELSSOHN (Symphony No. 4, Italian), BEETHOVEN (Piano Concerto No. 1) with Yuja Wang on piano and BERNSTEIN (Chichester Psalms) accompanied by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.

Lime-Cherry-Strawberry, Cherry-Lime-Strawberry, Strawberry-Cherry-Lime... Take your pick all notes apply to nose and palate. Good, but still not as good as '16. Plenty more to go, so maybe in a year this will be better? See my prior notes. — 7 years ago

Francesco Federico

9.0

A very peculiar white. A sprinboard of minerals brings you into Austrian woods in spring time, after rain has passed. Drink it while listening to Beethoven Sixth. — 8 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.4

Music. Everything but Malbec. Pedigree such as David Abreu, Howell Mountain, Kongsgaard, Erickson, Beethoven Opus 111. Yeah... It's in the wine. The nose and finish are balanced, long, and deep. If you happen upon a bottle, let it settle thoroughly, unfiltered and extracted, but once "clean" it is gorgeous. — 9 years ago

Dongming Yin

9.6

It reminds of me the 23rd piano sonata by Beethoven, the 'appassionate'. It's hard, unique, warm, decisive, like a peaceful lava stream going through your tongue to your heart. — 9 years ago

Dade Thieriot

10

Arietta is an oenological
tribute to Beethoven created by the musical minds of John Kongsgaard and Fritz Hatton and the latter has taken over the project, expanding it to include this blend of several white varietals that is crisp, citrus-driven and very food-friendly! — 10 years ago

with Petra

Severn Goodwin

9.2

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero (Nashville Symphony director) is leading SCHOENBERG (Friede auf Erde, Opus 13 (Peace on Earth), for unaccompanied chorus) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).

The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive moving piece, with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus at 250+ singers, conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one.
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!'

Nose has ripe yellow apple, lightly oxidized green apple peel, baked phyllo dough, partially aromatic white flowers and damp rocks. I always get a natural wine vibe here, without the vinegar-like profile, but it seems alive!

Palate has baked green and yellow apple pastry, crisp acidity yet dense, candle wax begins on the finish and ends with dry granite. Great balance, very lengthy finish, clean and not cumbersome, superb vintage, long life ahead. We love you Jean-Jacques. — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 4), HK GRUBER (Aerial, Concerto for trumpet and orchestra) with the amazing Håkan Hardenberger as the trumpet soloist and then STRAUSS (“Dance of the Seven Veils” from Salome). Andris and Håkan happen to be friends, and both are trumpet players, I expect to see some playful nature to their interaction this afternoon. Mr. Hardenberger is a world renowned and virtuousic player, we're always glad to hear him, this will be his 4th Tanglewood appearance in 5 years. We expect various mutes to be employed over the work, a cow horn (yes it is want you think) and then finishing with piccolo trumpet, exciting to have a soloist work multiple instruments over his appearance

Nose has strawberry-banana smoothie, light crushed red raspberry and freshly washed cherry.

Palate has red currant, red raspberry, slight grassy note and faint wet sandstone.

Exciting to get back to this bottle. Our last experience was directly off tank (Fall '18) which was tapped by Morten for us, very cloudy then, but flavors were beginning to come together. 100% Pinot Noir. — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Briney, saline, limestone. Color influenced by some skin contact, slight red/orange hue. Beautiful bottle.
Carla and Jaime, we're so glad you made the trek North to meet up, amazing Beethoven program this afternoon at Tanglewood! — 7 years ago

with Carla

Severn Goodwin

8.9

Saturday night at Tanglewood with the BSO playing Britten, Adès & Beethoven, and Emanuel Ax on piano.

Fruit is decent, not much of a green note from the Merlot, certainly get the Cab. Franc on the nose. Ripe raspberry and smokey, not-too-sweet, stewed red fruit, evolving on the glass finally after two hours. — 8 years ago

Dongming Yin

9.6

Worth every penny and more. Grandeur, magnificent, spectacular, like the 5th concerto for piano by Beethoven. — 9 years ago

Fred Dex

Master Sommelier

9.0

Beethoven conducted his 9th Symphony here. Or at least I was told! Smoky Pinot from Austria @rxwinelab — 10 years ago