Beth Hamilton

9.1

The color is striking. More orange than rose. The aroma is like salted orange butter. On the palate it’s round and balanced. The usual notes of strawberry and honeydew are there but there’s also prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe, and maybe grapefruit. Finishes with some nice minerality. I was holding onto this in my fridge like it was a “big deal” but I shouldn’t have. It’s very drinkable. — 5 years ago

with Parviz

Adam Beasley

9.2

Very light golden color, with a subtle nose of orange blossom, lemon, pear, and slate. Bone dry, and a little austere, but delicious and mineral driven. Interesting varietal and a very good bottle. No vintage designated. Overdelivers for the price, for sure. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.

1997 a difficult vintage for reds in Bordeaux. The upside is, when the reds lag, the whites almost always shine.

The nose shows; marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals.

The body is thick, gluey and rich. The mouthfeel magnificent. There is almost a dry tannin presence but it is it’s dry, gritty volcanic minerality, marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals. The acidity round and splendid. The finish is rich, well balanced, elegant, polished and delicious.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, glass of 1997 showing color, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

From magnum and paired well with three different Tri-tip steaks sources and marinades.

On the nose, sweet & sour, ripe dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, some ripe, slightly rustic rhubarb with just a hint of blue fruits. Glycerin, touch of fruit liqueur, vanilla, dry stones, crushed rocks, hints of dry herbs, used leather, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, soft dark spice, underlying white pepper and dark red fresh and slightly withering florals with a touch of violets.

The palate is med and beautiful. The length, structure, tension and balance are at its peak harmony from magnum. Sweet & sour, ripe dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, pomegranate, some ripe, slightly rustic rhubarb, burnt orange, with just a hint of blue fruits. Glycerin, touch of fruit liqueur, vanilla, dry river stones, crushed rocks, hints of dry herbs, used leather, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, limestone minerals, dry stems, more presence, soft dark spice, underlying white pepper and dark red fresh and slightly withering florals with a touch of violets and blue flowers. The acidity is waterfall perfect. The rich, ripe, fresh fruit, well balanced finish is simply beauty on steroids.

Photos of, Lopez de Heredia, Vat fermenters that are still in use and somewhere between 100-200 years of age (they repair them as needed to keep them tight), their cooperage and Maria José López de Heredia who now runs the family business. — 7 years ago

Emre

9.0

Pronounced aromas of orange blossom, marmalade, apricot on the nose. Expected the acidity to counterbalance the sweetness better. Felt a little too “heavy” for me. Not bad for $49 for 750ml bottle. — 8 years ago

Linnifer

9.1

Great orange wine. Tart with hints of funkiness. Tried at Lula. — 8 years ago

Mika Jordan

9.0

Dried lemon rinds. Grapefruit, orange, honey and potpourri. The palate is lemon rind and pith. Orange zest. Saline and hints of honey. Reminds me of a fino sherry, but with more moderate acidity. Long finish. — 10 years ago

Rachael Doob

9.3

Loved this! Orange tinted full-bodied Pinot Grigio with a bit of peach and stone fruit. — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.9

Impeccable. Complex and heady aromas of red fruit. Alpine strawberries and raspberry converge with a high note of brioche. It's incredibly elegant, with a delicate mousse and vibrantly acidity. There is a slight mineral edge, adding complexity to ripe pomegranate, orange rind and coriander. Fleshy, creamy and decadent finish. ID 412041 Enjoyed with truffle fries. — 12 years ago

Evan McKenzie

9.0

Appearance: hazy orange wine
Nose: Aromas of apricot, muted citrus fruits, crushed rock, black tea.
Taste: tea/Arnold Palmer, bright citrus, grippy tannins, hay, medium + acid, clean mineral finish
12%EtOH — 6 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.2

After work grilled cheese and orange wine it’s the little things! I love these wines for some they are a little too funky but I always find them to be on the nicer side of natural! This taste of Orange peel and herbs and dry earth 😋😋 — 6 years ago

Deanna Urciuoli

9.0

Beautifully complex wine, light but layered. Hints of melon on the nose and a cross between rose and orange on the mouth. Truly wonderful. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Jack & Arden put together a wonderful evening of delicious food and great wines, and a few of us attendees contributed some bottles to enjoy as well. Great night!

My contribution. Wow! The aromatics here are some of the most intoxicating I’ve come across. Ripe pineapple bathed in honey butter, apricot preserves, orange marmalade and honeycomb. Light on the palate with zippy acidity. Fantastic! — 7 years ago

with Arden, Jack and 3 others

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Rich, savory, and full without being mouth coating. Starts crisp and broadens out. Blood orange, passion fruit, and tea. Almost creamy. Medium acidity. These rosés provide an important contrast to the culturally preferred rosés of Cotes de Provence. — 8 years ago

Sam Henzy

9.3

Lots of skin contact white blend. The nose has an interesting mix of white flowers, honey, orange pith and Camembert. The palate is waxy with preserved lemon and tangerine lace. I get something else bitter as well almost like wild arugula. Really fun and delicious. I can’t wait to see how it opens up. — 8 years ago

Paul J

9.5

One of my favorite wines of all time! Nice yellow/orange color. Nose filled with tropical fruit, honey, and vanilla. Complex, crisp, and very refreshing. Love everything about it! — 8 years ago

October Cleveland

8.9

Red apple, rosy florals, mid-dry refreshing finish. A whiter shade of orange. — 9 years ago

with Adam

Patrick Derdeyn

9.3

Raspberry preserves, orange peel, spice, and a hint of cola. Occidental is a gem among an outstanding lineup of 2013 RM pinots. — 10 years ago

Patrick Knöfler

8.9

Half-bottle. The wine was medium amber in colour and offered orange peel, apple, honeycomb, caramel, smoke, spices, sherry and a mouldy note on the nose. On the palate the wine showed orange, peach, apple, cane sugar, caramel, smoke, spices, creamy honey, some coffee, a hint of chocolate, sherry, mild black tea and a mouldy note, paired with medium-plus acidity, a creamy honey mouthfeel and very good length. Judged by this half-bottle the wine has just passed its plateau and started its slow journey on the downward slope. A good, medium-bodied Sauternes with lots of botrytis character. Drink now. 89 — 11 years ago

GaYoung Kim

Graileys Fine Wines. Sommelier. Broker

9.8

Fresh citrus like Meyer lemon, melons, white tea, and orange blossoms. Dry, bright acidity, one of my favorite wine makers. — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The White Burgundy was excellent but, still have to have my BSR 375ml. It’s been awhile for us.

It is a little better tonight following the Burgundy & soft white cheese.

The nose on this bottle really flows out of the glass tonight. Beautiful lean fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon near the rind, blood orange, orange & tangerine & some pomegranate. Crisp volcanic minerals, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, vanillin, whiff of caramel, soft white spice, pink flowers and rose pedals.

Everything on the palate sings just a little louder tonight as well. Fruits are even a little richer than normal. Ripe & slightly gummy not as normal leaner fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon near the rind, blood orange, orange & tangerine & some pomegranate. Crisp and grippy, volcanic minerals, beautiful softer, powdery chalkiness w/o quite the sharper edge it normally has, soft, hints of Provence herbs, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, vanillin, whiff of caramel, soft white spice, pink flowers and rose pedals. The acidity is crisp, lively and dead on as alway. The long, rich, well balanced finish is deliciously refreshing and persists minutes.

Photos of; one of their Grand Cru Vineyards at sunset & inside and the Estate grounds of the House of Billecart, — 6 years ago

Alexander Connell

9.3

The color is a rustic tan or light orange with clear edges. The nose has a almost aprocot quality to it with loads of orange rind and citric acid minus the sharpness and a distinct green grape core. The mouth feel is thicker just as a dry red would be. Tannins and all. On the palate there is notes of grape skin, peach, and a bit of cherry. Long dry finish. Leaves you thirsty for another sip. — 7 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.2

PnP. Way on the hedonistic side of the Pinot spectrum, and delicious for it. Black cherry cola, orange peel, white flowers. Lovely structure, zippy acidity. This is a drinking wine today, but yearns to mature into a food wine in 5-10 years. — 7 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Rich and opulent with notes of honeysuckle, apricot marmalade, pineapple and orange zest — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.1

Powerhouse of resinous, herbal and spice aromas. Dried flower, potpourri, figs, orange peel, spiced herbal tea with essential oils and tar in the background. Heredia and Musar are definitely the leading purveyors of this style, though this is Heredia’s first rosado in several years and very highly anticipated. It does not disappoint. — 7 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.3

The 2016s just came in so I had to rip one open. This might be the best SC ever and that is saying a lot. It’s certainly the best one for early drinking as it was singing with only a splash decant. A return to dark fruits, cedar, orange peel. The life of the party. — 8 years ago

Ravi Vohra

8.9

Great color. Cool varietal. Excessive Brettiness upon opening that aired out over night, but other than that... great notes of burnt orange and honey. The palate was creamy with very balanced tannins. This is the only other orange wine that has reminded me a lot of La Stoppa’s Ageno, which is one of my all time favorites. — 8 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Orange-red in color. Floral, peach and mango nose, peach- cherry in mouth with minerality and mild astringency in front. Not an easy-sipping wine but well made. — 10 years ago

with L

Alex Shaw

9.3

Beautiful deep golden color. Orange peel, apricot and hints of almond. Perfect sugar/acid bakance. Fantastic. — 10 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.9

Raspberry, red fruit, boysenberry, cinnamon, underripe strawberry, orange peel. Spice, cinnamon, red licorice on palate w lots of black and white pepper. — 12 years ago