Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Sun dried linen aroma, though less intense than in previous vintages. Lemon and nectarine flavors, slightly tart. Mellows after an hour decanting with chalky mouthfeel on finish. Pairs surprisingly well with hummus and salmon with mint-cacao nib sauce. — 4 years ago
A benchmark version for this varietal, and haven’t had it for awhile... A slightly golden yellow, excellent clarity. Floral, grass, perfume, ripe peach notes in nose. Peach and lemon flavors, slight skin astringency on finish, rounded mouthfeel, good acidity with dried apricot in aftertaste. Really good value — 5 years ago
Last bottle of the 2020 vintage, 130 cases made. Orange with a hint of pink, excellent clarity. Floral and stone fruit aromas, subtle. Lactic, citrus and subdued orchard fruit flavor. Some skin astringency on finish but less than you would expect after a 72 cold soak before fermentation in used wood. An orange wine with finesse, or at least a light touch. Refreshing — 2 years ago
Another year, another vintage. Salmon pink, excellent clarity. Cherry in the nose. Crisp, white flowers, cherry, orchard fruit and lemon flavors on the finish, with minerals and light skin astringency. Slightly watery mouthfeel, but plenty of acid and fruit to hold it together. Great value. — 4 years ago
Limpid yellow. Vibrant, gently oak-spiced aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, along with suggestions of anise and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with concentrated yet lively Meyer lemon, Anjou pear and bitter quinine flavors that are sweetened by a subtle vanilla note. Shows superb clarity and minerally thrust on the strikingly long, focused finish, which leaves a suggestion of honeysuckle behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
— 4 years ago
Purple-red, moderately extracted pigment, good clarity with minor residue (it is unfiltered). Hints of butter, wood and cola in nose. Bright acidity, a touch of soy-umami in the flavors. Slightly gritty aftertaste on initial pour (it’s unfiltered!) Still assessing as it opens up... Cola flavor emerges after ten minutes, barrel tar aroma after thirty. — 5 years ago
Huge spice, huge citrus, sweet grapefult, tangelo, ripe, perfumed, bigger, chewy, texturally stunning, so juicy, long. Pure. Zippy. Dry and energy, very pure, very intense. Young but so pure.
After 8 hours this is crazy. Unreal spice, super pure apricot, so airy and perfumed. Unreal clarity. Palate is so fine and elegant with tangy citrus fruit, clarity like nothing else and a long finish. Stunning. — 5 years ago
Opened another recently, legendary wine, said that in the 18th century was introduced to Sultan of Constantinople's palace b/c of its clarity and called "mineral water from Carbonnieux", defying Islamic law. Pale lemon with pronounce aromas of tropical and stone fruits with herb notes. On the palate flavors of melon, mango, apple, green herbs and a crisp mineral edge. Medium+ length, balanced acidity, ending with a fruit, citrus mineral character. Nice, aging well. — 4 years ago
Shimmering straw-yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of white peach, pear, honeydew melon and Meyer lemon, along with a bright floral overtone. Juicy and densely packed, conveying a suave blend of richness and vivacity to the mineral-drenched citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors. Takes on smoky lees, sweet butter and iodine notes with air and shows superb clarity on the strikingly long finish, which echoes the mineral and floral notes. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
— 4 years ago
219 cases produced. Light yellow, excellent clarity. Aromas of pineapple and guava. Lemon, pomelo pulp and tropical fruit flavors. Dry, almost syrupy mouthfeel, crisp lemon peel finish. Not quite as elegant as the 2016, but a lot to like here. Turning into one of my two favorite white varietals for wine as I drink more examples of these from Isenhower and, occasionally, others in the Pacific Northwest. More Roussanne please. — 5 years ago
The 2010 Lafleur is showing a lot of Cabernet Franc on the nose. It is supremely well defined with incredibly clarity and terroir expression. You could almost mistake it for a Left Bank. Figeac? The palate is precise and detailed, touches of burnt toast and white pepper sprinkled over the persistent and structured finish that does not miss a step. Brilliant. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
A slightly stinky front. Then real deep clarity of raspberry fruit. There’s a gentle luscious center of hauntingly pure aged fruit (dried roses, soft cherry?) leading into the end palate. Really lucid. Delicious. — 5 years ago
David Shaw
300 cases made. Ruby red, very good clarity, moderate to heavy pigment extraction. Rich flavor profile, slightly oily with black currant, cherry, raspberry notes in mouth. Light mouth coating tannins on finish. Mint and herb aftertaste. Nice complexity though fruit intensity seems lighter than tannin and alcohol levels. I like the acidity, not too low or high. Still highly ageable overall. After one hour, fruit expression intensifies, so decant at least that long — 2 years ago