Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 2 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

8.9

Coconut water, rose petals, and starchy goodness — 5 years ago

Chris Ward

9.0

Cherry, tobacco, dill, coconut really coming through. Delicious! — 6 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.3

Always exceptional. I really admire the 2009 but I would prefer some of the vanillin/coconut American oak character to be a bit more woven into the overall picture. Pure red fruit aromas, exotic cedar and spice, sweet tobacco and a hint of balsamic herb. The freshness and silky tannins are delightful, just wait a few years for the aromatics to come together and resolve some of the younger parts. It’s going to be special. — 8 years ago

Bret Barker

9.4

Never had this wine before, it’s the second label of Vega Sicilia - its great. Cherry, vanilla, maybe a little coconut great acidity with some floral notes and a long smooth finish. — 8 years ago

with Adam

Chris England

9.4

Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!

As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍

🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel

👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones

🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger — 8 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Celebrating my b-day today with this beautiful Golden hay Chardonnay and sushi! Yummy!!! Nose is subtle but complex. Initially, Apple-pear and coconut dominate the senses followed by lemon zest, baked apple and sandalwood. Taste - white peach, apricot fruits and floral are soft on the palate, but the texture of a chalky oil feel coat the entire mouth and secondary notes of orange rind, lemon, green melon and minerals give this wine its long finish. A great evening of celebration and gratitude! — 4 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Josh Morgenthau

9.5

Pure coconut cream on the nose. Delicate and very gently oxidized. A bit salty. Seashells, yuzu, marshmallow and gooseberry. Very exotic and very pretty. — 5 years ago

Kattie Capozza

9.3

Vanilla coconut Canlis 101 2011 — 6 years ago

with Mark

Chris England

9.6

This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏

📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001

▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗

🏵 96 points

🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia

👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice

🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 7 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.0

May be the best ($14 dollar wine I’ve ever had -Costco) crushed ants (black) slight tar black cherry preserves coconut nicely aged — 8 years ago

Stan W

9.7

Big red and beautiful. Vanilla, coconut, marzipan done right. — 8 years ago

Andrew S

9.4

Fairly concentrated has a nice mix and depth of dark fruit and red Cabernet fruits. The vanilla/subtle coconut on the nose has it feeling young. Lingering and pleasing finish. — 9 years ago

Betsy Gorney

9.4

Sweet and delicious with the perfect amount of coconut flavor. I was surprised it was fizzy and the cork flew but it’s still so good! — 5 years ago

Aravind A

9.5

Pop and pour, notes from 2 hrs open. Lovely Furst nose of dried leaves, black pepper, wild strawberry and pomegranate. On the palate: fantastic acidity and such lovely weight and density (elegant and more lightly styled). Black pepper, soft coconut and wild strawberry. Wispy tannin on the finish. Was looking for a Hundsruck, but found this first...last btl of this, which is a little sad, but this is drinking so well right now. — 5 years ago

Hayden Hamilton

8.9

Not my favorite Ridge but hard to go wrong with Ridge. Always easy and accessible. Lots of dark fruit, plum and cherry, but some interesting brighter sweeter fruit as well - strawberry and even a hint of more exotic flavors - pineapple and coconut. — 5 years ago

Ken Z

9.1

Drank 7/6/20. Excellent with lamb kebabs. A well balanced wine that would pair well with a variety meat based dishes.

On the nose scents of black cherry, black fruit, baking spice, sawn lumber, and some coconut. Flavors of cassis, black cherry, and spice are backed by medium plus, but well integrated tannins. It's hard to believe this is the bottom end offering from this producer. An excellent value. If I had to be critical, its perhaps a touch hot (14.5% alc), bit this is more a factor of the vintage.

4/21/8/4/4 = 91 pts. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.6

4th Friday of the month means another monthly Classic happy hour! Great wines, great people.

This was my contribution last night. One of the more profound Cali chards I’ve come across. Powerhouse! The richness and front palate power is very similar to Kongsgaard. Viscous. The notes are honeyed, but not lean...not even compared to the Aubert that was on the table with it. Not overly buttery, more just high quality chard that commands your attention. Mexican vanilla, toasted almonds, and honeyed brioche. The finish goes on forever...lots of cashew, melon, and coconut shell. No stone/tropical fruits here. An absolutely KILLER bottle, @Martin G Rivard , thank you for the intro here! — 8 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 1 other

Kristen Schott

9.9

I should buy this in bulk. It’s zingy with hints of coconut, dried coconut, and papaya. Mm. — 8 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.2

Beautiful coconut and dill weed mixed with some sweet & sour component. Some tobacco leaves as well. Well structured and balanced. — 8 years ago