Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

9.1

Clean and pure, a nice concentration with appetizing acidity - old-vine Swartland Chenin made naturally and matured in the egg with some skin contact and carbonic maceration After one year in the egg, it spends six months in old oak to settle down. This produces a textured, honest Chenin unlike any other - small production below 1000 bottles — 10 years ago

Brian McMahon

Sales Polaner Selections

9.0

Appellation: Regnie
Wine type: Red
Varietals: Gamay
Organic: Practicing
Vineyard: Situated at the base of the Cote du Py hillside on edge of the Morgon appellation, this parcel of 1.1 hectares is known as En Oeillat and has an average vine age of 60 years.
Orientation: Southern oriented
Soil: Sanded and pink granite, clay sub-soil
Viticulture: Organic farming, harvesting done entirely by hand.
Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentations in concrete vats at low temperatures, to preserve fresh fruit flavors and a delicate tannic structure. After fermentations are complete, fruit is slowly pressed, over a 24 hour period, using an ancient vertical press Julien acquired in the Côte D’Or.
Aging: 20% aged in cement and 80% in neutral French barrels.
Production: 250 cases

Publication:
The 2013 Régnié from Julien Sunier is a lovely example of the vintage and a very strong indication that, though this domaine has only been around since 2008, Monsieur Sunier is now one of the top estates in the region. As readers may recall, Julien Sunier worked with Christophe Roumier at the start of his career, prior to setting out for several different regions and wearingvarious winemaking hats, prior to settling in Beaujolais and opening his own domaine in ’08. His Beaujolais bottlings are not classics, but rather more of a hybrid of Beaujolais and Côte d’Or styles, as he ferments his whole clusters in cement vats with indigenous yeasts, prior to aging them for nine or ten months in old Burgundy barrels (that he still gets from Domaine Roumier). His 2013 Régnié offers up a bright, red fruity and complex nose of cherries, baked red berries, cardamom, lovely soil tones, turmeric and just a bit of oak spice in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-full, wide open and drinking beautifully, with a good core of fruit, solid acidity and grip and a long, complex and succulent finish. Lovely juice in a quite unique and compelling style. 2014-2020+. - John Gilman — 11 years ago

Ron from VA

9.0

One of wifey's favorites....lush with tropical fruit and banana due to the oak treatment -- really nice estate fruit w/ excellency in production — 12 years ago

Me

9.4

Excellent Grenache, surprised to find it's from the Napa region. Nice light flavorful finish — 11 years ago

Claus Von Jaffa

9.3

The joy of wine is discovering these lesser known grapes like Ruche (roo kay). Over the last decade this grape has finally seen production outside the tiny region of Asti in Piedmont. While the famed Louis Marconi probably hit his head on a hard surface while scoring this bottle at 99 points, it is still undeniably as exquisite as a Victoria Secrets model showing off this years wonder bra. The dark fruits and floral accents are full and extremely smooth. A metalic smell of bronze monkey bars rounds out the flavor as spice box Jerry lays in the background reminding you that there is alot going on in all of this smoothness. A true 9.3 for $20 bucks - break this baby out for Valentines day, and use the extra savings on top shelf chocolates and one of those wonder bras. — 11 years ago

David Snyder

9.0

Bang for your buck...Liebland might be bang'n out some of the best. Small production though. The Shiraz is new world and big but opens fast. Lots of depth. Fruit and spice. — 12 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

Marsala Barolo Chinato reduced must fortified with brandy mxed with different herbs a very unique methode of production — 12 years ago

C. Mart

9.3

Very small production from South Africa. Ungrafted vines. Phenomenal deep brick color. Leather and slight spice. Great wine. — 11 years ago

Brian McMahon

Sales Polaner Selections

9.0

Region: Beaujolais
Appellation: Beaujolais
Wine type: Red
Varietals: Gamay
Organic: Certified
Vineyard: The Beaujolais appellation spreads over 30 km between Saône Valley and Haute-Azergues and Haut-Beaujolais hills from North to South. This wine is primarily made with fruit from the Morgon sector.
Orientation: South facing with a slight slope.
Soil: Decomposed granite and crumbly schist referred to regionally as "rotten rock".
Viticulture: The vines are 40 years old; they are pruned quite extensively to limit the yield; all the bunches are picked by hand and then very carefully sorted to retain only the fully ripe, whole bunches.
Vinification: Semi carbonic maceration for up to 7 days. Traditional Vinification temperature: 22° C at the beginning of fermentation and 32° C at the end. On pressing, cooling to 22° C to retain as much aroma and flavor as possible.
Aging: In vats on the lees. All terroirs vinified and aged separately.
Production: 550 cases
Notes: Lacy and charming with a suprising amount of structure for an entry level Bojo. — 11 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Fantastic, ultra small batch cab franc blend. Made by Lovingston winemaker Riann - might be the best 2011 red I've had to date -- this might be a one barrel production. $23 in Cville from Joyce — 12 years ago