Samuel Sabori

9.1

I can never describe champagne, so I’ll just say it’s great champagne. Pinot Meunier, very energetic, clean, not too sweet or any of that business. — 4 years ago

with Julia

Thomas Thompson

9.1

Red berries, quince, orange blossom, and hay. A hint of natty funk. Juicy. Low acid. — 5 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.0

Made a butternut squash/burrata/kale/sage/pumpkin seed/fig pizza last night and combined the leftover slice to a pie of Motorino’s I got from Saltwater’s (my coffeeshop) neighbor in the East Village. I’ve been going to Motorino’s since 2012 and it’s one of my favorite Neapolitan pies in the city.

Sharp as a sporty, citrus cologne of vetiver, pine, and sage. Lemon peel and grapefruit mist. Really love this unusually fresh and zippy bouquet.

It’s got the freshness of a Chablis and the citrus and melon notes of Sauvignon Blanc. Love the high tone acidity here — it just works. It doesn’t try to belabor itself with subtlety, just announcing straight up, this is who I am. Grapefruit, melon, lemon rind, sage, and even some of the juicy unctuous qualities that ripe blackberries can have.

Solid. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We met & visited a number of Bordeaux producers while 2005 was still in the tank or just into barrel.

In talking with Winemaker-Owners about the 2005 vintage, you could see the twinkle in their eye as they were asked questions. They knew they had Bordeaux magic for the first time in five years.

We tasted this at what was deemed an “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting.” This was on the higher end of that tasting at $35. It is delivering a little better than its young expectation and the jewel to date from that tasting.

With and without protein, the 05 Chateau de Candale moved between 92-93.

The nose reveals; warm alcohol, immersed fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked, dark cherries, dark spices, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender.

This is a very good first look at this 2005. God willing, I have another look in on bottle two of three in another five years. This 05 has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.

The body is full, tarry with big, sticky, chewy tannins. Baked/poached, floral fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, pomegranate, dark spices with a heavy, heated presence, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, loads of graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, dry top soils, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, muted eucalyptus, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender. The acidity is round & full just holding, for me, the slightly higher ABV in check. The long, heavy, dark, well knitted, more earth/spice dominated finish is showing the quality of the vintage. Yet, it still needs more time to be its best.

Photos of; Chateau de Candale, harvested Merlot fruit, recent buyers of Chateau de Candale - Thibaut Decoster and Magali Decoster and their barrel room. — 5 years ago

Dyann Panepinto

9.6

Lovely old vine! 2014 — 9 years ago

Dan R

9.5

What a treat. The color of drip coffee, this is still humming along, with dried fruit, caramel and a honeyed note on the nose. Dates, dried apricot, walnuts, marzipan and vanilla spice on the palate. Still slightly sweet, and the acidity is hanging on nicely. A pleasure to drink. — 4 years ago

Edward Joseph

9.5

Really delicious. Zippy with some good depth, not straight fruit juice. Good grip. So good. — 5 years ago

sam

9.0

raspberries with clotted cream. — 5 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.1

Magni brasserie 5/16 — 5 years ago

Kevin Cahoon

9.2

This was a dynamite single parcel Chardonnay from the Marne. It is full of bright lemon curd, lemon peel and green apple fruit with a salty, mineral touch. Palate has a nice plush texture with orange and lemon fruit and a spicy mineral accent. There is great cut and focus but totally different from Cotes de Blanc champagnes. — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.3

A small batch (aren’t al Jamie’s batches small) of magni, I believe all meant for Quebec. Yay! Richer and meatier than a typical Kutch, the tannins are starting to resolve to present a powerful core of dark cherry and stem-laced black tea. Superb. — 7 years ago

Mark Rosse

9.2

Nice surprise! — 8 years ago

with Hillary

Larn

9.6

A delicious crispy but also smooth white from the Loire valley. 100% chenin blanc, aged in neutral oak. We LOVED this wine, notes of dates and vanilla extract (but not overwhelming as it’s very citrus forward as well). — 4 years ago

Rob M

9.0

Nice VA bubbly, a bit sweeter than the rosemont — 4 years ago

Keimu

8.9

Biden win celebration! 2020
$30 - nice flavor, medium smooth — 5 years ago

with David

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Magni brasserie 5/16 — 5 years ago

Lars Miller

9.5

Notes of game, flowers, and graphite on the nose upon opening. Smooth with medium tannins and dry. Tastes of dark fruit compote or stewed fruits, with a touch of mint. Quite good! — 6 years ago

Simone Pepino

9.4

Pinot noir potente affinato meravigliosamente — 7 years ago

E S

9.1

Excellent light, barely pink — 8 years ago

Ryan Sims

9.4

Absolutely fantastic. 100% Chardonnay and a hair from bone dry. Couldn't have guessed this was New World wine, let alone from Virginia. Super stuff. — 9 years ago