2022 vintage. This is rocking currently. Rhubarb, cola nut, dark cherry all prominent throughout the show. Medium body. nose and flavors in a good place. Needs integration but still delicious now. 8-12 years on tho, watch out. Will likely be top of the S-L-B pops then. 04.13.25. — 6 months ago
A Pinot with some complexity and body. Classic Burgundy style. September 2024. — a year ago
Slow oxed for two hours the wine both aromaticslly and on the mouth is somewhat monochromatic. Nevertheless it combines good balance and elegance and went well with dinner — 4 years ago
[40% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise] So, quick backstory on this one, the proprietor of Montfaucon and my brother spent a year together at UCD in whatever degrees they each got, but it was Viticulture and Enology, about 35 years ago, which about 20 years ago led to their producer/importer relationship. Anyway, Rodolphe (Rudi) always labeled this as a Côtes du Rhône, but most of the fruit was actually grown within the confines of Lirac. Eventually Rudi decided to join the Lirac grape growers association, and separated this cuvée into Lirac “Baron Louis” and Lirac and Côtes du Rhône. So, bottom line, this 50-90 year-old-vine cuvée (apparently 12 months in small oak barrels, but I’d guess NOT new) Lirac (CdR in this case) has always drank like a mini-CdP, and this 2009 is mature, or close, but still shows great acidity and balance (14% ABV), medium-long finish, very, very fine Côtes du Rhône!! K&L in SF (direct import) and I believe Kobrand on East Coast import these wines!! Finally, for full disclosure, Rudi is a friend, I have NFI, but I do have a lot of his wines in my cellar. Anyway, not sure what vintage was “relabeled” Lirac instead of CdR, but at least starting by 2014 the “Baron Louis” you might see at retail will be “Lirac”!! — a month ago
Really lovely Lirac, Grenache and Syrah show mostly, the proprietor (Rodolphe des Pins) (in my opinion!!) dragged his feet too long in joining the Lirac appellation, but his wines have LONG been undervalued and are fantastic at their pricepoint, I personally have more bottles of this, which I expect to age well!! — 4 months ago
This expression of F & R Miniere’s “Brut Zero” has a 2016 base vintage with just over 20% of the 2015 vintage. This is my second time enjoying this cuvée and I like it even more now than I did three years ago.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The wine pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright, tart and ripe tropical, stone and orchard fruits: passion fruit, lime, green apples, lemon curd, ginger, brioche, nuts, and lovely minerals. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of limestone minerals. I really adore these wines from Frederic and Rodolphe Miniere…now I just need to find better access. Drink now through 2036. Disgorged 08/2021. — 7 months ago
This was even better on day 2 Notes from K&L, 88-acre estate, Château de Montfaucon sits just across the Rhône River from the esteemed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is owned and operated by Rodolphe de Pins, a UC Davis graduate and former member of the winemaking staff at Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Over the years, Château de Montfaucon has developed a HUGE following among both our staff and customers.The vines for the Mme la Comtesse vineyard were planted in the 1870s (that's not a typo). These old gnarly vines with their highly restricted yields produce some of the richest most concentrated Clairette in the entire Rhône Valley. Planted on a mix of sand, clay and pudding stones, this wine is the essence of sleek minerality. A touch of barrel fermentation adds volume and structure. The flavors resonate with ripe stone fruit flavors and white flowers, a touch of fennel pollen rounds out the finish. This reminds us of Château de Beaucastel's Châteauneuf Vieilles Vignes Blanc which sells for well over $100 a bottle. This is just as limited and just as cool for under $50. — 2 years ago
Alexandre Pagliano
Crisp, citrusy and with great acidity and freshness. This is one of the best and finest blanc de blancs from an independent grower we know: Rodolphe Peters does truly great champagne. — 11 days ago