Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

This estate owes its name to Connetable Talbot, the English general & governor of the province of Guyenne who was defeated at the famous Battle of Castillon in 1453. Aromas of sweet black fruits with floral and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry & blueberry with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well balanced frame. Fine rustic tannins, long savory ending with fruit, spice and cedar character. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

History of Chapoutier family dates back to the early 19th century when current owner Michel Chapoutier’s great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased estate & famous l’Hermitage vineyards. Medium Ruby with aromas of rich red/black fruits and spice. On the palate raspberry, cherry & black currant flavors with notes of oak. Firm tannins, well balanced ending with fruit, spice and cedar. Very nice! Tasting Sample. Has lots of room to bottle evolve. — 4 years ago

Julie Henson

9.1

Great light slightly sweet orange — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Had this about 2 years ago. The estate once belonged to the famous Lynch family, of Irish origin, was acquired by Jean-Charles Cazes in 1934. His grandson, Jean-Michel Cazes restructured the estate in 1974. A blend of 73% Cab Sauv & 27% Merlot, deep Ruby (lost purple edges), pronounced berry fruit aromas with cacao and vanilla notes. On the palate blackberry and plum flavors with tobacco and espresso notes. Dusty fine tannins, long ending with an oaky mineral character. Developed well! Tasting Sample! — 5 years ago

Douglas Braun

8.9

Really nice picked early lees contact really nice enjoyable — 6 years ago

Michael Renken

9.1

Rich dark color, slight effervescence. Smooth. A little tartness. Enjoying the sunset and a cheese plate. A little bit of heaven. — 7 years ago

Peg Hanssen

9.8

Preparing for our adventure to Portugal Surdyks’ Recommendation:
(Douro) Portugal is a prolific wine country, best known for its sweet dessert wine - Port. World famous in its many styles, Port is sweet and fortified, prized for its rich flavors and lush texture. Portugal also has fabulous dry red wine. Dow’s “Vale do Bomfim” is made with the same grapes and sourced from the same historic Douro Valley that produces Dow’s great Ports. Portugal’s indigenous grapes – Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão – are names that should pique your interest and draw you to this imported discovery. Picked by hand and manually sorted with great care, the grapes are fermented in small vats. The resulting wine has complexity and style. Portugal’s Douro Valley has consistently good climate and growing conditions almost every year. The flavors are dynamic and the tannic structure is soft and silky. This is a really good wine for all occasions, with an affordable price and value.
$8.49 Spring 2017 ($14.49) — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

The chosen white wine for the Downs Club Magnum dinner This was a cellar release from Jim Barry recently purchased by the Club. Noticeable Kerosene aromas. Lime and mineral on the palate developing toasty maturity. A long life ahead coming from magnum. The Florita vineyard was famous in the 70s and 80s for the brilliant long lived Riesling made by John Vickery for the Leo Buring label. This wine given 98 points by James Halliday. Had a 750ml bottle on 15th May 2025 with similar notes. Noticeable Kerosene (TDN) on the nose. Toasty aromatics. One of the best Riesling vineyards in Australia. Drinking at its peak. From 60 year old vines. — 4 years ago

Kathryn Dirks

9.3

Like eating a grapefruit with peel on! So tannic. V yum. — 5 years ago

Gary Nishimura

9.3

Received from Jacksons xmas 2019. Had it with cheese Board with Finocchio and prosciutto. Delicious. One.of the better Chardonnays that I have had. Will definitely get again. Plus its famous. — 5 years ago

K Brooks

8.9

Quite pleasant with Pat’s strip steak ($16) — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Sorry, short notes on this one. I had to get to Cape Point Vineyards.

This might be their most famous wine. Here is some history of this wine over the centuries. Napoleon Bonaparte had as much as 1,126 liters (297 gallons) of Constantia wine shipped in wooden casks each year to Longwood House, his home in exile on St Helena from 1815 until his death in 1821. The Count de las Cases reported that, on his deathbed, Napoleon refused everything offered to him but a glass of Constantia wine.

In Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen's character Mrs Jennings recommends a little Constantia for "its healing powers on a disappointed heart"

In Charles Dickens' last (and unfinished) novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Constantia wine is served to the reverend Septimus by his mother.

My quick notes. They make several passes through the vineyard waiting for the perfect raisinated grapes. The body is, thick, sticky and sweet. Marmalade, both peach types, apricot, nut skins, dried pineapple, lots of residual sugar, great acidity and a rich, sweet, well balanced polished finish. Not entirely different than Sauternes. Thick D’Yquem of South Africa.

Photos of; the Klien Constantia Estate vines with the mountains painting the background, the door to Duggies Dungeon, horizontal stainless settling tanks and the fruit of this wine in its raisinated picking state. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This wine was corked in the winter of 2014. There are 45 wines in the blend ranging from 2002-2007.

The color is near blood orange. The nose shows, orange citrus, blood orange, apricots, overripe strawberries, marmalade, papaya, sea spray, sea shells, soft, powdery chalkiness, hint of volcanic minerals with withering pink & red roses and spring flowers.

The body is round, rich and full. The flavors are similar to the nose, Orange citrus, blood orange, apricots, overripe strawberries, marmalade, papaya, sea spray, sea shells, soft, powdery chalkiness, light spice, more pronounced & grippy volcanic minerals with withering pink & red roses and spring flowers.

Photos of, the house of Krug, their Salon Lounge, Krug dinning room and Krug’s wildly famous Clos du Mesnil Vineyard. — 7 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.2

Reminds me of a lot of carbonic wines I’ve had. It is lovely and wonderful. Flowers, light red fruits, some tannin. I would have guessed gamay, Pinot gris, and maybe zin. Shocked to see Pinot and chardonnay. Does it tell me anything about where it’s from? I’m not sure. I feel like this type of wine could be made anywhere and maybe that’s the point. Or maybe this is willamette pinot? — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Made by famous Vega Sicilia estate. Deep Ruby with an array of aromas, dark fruits, spice, floral and some oak, aged for about 14 months in French oak, mostly new. On the palate flavors of juicy ripe blackberry currants, blueberry & plum with mocha, espresso and licorice wrapped in oak. Firm round taut tannins, great balance with acidity, full body, long finish ends with fruit, oak, spice, and mineral character. Almost starting to open, definitely needs more time! Will age a decade or more!! — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2015 vintage. A project started in 2011 by Olivier Bernard (of Domaine de Chevalier fame) in Sauternes from vineyards in 3 different terroirs (Sauternes, Barsac and Bommes). Contrary to classic white Bordeaux, Sémillon is king here, reflecting in this 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon blanc blend, aged in French oak. Lune d'Argent is the middle range of the estate and the heart of the production. It stands for amazing value. Drinking beautifully now, but I suspect this will age gracefully for at least another 5 years. Light brilliant yellow. Very attractive nose combining exotic fruit with minerality, flowers and brioche. Juicy fresh pineapple and grapefruit, balanced mouth-watering acidity and perfectly integrated oak. This shows the potential of great dry white wines in the Sauternes region, where the famous sweet wines are sadly suffering from low demand in lethal combination with high production costs. Grab this one by the case at only 17,90 euros. Abv. 13%. — 5 years ago

Emily Bolles

8.9

Oh yeah. Waxy candied berries - to be crushed — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

History of Chapoutier family dates back to early 19th century when current owner Michel Chapoutier’s great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased estate & famous l’Hermitage vineyards. Deep Purple (with a little smoke on the water), 100% Grenache with aromas of dark fruit and complex exotic spice. Plum, berry & current flavors with nutty tobacco develops into sweet licorice. Tannins a bit grippy but will soften, lingering, balance ending with fruit and spice. Nice!
— 7 years ago

Jill Lacy

10

Tried on a flight at Teresa’s next door with naso. Omg!! Best Pinot ever!!! — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

The estate dates back to the Crusades, and Scottish navigator, George Smith, the owner in the 18th century. He was followed by M. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux, and then Louis Eschenauer, a famous wine shipper. In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard now own the estate. Dark plum red with dark berry fruit aromas, herb and spice from young Cab vines. On the palate complex sweet black fruit flavors and cacao notes. Firm tannins, rich and full, lingering, mineral ending, unlike the ‘10 wait a few years. — 8 years ago