Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

EnRoute established in the RRV in 2007 by the partners of Far Niente. Les Pommiers introduced in May 2009 and reflects a blend of vineyards from Green Valley and upper Middle Reach area of RRV AVA. Complex fruit aromas, cedar and mineral notes. On the palate cherry and cranberry flavors with tobacco and toasty oak, rich structured tannins. Nice mouthfeel, zesty crisp acidity ending with fruit, mineral and oak character. Nice! Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.1

Too far developed — 8 years ago

Ken Davis

10

Love it.. Best red so far — 9 years ago

Lena Rockwell

10

I love it because its juicy and easy to swallow. No bite, just pleasant. So far this is my favorite. — 10 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

8.9

Glad it was opened a day prior - but far to young — 10 years ago

Pascal Levensohn

9.3

Pinot with a punch. In my view one of the finest California Pinots by far. — 10 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

I'm told this is from the guys who make Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel. It's the essence of pure apricot in a bottle, but lively, bathed in the honey part of honeydew melon. Lighter on its feet than it has any right to be. Outstanding. Thanks, Ronnie! — 11 years ago

Mel L

9.5

My favorite Taittinger so far. It has a clean, crisp taste; it's a well-structured champagne I could drink for days.
— 11 years ago

Bryan Garcia

Sales Grand Cru Selections

9.2

So much 🐴🍂✏️🚬 ! Nice to have an "off vintage" in pristine condition. Far from a blockbuster but delicious, soft, and very easy to drink. #birthyear — 11 years ago

Charles Schneider

9.1

2 for 2, so far. Really overachieving. — 13 years ago

Jeffrey Stebbins

9.7

There is nothing to compare the history nor the unbelievable taste of the the Dom!!! By far one of my all time favorite bottles of true Champagne. — 14 years ago

Jonathan McCarthy

9.4

My favorite Yquem so far, the explicit apricot and marcona ride over a smokier, spicier background. Clean briquettes of fine Japanese coal with a skewer of white champignons and allium petals are roasting and carbonizing. Super compelling. — 8 years ago

Cory Fosdyck

10

Best wine of my life thus far — 8 years ago

Tracey Clements

9.5

Favorite so far. Great anytime! Yummy and sweet and refreshing. — 9 years ago

Colin McCartney

9.3

Sonoma Coast showing deeper, darker and more earthy fruit than the Russian River here....very "Oregundian".... — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.9

Chateau Latour is my favorite 1st Growth, they demand patience and inspire not just hedonistic pleasure but also analytical thought.

Both amazing but need massive amounts of air or another 15-20 years minimum in the cellar. I get the feeling they both will hit a plateau once they blossom and slowly move towards full maturity for decades.

The nose on the 2005 rose with little agitation and shot from the hip to nose with ease. By far the most youthful and I tense nose of the evening.

The 2000 was not dissimilar in its progression, if a bit more refined from the extra few years in the glass. A cerebral wine that was also deeply pleasurable, it kept bringing me to what this wine will be like in 15-20 or more years. Easily a 50 years wine from a macro view.

Epic #latour 2000 and 2005 #pauillac — 10 years ago

Alex Slutzky

9.0

$13
BEST WINE SO FAR 2/12/16 — 11 years ago

Gyzylgul Soyunova

10

My favorite one so far❤️ — 11 years ago

Sean Genn

9.2

Nice Rutherford Cab from the people of Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel. Rich dark fruit and lingering silky tannins. — 11 years ago

LM Segal

9.2

Far from my best ever CSS but possibly infanticide...all the elements of a 95+ wine unfairly opened before its time. — 11 years ago

Tim Skordinski

10

Far niente is very bold nickel and nickel is smooth and silver oak is perfect haha — 12 years ago

Thomas Hughes

10

Stuck in between banner vintages (2000 & 2005), 2003 is a great year to find "value" in Bordeaux. With the rise of the Far East's middle class, "Super Second" classified French reds sell for over $100 per bottle. (And 2 to 3 times that for the exceptional 2009 & 2010 vintages). So for my 2013 birthday, why not open a 10 year old Paulliac? 1st, this requires patience. After decanting, the glass needs time to develop. It's been 45 min and finally starting to exhibit it's elegance. Smooth, balanced, caressing ... You can almost taste the centuries of expertise. When I started getting into drinking wine, I was vain in thinking "French wines, can they be that good?" Yes, they are but not at any price! Don't just take out a mortgage to buy anything; research and try 2nd labels of vineyards. This wine is brilliant, but I still prefer Chateau Leoville Las Cases as my favorite 2003 Bordeaux. A very happy Cheers! — 13 years ago

with Heidi

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you want to impress a Somm with a bottle of wine, bring a Grand Cru Gamay. I hate using the term Beaujolais. It gives a lot of people the lesser impression of Beaujolais Nouveau which, equates to the impression left by Blue Nun in the 70’s/early 80’s and Yellow Tail in and around 2000.

This is one of my favorite producers of Gamay, a member of the “Gang of Four”; Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard & Breton. There is a fifth honoree member to the “Gang of Four”, Yvon Metras, who I enjoy equally. If you want to finally appreciate this varietal, look for one of these producers from Morgan or Fleurie.

The nose reveals; dark cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, blueberry hues, spearmint, granitic minerals/soil, dark berry cola, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, a whiff of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets.

The body is full, rich and guides over the palate. It shows some tannins. The structure & tension are still big. The length and balance are at the beginnings of truly rounding into butterfly form. Still will benefit from 5 plus years in bottle. Bright red florals are far more pronounced on the palate. Ripe/bright; dark tart cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, half baked rhubarb with lovely blueberry hues, blood orange & dry raisins. Spearmint, tree sap, granitic minerals/soil pressed in to the palate, dark berry cola, orange peel, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, hints of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets. The acidity is like a warm summer rain shower. The long, rich, ripe, well balanced, elegant finish is nicely persistent for minutes.

12% ABV 👍

Photos of; Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Marcel Lapierre (may he RIP-2010), Marcel’s son and current Winemaker-Matheiu Lapierre and their Morgan Vineyard.
— 8 years ago

Jacob Robinson

9.8

One of the best I've had so far, smooth, full bodied, an favorite. — 10 years ago

Petros Kostelidis

9.5

12 year old wine on our 4th year anniversary. It has been a wonderful journey so far and I'm sure the best has yet to come. Never been happier.
— 10 years ago

Ron R

9.1

On the nose, it comes across as a tightly wound coil , with tart cherries, minerals and exotic spices.

On the palette, the wine stands firm and bold. Tannins are far from resolved (even a touch gritty, perhaps), which was a surprise. It's a strong example which was dense, layered and compact. We popped n poured, to which I plead guilty. — 11 years ago

Alex Alan

Wine Director Hotel Delmano

9.3

2011. Dammit Kermit...get your name off the front of the bottle! You can read your name more clearly than Foillard - and they actually MAKE the wine. Your back label is plenty and I still love the wines you represent. But seriously, this has gone too far for long enough. PS...Foillard rules! — 11 years ago

Monty Hamilton

9.0

2011 drinking very nicely, albeit far too early for BP — 12 years ago

Hilda Ng

10

Very smooth. This is by far the best Pinots I've ever had. — 12 years ago

Jeffrey Taylor

9.9

Bought a case originally at $22/bottle. Still have 5 left. Knock on wood, not a bad bottle so far! — 14 years ago