Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Stupid at under $40. Buy all you can.

Green & Golden apple, banana, lemon & lime candy, cream, super soft chalkiness, vanillin, fruit blossoms, spring flowers, jasmine caramel notes, honeysuckle to understated honey, with yellow florals, spring flowers with mixed greens. If you are an acid head (like me) it’s perfect. Excellent long finish that is well balanced, elegant, polished and sings persistently for minutes ending in mid white spice.

Photos of; one of their Grand Cru vineyards, likely 40-50 year plus rootstock, Pierre-Yves Colin and library cellar. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Today was my annual hosting of the Wednesday Wine Committee. There was 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert, all provided by me. Tasted blind, as always.

Copying my note from the ‘07 vintage as the wines are near identical. I will say that I didn’t get as much yeast out of the ‘09 as I did the ‘07, but it’s hard to know if it was simply due to age. I’ll hold back a bottle or two for a few years and revisit then.

Next to Ultramarine and the Reserve Schramsberg Sparklers, this is one of the best domestic Sparklers I’ve had, especially at the price ($50). Nose was grilled honeycomb, baked yeast and a small bit of limestone. Extremely creamy on the front palate...bubbles were so incredibly tiny. Multiple bubble strings. Wonderful lemon bread palate, with a crisp, chalky finish highlighted by grilled pineapple. There seemed to be more green apple notes here compared to the ‘07 vintage, but may be due to youth. This is an excellent US version of champagne. — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Weston and 3 others

Bob McDonald

8.9

This is a wine you don’t see very often - an Old World Cabernet Syrah. Grown in Provence from 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The owner was able to classify the wine as the more lowly Vin de Pays to get around the archaic French classification laws so he could do the 50/50 blend. A good robust crimson colour. I’m getting Cabernet Notes of black currant and herbs on the nose and fleshier Syrah notes on the palate. Sandy persistent tannins to finish. Probably will live another 10 years + so might have opened a little early? Being an Australian I am spoilt for choice for excellent Cabernet Shiraz blends most of which would blow this away for quality and value even though this Trevallon is one of the 1001 wines. I paid 110 Euros for this in a bottle shop in Provence and would prefer Penfolds Bin 389 or Yalumba Signature for around the $80 AUD Mark. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

2010 was a very good vintage in Rhône. Rostaing is a well know producer with people that know and drink Northern Rhône wines, not so much with others that do not. The Ampodium is the entry level into Rene & Pierre Rostaing wines. It is a blend of 13 vineyards in Northern Rhône. They are simply one of the very best producers in the region. I spent an afternoon with Rene & his son Pierre tasting in the their cellar and in their La Landonne vineyard as shown in the photos. The 2010 is drinking beautifully with many good years ahead. On the nose; ripe & slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries, cherries, steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, iron pan, some white & black pepper, bacon fat, grilled savory meats, pork, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with violets. The body is round and medium full. The tannins round, still a little chewy & around 55% resolved. The length, texture, tension and balance are in near perfect harmony. The fruits are; round, ruby & ripe; slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries & cherries. Steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, chalky minerals, iron pan, coffee grounds, spice, some baking spices w/hints of vanilla, white & black pepper, drying blood, dry herbs/bay leaf, dry stems, moderate levels of bacon fat & pork, grilled savory meats, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets for days. The acidly is round and dripping. The long finish is plush, velvety delicious and lasts & lasts. In good vintages, I would put this in blind with the best of of the best new world wines from any vintage that many love; SQN, Booker, Saxum, Alban, Cayuse, Horsepower etc.. I’d bet most of you would pick it over these producers that cost much more $$$. It’s simply one of the best pound for pound wines/producers for this varietal. Especially, for the $$$. Wow, what a wine for the $. $55 upon release. Photos of; Winemaker Pierre Rostaing and our group in their La Landonne vineyard, the small sign that barely identifies their Estate, an example of the Quartz mineral that runs throughout their La Landonne vineyard and the view back onto the river from the top of the very steep La Landonne Vineyard. Producer notes and history...Rene Rostaing produced their first wine in 1971. However, it took almost three decades before wine became a full time occupation for Rene Rostaing. Domaine Rene Rostaing came about through marriage. The wife of Rene Rostaing was the daughter of the famed Cote Rotie grower, Albert Dervieux, and the niece of Marius Gentaz-Dervieux who gave Christine the vineyard land that became the Northern Rhone estate for Rene Rostaing. Through inheritance from Albert Dervieux Thaize (his father-in-law) who retired in 1990, and from Marius Gentaz Dervieux, his uncle, Rene Rostaing expanded his holdings, giving him some of the best terroir in Cote Rotie. The new vineyard land was basically 3 small parcels in the La Landonne, Cote Brune and Vialliere lieux-dits. This initial expansion from his initial tiny parcel, allowed Rene Rostaing to change careers and become a full time vigneron. Since 2007, the estate has managed by Pierre Rostaing, (son) of Rene Rostaing. Currently Rene Rostaing owns 7.5 hectares of vines that is spread out among 20 different parcels located in 14 locations. Perhaps the most celebrated vines of Rene Rostaing are the 1.6 hectares of vines they own in the La Landonne vineyard (photo). On La Landonne, the vines are more than 60 years old. Some vines are even close to 100 years of age! Those are his largest holdings. The smallest vineyards of Rene Rostaing are located on Cote Blonde. Rene Rostaing also has vines planted in; Fonjean, La Vialliere, Le Plomb, Bouchare, Leyat, La Roche and La Tupin. Their oldest vines are more than 70 years old and are used for Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde. The majority of those plantings are on the steep hillsides with mica, schist and rocky soils. 25% of those vines are closer to the bottom of the slopes and on the flats. Rene Rostaing remains a traditional Cote Rotie producer who is not among the last to harvest. His wines are aged using very little new, French oak barrels. On average, Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie are aged in about 10% new French oak barrels. Rene Rostaing produces 4 different Cote Rotie wines. Rene Rostaing Ampodium, which was previously known as Rostaing Cuvee Classique, is a blend of 13 sections of different vineyards, but it does not include their best holdings on La Landonne or Cote Blonde. The fruit for Rene Rostaing Ampodium has at least 40% or more of the stems removed and run between 12-13.5% abv. The wine is usually made from 100% Syrah and is aged in an average of 15% to 25% new, French oak barrels. The amount of new oak can be less, depending on the character of the vintage. About 1,750 cases are produced each year. The wine is no longer called Cuvee Classique, the name was changed to Rene Rostaing Ampodium with the 2009 vintage. Rene Rostaing La Landonne comes from a terroir consisting of sands with iron oxide and traces of quartz. This wine is always produced from 100% Syrah. The grapes are partially destemmed, with about 10% to 20% of the stems removed, depending on the vintage. There are vintages when no destemming takes place. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats. Rene Rostaing is not a believer of using too much new oak for the aging, which on average uses 10% new, French oak barrels and the remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids (600 liter) and French oak barrels. This wine is like most wines from La Landonne, masculine and meaty in character, requiring at least a decade to soften and develop. On average, Rene Rostaing La Landonne produces less than 600 cases depending on what the vintage delivers. Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde is perhaps his best. It’s produced from a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. The grapes are co-fermented. The vineyards is planted in the region call Arzel. Arzel is a poor, mineral laden soil with deposits of Silex and Mica on a steep hillside. The vines are more than 50 years of age. The grapes are partially destemmed…35% to 50% of the stems are removed. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats.
The remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids. This one is the hardest to find and most collectible of all their wines. In fact, they only produce close to an average of 350 cases of Cote Rotie in most vintages. Rene Rostaing Cote Brune made its debut with the 2013 vintage. The vines were once part of the holdings of Marius Gentaz, which eventually passed to Rene Rostaing. Rostaing replanted those vines in 2000. Made from 100% Syrah. — 8 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2009 | a true to type Touraine, certainly not a middle of the road wine. Made from 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cot. Now eleven years old but still with a certain stubbornness, though one can call this character as well ☺️ I put it a few hours in the decanter and then it went well with a porc cotelet and fresh green beans. A smell with cherries, flint, vanilla, a robust taste with only a slight velvet impression. I like these ‘difficult’ wines that play hard to get. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 6 years ago

Clifton Jackson

9.5

One of the best California Chards that I’ve tasted. Opens with a subtle minerality that softens to a rich fruit fullness of lemongrass and cardamom that is perfectly accented by the mild French oak, maybe up to 50% new. This is a wine that seems to truly express its terroir ... I need to get more of this!!! — 7 years ago

Muralee Murugesu

9.6

Round supple and absolutely fantastic. Long finish nearly 50 seconds. Probably one of the best sake I have tried so far. — 8 years ago

Armen Martirosyan

9.5

I am not a big Robert Mondavi fan, but this 50 anniversary 2013 vintage is one of those exceptions. Very smooth finish yet balance body. — 8 years ago

Chris Roberson

10

What an amazing wine, great note of light cherries and plums. Smooth finish with a lot of great fruit flavors blended very well. One of the best pinots I have ever had. Happy I bought a case of initial release and have a few bottles left. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

So, as I understand it this one was about 50 Syrah, 30cab, and the balance PV. Good wine, and apparently was opened up yesterday and decanted for quite a few hours before being served toeday. Immediately the front hits you with that Paso Syrah fruit. Blackberry, spiced cinnamon cake, herbal middle. The finish shows tamed acidity and definitely some oxidation likely in part due to the decant times but was showing some pepper and spiced fruitcake. This wine almost seemed to have a bit of an oxidized quality on the finish. IMO, the 20 percent PV and 30% cab really don't show until the very back. The fruit is definitely ample, and it wins that award hands-down with exception to the 2011 Morlet that outdid it in the youthful fruit / jammy fruit category. Finished with lots of oak like the 2008 Blankiet. This one still has 10 years ahead of it easily but was good to enjoy tonight. — 8 years ago

with Benjamin

Chris England

8.9

One of my favourite St Estephe chateaus on great QPR 👍 @ £40 this 04 was at its peak 2yrs ago but still an enjoyable drop that won't improve

🍇 48% Cab S, 50% Mer & 2% Cab F

🍷 Dark ruby

👃 Mellowed gravel, minerals, leather, wet leaves & earth through aged stewed blackcurrant & fresh blackberry w/ light smokey oak & herby tones

👄 Med smooth body of deep earthy blackcurrant, dark plum & double shot mocha

🎯 Med earthy muted dark fruit mocha kiss — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”

The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.

The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.

Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,

Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.

The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.

All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 5 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Always a treat to enjoy these excellent NV pink bubbles @ £50 👍 one of our favourites 😍

📍 Billecart Salmon NV

🏵 93-94 points

🍇 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir & 30% Pinot Meunier

🍷 Shimmering pale peachy salmon pink 😍

👃 Sweet biscuit & brioche through peach, strawberry, red currant & grapefruit with mineral & sweet red apple tones

👄 Crisp med fresh soft fine lively bubbled mousse of citrus, grapefruit zest & dry minerals w/ sweet strawberry, raspberry & red apple fruity undertones

🎯 Med sweet & dry almond sugar biscuit, sour grapefruit, sweet strawberry, peaches & red apple mineral loaded finish
— 7 years ago

peter taylor

10

Still drinking the 89 while storing at temps rainging from 50 to 90 degrees F for the last 22 years. 2 bottles left. Not one bottle in all thes years was less than perfect. I would rate it as a 98.5, but, i am no expert. I have had great assulase, tokaji aszu and chateau d'Yquem but, for the price i paid (20$/bottle), it far exceeds the others. It is now a medium amber color complex fruity tones great finish. I feel sad when the last drop leaves my teast buds. I also have a few of the 90's to us as a comparison. They are a distant second. — 7 years ago

Andrew Hahn

9.7

One of the best unfiltered sakes I've ever had. Floral nose with an amazingly light and sweet body. Very clean finish. Great with nigiri sushi. — 8 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.4

Asahi Shuzo is one of the very few breweries that offers Junmai Daiginjo in multiple seimaibuai and keeps everything else remains roughly the same. As a result, you can experience how seimaibuai affects the end result. At 39% seimaibuai, it's priced right between the 50 and 39. Interestingly, it has slightly darker colour and bigger body than its siblings. Similarly nose with different finish. A little more forward than the 50 and 23 and sharp pineappley finish. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, green apple, pineapple, lemon, lime, just underripe green melon, peach, notes of honey, hints of flint and yellow florals. The body is full, creamy & a touch oily. I'm guessing some extra time on less with some stirring. Green & golden apple, lime, lemon, pineapple, green melon & peach. Honey heathered, fine chalkiness and powdery fine minerals, beautiful round acidity with a long, thick, beautiful, elegant, polished finish. The more it warms up in the glass, the better it gets. Oliver their Winemaker, made Meo Camuzet before coming back to take reins at Hubert Lamy. This terroir is one of the most underrated in Burgundy and remains one of Burgundies best values. Photos of; the Domaine, the En Remilly and the father and son team of Hubert & Oliver. This may be $82 on Delectable but it's just a shade above $50 on pre-arrival. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.2

@ £50 - one of my fav pink NV with LP Rose, Bolly Pink NV & Billecart Salmon pink but this NV is a little lighter than normal

🍇 100% PN

🍾 Disg'd Mar 2015

🍷Pale peachy salmon copper pink

👃 Creamy citrus, red currant, apple & cherry, light smoked peachy oak, minerals & red flower

👄 Smooth & refreshing med body of red fruits with tart strawberry, apple, grapefruit & some cherry coming through in a lively bubbled mousse with low+ acidity & big minerality

🎯 Long red dry fruit filled mineral infused — 8 years ago

Pat Taylor

9.6

Celebrating the completion of the house renovation, April 2017. On decant, the bouquet was immediate and everywhere. This was awesome. Herbaceous and fruity. The colour was notably opaque. Amazing red berry/cocoa and the 50% merlot presence rounds out a very pleasing palate. Perhaps the best testament of all: Michelle asked me to buy this one again 😂 — 8 years ago