Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Vincent Girardin continues the winemaking tradition of his father and grandfather before him, and expanded the appellations in his domaine either through inheritance, purchase, or a system of leasing called "fermage." Aromas of stone and citrus fruits. The palate shows lemons with crisp apple, mineral & oak notes. This medium-body wine has good balance with integrated acidity, lingering, finishing smooth with a citrus mineral ending. Very Nice! — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

Dear friends of ours, a couple so delightful in spirit that they adopt aged, abandoned dogs, clean them up and make sure they have the most sublime last few years of their lives, invited us over to visit their latest pooch. Their newly rescued fourteen year old terrier, Audrey, was looking vibrant with glossy coat and waggy tail. A far cry from the dusty critter from the shelter's photograph.

Audrey wasn't the only aging beauty that our friends shared with us that evening. They very kindly opened this 1986 Robert Mondavi. Despite its age, at thirty two the wine retained a good deal of freshness with focused aromatics. High toned fruit, dried leaves and subtle leather combine on the palate and evolve through the long finish. Like Audrey, my tail was wagging. — 7 years ago

with Cara

Carson

9.0

Really great Roero is another display of the qualities of the famed Nebbiolo grape. This one is a prime example of one of the lesser-known appellations that put that grape to such great use. Juicy cherry and black licorice pack a punch while chewy tannins leave a long finish. This wine is so undervalued. #qprking — 8 years ago

Tiago Correia Machado

9.8

Fourteen years later, this remains a stunning wine. Even friends who don't usually like reds were blown away. Warning: loads of deposit, so make sure to decant well in advance. A true nectar. — 9 years ago

Ichiro Kawachi

9.0

1999 vintage. A bottle I brought back from Chile in 2002. Sleeping in my cellar for fourteen years. Violet pastille & spearmint (?) on nose. Meaty — 9 years ago

Pat Wong

9.1

Perfect with filet of beef. Carmignano is one of the oldest appellations in the world. Cosimo III de Medici in 1716 issued a bando to ensure its continued quality. Mostly Sangiovese, it has some Cabernet owing to a Medici marrying into the French royal family. — 9 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.3

Fourteen is my kind of vintage! This is a clear, pure red burg with incredible length and finesse. It is tight now, and only the last half glass showed the savor and depth that it will have in spades in the next few years. — 9 years ago

Kai Wright

9.5

Delightfully grubby Rhone like you love it, and a great example of the fun to be had by stepping outside of the traditional appellations. Pronounced earthy and herbal notes, intense dark fruit, chewy body and high acid. All kinds of notes layering well, lingering forever. Love it. — 10 years ago

with Jedd

John Chis

9.3

13 appellations of Napa. Reynolds does a great job. Great stuff. — 11 years ago

C

9.0

2007 vintage. — 11 years ago

Eric C

9.4

Une des rares appellations Chateau en champagne. Domaine offert de la veuve clicquot a son gendre. Un de nos préférées pour les petites occasions. — 12 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.5

Rather suddenly, and without much explanation, Bordeaux found itself in the middle of my crosshairs as being the next place I wanted to conduct a deep dive in. With this shift in my general attention from New World to Old World I began to do more research on the various appellations, prominent chateaus, and nuances of Left Bank and Right Bank, as well as compile a spreadsheet highlighting specific bottles I wanted to seek out. For a reason unbeknownst to me, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou was the producer I wanted to start my deep dive with. I researched the history of the chateaux, learned about their wines, priced out vintages that were immediately available for my acquisition, and added it to my Bordeaux spreadsheet, waiting for the time to pull the trigger and purchase a bottle (or two) to start the trek with. As far as wines are concerned it was all I could think about: Ducru-Beaucaillou. Apparently, the mere act of researching a chateau left me beguiled, craving a wine I had never even had before! With all of this research in mind I’ve learned over the years that as much as I thoroughly enjoy researching and trying wine, it’s certainly more enjoyable to share the knowledge and the experiences with others. Enter @codyuzzel, who has heard more than his fair share of my wine ramblings over the years. One day we began discussing Bordeaux, Left Bank v. Right bank, and changes in our thought patterns about the region over the years, which eventually lead him to asking the million-dollar question: Are there any producers you’ve highlighted that you’re particularly interested in? I told him that Ducru-Beaucaillou was in my crosshairs, along with a handful of other producers that I’d explore once I’d tried Ducru. That’s when he texted me the picture; a picture of him holding a glorious bottle of 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou. “I took this pic before we started this conversation.” Given the serendipitous nature of this occurrence he extended an invitation to pop the cork upon our next meeting, which is interesting in and of itself given that I had been thinking about visiting him at the wine bar just earlier that day. It’s moments like these that truly make the wine journey a sweet and rewarding one. Thanks, Cody, for your generosity and epic invitations.
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Anise, graphite, plums, and blackberries. Very polished and very delicious. — 7 years ago

with Cody

Randy Fuller

9.1

Winemaker Sam Smith used grapes from from northern and central Monterey County to create the 2017 G 17 Syrah. It’s one of those only-in-America blends featuring two grape varieties of the Rhône Valley and one from Spain. The mix is 87% Syrah, 9% Grenache and 4% Tempranillo. It was aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, a quarter of which were new. The grapes came primarily from the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco Appellations of Monterey County. Alcohol hits 14.4% abv and it retails for $22. Just under 1200 cases were made.
The first whiffs of this medium dark ruby wine are pretty boozy, but they're loaded with black berries, tobacco, smoke, leather and spices. The palate picks up black cherry and a ladle of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. The wine drinks surprisingly gentle, with enough tannic structure for roast or pork. A medium finish is noteworthy and is missed when it fades away. — 8 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Wonderful nose of dark fruit, oak and cinnamon. Fantastic tastes of blueberries, blackberries, cassis, baking spices and oak. A bold wine with solid tannins that are still working to put on silk gloves. This is a blend of grapes from all 15 AVA's in Napa back in 2010. Probably has another decade or more in terms of optimal bottle life. Steve Reynold's at his best. — 9 years ago

with Lisa

Isaac Pirolo

9.1

This pops with vibrant strawberry and kirsch, but continues reverberating with incense, citrus peel, damp chalk, and licorice. I would happily spend $15 again, but this gives me the confidence to trade up to Halos Gigondas or Chateauneuf du Pape the next time around.

Finally trying this label... Considering the esteem to which I hold Philippe Cambie and my love for Grenache, it's been a long time coming. Cambie, along with a Michel Gassier, produce Grenache-focused bottlings from nearly all the Southern Rhone AOCs under the Halos de Jupiter label. To Cambie, Grenache is the king of all grapes, thus the comparison to Jupiter (Zeus in Greek), forming the basis of the label. The halo symbolizes the appellations that best express the personality of Grenache. http://www.philippecambie.com/en/les-halos-de-jupiter/ — 9 years ago

David Hale Smith

10

@Jordan Mackay you were correct, sir. A unicorn wine. SO glad I opened to share with friends. @Rajat Parr @Julia Weinberg need your/@delectable's wine hive-mind to get more of the story of this gorgeous Napa red blend. Jammy, smoky, licorice, & dried cherry. — 9 years ago

with Ray

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.2

Bistro style Bordeaux at its best. This light, crunchy cab still had texture, length an interest. Fourteen years seems perfect for a wine like this. Great with leftover pork shoulder open face sandwiches with homemade mayo! — 10 years ago

with Cleora

Anthony Lombardi

8.9

2005 Chateau les Bertrands Nectar des Bertrands. Cotes de Blaye. I love checking in on supposed "lesser" appellations in great vintages. This is gorgeous mocha dusted cherry juice w/ tannic structure to go a while still. If you ever see this, slip it in your Pomerol tasting. Lovely. — 11 years ago

Nic Gautreaux

9.5

So good and yet so young tasting! It's an '05 and has plenty of time left! This was very drinkable but very easily could lay down another decade and some. — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

I like it so much I had to try another bottle. Located in the heart of Sonoma, WALT sourcing Pinot Noir fruit from premiere appellations, this one from Shea Vineyard in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Deep Ruby, luscious bouquet of berry fruit with floral notes. On the palate fresh strawberry and cherry flavors with sweet spice & earthy black tea tones. Fine rich soft tannins, lingering finish bring forward fruit and mineral tones. A Wow wine! — 7 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Tasted 2 days later not oxidized at all so this will last - just grabbed a leftover from a store tasting and forgot the bottle was in my cellar. Usually I am not a fan of red Burgs from predominantly white appellations but this one is OK although rustic. Very dark cherry spice touch cardamom chalky lacks finesse. — 7 years ago

Rashed Chowdhury

9.1

Sauve Blanc from Quincy in Loire Valley. Deep gold color hinting oak aging, fun mango and peach nose, 13% alcohol so beware. What a lighter body fun wine... such nice fruit throughout to balance the strong alcohol!!
Wine Bible by Karen McNeil, “Quincy and Reuilly are two tiny appellations near the river Cher, a tributary of the Loire. Again, the sauvignons can be quite crisp and delicious”.

Excerpt From
The Wine Bible
Karen MacNeil
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-wine-bible/id971459747?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright. — 8 years ago

Jaime Grunlan

9.3

30 min decant. Deep dark red/blue. Strong vanilla and dark fruit nose. Smooth alcoholic palate. Firm tannins on medium long finish. This is classic high level Coombsville, which I love. — 8 years ago

Will Messer

9.2

Tried 3 bottles from 3 appellations in 2012; all were great. Liked the North Valley best. — 9 years ago

P A

9.0

Wow, this outstanding wine has somehow slipped under the radar. From the respected Pomeral region in S.W. France it has many of the traits of other Boudreaux appellations yet delightfully distinct. It is dark ruby in colour displaying the many wonderful subtleties of the Pomeral wines presenting mingling aromas of raspberry, black berries, black pepper, Earl Gray Tea and Lavender. With a well-balanced silky taste of fresh lush fruit, it leaves a lingering expression of spices and brown sugar. How did I miss this one? I have already ordered a case to be held for my next trip to Calgary. Cheers — 9 years ago

PI WI

9.2

Un vin parfaitement maîtrisé et complexe, par un vigneron qui fait ce qu'il aime pas de contrainte lié aux appellations. Je recommande vivement ce vigneron Peter Fischer — 9 years ago

Ian Griffith

9.4

Drinking very nicely. Creamy, with a nice edge. Less intense than more nobel appellations but perfect for food. Great value compared with other chards. — 9 years ago

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

9.5

Domaine Jean Chartron established in 1859 owns 13 hectares of vineyards - 16 appellations - 9 of which being in Puligny-Montrachet. The soil is a mixture of clay siliceous sand and lime components. 40 years the average age of the vines. Hand harvesting, neither herbicides, nor chemical pesticides are used in the vineyards. Behind the alchemical balance of the wine aging (élevage) in the woods, at the source of the new oak barrels there's always Allier and Vosges.
Even though 2011 in Burgundy's one of the most premature vintage in 300 years, I must admit that this bottle of the monopole Clos de la Pucelle was astonishingly crisp, persisten texture, a solid core of broom in bloom blowing up in your mouth, a shiny flow of mineral essence. Sourness and honey they were so well blended to spread the unity of opposites all over the go-between glass among you the others around and the wine.. though one bottle was a too much little thing! http://www.bourgogne-chartron.com/ — 10 years ago

Mike Evans

9.4

Terrific aged white Burgundy hazelnut, rich, layered, at peak but with no danger of decline, it is ridiculously good right now and puts most white Burgs from more prestigious appellations to shame. A little RS pops its head out with air as it just gets better — 11 years ago

with Eric

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.1

Rockpile - the "Grand Cru" of Zinfandel appellations. Thanks to the hosts of the ZAP luncheon for this one. — 13 years ago