Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Pale lemon yellow color with aromas of citrus and stone fruit with fresh herb notes. On the palate flavors of green apple and grapefruit, with herbs and crisp mineral tones. Medium finish, well balanced on a soft ending. Easy drinking. Very nice! Consistent quality. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Poured into a decanter about 30 minutes prior to service and enjoyed over three hours. Last time I tried this was at the property, summer of 2019. A lot has happened in the world since then. The 2016 Sangiovese Riserva pours a very pretty, bright ruby color with a translucent core. There is some sediment, though most was left in the bottle when decanting. Medium viscosity; no obvious staining of the tears. On the nose, redolent of cherries, Grand Marnier, fresh green herbs, frankincense, dried red flowers and a touch of baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry. Medium+ tannin and medium acid. Medium+ alcohol. Confirming the fruit and non-fruit characteristics from the nose. The finish is medium in length, slightly bitter and little hot. This was fun to drink again and rightly comes across as a New World take on an Old World wine…but it won’t fool anyone for thinking the latter. Drink now with a short decant but will hold for another 3-5 years easy. 150 cases produced. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Pale lemon in color with a green hue.

Fruity nose of citrus, lemons, apples, sweet grapefruits, light green vegetables, herbs and spices.

Medium-bodied with medium plus acidity. Nice and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with citrus, lemons, yellow apples, spices, light tropical fruits, white pepper and minerals.

Medium finish with limes and light grapefruits.

This is a very tasty Pinot Grigio from California. Easy drinking with nice balance.

Good by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with fresh green salads.

Tangy and fruit forward with a creamy mouthfeel.

A great party wine that I had by the pool with a great view.

13.7% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$26. — 4 years ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.4

Pale and bright and citrusy and fresh and delicious. Crisp and easy to drink with a green apple sort of bite and a honeydew fullness. Very yummy, one of my new top 5 Sauvignon Blancs. — 4 years ago

Jill Barclay

9.1

Bright and refreshing, easy drinking with some green apple balanced with fresh herbs. I liked this a lot! — 4 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.0

The nose could be more aromatic. The palate is smooth. Medium bodied. Well made. Beef bouillon, wet smoke, fresh Green fig. It’s a savory wine that’s easy to drink. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The fruits are brighter than the Chardonnay. Pineapple, white peach, green melons, ripe, cantaloupe, lime, lemon curd, touch of canned pears, grassy notes, yellow & spring flowers with lilies.

The body is lean, fresh and lively. After the leaner, bright fruits subside, grippy minerals take hold overlaid by white spice and powdery chalkiness. Pineapple, white peach, green melons, ripe, cantaloupe, lime, lemon curd, touch of canned pears, grassy notes, yellow & spring flowers with lilies. The acidity perfect. The finish is delicious, easy to drink with nice balance.

Photos of; the Estate vines of DeMorgenzon, suspended stainless tanks which, allows them to work the wine by gravity, barrel room and Cellar Door grounds.
— 6 years ago

Peg Hanssen

10

A fabulous find!! Grasevina is a dry, fresh, aromatic white wine with apple-like notes. It’s typically considered to be a neutral and easy-drinking wine. The everyday wine of Central Europe, Grasevina is also known as Welschriesling. Recognizable features of the grape are its acid and slight almond-like bitterness. Belje began in 1697 when Roman Emperor Leopold gifted the estate to Prince Eugene of Savoy. The wine is straw yellow with hints of light green. The wine itself is beautifully fruity and flowery, fresh and crisp acidity that resembles citrus with the slightest hint of sweetness. This wine is well balanced, finishes with a beautiful orange peel note and a nice bite. An exceptional food-friendly wine that is unfairly overlooked and underappreciated.  Surdyks March 2023 $13.99 (Reg $16.99) — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Beautiful gold color. Aromas of apricot, green apple, slate and freshly washed laundry. Pallet is leesy with hints of apple and minerals. Touch of citrus on the very smooth finish. Nicely balanced. Fresh, rich and satisfying. No oak. Easy drinker. Pleasant surprise. — 3 years ago

muoi Mulry

9.0

Jammy, dry with berries. Fresh, dark, easy drinking...probably too tasty. — 4 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.2

Last of the 1981 bottles I bought for my dear wife’s birthday and I believe this was the best. The cork was in incredible condition, looked only a few years old - Ah So made easy work of it. After allowing it to warm a bit - caramel apple, some barnyard funk on the nose, plus an under layer of fresh green apple. Palate is beautifully balanced, no sign of fatigue at all - this #coteauxdulayon #cheninblanc could coast for ages it seems. Caramel and honey notes, fleshy texture, some lemon, piercing acidity cutting through that sweetness, and more fresh green apple underlaying the baked notes. This was a nice counterpoint to the Sauternes we had closer to her actual birthday and a compelling alternative. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Sometimes you just want the usual comforts without sacrificing any quality. The customary pale gold in the glass with a creamy mousse and abundant perlage. A very easy going and aromatic nose of citrus fruit and floral accents. Pencil shavings, pears, and biscuits. As far as entry level bottles, this is head and shoulders above many. Not lacking in elegance or balance whatsoever.

Impeccably fresh with a luscious mouthfeel and classy structure. This improves considerably after some time in the glass. The palate follows the nose closely with more floral and yeast notes. A little elderberry, honey, and green apples to compliment. Long refined finish. Really nice and pleasant from first sip to the last. — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

The condition of the bottle was remarkable - the wine was fresh and crisp, like the day it was bottled. Bright with a tinge of green, no signs of TDN at all. Only the mellowed acidity gave any indication of age. Insane!

Despite all that, the wine itself was rather disappointing. Not really complex or deep, and finish was quite short. I guess it did come from a tough vintage. However, it had the classic Grunhaus lightness - drinking more like a kabi than spat. In conclusion, an easy fun drink that fell below expectations. — 6 years ago

Kurt Schuster

9.2

Bright green herbs, fresh flowers, fresh purple fruit. Not overpowering at all but a good delicate but not sloppy wine. Easy to drink but enough fruit forward that the flavors don’t get lost as you enjoy the bottle. — 6 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.0

A light to light medium body with a color of fresh straw, with a distinctive pale green hue to the edges, this was a perfect pairing for crawfish. Really good crisp, with notes of sour green apple, lemon or key lime rind, and pineapple on the nose. The taste is crisp with a beautiful acidity, mineral driven but tastes green as well, like underripe citrus, mango or melon, a fresh salinity, grassy and flower stems, with a mouth drying mineral finish. This was very refreshing, easy to drink, and a great substitute for a dry Riesling for Asian or spiced flavors. — 2 years ago

with Tiva

"Odedi"

9.0

This is a tasty and easy drinking Champagne.

Dark yellow in color with a golden hue.

Medium plus in body with high acidity, and medium sized bubbles.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing citrus, green apples, light grapefruits, herbs, yeast, brioche, sea salt, spices, vegetables and minerals.

Nice finish with limes and bitter herbs.

Tangy and good by itself or with food.

Really enjoyed the nose, even more than the palate. Better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points. Wine Spectator 90 points.

A great choice to pair with fresh seafood.

12% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$43. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

These Pierre Gimonnet champagnes are always of the highest quality from the Côte des Blancs and with terrific prices. An original member of the Club Trésors de Champagne, the Special Club, and an easy buy, each and every time.

The color of starlight on a cloudless night. A surplus of tiny bubbles and persistent perlage throughout. A very clean and focused nose showcasing lemon peel, pears, and sea salt. Vanilla custard and pronounced smoke. Hazelnuts and freshly baked dough with a nice dose of spice. Apples of the green and red varieties.

Some love has to be shown to the labels. Classy metal front label and an ultra informative back label. Pure Chardonnay from the Grand Crus of Cramant (59%) and Chouilly (25%) with the rest coming from the Premier Cru terroir of Cuis. The acidity here is outrageous and highly focused, really beautiful. Very pure and creamy. Disgorged in December of 2019 with an Extra Brut dosage of 4 g/l.

Everything carries over to the palate. A very complex and harmonious champagne. Fresh and bold with more apples and spice. Strong minerality and yeast here. Long, enduring finish. This definitely lives up to the standards of Gimonnet and the Special Club. Don’t sleep on these 14’s, they’re alive and kicking. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Pale lemon in color with a green hue.

On the nose citrus, vegetables, herbs, green apples, earth, minerals, and grapefruit juice.

Medium bodied with medium acidity. Crisp and refreshing with long legs.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, lemons, bitter herbs, earth and vegetables.

Tangy finish with limes and almonds.

This young Pinot Gris from Oregon is easy drinking and tangy, with a soft mouthfeel. Surprisingly good out of a can.

Earthier on the nose than on the palate. As it opens up, grapefruit notes show up on the nose, and nicer with some airtime, so be patient.

I had an older vintage of this wine, and it definitely is better with some age. I wonder how it would age in a can, though. For now, it is lemony and refreshing. A nice sipper by the pool.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with fresh seafood like oysters.

Aged in neutral French Oak barrels and stainless steel for 11 months.

13.3% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$8. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

Medium purple with light garnet flourishes in the glass. At five years, this is already a bit austere and unflinching. And that’s a compliment. Fresh violets, green pepper, Kools, and dried cherries on the nose. This is probably the most intense easy drinking wine I’ve ever had. Everything here is just spot on and correct. Wonderful balance despite the intensity of the fruit. Full bodied with medium acidity, this is a glorious combination of rustic excellence and Italian sophistication. On the palate, there’s plenty of exquisite forest floor goodness, earl grey tea, and soft red fruits dance. This is an alluring and outstanding Aglianico from Avellino. Drinks way above the price point. — 5 years ago

Manuel Blanco

9.1

White fresh wine. Really easy to drink. Fresh and some green notes like grass. — 6 years ago