Rich Bluth

9.0

beautiful fruit with a good grip — 4 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.1

No hateration here, friends. Skin-fermented natural Pinot G made by the one and only Mary J Blige. Delightful. — 5 years ago

with Jaqueline and Caroline

Paul T HB

9.5

Not a Rose’ Retailer notes, Blend of 35-50 year old cognac One of the best Cognacs ever to hit K&L, the Navarre Veille Reserve is the pride and joy of importer and K&L friend Nicolas Palazzi, the man behind the K&L Faultline Cognac and Guillon Painturaud expressions. Nicolas has told me time and time again that of all the brandies in his stellar lineup of grower-producer spirits, the Navarre fills him with the most pride. That's probably because it tastes so damn good. Jacky Navarre is one of the last purists among the artisan cognac distillers. The fourth generation of cognac makers in his family, located in Gondeville since 1811, he takes care of his small Grande Champagne estate with a very basic rule, "Let nature do most of the work." With the exception of an ultra-rare, impossible-to-get aged release, Navarre only makes one Cognac expression - the Vieille Reserve. It's made with 100% Ugni Blanc, and Jacky distills the brandy on the lees. The brandy sees no sugar, caramel or boise, and no water is added at the end. The natural 45% cask strength is achieved through evaporation! There are few other Cognac producers who take such care with their product and the attention to detail shows through in the flavor. The flavors of the grape are not overpowered by caramel or nougat, but are allowed to shine alongside supple vanilla. The finish is incredibly rich and wonderful, loaded with barrel spice and toasted nuts, but delicate and almost haunting in its litheness. Amazing in every way.
— 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

I have been waiting to taste this wine for 4 years and it’s better than I imagined. Holee fuck. This is the best young Walter wine I’ve ever had. Blind anybody would say grand cru red burg. Easily up there with the top 5 German Pinots I’ve ever had. Just insane nose. It’s insane right off the bat. The nose is a spectrum. There is so much and its so fragrant and so detailed and so vivid and so so delicate. It’s the Pinot Noir experience from a top vineyard that nothing else can reproduce. Huge chestnut, fresh rotting leaves, orange rind, cherry flower, mid season cherry. Tons and tons of the most beautiful spice your nose gets lost. It’s so stunning. And I’ve only described maybe 1/3rd of the nose. There are accents of mint and menthol and also hints I’d very fine cigar. A new nuance and detail every time you stick your nose in the glass. The palate puts the G in Grand Cru. It’s totally seamless. Just this beautiful orb of Hundsruck that is blessing your palate. It’s opulent and sweet but also velvety and has the most velvety, melty, to die for tannins. Just perfect balance. I know Walter and I know this wine is only showing 10% as I’ve NEVER had a mature Hundsrück. The 11 and 12 are still too young. This is a mindboggljng wine that is so distinctive. No Pinot in the world acts like it smells like or taste like Walter’s Hundsrück. This is a masterpiece. This is Walter’s Seven Samurai. So elegant and deep wirh just an amazing finish that keeps on adding length and richness the more the wine aerates. This is a 9.7 right now. Any other producer we are at 9.8 now but this is Walter and air is this estates friend. A masterpiece and a new benchmark in German Pinot.

UPDATE: after 3 hours this is as transcendent as German Pinot gets. Just velvet. Amazing delicacy in this wine. A privilege to drink now at 3 hours. Waffling between 9.7 and 9.8. — 6 years ago

Henry Gorndorff

9.6

Smooth and silky, great drop from Eri and J — 8 years ago

Jeff Budge

9.3

An excellent Cab in a great setting (J&G Steakhouse in the Phoenician) — 9 years ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.1

Still young and needing air to open and show better. But still really enjoyable now with interesting g possibilities for aging. — 4 years ago

Phil Hatch

9.2

Another great fondue wine — 5 years ago

Evan McKenzie

9.1

A single harvest blended with 50% reserve wines. 7 crus from Coteaux Sud d’Epernay Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, vines average 40 years of age.
Blend: 50% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir.
Dosage: 2.5 g/L
EtOH: 12.5%

Brilliant soft effervescence. Notes of brioche, citrus, peach, white cherry, green apple, straw, wet stone — 5 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.3

Liquid dessert! For me, the 20 year Tawnies are the sweet spot and always a special treat. I like the 20 years because you get the intense caramel, toffee, and hazelnut, but can still taste the fruit. Grahams always makes consistent Tawnies - the style leans towards full-bodied and opulent. This batch bottled in March 2018 with 111 g/L RS. Love! NV on March 16, 2020 — 6 years ago

Karen Liu

9.1

Surprisingly smooth and sweet — 7 years ago

Anthony Pro

8.9

For what it is... it’s actually very impressive. Caramel. Vanilla. Smoother than Ryan Gosling’a character in Crazy, Stupid, Love. — 7 years ago

Mike R

9.5

@jesus g amazing wines and an awesome time - learned so much - you are good my friend

The Jamie is hook places - and quickly - such an incredible taste - I will drinking many more - smiles for everyone — 8 years ago

with jesus and S

Howard Lin

9.2

Silky smooth, no acidic burn, just enough fruit, great as always. G-town with J&J — 4 years ago

Mike Johnson

9.5

Thanks Matty J & G!-Money — 5 years ago

Dan R

8.9

Explosive, super expressive nose of white peach and lemon. Really nicely aromatic. On the palate this is on the dryer side, almost severe, with good purity, focus and drive. Citrus themed, with excellent acidity and wicked cut. A bit more flesh on the bones would have moved it from very good to great, but for the price I'm not complaining! 70 / 15 / 15 - CH / PN / PM. 6.5 g/L dosage. No disgorgement date found. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

Third year in a row to hang out with @jesus g as he pours some amazing Schramsberg and JDavies wines for us. One of the best hosts in the entire valley! If you find yourself in Napa, don’t miss out on doing a tasting with him!

When pouring next to the Reserve, this always shows a much more brighter and tightly coiled profile (as expected with BdB). I’ve found that I enjoy the Reserve younger and the JSchram older (as it starts to channel similar Reserve tasting notes with more age). Lemon confit, buttered fresh biscuit, sea spray and grilled aromatics. The acid is almost racy, yet it still is amazingly commanding in how it evolves with complexity. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Day 4 in Napa in the books! Running a day behind on notes...Napa time runs slow AND fast!

Another year, another insane meet up with @jesus g ! We had the pleasure of hanging out with him twice this time, once at the Davies tasting room and a second time when he gave us an awesome private, VIP like experience at the Schramsberg caves!

This ‘09 JSchram, which is their more Blanc de Blanc style, is young bit delicious. Lemon bar, apple crisp, cashew, meringue and and just beginning to show some honeycomb/honeyed melon notes. I decided I like the JSchram with more age and enjoy the Reserve at a younger age. — 7 years ago

with jesus

Tracy Hall

9.0

This was a wild ride. Unusual aromatics of flintstone or scooby doo kids vitamins. Tastes like that too. The second day was better with those flavors fading, but still not my style (better with food) 33.3% equal parts of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier. Based on 2008 & 2009 vintages. Disgorged 2017. Dosage 4.5 g/L. SS — 8 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

Dark blackberry, blueberry, fruit all the way. The balance and silkiness make this a wonderful pour. The mid palate is rewarded with an explosion of layered flavors of fruit. @jesus g @David L @Paul T — 9 years ago