Saeed Richardson

10

I'm a 43 year old man who must be a teenage girl on the inside. I absolutely love this stuff. Just know that this tastes more like a raspberry sparkling cider than a Belgian beer. But on those days when no one is around, and the six foot, rugby playing guy wants to get his sweet drink fix, this is where you go. — 7 years ago

Christy Canterbury MW

Master of Wine

8.9

Raisins and black figs. Go for pairings with caramelized figs or bread pudding. Delicious and lightly tannic to cut through any rich dish, whether sweet or savory! — 8 years ago

Eric

9.2

You will not be disappointed. Must have it at 55 degrees, classic taste, color, flavor and finish. If this veneto was a girl; she's one to hold onto and never let go. — 8 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.0

Occhipinti Siccagno Nero d'Avola 2013

She came on dark turning rubyesque, a spin and first kiss, dripping red from my lip to my white linen cuff, not unlike the juicy explosion of a ripe blackberry, her color and allure dancing in the decanter, then leaning closer, more warmly spilling into my glass, she dips and turns, another spin, I breathe her in and her earthen essence laced lightly but luxuriously in red and black fruit lingers and lures me to drink, her acid does a balancing act with a purple plum preponderance her tannins squeeze holding the moment, we go deeper, darker until she dives disrobing as she rolls, slides, sideslips and seduces another dance, another turn, another twist - "and the band plays on..." For the love of the juice🍷🕶🌀

PS: kale salad @ Il Palio, in Chapel Hill is brilliant! Don't miss that place when there, or, make it a destination - digging their grilled octopus, too🍷🕶🌀 — 8 years ago

Kyle O'Neill

9.0

Very nice wine, lightly oaked, apple, lemon, stone fruit notes, nice and creamy. Would go excellent with lobster tail and some butter and a half lemon squeezed on top! — 8 years ago

Tania Martell

9.0

Lightly, dry, fruity, still enough body to go with food, nice for just sipping as not too heavy. — 8 years ago

Martin Frowde

8.9

Light sparkling straw colour with a faint nutty bouquet. A hint of oil on the texture whilst the taste is lightly creamy and nutty, almost of sweetcorn with "tropical fruit salad" notes as others have flagged. Also some wood which adds an almost burnt / smoky tinge. Probably not the best vintage but not bad at all - this wine holds a number of memories for my father and myself on a trip to San Sebastián so perhaps comparisons to those prior halcyon days are always going to prove a difficult match. Special mention to the striking label design. Would go very well with paella, etc — 9 years ago

Ann Garrett

9.4

One of my fav's!
— 9 years ago

Christian Miner

8.9

Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers and ripe pears. In the mouth, beautiful pear and white floral flavors sit poised on the palate while mandarin acidity races electrically around the edges of the mouth, making the saliva glands go into overdrive across the long finish. Juicy, bright and delicious. Lightly sweet. 8.5% alcohol. — 9 years ago

Ramey Wine Cellars

10

"The 2011 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard is direct and focused in style. Butter, pastry, citrus and sweet spices are some of the nuances that come alive in the glass. Because of its proximity to the Pacific and the cool vintage, the Platt is a bit compact and tightly wound at this stage... Wild flowers, almonds and mint are layered into the finish. There is a lot to look forward to here."
- Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2014

We use classical Burgundian techniques with the addition of whole cluster pressing. All of our Chardonnays go through native yeast fermentation in three-year air dried French and Hungarian oak barrels and then native, delayed malolactic fermentation. The Platt is aged sur lies for 20 months in barrel, and then is lightly fined with traditional fining agents before being bottled without filtration. — 10 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

On the nose, candied ripe fruits of; black plum, blueberries, blackberries, dark currants, mint and fresh & dry dark florals. Palate is; meaty dark currant tannins, anise, mocha powder, dark chocolate, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, mint, lightly understated baking spices, crushed rocks, leathery, fresh acidity, round, lush, huge tannins, big dark fruits & violets on the long beautiful finish. Photos of the driveway entrance and vines that in good vintages go into "Grange." — 7 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.8

We can throw around the idea of a classical wine or producer, but there are precious few that are true classics. This is one. If lightly peppered red berries were made of liquid silk, that would be almost as smooth as the palate of this. Aromatically, this is a fresh summer bouquet of florals & herbs. Just a stunner & showstopper. Will go a bit longer, but in an excellent place to enjoy right now. @Matthew Bigby you are a gentleman & a scholar for sharing this. — 8 years ago

with Robert and Matthew

Meg

9.4

Do you trust the sommelier?? If you've been following me, you probably know by now I'm more of a Cali girl when it comes to cab. Eric the Somm from BF (who knows his juice!) suggested this one. It was expensive so I was hesitant to go out on a limb here and make a costly mistake. Luckily he reassured us - offering to take it back if we didn't like it (visualizing him drinking it out back?! Haha) not that I'd ever take someone up on that gesture but it established trust and got us over the hump - and it was all worth it! (And we subsequently trusted him with the pick the next night too!) — 8 years ago

Matt Beyard

8.9

Our Go-To Riesling. Never fails to please particularly at its price point. — 8 years ago

Jo Anne B

9.5

A little pre gaming while recapping Girls. I've been dying to open this bottle of bubbly from one of my favorite wineries. Hints of lemon, pineapple and cream. I'm in love. — 8 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.2

Pop that screw top, drop it in a decanter, turbo twirl, let set x10 minutes, then go for it - classic Gamay from Beaujolais with fertile earth showing smokey red and black fruit with light effervescence lightly coating all the taste receptors then twisting, turning, clinging before it slips down one's throat thereafter hanging front, sides, and back begging for another swig and associated mind quest to more finely define its groovy self😎 Loving this juice with some olives, almonds Ossau Iratty and Pico..🍷 Do this wine (great with Thanksgiving turkey) and only 12% alcohol; so do it at least x2😎 — 9 years ago

EdnBrenda Medvid

9.2

Deep ruby color, earthy nose, light but flavorful taste. Slightly acid with a lightly dry finish. Should go well with grilled steaks or prime rib. — 9 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.2

One of my favorite producers of the new-wave grower movement. Extra brut, but with enough fruit power to keep the wine from going ashy or hollow on the mid palate, enough dosage to temper the acid. Aromas are definitely to the (lightly oxidized) yellow tree fruit end of the spectrum (yellow plum, golden apple and pear), savory aromas go to salted caramel, hazelnut, miso, nori, popcorn (no butter). Lots of umami. To me, not a bottle for a lot of time in the cellar (3-5 years), but structurally on point and great to drink now. Lots of focus in general. — 9 years ago

Brent Adams

9.5

Lightly complex and tight flavors at the start and a very smooth subtly fruity, and crisp finish. Would go well with pork or chicken. Follow with something fuller bodied. — 10 years ago

Steve Bozich

9.0

The first winery I bought direct from, and still doing so. They go low on the ABV, 13.2 here. Low tannin, lightly dry, dried cherries and a hint of smoke. Doesn't overwhelm you, but makes you smile. — 7 years ago

Nathan Schmidt

9.9

Our go to budget rosé bubbly. Dry, lightly floral, hints of rose petal and strawberry, tiny persistent bubbles but not aggressively bubbly. Excellent and reliable with a sub $20 price point. — 8 years ago

Michael Latzko

9.1

Very light. Notes of young fruits that lightly float off the palate. With a little bit of time in the decanter the tannins in the finish round out to match the lightness of the nose. Not a robust wine with a lot of features for a refined palate to pick out. But if you want a bottle to open and drink on the porch at sunset this is your go to. Don't pay more than 25-30 dollars, but at $17 which is what I pay at my local cellar it's more than worth it. — 8 years ago

Riki Taylor

9.5

An easy go to. Lightly sweet with minimal linger — 8 years ago

Chasidy Kearns

9.1

I love this wine. It's a go to that I always try to keep on hand. Lightly and airy up front, with strong berry notes, and finishes with a bite of pepper. — 8 years ago

Liz Hale

9.6

One of my no brainer go to chards. She's that gorgeous and interesting girl- Lana del Rey five years ago. — 8 years ago

Shana Wall

9.7

#1990 #MChapoutier #Hermitage #MonierDeLaSizeranne #Yes Yes & Yes 👏👏👏😍💃 #NorthernRhone always has my heart ❤️. The #JacquelineKennedyOnassis of wine... #Graceful, #Elegant, #Seamless ... #Powerful in an understated way. A #Woman who speaks multiple languages and has many, many #Layers. She is in the drivers seat, but let's you think you're the one in charge. You're lucky if you find a girl like this. Hold on tight and don't let go... There's no one else quite like her around. 🍷👌🏻👌🏻 #HappyFriday — 8 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.0

Dark fruit balanced through old oak showing light spice on the nose encouraging thought to nail a specific note but is remaining a bit of an enigma in my rock rattled head after a good day enhanced by 75 MPH Harley induced wind and the brilliance of Bose and an iPhone. Ok, back to the wine, it touches, lightly grabs spreading its dark berry mini-burst in a layered earth touched tannin slow ride making magic with some of Chapel Hill's Bin 54's straight up amazing goodness (in this case very rare filet mignon, garlic tinged green beans and almond slivers; my go to steak spot in NC). Damn, this is all so right-on! Cheers! — 9 years ago

Michelle Cummings

9.3

Sweet and juicy — 9 years ago

with Tyler

Ramey Wine Cellars

10

"Ramey's 2011 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is beautifully layered and succulent in the glass. Butter, almonds and hazelnuts all add complexity as this enveloping, resonant Chardonnay shows off its personality."
- Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2014

We use classical Burgundian techniques with the addition of whole cluster pressing of the grapes. All of our Chardonnays go through native yeast fermentation in three-year air dried French and Hungarian oak barrels and then native, delayed malolactic fermentation. The Hudson is aged sur lies for 20-21 months in barrel, and then lightly fined with traditional fining agents before being bottled without filtration. — 10 years ago

Anna Westendorf

9.1

Creamy and light with touch of vanilla. — 11 years ago