Mary H

9.5

I’m an addict, what can I say? Full mouthful of bright fruit flavor, golden tropical fruit, honey, singing acidity and long finish. — 7 months ago

Tom Garland

9.1

A pale golden straw color. A smooth chalky wine with lemon curd, green apple, bosc pear, toasty vanilla oak, and melon. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Nik Kannan

9.4

Really incredible wine. Not paired with any food, the wine is flavorful, quenching w/ oak flavor adding the right dryness and notes of plum & vanilla to finish - really well balanced and opened well. Bottled was empty far too quickly : ) — 5 years ago

with Emily

Shawn Summey

9.0

Fruity Golden Ale — 6 years ago

Ron R

9.2

This Pa brewery is rocking my world. Close my eyes and taste this, and I drift back to my time when I lived in Waterloo, Brussels. Label says 9.5% abv, but it’s tucked in nicely. Woody notes on the palate, with cardamom, cloves and licorice. Heart-warming as it slips down the hatch. Well done! — 6 years ago

Gregg Congleton

9.4

Simply amazing - golden honey yet balanced with acid and crispness — 7 years ago

Rebecca Solow

9.5

Golden apple and brioche deliciousness ... makes me think of a tarte tatin. — 7 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Good golden strong. Not too much oak or over-bourboned out like so many bourbon barrel aged beers. — 7 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.6

Deep golden color with a citrus undertone and distinct minerality, if not oyster shells. Delightfully pleasant wine. — 2 years ago

Greg Koslosky

9.5

Looks to be a bottle from the 80s mature rich and complex . Toffee , brioche, mushrooms kept in check by golden delicious apple fruit . This is a winner and it’s nice to have a grand cuvée with age since most of these get drunk way to young ! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

M. Chiarlo’s Moscato d’Asti is also available in a 375ml which is a nice size to pop open after a nice meal. A slight effervescence wine with a light golden color. Aromas of sweet fresh stone fruits and citrus layered with a bit of floral spice. On the palate flavors of peaches and apricots with a grape-like character. Medium finish ending with citrus, sweet spice and honey notes. A favorite, great value! Grab a 750ml for a larger crowd! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The nose reveals slightly sour & bruised fruits. Bruised golden apple & pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, green apple, lime zest/candy, melted, salted caramel, honeysuckle, white & yellow peach, brown butter, caramelized brown sugar, hints of mint, sea fossils, grey volcanics, whiff of white spice, vanillin, bread dough, yellow lilies, spring flowers with mixed floral greens.

The palate is rich, lush, round, a touch gluey & full. Nice mousse, micro-oxygenation, slightly sour & bruised fruits Bruised golden apple & pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, green apple, lime zest/candy, melted, salted caramel, honeysuckle/honey comb, white & yellow peach, inside banana peel, brown butter, caramelized brown sugar, nougat, hints of mint, sea fossils, gritty, penetrating chalkiness, grey volcanics, some white spice with nice lighter heat, vanillin, bread dough, yellow lilies, spring flowers with mixed floral greens. Excellent acidy. The long, even, fresh, well balanced finish persists nicely and is delicious.

Nice bottle and well priced at $38 w/ deluxe gift box.

Photos of; House of Roederer, caves with A-Frames for the hand Riddlers, walk through tunnel and marquee Grand Cru vineyard. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.

1997 a difficult vintage for reds in Bordeaux. The upside is, when the reds lag, the whites almost always shine.

The nose shows; marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals.

The body is thick, gluey and rich. The mouthfeel magnificent. There is almost a dry tannin presence but it is it’s dry, gritty volcanic minerality, marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals. The acidity round and splendid. The finish is rich, well balanced, elegant, polished and delicious.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, glass of 1997 showing color, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 7 years ago

Zach D

9.5

A unique wine. Vibrant golden hue, reductive aroma combined with a variety of ripe orchard fruits, saline breeze, pineapple, wet stone. Palate with high acidity, a lingering tannic grip, stony minerality, apple, pear, fresh almonds. I drink the current vintage (which happens to be 2012 this year) with my wife once per year, and have for the last 5 years. Nostalgic. — 9 months ago

emilie cycz

10

Golden in color, dried fruits with bread. Bubbles are vibrant — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

My last of the 2014 Ultramarine’s. Sad day. Thankfully 2015s are up next, and I was able to secure extra 2016s during the release a few months back.

This was one of three bubblies (2010 Larmandier-Bernier VV du Levant, Egly Ouriet Rosé) opened alongside a lineup of some fun wines when a buddy, @Shawn R , was in town. As always, my experience with these wines is so unique. You can always tell this is like grower champagne from first smell and sip. Gorgeous golden color in the glass. I normally pick up aromas of cream soda with Ultramarine (aside from their rosé), but didn’t get that here. Caramel dipped golden delicious apples, spiced cider, brioche, a little shaved almond, sporting a gentle “oxidative” flair. On the palate it’s zippy and racy with a distinct herb crusted yellow fruit profile (which I get on some Heintz Chardonnays), alongside more apple, poached pear, and kiss of ripe red Berry fruits. There is also a backbone of limestone/mineral here. When compared to the Larmandier-Bernier, this drank more new world, though if I had tried this blind and not next to a true champagne, I may have been able to get there.

As an aside, we drank half of this bottle (and of the other two bubblies as well) and then put a champagne stopper on it to revisit the next day. Upon opening, the bubbles seemed to have diminish quite a bit and it drank closer to a still wine...and then 30mins later, it was like this roared back to life for one last hurrah, full of bubbles and totally vibrant. Not sure I’ve seen a bubbly do that before. The last glass on the second day was just as good as the first glass on the first day. — 5 years ago

with Shawn

Megan

9.5

I’ve been savoring this bottle over several months using my Coravin. Sadly, finally finished it off. Just love tasting this golden beauty open up in the glass. Can’t wait to start on another bottle! — 6 years ago

Jeff Lander

9.0

Stage 2 of #tourdefrance 2019. Finishing up our time in Belgium with a classic. Rich and creamy with full body and malty flavor. — 6 years ago

Eri

9.1

Very complex and fun champagne! Reminds you of British biscuits, golden apples, honey and marmalade. — 7 years ago

Frank Soldano

9.8

Drinking the 1998 in 2018. Rich, rich dessert wine. Rich deep golden color. Very thick long lasting legs. Nose full of roasted peach and stone fruit. Taste starts with Carmel, grilled peach and stone fruit. Excellent balance. — 7 years ago