Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

All of the grapes from the vineyards owned by the Latour family are vinified and aged in the cuverie of Château Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. Medium pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits with a slight nutty floral character. On the palate flavors of peach and melon with lemon citrus and savory notes. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, toasty oak and minerality. Nice! — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Querciabella, in Italian, means “beautiful oak” and surrounds their vineyards. Founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni, now managed and owned by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglionii. Sangiovese from biodynamically grown grapes, Ruby, lovely nose of fruit, floral and spice. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors with earthy herb notes and spicy cacao. Fine tannins, good balance, medium+ finish ending with earthy character. Nice value, consistent. — 4 years ago

Clay Bullwinkel

9.3

Very good as always. I Vigneri’s Vinupetra by local wine guru Salvo Foti. Nerello Mascalese grapes crafted into Etna Rossi wine. Volcanic minerals, crisp mix of dark berry flavors,, Mediterranean herbs. Makes one want to climb the mountain. — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Nose has ripe yellow apple, creamy oak goodness, pineapple core and browned butter.

Palate has ripe pineapple, under-ripe pineapple, ripe yellow apple, light oak notes with notable acidity still and medium finish. Still many, many years to go on this wine, drink 2025-2030+ from proper storage. Decanted 8H.

I'll reiterate prior comments, this is a unique wine...Winery notes:
"80% of the grapes were immediately whole cluster pressed. The Chardonnay was fermented in French oak with about 16% new oak. The remaining 20% of the grapes were placed, single layer, in shallow trays for six weeks following the traditional Passito method. After natural dehydration, the grapes were gently pressed and fermented in barrels. The two fractions were blended prior to bottling. A full malolactic fermentation lowered the acidity and improved the texture of the wine. The wine was gently filtered prior to bottling." — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A beautiful Chardonnay! Only 15 acres planted with grapes grown in Rutherford (warmer with rich ripe fruit) & Oak Knoll (cooler with fresh acidity in grapes). Pale lemon, with fresh & crisp citrus & stone fruit aromas, no malolactic ferm. Palate shows peach, apple & Asian pear flavors, with lemony & toasty notes, lively acidity & balance with touch of vanilla oak (9 months of French oak aging (25% new & 1-year old, remainder neutral oak). Long finish ending with fruit, spice & biscuit notes. Nice Value! — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

What a nose. Mondeuse like but made from many wacky grapes. Fresh and deep .More later.

After 4 hours open.

Nose is dusty earthy and loads of berry fruit. Mineral and precise with just loads of fruit on the nose. So pure. Palate has loads of crunchy berry fruit that is blue and black with light tannin and terrific freshness. Sappy and even a little complex. Great value. — 6 years ago

Stuart Peisner

9.0

This is one of those wines your gonna love it or not. Great fruit in middle and finish. This blend has a lot of different grapes. I think it’s a very good wine. — 3 years ago

Aimalohi Gray

9.8

Red, and dark fruits, mild tannins, fresh tobacco, new world grapes with a bit of old world style maybe? — 4 years ago

Ellen Clifford

8.9

This wine throws parties that go late but not too late full of characters but polite ones and also invites you to dinners with other intellectuals that go late and are rich but get deep and down to life on earth. Which is to say it hints at decadence but is cool with just having like, a real deep conversation on literature. Full of blackberry and cassis fruit but with baking spices and something that says mud delicious mud. Vibing with tannins that aren’t knitted in and a certain element that satisfies but leaves you unsatisfied so you take another sip and it may be on purpose to remind you you are mortal. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Last tried 3 years ago. Established in the early 1950s, producing and selling only grapes and just a few years ago began aging and bottling its own wines. Giampaolo Pira recently took the reins. Ruby, brown edges, with aromas of dark berry fruit and earthy spices. 100% Nebbiolo, flavors of ripe cherry and plum emerge, smooth, with pepper spice on good structure. Fine soft tannins, balanced acidity on long finish ending with earthy mineral notes, drink now. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Nose has washed green table grapes, clean cotton tee shirt, candied pineapple and stainless steel.
Palate has smashed crabapples, faint maraschino cherry, (minor) green melon and present but fading acidity. This bottle is in decline, but I still enjoy it more than the 2016. — 5 years ago

Erin Joyce

9.2

What an interesting wine! The best of both worlds, 100% Italian grapes with a California style. Many thanks to @Yez Alayan for the tip on this maker. Tart cranberry with a touch of minerality. I could drink 100 of these bottles. — 5 years ago

with Sandra

Jordi Pazo

9.0

Monvínic. Club 50 Sep-18.
14.12.19 — 6 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Primarily Grenache (79%) with small amounts of Six other grapes. Aromas and flavors of strawberry, peach, melon, tropical fruits and dusty earth. There is also a hint of brioche and a very creamy texture (lees contact?). Touch of pepper spice on the finish. Bright acidity. Refreshing. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

About 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, aged about 8 months on 1/3 new oak with 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of ripe stone fruits with slight honey oak scents. On palate complex flavors of ripe apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, will age well. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 40% Corvinone, 30% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, remained indigenous grapes derived from 18-acre vineyard. Ruby with with aromas of dried fruits with floral and smoky spice notes. On the palate plum and sweet cherry flavors, savory, with citrus, tobacco & cacao. Soft tannins, chewy on long finish ending with a juicy fruit and oak character. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

After pressing dried grapes from making Amarone, Valpolicella wine is passed over the still warm skins of Amarone for 2nd alcoholic fermentation, increasing the alcoholic content, aromas and color. Blend of 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta. Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet dried berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, currants and sweet cherry with complex spice. Well balanced with acidity and alcohol, full-body with soft tannins on long finish. Nice value. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

BV grapes were first planted back in 1900, by founder Georges de Latour. A blend of mostly Cab Sauv with a bit of Petit Verdot. Outstanding! Deep Ruby with complex berry fruit aromas adding in toasty floral spice. On the palate big full flavors of blackberry, cherry and sweet plum flavors with licorice and cacao, adding some cedar notes. Soft velvet tannins, young, long finish, well integrated and nicely balanced, a joy to drink. Will Benefit from long aging. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

A blend of (changes each vintage) mostly Chard, with Sauv Blanc and Muscat, aged in 35% new French oak for 8 mos. Grapes sourced from some new AVA’s this year, Sonoma Coast, RRV, Santa Lucia Highlands & Atlas Peak AVA’s. Pale lemon with aromas of stone & citrus fruits with complex floral spice. The palate shows flavors of peach and apple with hints of sweet lemon, vanilla and wet stone. The wine is well balanced with integrated oak, crisp, lively acidity and a long finish ending with pepper & mineral. Nice! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Pretty sure I haven’t had a better bottle of Champange at $24.99 and even some higher.

The nose reveals; bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, soft honeycomb, oysters, sea spray, baguette crust, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies.

The entry is clean, fresh, rich and lively. Bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, golden apple, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, caramel, soft honeycomb, sea fossils & spray, baguette crust, nice white spice with some palate heat, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies. Crisp lively acidity. The finish is refreshingly delicious, well balanced, good, seamless, delineation, nice polish and persists with spice for several minutes on the long set.

Photos of; The House of Baron Fuentes, grapes at harvest, Proprietor Eric De Brisis and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 6 years ago