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

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Family-owned and operated since 1985. Found a ‘16 vintage in my cellar. Grapes sourced from several vineyards, complex aromas of fruits, citrus & sweet spice. On the palate ripe fruits, apple, pear and peach with lemon citrus and vanilla adding toasty oak. French oak aging, great balance, lingering ending with toasty oak finish. I continue to have this wine as a staple in my cellar for a number of years. Enjoy! Great value, compared to Chards costing more! — 6 years ago

DAL 9000

9.0

Big plum aroma with a quick flash of tannic dryness. Then a very long dry dry dry finish — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2015 Tempier Rosé is drinking marvelously after a few years. The grapes used to make this rosé come from selected parcels where the vines are on average 20-years-old. This wine immediately awakens to aromas of rose water, lemon zest, smoke and ripe guava that are simply sensational. The palate unveils a wonderful concentration and a gorgeous, soft texture. Guava purée and red cherry candy flavors connect with suggestions of blood orange toward the back end. Truly delightful to savor now, this beautiful Rosé will continue to evolve in the cellar over the next decade. Drink 2019-2028- 92 — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Earthy, herbaceous aromas of Brown, river mud and clay, cattails, plantain, fungus and peach, with matchsticks and ripe grapefruit. Medium-creamy texture sharpens into bright lemon citrus and Granny Smith morphing into crabapples. Green table grapes, sage, peppercorn, grapefruit and orchid textures shoot to clean river and trout bones. Racy, with twists and turns, a real ride down the rapids #chardonnay #chard #espino #chile #williamfèvre #mountainwine #maipoandes #maipo #SanJuandePirque #pirque — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Made with Oseleta grapes which give the wine a unique character and complementing the Veronese grapes. Deep red with aromas of dark Berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate, this full body wine shows ripe jammy Berry fruits, a touch of and cacao with sweet vanilla spice. Fine smooth tannins, generous oak and well balanced. You can taste the dried grapes (dried for 2 months) on the long lingering finish. A great value. Tasting Sample. — 8 years ago

Steven Jones

8.9

Can not get enough of this wine, slowly becoming the new house white at the house. Mineral notes with a subtle soft lime citrusy notes on the finish. Bright in the glass. Had the pleasure to taste directly from the concert egg fermentation tank. — 9 years ago

Lady Bananna

9.9

My favorite! — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.3

A terrific example of an older vintage of Realm, I think this might be the first year they sourced grapes from the Dr Crane vineyard. Classic Napa cab with aromas of blackberry, cassis, hints of leather, and an undercurrant of vanilla still prevalent from the barrel ageing. Initially the wine exhibited firm tannins on the palate, but after an hour they soften up considerably...and after another 30 min they had really fallen away. The wine stayed in balance and is drinking well, but I suspect this is starting on the downslope. If you have any in your cellar, I'd suggest opening them up within the next couple of years. Terrific wine from Juan and his team at Realm! — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

zekun shuai

9.1

A heavy blend of heavy grapes. Deep crimson and dense. Open and lively Bordeaux with black fruit, cassis and pencil lead, leather as well as new-oak-brought vanilla and dark chocolate. Full bodied and medium+acidity, high alcohol at 15.5!( Though tasted like around 14.5) Finishes long, the alcohol weaken the length though. Perfect time to enjoy now or age it another 2-3 years. 89-90 points. Tasted in Beijing, 12.1 — 11 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

Severn Goodwin

8.9

A few months since our last bottle, notes are still consistent:
95% Sauvignon Blanc & 5% Semillon; Entre-Deux-Mers AOC
Nose of freshly washed sweet, green grapes, lemon grass and green melon.
Palate is crisp, citrus biased, lightly tart not sweet, lime squeezed on granite, medium finish.
$13, QPR is just a crazy value play! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

No detailed notes as we were at dinner with friends. Three Somm’s present for dinner and all thought this was wine of the night. I was one of them.

I believe their 15 is even better than their fantastic 2010.

If you are not familiar with this producer & terroir, I highly recommend you do. It remains under most consumers radar. I should probably stay silent on it as it will only drive up demand and price. But, good wine is meant to be shared with people who know how to appreciate it. This is around $55 on pre-arrival and $70ish if not bought on pre-arrival.

Olivier Lamy left the family Domaine to learn from other producers before returning to his family Domaine. He made Méo-Camuzet for few years just before his return.

The body was thick and slightly waxy. Nice green apple, pineapple, lime, honeysuckle, fruit blossoms with excellent round acidity, texture, elegant and well polished finish.

Recommend you slightly over chill it and decant it for an hour if you drink it this young. After it hour, it really blossoms.

Photos of, the Domaine property, Saint-Aubin Vineyard, amazing Saint-Aubin Chardonnay grapes and Domaine building sign — 6 years ago

Steve Martinelli

8.9

Plenty of tropical fruit, white flowers and wet rock. Outside of Nosciolo, i have not had any of the grapes. 25% Nosciolo, Vernazza, Veltliner Rosato and Wanderbara. Interesting and tasty blend! — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Grabbed a bottle I had in my cellar. Nice blend of 4 grapes from the Bierzo Valley. Deep red color with Lighter edges with tons of Berry fruit on the nose adding some sweet floral spice. The smooth soft palate shows cherries, raspberries, and blueberries with a mineral tang. Well balanced with integrated dusty tannins, lively acidity and a smokey dry finish that lingers nicely, excellent structure. Tremendous value. — 8 years ago

TheSkip

8.9

Winner of the most obnoxious wax job this year. And to boot, adding a pull tab?

I was expecting better things from this wine. To me, it wasn't appreciably different from Meomi. If I had paid the same as Meomi, I'd be singing a different tune. But the #QPR is poor here.

You can tell a mile away that this is a Wagner family wine. There is the over extraction and sweet vanilla oak that dominates. I really thought with Pinot Noir things would be different. Now I'm thinking that they really only know how to make one style of wine and bending the grapes to fit the style. That, or they're just adding the Mega Purple to everything. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Found another 2009, 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Ovello Cru, a premiere site. Ruby with red Berry fruit, floral and flint aromas. On the palate, cherry, raspberry and ripe strawberry flavors with a touch of earthy floral tastes. Tannins are muted, balanced with acidity, well structured. Drinking great now, should last a few more years but why wait on this beauty? — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Third time trying this wine, opened the day before. From my father’s cellar. Something very interesting that I found out about this estate is that they air dry 30% of the grapes before they begin the fermentation process. The color is dark opaque garnet red with the brownish edges. Within the nose there are a lot of sweet berries or prunes. As it opened up more some brown sugar and hard candy came with the nose. The palate was very interesting, because of how sweet the nose smelt compared to the palate. The mouthfeel started off very sweet and light then changed to full and lingering finish. A little fur dancing across the tongue drying out my mouth. Soft/light start across the tongue and then spikes mid to end of the tongue. Not yet at the end of its life, probably has about two or so years left in it. Very interesting varietal that I need to get more experience with. Great QPR, especially for an Italian wine and only for $19. — 10 years ago

with Sean

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. — 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. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Impressive wine for $20! Grapes sourced from Oregon Valleys of Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue. Cool climates enable a longer growing season, giving an intense structure. Deep Ruby with loads of Berry fruit flavors & sweet spice. Ripe fruit, cranberry and cherry, with cinnamon spice, consistent quality. On the finish, vibrant acidity, great balance and a touch of earthiness with subtle tannins. Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.0

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Foley Family of Wines. Bing cherry and raspberry and oak — 7 years ago

Joe Fusaro

9.0

Almost a sauv blanc. Apple and a bit tart. — 7 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.0

South African blend of mostly Rhône grapes. Similar nose to fuller Southern Rhône blend, perhaps Vacqueyras. Notes of blackberry, violet, black pepper, cocoa nibs. Dry, medium to full body on the palate. — 8 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.0

Changed the fruit line up this vintage. No longer Zin and Syrah based. More cab, malbec, and lower percentages of many other red grapes. Stronger Bordeaux style. Dryer, pummeling tannins. Terrific and needs a good decanting. — 8 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.6

A little young, but such purity of fruit, great balance. — 9 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. This time, a wonderful Chilean Cabernet.

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, earth, spices, peppercorn, leather, bell pepper, sage, peppermint, eucalyptus and smoke.

Full bodied with medium acidity and beautiful long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cherries, figs, cloves, herbs, earth, cola, vanilla, oak, spices, light vegetables, coffee, chocolates, bell pepper, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins and black pepper.

An elegant, Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, with lots of complexity and fitness, but not fully balanced yet.

Still young now, but very enjoyable by itself, and better with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a cheese platter, crackers and nice company.

Grapes are grown at the foot hills of the Andes Mountains, on stony soils. 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

Maria Isabella Rebecca

9.4

Sangiovese, Colorino, Mammolo and Foglia Tonda grapes. Aromas of red fruit, ripe cherries, red roses bouquet, black pepper and cocoa. Natural wine. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

This is a blend of garganega and Trebbiano they dry some of the grapes for this wine. Very good with a bit of bottle age. A very rich. — 12 years ago