S

9.3

Wow. Smooth. Paris Louvre — 7 months ago

Graham

9.3

Really drinking well now. — 2 years ago

Robert Torretti

9.1

Had two bottles on Thursday, August 5th. The party had a different dishes including lamb chops, ribeye steak and one had soft shell crabs. Solid wine with some remaining fruit (but in 3-5 years the fruit may have passed), and good amounts of tobacco, cedar and leather. The first bottle was a little green bell pepper, as you would expect with some under ripe cab franc. The second bottle was better integrated, but had fewer fans at the table. — 4 years ago

with James

Randall Brater

9.0

Coffee, vanilla, plums, raisins on the nose. Light to medium fruit with hints of coffee, caramel, toasted oak, and a hint of tannins. This has a nice balance of fruit, spice and tannins, but is a little light for my taste. This bottle is quite enjoyable, but Hartford has others that are better. — 4 years ago

Bret Anderson

9.9

Dry, complex, dynamic food pairing — 5 years ago

Tom Wildenhaus

9.1

Really enjoyed this medium plus acid Pinot noir with mossy under tones and a bit of spice box kinda thing. It is young but enjoyable after about 30 mins. I should buy more. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A full-body Pinot! Deep Ruby with berry aromas, floral and garden spice. On the palate ripe strawberry and dried cherry fruit with vanilla spice and cedar notes. The wine is well structured, silky smooth tannins, balanced acidity carry the wine to a lingering spicy finish. Very Nice! — 6 years ago

Peter Coulthard

9.2

A surprisingly great red - as others have said. A very drinkable wine, but of smokiness to it, bold and quite red fruity. — 7 years ago

B

10

Magnum 2001 Dominus Estate. D fam dinner at Tap. Spectacular and loved by all. The super green veg notes had mellowed and rounded out. Nice balance of earth, soil, and dark, sour fruit, tho to a much smaller degree. Such a great treat. — 9 years ago

Rob Guimaraes

9.2

About as close to Condrieu as I've seen Cali get. Lots of gardenias and tropicals mixed with a classic peachiness and solid structure. — 9 years ago

with melissa

Ben Lehman

9.2

I have a confession to make...I don't always love broc's wines, but I love this! — 10 years ago

Mvon Higgins

9.1

Crisp. Passion Fruit. Honeydew. Grapefruit. White peach. Vanilla. Rose/floral. Green grass. Acidic freshness. Great sipper and super value. Fish tacos best friend. — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 9 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Magnum that was fresh showing the classic LB style with red & black fruits, currant, cedar, leather, forest floor, dried herbs & tobacco. — 4 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.0

Tarragon, cherry smell, magenta, acid, sorrel, grass, cranberry, cherry — 4 years ago

Pooneet K

8.9

Excellent value and nearly everything you want in an entry level Oregon Pinot noir. A bit darker and more robust than I expected, and at 13.7% labeled abv. But quite balanced with darker red berries, some spice / chocolate notes, and slightly noticeable tannins. Lacking just a bit of acid on the finish for the freshness I’d love. — 5 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2017 cherries, full bodied — 5 years ago

Nicky Sampogna

9.5

F u g a z i — 6 years ago

Colleen Wherthey Dunn

9.2

2014 vintage. Surprisingly well balanced for such an inexpensive wine. Fairly tannic with luscious dark berry/cherry notes and quite a bit of spice. Long and lovely finish. Good value red blend. — 7 years ago

Murat Rakhimzhan

9.0

Very fresh wine with aromas of green pepper, passion fruit, lychee, and grass.
In taste fresh, limes, passion fruit, grass green pepper — 8 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.4

This bottle was in a great, great place--lots of expressive floral notes like iris and violet, still plenty of blueberry, blackberry, and cherry fruit, refreshing green notes like fresh cut herbs, green bell pepper, and pencil shavings. Aromatic, and integrated, this has richness but also a Loire-like restraint. Like a swing and a hit right from the sweet spot. — 9 years ago

Adam DeFiglio

9.0

Straw yellow
Med - body
Candied lime, green apple skin, plastic aromas
Meyer lemon, green apple skin, slightly grassy flavors
Med + acid
Crisp finish — 10 years ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Maybe a wee bit past prime, but truly wonderful. — 10 months ago

with Bonnie

Jason Gelman

9.0

heavy pencil shavings and cigar smoke on the nose. black olive and green bell pepper too. color is definitely what you’d expect in a 20 year old wine. palate is consistent with nose, very bordeaux-lite. heavy cigar box. a lot of olive and herb tapenade character. some black pepper on the finish too. very savory overall. — 2 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.8

I love trying and exploring wines, but then I open this and wonder why I just don’t drink this forever. So fresh, so pretty, good acidity, tannin, and fruit, all of it balanced. Year after year this is my favorite broc wine. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 4 years ago

John J

9.0

Good stuff. - ripe fruit nose with green olive. Dense and smoky on the palate, less fruit than smoke but really tasty. Aerated first glass. Will reserve for tomorrow and see how Day 2-3 turn out. — 7 years ago

Jessie

9.1

Super smooth and mellow, great mouthfeel and a nice finish. Juicy. — 9 years ago

Nate Redner

9.5

Crushable. Great summertime wine. — 9 years ago

with Michael

Lewis Chester

9.4

Monkey 47 Dry Distiller Gin. Slightly hazy, water white, colourless. Pronounced intensity of perfume, juniper, lingonberry, violets, lavender, orange and grapefruit zest. With water added, more perfume and citrus notes to the fore. Dry on the palate. Warming alcohol, medium body, pronounced flavour intensity. Long finish. Very complex. Outstanding example of a premium gin. — 9 years ago