Michael

9.0

electric greatest hits of Alsace cofermentation that just keeps opening — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Deep Ruby, evolves with spectrum of aromas, berry fruit, dried herb, complex spice, notes of cocoa dust. Blend: CabSauv/Franc/Merlot/Malbec/PetVerdot. Palate, ripe blackcherry/blackberry flavors, rich tones, subtle oak, espresso/black pepper. Graceful/elegant, displays super fine “dusty” tannins, perfectly balanced, pleasing length, complex ending with fruit/mineral edge. Ultra-premium fruit, world class hand-crafting, limited production exceptional wine. Wonderful now, get better with age. Tasting Sample! — 4 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.3

This wine is dark and savory. The black fruit comes along with cedar, vanilla and a chalky earth tone. Nothing like Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, but more in line with Paso Robles. Lots of South American minerals having a bit of roughhouse here. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 6 years ago

Landon Emory

9.8

This ultra superb '95 Ridge Montebello puts just about every older vintage Napa cabernet to shame with highly complex aromas and flavors of blackberry , fig , scorched earth, violets , cedar and nutmeg on the nose... followed by a perplexing array of red and dark berry, cinnamon, and lavender tea flavors on the palate. This delivered that Wow factor you would expect from a World Class iconic wine. Better than the 2000 and 2003 Montebellos. Its true they say to wait 20-25 years to pop open one of these in most years. Just remember to use a prong style opener rather than a corkscrew on a vintage wine to avoid the cork crumbling into your bottle. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Opened my last ‘05 about 6 months ago, had an opportunity to get another, couldn’t resist. Deep Ruby with concentrated ripe black fruits and floral spice aromas. On the palate rich blackberry, plum and tart raspberry, complex, good acidity, balance and depth with ultra-smooth tannins. The finish ended with an earthy and oaky character, very smooth, lingering. Wine is at its peak, find a bottle, get the corkscrew! You will not be disappointed. Enjoy! — 8 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.2

Dark cherry and spice nose. More dark cherry on the palate with cola, plum, cooked strawberry, cinnamon, clove, oak, with a hint of cocoa. Medium plus alcohol, medium minus tannins, and high alcohol. — 4 years ago

with Susan

Aravind A

8.9

Pop and pour. A bit strange initially, with a disjointed sweetness and bitternesss, but that resolved quickly. Notes from 30 min open. Yes, this needs air. On the nose: ginger, lemon, cranberry, apple pie with a touch of vanilla cream. On the palate: bitter at first, like chalk, grapefruit and cranberry, soft mousse, but grapefruit becomes dominant. Short on the finish, but good acid and density. — 5 years ago

Michelle Connely

9.2

Consumed 05/2020. It is 100% Pinot Noir. I did not know that was the grapes used to make this. Blanc de Noir translates to white wine from black grapes. Elegant, complex, round and toasty. It’s very refreshing. — 6 years ago

Fredybeans

9.7

Robe pourpre
Nez très légèrement réduction qui part très vite puis fruit noire olive encens et graphite
Bouche ultra fraîche et délicate je m attendais à un monstre milieu de bouche et finale délicate longue sur des tanins précis avec du zan et du graphite👍👍👍 — 7 years ago

Kayla Bano

8.9

Had 2 bottles with a good friend ;) — 7 years ago

Jen & Will

10

This was the 1999 Barton Family Reserve zin. Not the big bad wolf. Couldn’t find this in the DB. Amazed it held up. Very soft for a zin, closer to a Pinot, plum, cloves, earth, apricot. — 7 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.0

Another bargain for those seeking ripely fruited wines. Blueberry, plum, violets, tobacco, dried meat and old oak. Medium acid, medium plus gummy tannin. — 8 years ago

Sean Lyons

9.5

I hate to say it, but this stuff really is a higher class of vodka. No off, medicinal notes. No cloying artificial sweetness. It just tastes like the cleanest, purest spring water was made magically alcoholic. — 4 years ago

Gor

9.6

Deep gold to amber color. Beautiful clearly defined nose of green apple, hint of almond powder marzipan and buttered toast. Medium body with high acidity. Leads to an ultra long finish with mouthwatering fresh acidity. Really awesome stuff. Out of Magnum. — 5 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.1

This Chilean Pinot Noir offers a nose that is heavy with cola, black tea and coffee grounds. The savory aromas actually outweigh the fruit. It is a medium-weight wine, not very deeply tinted, and it rides light on the palate. The acidity is brisk and the tannins firm. This is not a Burgundian take on the grape, for certain. It is more playful than elegant, more rustic than beautiful.
— 6 years ago

Greg Gratson

9.3

$17 from Berkeley wine. Liked it. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I like to thank @Severn Goodwin for his kindness & generosity for sending this beautiful bottle of Champagne.

We shared this with friends and paired this with apple walnut vinaigrette salad last night. Complimented the salad nicely. It was a nice yin and yang balanced tug of war of food & wine.

The body is beautiful in the mouth with nice acidity. Bruised apple & pear, some apple cider, pineapple juice, lime zest & candy, white peach, easy, soft chalkiness, soft, fine, grey volcanic minerals, sea spray, brioche with spring flowers and yellow lilies. Finishes softly, elegant, nicely balanced and persists nicely.

Photos of; the house of Caillez Lemaire, bottles waiting to sold, Current 18th century family Owners - Virginie and Laurent Van Poperinghe and one of their vineyards. — 7 years ago

Ichiro Kawachi

9.7

@Lisa’s. 2007 vintage. Earl Grey tea / silky tannins, leather, muted spices — 7 years ago

David Singer

Sommelier/Wine Educator LibationEducation

8.9

Well named. Hard pressed to not think this was a modern style St Joseph. Ripe fruit, opens up to more tertiary notes and herbs. Well crafted. — 8 years ago