KD

9.3

Light straw colour with notes of bread, lemon, pear, apricot and white flower on the nose. Lively and ample mousse with a bright acidity. On the palate, lemon, tart green apple, unripe pear, white peach with some chalk and wet stone minerality. Long finish with a lemon zing and brioche. Very enjoyable but still very young and will be awesome in another 5 years! — 5 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 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

One of the great White Pinot Noirs made in the world, I have been fascinated by this wine since it was first made more than a decade ago. The 2017 ‘Coeur Blanc’ opens with an enticing bouquet of cantaloupe, marzipan, white rose and shades of Pazzaz apple that all meld together nicely in the glass. The palate reveals a refined, silky texture and entices. Generous on the mouth, this white Pinot Noir unveils seriously good range from melon tones to green apple and shades of wild mushroom and wet stone. The bright sense of minerality and the generous texture really sing here. While outstanding now, this true heavyhitter of a wine will only become more silky and complex as it ages. Drink 2019-2033- 95 — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Fresh, light gold. Bright and vibrant in the glass. Even more vibrant in the nose. Exotic, notes of lemon peel, wet river stone, petrol, slate, apricot and spice. Great rich fruit matches some impactful acidity. Long finish. This is great juice, still young, and has some more to give down the road. — 8 years ago

Nancy Bernstein

9.0

Love this — 10 years ago

Greg Koslosky

9.8

Epic with fresh white flowers wet stones stone fruits gives way to terrific freshness and intensity. In the mouth lemon and saline dominate with loads of dry extract and a whip lash of a finish with some toffee notes lingering saline lemon and touch of honey . A great wine ! — 10 years ago

Patrick Herrington

9.2

Floral nose, crisp with long stone fruit like finish
Very nice! — 11 years ago

Greg Stobbe

9.4

The pale pink salmon color of this Vin Gris is a delight. The crisp stone fruit, pear and citrus is crisp and perfect with summer salads. This is a top shelf Rosé. — 12 years ago

Donald Williams

9.5

The other half of the two day mini vertical. Just as good as the first. — 5 years ago

with Bonnie

carl thornblade

9.2

Love the aromatics. Great wine. The top of the cork crumbled but the rest of the cork held ok and there was nothing wrong with the wine. Bought it at the winery tasting room in April 2021. — 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! — 6 years ago

Ericsson

9.1

Greenish goldish on the eye. On the nose it is sweet, honey like, with scents of orange blossom and stone fruits. On the pallet, it is heavy; starts off with a burst of freshness, followed by citrus acidity, and a sweet vanilla-like medium finish. Bold and intriguing with sweet intentions. After a several hours of airtime however, the sweet intentions are converted on to fresh lusty vives... — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon in colour. Stone fruits on nose and palate. The big peaches and cream style. A typical delicious Leeuwin Art Series palate of profound intensity with Oak playing a supporting role to the abundant ripe fruits. Medium minus acid. A big generous Art Series Chardonnay which went well with fresh prawns. I think I would need to drink the remaining 3 in the next 18 months. Had another bottle with friends for lunch 9 weeks later on 16th November. All agreed this was the white wine of the day marginally from the 1998 Lovedale. — 7 years ago

Alexander Connell

9.3

The color is a rustic tan or light orange with clear edges. The nose has a almost aprocot quality to it with loads of orange rind and citric acid minus the sharpness and a distinct green grape core. The mouth feel is thicker just as a dry red would be. Tannins and all. On the palate there is notes of grape skin, peach, and a bit of cherry. Long dry finish. Leaves you thirsty for another sip. — 7 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

Distinct flavors. Dark black cherry. Chocolate and tobacco. Smell and taste the terroir. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Straw gold color. Caressing aromatic nose of lemon curd, river stone, spices and a little apricot. Really good balance of structure, fruit and acidity in the mouth. Lasting finish. Textbook white burg. — 9 years ago

Martin A. Cody

9.3

Vivid ruby red in the glass (think Dorothy's slippers) and opulent. Young, bright fruit, this wine is splendid and energetic. A touch of heat which could be the 14.7 alc, but I also didn't chill appropriately. Great balance, purity and finish, nice soft spice and hint of cigar box. I love that it's sub 1k cases, lovely wine. It would seem new GM at Cornerstone has taken over in superb fashion. — 10 years ago

Mark Calkin

9.1

Pronounced Alsace Riesling with 8 years bottle aging. Powerful petrol nose and some developing honeyed notes. Lots of stone fruit and citrus flavour still. High acidity and medium (+) body. A long finish revealing a lot of grapefruit on the palate. #wsetschool — 11 years ago

Amy Morgan

9.1

A medium + intensity of Black fruits (black cherry, black currants) dark chocolate, mint, tobacco and cedar. Nose and palate matching in flavor profile and complexity. Still tight and will just get better with age. — 12 years ago

Lee Lightfoot

9.4

Phenomenal balance Syrah character dominates, lush perfume and rich dark fruit. Crushed after a 30 min decant, could have used a lil more development time but too delicious to complain about how it was consumed — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon with aromas of stone and tropical fruits. Made from 40-year old vines, aged in 100% stainless steel. On the palate flavors of bright lemon citrus with crisp apple and peach notes. This medium-body wine has crisp acidity, good balance and nice mouthfeel, smooth long finish ending with creamy mineral texture. Very Nice! — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Popped and poured, and brought out to compare to the 2008. Similar color and brightness as the 2008, which is a good sign. Deeper and slightly more complex nose. Notes of citrus, sea breeze, some hazelnuts, some wet stone. In the mouth it has a bit more weight, and kind of an oiliness to it. Taste lingers for a while. Very nice and sad to later discover this was the last of a 6 pack I had - all of which were in good shape. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Yellow gold. Good weight. Fruit forward nose. Lemon curd, apricot, white clay, cardamom and powdered stone. Rich and fat. Has the stuffing for many years of future enjoyment. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the opening salvo and a very good one at that. Perfumed, lush, velvety fruit with lovely structure. Hugely quaffable and already drinking very well with a short decant but I think this is pretty characteristic of the 2014 vintage. — 7 years ago

Michael Schamis

9.2

I feel that this is probably the best Pinot Noir producer out of the finger lakes although the competition is finally a good one. The nose has a wonderful aroma of currant a plum with undertones of spice including nutmeg and mulling spices. The palate is gorgeously light and elegant but still somewhat juicy at the same time. Flavors of plum, sour cherry and baking spice along with wonderfully balance acidity. The finish is soft and elegant with juicy fruit notes of lingering acidity. Wow... a great pairing for roasted pork. — 8 years ago

with Kati

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

My last 2011 bottle. The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the heart of the Chianti zone, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. Crognolo, aged in French Allier barriques, deep red with red fruit aromas and sweet perfumed spice. On the palate raspberry and cherry flavors, gentle spice and soft tannins with great mouthfeel. Good balance, lingering finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Aged well. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Went out to dinner and saw this on the wine list and was hard to look elsewhere. In southern Burgundy, at the northern border of Beaujolais, lies the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation. Pale straw with nice gold edges and aromas of citrus and stone fruits with a slight nutty character. On the palate grapefruit and peach flavors with lemon zest notes, showing subtle oak tones. The finish has lively acidity and ends with a touch of minerality. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Mature cool climate Chardonnay. Penfolds Whites are starting to gain the reputation of their illustrious Red offering. After 6 years funk is replacing the Flint of a few years ago. Nice stone fruit notes and long. Enjoyable. — 10 years ago

Kevin Sidders

President VinConnect

8.9

Still a lovely bottle of wine, but strikes as having lost some intensity. Still this is all about the stone fruits, with a creamy richness. Nice, but drink up now... — 11 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.6

Just an amazing expression of Terroir, totally naked and brilliantly balanced, including dusty tannins and dito minerality, Syrah spice and a meat stock infused finish. Note to Self - Clos Saron rules! — 12 years ago