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. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Still detoxing from Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet.

The nose reveals; dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some plum & blue fruits, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals.

The body is on the fuller and richer side of Pinot. The wine is beautifully elegant across the palate. For a wine not coming from my best storage, this has held up nicely and showing far more complexity and integration than say a year ago. The structure & tension are still firm while the length and balance are approaching its high point. Dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some creamy black raspberries, mashed strawberries flesh, plum & blue fruits, raisins, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, dark, long lasting spices with some heat, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals. The acidity is quite nice with well balanced fruit & earth finish that is persistent for minutes.

Photos of; Hope & Grace’s Stag’s Leap Vineyard, a very old vine which, I would say is 60 plus years old, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks willing to still do the heavy lifting and one of my favorite paintings that used to be in the Hope & Grace tasting room but, now is in Charles house. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, dark fruit profile of; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, cherries, poached strawberries, dry dark florals, dark soils with light volcanic minerals. On the palate, M-M+ tannins, black raspberries, raspberries, black cherries, blackberries, cherries, poached strawberries, black licorice, sweet lifting spices, strong; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, blue fruits round out the longer finish, big chalkiness, some leather & volcanic minerals. The tannins soften & fruits lean on the longer finish with good round acidity. Photos of another vista outside Queenstown, long shot of the tasting room and outside garden grounds. — 8 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.2

Very good wine from CB. Nice balance to it, lots of flavor. Had it with a nice steak. Great pairing. — 9 years ago

B

10

1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia. Second set of reds we tried at house dinner w A&C BG and MR&GR. This wine we tried alongside the '01 Dalla Valle Maya. This wine is gorgeous, but much bigger and muscular than the Maya. We always love this wine. — 9 years ago

Heath Bradby

9.3

Very very tasty — 9 years ago

Kaitlin Ohlinger

9.0

Surprisingly, this did not speak to me the way a lot of '11's do, but still a great bottle. I wanted that vein of spice I get with 11 to be more veiny. — 10 years ago

Morgan Hall

9.5

A beautiful balance of fruit, spice, tannin.. True expression of the grape & place, rather than process (a non-carbonic Gamay) — 10 years ago

Kelly Reed

9.7

Definite favourite — 11 years ago

JKT

9.1

In Dublin hotel dinner brought by Hsing. Well made new world Aussie Shiraz with fruity well balanced nose of red fruits and cherry. Silky smooth texture for this style and long finish. — 6 years ago

Bill Wynne

9.2

My current FAVORITE table red. Fruity with adequate tannins and excellent finish. Pairs with everything from steaks to Italian. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

We were invited over to a house warming gathering for some friends and they graciously provided some Neapolitan pizzas. We brought three bottles of Ferrando Canavese. This stuff is just so delicious; so easy to enjoy and outrageous quality for the money. Tough to find so swoop it up when you see it. — 6 years ago

Kyna Love

9.0

Very bright and jammy out of the gate, and quite tart in a pleasant way. — 7 years ago

Scott Stewart

9.2

As good as his Pinot and Gamy is, the Chardonnay's coming off of Doug's vineyard in Ribbon Ridge are even better. — 8 years ago

Philip Faure

9.1

Lovely and creamy — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Delamotte is the sister house to Salon. The Delamotte generally gets the grapes that do not go into Salon. The 07 while tasty is a little simple. Nice green apple, lemon/lime zest, grapefruit, grapefruit pit, touch oily, citrus blossoms, nice minerality & acidity but missing the level of chalk you'd expect. Honey & butterscotch candy comes out as it sits in the glass awhile. — 9 years ago

Richard Lewis

9.4

Sometimes you don't want to analyze, and just enjoy. This was one of those moments. — 9 years ago

with Lynne

Jeff Smith/Vintner

9.4

Rumor has it that the cuttings of SH came from Inglenook, which ultimately came from DRC. Interesting theory. SH has always been an odd duck in Napa. Spring Mt Pinot, that is muscle and elegance in one package. So I'm going with it... Beautiful wine. Elegant and powerful at the same time. Loads of red currant, Asian 5 spice and rose oil. Pure aromas and fruit. Perfumed, exotic and texturally sleek. Minor alc on the finish, but I've tasted many hotter Burgs. What most new world Pinots wish to be! — 10 years ago

David Monaghan

8.9

Oak and spice and all things nice.... Bold and brilliant - inviting to the nose and dances like a ballerina on the front of the tongue — 10 years ago

with Baroness

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Quite delicious for its price point. I would say it slightly over delivers. Just misses 92.

Nice mousse, green apple, golden apple, lemon, lime zest, grapefruit, pineapple, guava, lychees, cream soda, bread dough, soft, moist chalkiness and powdery, soft chalkiness, jasmine, white spring flowers, nice acidity and a rich, polished and well balanced finish.

Good pair with our Brie and goats cheese.

Photos of; the House of Laurent Perrier, branded iron gates, their storage caves with bottles on A-frames and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 6 years ago

Eric W Brown

9.3

Delicious wine to watch a spring snow storm.
Lots of cherries. Very smooth — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Grabbed a bottle to close the Summer on Labor Day weekend. Blend of 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir this wine was rich and complex. Pale yellow, vibrant bubbles, Crisp fruit aromas, apples and pears. Palate shows generous mineral and toasty oak notes integrated with the fruit. Absolute a must on your list, a true house staple for me. Great Champagne value. Overall nice summer, a tad wet back east! — 7 years ago

Darren Clayson

9.1

My favourite house champagne at a tasting of 15. Good depth with yeasty notes — 7 years ago

Naomi Hendricks Scharkopf

9.1

One of my favorite Long Island wineries! — 8 years ago

Chris LoRusso

9.5

Very special Chardonnay from Spring Mountain with a perfect balance of Oak and acidity. — 9 years ago

Nathan Adams

Consulting Wine/Beverage Director, Snake River Brewing, Persephone, King Sudachi

8.9

Great value! — 9 years ago

with Claire

Pam Bushman

8.9

I consider this a more full bodied wine. Typically a Cab drinker but this Merlot was quite good. Strong plum and cranberry flavors with a bit of a peppery finish. Alcohol content seems high with half glass consumed! Surprised that I am enjoying this one as much as I am. — 9 years ago

Kimberly Donahoe

10

I absolutely love this fresh and citric wine. There are elements of pineapple or passion fruit with no hint of floral notes making it a delicious and crisp white wine. — 10 years ago

Jeff Taylor

8.9

Good, not too bright or acidic, mild minerality
— 11 years ago

Sanjuana Walters

Skurnik Wines Domestic Portfolio, Freelance Writer

8.9

Very bright and lively — 11 years ago

with Skurnik