Vanessa

8.9

This wine is chock full of juicy, ripe blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red plum, and strawberry notes, violet, leather, and soft tannins.

Winemaker Maxime Graillot is the son of the revered Northern Rhône winemaker — Alain Graillot — who passed away in March of this year. Surely his father left an indelible imprint on Maxime’s winemaking, and his commitment to quality, which he will carry forward.

This style of Syrah reflects youth, innovation, and a personality of its own that is so approachable, textural, and delicious; it would make a great choice for any holiday gathering. A crowd pleaser.

We chose this wine to pair with roasted chicken and it’s lovely.
— 3 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.0

Châteaux Pradeaux is located in Bandol AOC, of Provence, France, near the magnificent coastal town of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer, situated on the Mediterranean Sea. I imagine there are breathtaking views of the azure waters from the vineyards and estate of Château Pradeaux. 🌊

Generations of the Portalis family have produced wines from this estate dating back to 1752. The land has seen devastation such as the French Revolution, Phylloxera, and World War II, and yet today it remains strong, carrying forward the family traditions, thanks to the fortitude, will, and courage of the Portalis family. 💪

👁 It is medium ruby with garnet rim variation. It has a subtle haze, perhaps because this wine was not fined nor filtered.

👃 On the nose this wine has a baked, black fruit quality, with notes of blackberry, plum, and black cherry 🍒 ; also notes of dried lavender, anise, clove, cedar, nutmeg, tobacco, leather, peat moss, meat, and barnyard.

👄 On the palate, this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a medium(+) body, medium alcohol, high tannins, and medium(+) intensity in flavors that are consistent with the nose.

The grapes were not destemmed in the winemaking process, which has undoubtedly contributed to the strong and grippy tannins experienced in the glass. This wine benefits from decanting and could also benefit from more time in the bottle. 👍

In sum, this wine tells a story of commitment, perseverance, and respect for the land from which it’s cultivated. It’s made with minimal intervention and has 95% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache. 📚

Château Pradeaux, Bandol Rouge, 2014, ABV 13%. — 5 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.1

Surprising win coming out ahead of meursault Genevrieres and Sta Rita hills Chardonnay. Lowest cost bottle on the table. Richness, mineral, very terroir driven and pure and energetic. Commitment to terroir at Domaine Jadot is alive and well!!! — 5 years ago

J. Kim

8.9

Ethereal, authentic and authoritative. Shows commitment and completeness. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Dense purple, highly extracted pigment. Cherry, mixed berry and sage notes in nose on initial pour. Blueberry, cherry flavors, light fine-grained skin astringency in finish, nice length of fruit. Interesting tannin structure, heavy in skin contact, light on seeds. Tannins build in intensity with time, aeration. The Castoro style for reds is tannin-heavy, not to everybody’s taste, but I’ve always admired their commitment to a style that’s gone somewhat out of fashion elsewhere. To my thinking, it enhances even the much maligned Merlot varietal (Sideways, anyone?) No one wants to age wines like this anymore, it seems. I wonder if wines like this even need further aging. Decant, aerate, enjoy, tannins and all... Three hours should do it. — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

The subtle, sneaky concentration of this wine will surprise you. Pretty and delicate in the glass, very transparent garnet with pink hues at the rim. Aromatically it is graceful and expressive. Cherry kirsch, raspberry, pomegranate, orange rind and spiced tea flavors- also showing hints of underbrush and fennel. Surprisingly lush and sappy on the mid palate despite being so silky overall. First impression is like a feather on the palate, but it shows very convincing grip and dimension. Vacheron shows such deft restraint with their Pinot Noirs- opting for subtlety and choosing in favor of neutral barrique to support the delicate structure. I appreciate their commitment to this style, allowing a black skinned varietal to be the pure and unique transmitter of place and soil- not simply a pastiche of Burgundy. Their reds do not display the power and opulence of some others from the region, yet they can easily be mistaken for ethereal red Burgundy in a good vintage. This very well could have come from Volnay or even Chambolle. I opted not to decant, instead watching it unwind slowly over the next couple of nights. This is indeed a great cellaring wine so I’ll be in search of at least one more bottle which is a steal at less than $35. Good luck finding village Volnay with that price tag! — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

An intense, vibrant, dark and spicy interpretation of Sangiovese that worked utterly perfectly with a rich roast. Captivating in its complexity, this wine was a hit at home. I also like that Poggio Scalette is tiny and family run. One can taste their commitment to this wine. — 8 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.4

Who doesn’t love that feeling when you point to a wine on the list and the sommelier’s eyes light up and they make an involuntary “ooh” of excitement. This bottle was spectacular tonight and so incredibly youthful for its 15 years. Still showing greenish gold in color and positively vibrating with stony minerality underneath Asian pear and honeysuckle, mandarin orange and star fruit flavors. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, there’s no better bang for the buck in the wine world than aged Riesling. @weingut_hexamer FTW! — 4 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Floral because it’s Fleurie? Maybe not but I’ll never stop commenting on how much I love that Cru Beaujolais sounds like it tastes. Violets just throw themselves at you like a bridal bouquet (don’t know if violets are traditional to a bouquet but if I ever have one maybe they will be) and anyway even if you are a commitment-phobe like me you’re gonna catch this wine. There may be rose or so and some plums and then just this wine wants to flow through your veins with happiness and if happiness flowing through your veins is something a relationship could bring then I am at least giving this a second date. — 4 years ago

Paul H

9.3

This is one of the rare things that brings pure joy to me. So many wonderful memories have been made with my drinking companions while savoring this wine. Thanks to the everyone at Gundlach Bundschu for their commitment to excellence. — 5 years ago

J. Kim

9.2

Super Nebbiolo. As delicious as any 2016 Barolo’s and no further analysis needed. The material here is stronger than most other’s Barolo cru’s. There is a sense of commitment, seriousness and properness that is uncommon. — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.0

Ripe plums, both dark & red across the nose & palate. More about fruit than oak or spice. Mild tannins, but plenty of bright acidic structure. Declassified Andrew Will juice. — 6 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Okay now this is what I want quality for price also just all over. Well in a Chenin pyramid I’d put it way over the last Savennières I reviewed but think I’ve had better but DAMN I’d Choose it. With a capital C so that’s commitment from a writer. Not the most complex but just pleasant acid, fruit and pebbles without being Fruity Pebbles I think? Haven’t had that in a minute. But even if simple it is balanced. It’s like dating someone someone who isn’t deep but is...sane? Versus the one that tries your wits but fascinates. This wine is not yet my boyfriend but I don’t regret a single date with it. — 7 years ago

Andrew Willingham

9.2

What a wonderful wine! Light straw on the eye, medium+ viscosity. Nose sees tons of white and red flowers, white stone fruits. Palette sees buttery golden fruit, medium+ acid, medium+ alcohol, heavy mouthfeel, long finish of medium+ complexity. A treat to enjoy- love the commitment to bottle single “blending” varietal grown in Napa. — 8 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to the wines of South Africa 🇿🇦

This Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is unique in that the grapes used to produce it primarily came, not from Hamilton Russell vineyards, but rather from neighboring vignerons.

Hamilton Russell made this unprecedented decision in the aftermath of devastating wild fires that imparted smoke taint to its estate-grown grapes. Unwilling to compromise on quality, I applaud Hamilton Russell for its tenacity and willingness to forge ahead to create this delicious Pinot Noir for its customers. 👏👏👏

This wine is comprised of fruit hailing from three different Hemel-en-Aarde (aptly meaning “heaven and earth”) Wards within the Walker Bay District, in the Cape South Coast Region of South Africa’s Western Cape.

This wine is a reflection of community, camaraderie, and commitment to excellence.❤️

👁 It is medium ruby with pale fuchsia rim variation.

👃 On the nose this wine has a medium(+) intensity of youthful aromas. The aromas include candied cherry, strawberry rhubarb preserves, violet, dried orange peel, white pepper, star anise, clove, and nutmeg.

👄 On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium(+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins, and medium intensity of flavors consistent with the nose. This wine has a medium finish.

Hamilton Russell, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, ABV 13.5%. Vintage 2019. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.0

Here’s to all of the strong, brave, inspiring women from all ends and angles of the industry. 🥂🥂 You contribute to and enrich the world of wine.

We’re celebrating International Women’s Day with a beautiful bottle of rosé bubbles from @domainecarneros, where Eileen Crane, a pioneer, innovator, and intrepid leader, spent 33 years as CEO and head winemaker, having just retired last year.

Thank you, Eileen Crane, for your example of strength, ingenuity, humanity, and commitment to your craft. I’m excited for the deliciousness that lies ahead with incoming CEO Remi Cohen and her team. We’re looking forward to visiting the Domaine Carneros Château next month. 😆

Domaine Carneros by Taittinger, Cuvée de la Pompadour, Brut Rosé, Methode Traditionnelle. 12% ABV. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Eric Sussman first heard the expression radio coteau from a friend while working in Burgundy. Name reflects a commitment to capturing reflections of soil, seasons, people and place. In 2002, Eric established Radio-Coteau. Ruby with fresh fruit aromas with earthy spice scents. On the palate cherry flavors with spicy tea leaf notes, zesty in style. Fine tannins, great mouthfeel texture, lingering ending with and earthy character which you can almost taste the soil. Nice! Something special. — 5 years ago

Clarke Gasper

9.1

Bought this to use in a cooking recipe because I'm a big fan of Château de Beaucastel and was amazed at the quality for an entry level offering. Notes of fresh blackberries, raspberries, and cranberries mixed in with floral tones on the nose and a touch of clove on the palate. Juicy and fresh this is the true definition of a value red! Bravo to the Perrin family for their commitment to quality. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Family-owned and operated since 1985, from a small, 30-acre plot of grapes to the present 20 estate vineyards, Don and Rhonda Carano's success is based on their commitment to quality. Tried this about a test ago, consistent notes. Dark fruit aromas with cedar and spice notes. On the palate, Blueberry and Plum flavors, a bit jammy, with espresso and cacao tones. Medium body, soft tannins, nice balance on lingering finish. Great value! — 7 years ago

Patrick Mauro

9.2

Like a good raw oyster or a long, long walk on the seashore, this wine is a commitment — and it’s so goddamn worth the investment. Chock full of minerals, iron, and dark berry flavors, this wine is soil, peat, and a low, dirty blackberry. It’s delicious with steak, complicated on its own, and very, very adult. — 7 years ago