Erik Longabardi

9.2

Jasmine flowers. So pretty. Wow. The nose is unbelievable — 5 years ago

Matt

9.5

Maestro of St Péray! Complexity, length, energy and precision, things most don’t associate w/ Marsanne and Roussane. Ripe and baked yellow orchard fruits, orange, almond cream, marzipan, coconut, sea salt, crushed rock, acacia, jasmine. Plenty of gras but there’s so much zip from front to back, salty mineral goodness all the way. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

After a long afternoon in the yard of cleaning up and replenishing flowers, for the dog days of summer, it’s just Sofia, me and the Baron before BBQ’ing.

Still absolutely one of the best Champagnes at $24.99 and slightly higher price points.

Bright lemon, lemon curd, lime zest, pineapple, bruised pear, cream soda, notes of wood, brioche, light herbaceous notes, volcanic minerals, sea shells & spray, jasmine, spring flowers, Juniper, very lively acidity and a delicious, well polished finish.

As a digestif after a night of nice red wine; golden apple, golden raisins, pineapple, bruised Bosc pear, Juniper, brioche, cream soda, touch of caramel, gray volcanic minerals, sea spray & fossils.

If you start with Champagne, save some for the end of the night after red wine. You’ll be glad you did. Changes the profile, intensity and pleasure dramatically. Night & day!!!

Photos of, Baron Fuentes, bottle labeling machine, Chardonnay grapes freshly harvested and our chilling spot in the D & S Lounge. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

II’ve loved all the Sandhi 2012 range of whites & this £65 S&B is superb 👍 Paired with enough curry to get a small village going regular for a week 🤣 💨 sorry I didn’t take pics of that feast 😁

📍 Sandhi Sandford & Benedict Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2012 @sandhiwines

🏵 94 points

🍷 Golden yellow

👃 Chopped pineapple, crushed rock mineral, lemon oil, key lime pie, honey gloop & white jasmine flowers w/ light oak, vanilla & apple

👄 Med+ body of creamy refreshing clean tropical & citrus yummyness without being overly syrupy & a hit of green apple, pineapple, honey & minerality in med acidity

🎯 Med+ fresh apple, citrus & tropical trickle w/ a dry mineral honeyed pineapple slapette — 6 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Clear straw color, aromatic! Rose water, jasmine and tangerine. Wonderful, dry structure. Flavors of pear, honey and lychee. Amazing with spicy General Tso’s Chicken. — 7 years ago

Kaitlin Ohlinger

9.1

Striking, pure, incredibly aromatic, tons of honeysuckle, peach blossom, nectarine, jasmine. Palate is delicate and crystal clear. Beautiful. — 8 years ago

Jeff Christner

9.1

The cat is back! Wonderful Pinot Noir from Hirsch. I could get used to this. @Jasmine Hirsch — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It has been a little while since we have had Olivier’s 2014. It’s our last bottle of three and the honey notes have definitely deepened.

The nose shows; sweet & sour lemons, green & golden apple, lime zest-candy, ripe pineapple, green melon, apricots, white peach, gentle, warm, white spice, beautiful chalkiness, caramel, vanillin, honey, candle wax notes, sea spray-fossils, understated limestone & volcanic minerals, fruit blossoms, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers, jasmine with mixed flower greens.

The body is full, thick & slightly waxy. Nice viscosity. sweet & sour lemons, green & golden apple, lime zest-candy, overripe pineapple, green melon, apricots, white peach, grapefruit w/ a touch of sugar, gentle, warm, white spice, beautiful, powdery, chalkiness, caramel, vanillin, honey, candle wax notes, light butter & cream quality, fresh herbaceousiness, sea spray-fossils, understated limestone & grainy, grey, volcanic minerals, light sulphur/flintiness, fruit blossoms, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers, jasmine with mixed flower greens. The acidity is round/phat...really well done. The nice finish glides gently with elegance, good balance, just hits the low end of rich & lush and depositing soft, powdery minerals as it long sets.

Photos of; Domaine Hubert Lamy, the road sign that lets you know your in St. Aubin, Winemaker-Olivier Lamy and their Domaine branding. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is my second favorite food & wine pairing. The two together are a perfect 10. It is simply my favorite pork chop and there isn’t a close second.

This is the Mustard’s Restaurant in Napa recipe which, they have sold over a million.

There are a dozen different seasoning/spices to this two-day pork chop marinade that brings such depth of flavors & complexity to it. The spices penetrate deep onto the palate. The wine marries and complements all those seasonings & spices perfectly with just the right amount of restrained sweetness and texture.

The nose reveals; stone fruits, Meyer lemon, lemon meringue, lime candy, pineapple juice, green melon, applesauce, just a touch of petroleum, honey notes, waxy notes, touch of beeswax, light white spice, chalky saline notes, mixed greens, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.

The body is thick, rich, lush and waxy. Stone fruits, Meyer lemon, lemon meringue, lime candy, pineapple juice, green melon, applesauce, just a touch of petroleum, honey notes, waxy notes, touch of beeswax, light white spice, chalky saline notes, light, powdery minerals, mixed greens, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is; rich, lush, ripe, well balanced, delicious and persists nicely for minutes.

@Shay A Am I tempting you yet?

Photos of; the Long Shadows tasting room (just voted a top ten tasting room), the amazing glass blown artwork all over their tasting room and our dinner with this amazing American Riesling pairing. Green beans from our garden. — 6 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.6

It never ends to amaze me this wine
Nose is a little reticent
Medium body
I hope the bottle in front of me gets till tomorrow to see the differences
Texturally is so outstanding that you can tell is on a different level
From blueberry to black currants
Violet, wisteria and jasmine even orange blossoms I dare
A bunch of mixed Mediterranean herbs
Gunpowder, pencils lead, a bit of tar.
Soy and watermelon are there like someone mentioned in a review of a 1990 Malbec
Silky tannin present, but absolutely not disturbing
I ‘d be surprised if I don’t finish this bottle
Fresh and too easy to drink✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️ — 7 years ago

with francesco and Mauro

Chris Grimm

9.2

Peach, white flowers, and pink jasmine. — 8 years ago

with Brooke

Manny Abascal

9.1

Innovative. Gold color, white flower, jasmine, lemon lime on nose, with Meyer lemon, grapefruit, orange peel, high acid, full body slightly oxidative feel on palate, silky texture, long finish. Creative, Not for everyone, but works for me. Great table wine. — 9 years ago

Jeff Christner

9.6

About as good as it gets. Excellent nose. Opens up beautifully. Simply one of the best. @Jasmine Hirsch #sonmacoast — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Lots of sour lemons, lime candy, overripe pineapple, apricots, green & golden apple-more green, beeswax, honeysuckle, butterscotch, thick & a little gluey, white spice with heat, solid structure/backbone, buttered popcorn, cream, lots of chalkiness, volcanic minerals, oak char, limestone with fruit blossoms, jasmine & yellow lilies. The acidity is round & nicely executed. The long round, well balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists for minutes.

Over chilled it, decanted it 40 minutes.

These will benefit from 5-7 years in bottle. Curious about the 17 vintage. Have additional bottles for later.

Thanksgiving part II. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It has been awhile since we’ve had the 2014 and it’s evolving nicely.

My suggestion is you chill down the Davis Chardonnay, take it out of chill mode a half-hour to forty-minutes prior to enjoying. Then, get this soft white cheese from Harbison Cellars - Spruce Bark Wrapped Bloomy Rind and the Firehook crackers and enjoy them all together. They are a Heavenly pairing together.

As for the 2014 Davis Chardonnay, the nose reveals, more honey notes, overripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens.

The body is full, thick, lush and rich. The texture is gorgeous and sexy...beautifully delicious over the palate. Lots of honey notes, over ripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, more green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, caramel, a touch of toffee, butter, cream, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & crushed, grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice with a touch of heat, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens. The acidity is excellent, round and phat. The long, rich, lush, gorgeous, sexy, well balanced finish persists nicely for minutes.

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better CA Chardonnay for the money. $36 member price and $48 non-member price.

You want to enjoy this just below room temperature to get all it has to offer.

Photos of, the right side view from their terrace with their signature windmill, the center direct view of the valley floor through to the other side, the Harbison soft white cheese & Firehook crackers to a pair with the Davis Chardonnays.

Their Chardonnays show varying nuisances year to year but, are very consistent in quality year to year. — 6 years ago

Dmitri

9.5

A beautiful blend of vanilla, jasmine and white pepper. Tasted notes of zibbibo towards finish. — 7 years ago

Brian S

9.1

Very floral, jasmine, yellow apple. — 7 years ago

Amr Elazhary

9.3

This is fantastic! All subtle and delicate .. nice aromas with hints of white flower (jasmine) ... nice body, balanced acidity and good citrus flavour and finish.... this would go with anything! And very affordable! — 8 years ago

Liz Lenox

9.2

Jasmine, Green Apple, slightly floral. Nice on a warm day! — 9 years ago

Jim Gingras

9.1

Floral (orange and jasmine flower) and citrus on the nose. Peaches and citrus on the palette. Light and refreshing... tastes like the beginning of summer. Very nice. Will drink again. — 9 years ago