Al Shikoh

9.3

Pale golden yellow. Fine mousse with persistent beading. On the nose, golden delicious apple, lemon curd, and pie crust with a hint of nuttiness. Creamy on the palate with baked apple, chalky minerality, and bright acidity . Christian and son Stephane Coquillette, as seen on the documentary “A Year in Champagne”, made this wine from 100% Chardonnay from the family’s Grand Cru estate vineyard in Chouilly in the Côte des Blanc. This is a lovely, mature vintage grower Champagne. 12% alcohol. $75. — 7 years ago

with Drew, Lisa and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

We discovered discover this Garnacha Blanca blend during our May 2015 visit to Clos Mogador. Rene's son Rene had us jump in his old SUV and drove us through their steep and rocky hillside vineyards. If you've had their reds and wondered why fennel notes are there, it grows all over their property. After a tour of their vineyards we went back to their patio for a tasting...and what a view. Shown in the photos. We started the tasting with the 2010 Nelin. It was the first time we'd had it. At the time, one of the more unique whites we'd had in a long time. It was bright, fresh, subdued fruity, tangy with amazing crisp minerality. Afterwards, we went to lunch at "Amics" near by Clos Mogador. The best & most original 4 course lunches we had for seventy euros with a bottle of this wine. Great service and unparalleled accommodation. It didn't have a star but it should. The nicest couple from Brazil run it. Tonight's revisit is the 2011 and it's had a little better than 5 years in the bottle. It's definitely changed. It's, more golden now, weightier, thicker, more oily and picked up not quite a petrol quality. The fruits are; peach, apricot, pineapple, lemon & lime juice. Notes of honey, wild fragrant florals, amazing chalky minerality, perfect round acidity and a round, lush finish that we absolutely love. The blend is mostly Garnacha Blanca with some Viognier, Roussanne & Pinot Blanc. Photos of the property, views, and the father & son winemaking team of Rene & Rene Barbier. Producer history & notes...Clos Mogador produces estate bottled wines in Gratallops, Catalonia in the DOQ Priorat. Founded in 1979 by René Barbier III and his wife Isabelle Meyer. With several friends, they began replanting terraces and recuperating old ones to eventually have their first release in 1989 as Clos Mogador. This name comes from a novel written by an aunt named, Élisabeth Barbier called, “Les Gens de Mogador”, “The people of Mogador”; which chronicles the rise and fall of a family from near Avignon in France on an imaginary estate called, Mogador. Clos Mogador is 13 hectares. Six hectares are made of 80 years old Cariñena vines, two hectares of 6 years old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, three hectares of 6 years old Garnacha vines and 2 hectares of 6 year old are Syrah vines. They use mostly organic methods. It is worth knowing that at the winemaking stage, Rene Barbier uses an olive press instead of a normal wine press to extract the juice. This results in an even more intense wine from what are already highly concentrated grapes from low yields. Try the Nelin, it's simply delicious!!! Cheers. — 8 years ago

Toni Zablocki

9.2

The intensity of richness and flavor is *insane* and the drinkability does not reflect the proof. Happy this is back in distribution! — 8 years ago

Bethany Dollar

9.7

So great! Especially with lemon pasta — 9 years ago

Jason Montero

8.9

Livrly acidity, grapefruit and pear son, finish of lemon citrus. Yummy — 10 years ago

LM Segal

9.6

Sea salt, granite and lemon zest. Smooth as silk with gentle heat and a looooong trip of candied citrus on a smoked caramel core. Wow. Hart Bros. Springbank. — 10 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Stony Hill Vineyard was founded in 1943 when Fred and Eleanor McCrea bought a goat ranch on Spring Mountain in Napa. Today the winery is run by son Peter McCrea, still is best known for Chardonnay. Aromas of stone fruit and citrus. On the palate apple, melon and pear flavors, with some lemon zest and toasty notes. Nice balance with acidity on lingering finish on a gently spicy rich mineral ending. Classic CA Chard, very nice! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

On the nose; flint/sulfur, cut dry grass, green apple, lemon, lime, notes of overripe pineapple, honeysuckle, green herbs Jasmine and yellow lilies. On the palate; green apple, lemon, lime, overripe pineapple, green dry herbs, flint/sulfur, honeysuckle, Jasmine & yellow lilies, grainy minerals, good chalkiness, saline, nice round acidity and round, rich, long finish. Photos of; Domaine Guy Amoit et Fils, their barrel cellar and Guy & Thierry Amiot and a picturesque shot in Chassagne-Montrachet. Producer notes and history...Domaine Amiot was founded in Chassagne-Montrachet in 1920 by Arsene Amiot when he acquired select parcels of vines or “climats” in Chassagne including Vergers, Caillerets, Clos St. Jean and in what is today Le Montrachet. Under Arsene, Domaine Amiot became one of the first Domaines in Burgundy to bottle their own production. In the 1930’s, the domaine passed to Aresene’s son, Pierre, who continued to add top sites such as Champsgains, Macherelles, Maltroie and their tiny parcel in Puligny, Les Demoiselles. Pierre’s son, Guy, took the reins in 1985 and solidified the reputation of the Domaine for producing wines of exceptional quality from an impressive array of top vineyard sites. Guy’s son Thierry took over the winemaking in 2003 and continues the tradition of expressing the unique character of each vineyard site while constantly seeking to improve the quality of the wines. Les Macherelles is located on the farest side of Chassagne-Montrachet close to Puligny-Montrachet. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965, with a goal to produce world-class sparkling wines. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. Coming off their highly successful 2012 vintage, the 2013 is also 100% Chardonnay (true B de B) straw with aromas of stone fruits and lemon notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, apricot and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a lingering finish ending with some yeasty notes. Nice! — 8 years ago

Glenn Caster

9.5

Anyone who writes off Temecula has no idea what Joe Hart and his son Jim are able to do. This Syrah is huge. Big bold fruit with layers of nuances and a long smooth finish. On par with some of the best Cali Syrahs on the Central Coast and Napa/Sonoma. — 9 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

8.9

Since Lemon Hart has nearly vanished from the US market, this is the most legit substitute. — 9 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

This Riesling is a steal for the quality less then 15 bucks. Excellent now! Well how does it taste? This wine is from Canada of all places? Petrol notes. Bitter in the back of the mouth. Lemon zest. This could easily be a wine from Germany dry! For an everyday Riesling hart to beat. My wife thinks Vanilla on the nose. I am giving this a high rating for the quality at this price point a wine geek wine. — 10 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1882 by Alfred Tubbs. In 1972, under the leadership of James Barrett, replanting began. Today Jim's son, Bo, is now its Master Winemaker. Ripe stone fruit aromas with notes of honey. In the palate crisp pear, melon and lemon zest come forth wrapped in vanilla oak. Lingering finish ending with creamy notes fruit ending with hints of pepper spice. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, green apple, pineapple, lemon, lime, just underripe green melon, peach, notes of honey, hints of flint and yellow florals. The body is full, creamy & a touch oily. I'm guessing some extra time on less with some stirring. Green & golden apple, lime, lemon, pineapple, green melon & peach. Honey heathered, fine chalkiness and powdery fine minerals, beautiful round acidity with a long, thick, beautiful, elegant, polished finish. The more it warms up in the glass, the better it gets. Oliver their Winemaker, made Meo Camuzet before coming back to take reins at Hubert Lamy. This terroir is one of the most underrated in Burgundy and remains one of Burgundies best values. Photos of; the Domaine, the En Remilly and the father and son team of Hubert & Oliver. This may be $82 on Delectable but it's just a shade above $50 on pre-arrival. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, green apple, lime, lemon, pineapple, honey, sea spray, beautiful chalky minerals and white & yellow lilies. It's reductive in style. Freshness is apparent as it hits the palate. Green apple, golden apple, ripe pineapple flesh, lemon, lime, underripe green melon, brioche, powdery, soft chalkiness, saline, volcanic minerals, yellow & white lilies and an amazing long finish that does fade. It's just simply delicious! This is $35 at K&L Wine Merchants and to me is the best value in Champagne. Hopefully, you are in a state they can ship. But, when they get their allocation, you had better act quick as it doesn't last but a short week. K&L has standing allocation orders from people in France as it's even difficult for Frenchmen to find in France. If you are buying Veuve Clicquot or similar for more $, you really need to buy & try the Launois cuvées. Photo tour of; their estate, Le Mesnil Sur Oger vineyard, tasting bar and their unbelievably large champagne museum. It a must appointment in your are in Épernay. Producer notes...the history of our family goes back to 1872 when the house of Launois Père et Fils was founded in the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Located on the prestigious Côte des Blancs, which is the home of the very best Chardonnay grapes. Their vineyards are all classified as "Grand Cru": The family's has passed down from fathers to son and daughter through eight generations, Séverine and Caroline Launois. All their grapes are hand harvested and processed with great care. — 8 years ago

with Jr

Doctor No

9.5

To celebrate the birth of our son today. And great wine - aged brilliance, clear and piercing lemon curd with toasted brioche notes and faint notes of hazelnut on a long frame with taut acidity. — 9 years ago

S Butterfield

Sommelier Flask Fine Wines

9.3

Meursault like. Restrained nose, explosive acidity and lemon lime fruit with endless minerality. Damn, son. A gorgeous wine. — 10 years ago

Roy Arias

9.0

It's hot. I crushed some ice in the Lewis bag and made a Lemon Hart 151 swizzle to tame the fire! A great over proof rum for tiki #cocktails. — 11 years ago