Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Ruinart last night, Billecart tonight. Gotta start the night with a 375ml of Rosé Champagne.

The nose shows; dreamsicle ice cream bar, blood orange, tangerine, very ripe yellow stone fruits, pink grapefruit w/ a touch of sugar, hints of baked rhubarb, notes of black cherries, lean watermelon & not ripened strawberry reduction. White spice, sea spray & fossils, grey volcanics, darker shade of chalkiness, limestone minerals, bread dough, baguette crust, cream, spring flowers, pink roses w/ orange blooms/lilies.

The palate has nicely polished mouthfeel, rich and very good ripeness. A little more mineral and sharp chalkiness than other bottles I’ve had. Great micro-oxygenation. Dreamsicle ice cream bar, blood orange, tangerine, very ripe yellow stone fruits, pink grapefruit w/ a touch of sugar, notes of black cherries, lean watermelon, cooked rhubarb juice, & not ripened strawberry reduction. White spice w/ typical heat, faint white pepper popping up here & there, sea spray & fossils, grey volcanics, darker shade of chalkiness, limestone minerals, bread dough, baguette crust, cream, spring flowers, pink roses w/ orange blooms/lilies. The acidity is fantastic as always. The long, rich, lush finish is a touch gluey , well balanced & knitted, polished and persists endlessly with a long set of spice. Always consistent & delicious.

Photos of, House of Billecart, their caves and glorious sunset over one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.2

In-House, Corporate holiday party...
I love this bottle, so incredibly floral! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

In 1912, Andrew James Symington became a partner in Dow's and today, five members of the fourth generation Symington family own and manage this historic house. 10 Years" indicates an average age – this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, matured in oak casts. Amber color with aromas of sweet dried fruits, citrus and nutty notes. On the palate sweet ripe fruit, vanilla oak, ending with fig and cacao notes. Smooth, Nice value. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.4

2006. Amazing wine. Constantly changing in the glass... swirl and smell swirl and smell. Very new world meets old with some classic Rhone character... bacon, earth, blood, brooding fruit. Long finish. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Tasted a small bottle-375ml. A Champagne House is usually judged on the quality of its Brut NV. Pinot Noir provides the structure, typical Clicquot, touch of Pinot Meunier adds roundness and Chardonnay adds elegance. Light golden color with complex aromas of stone and citrus fruits and creamy biscuit. Tiny bubbles, light mousse, flavors of apple and citrus, with raspberry, well balanced structure. The finish has plenty of toasty nutty yeast, clean and elegant on the long ending. Small bottle was very fresh. — 9 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

9.0

Superb freshness and well developed stone fruits. After some air time oak is well integrated, layering the palette with vanilla/almond/pastry. — 10 years ago

Pam Wood

9.3

This fabulous wine, fillets and season 4 House of Cards! 😃 — 10 years ago

with Bill

Adam Mahler

9.3

Almost has a Pinot blanc, old world nose. Slight funk and a touch vegetal. Absolutely no oak or butter on the nose. Bit of clove like spice. Great texture and mid palate. Nice spice on the palate with a really balanced fruit character. — 12 years ago

with Nicholas and Heather

A M

9.7

Had at owl house with Tim — 13 years ago

Roger Ray

9.1

A wine with a rich purple hue. "Blackberry, raspberry and dark cherry dominate the aromas with complementary notes of anise mocha and tightly vanilla oak" — 6 years ago

Roger Ray

9.1

"displays aromas of berries, spiced and cocoa. it shows complexity on the palette of plum and mature red fruits balanced with subtle tannins intense blackberry flavors and spice offset by ripe fruit characteristics". A wonderful wine by a beautiful, great new Texas Hill Country vineyard. — 6 years ago

Nancy Loe

9.2

Stone fruits with a lingering finish. Lovely. — 7 years ago

with Katherine and Terri

Jeremy Pollard

9.4

Considered a classic vintage in Clare, and this wine doesn’t disappoint. It’s a beautiful wine. At 16 years old there’s clearly some secondary development and deepening of the golden colour, but it’s surprisingly modest and nuanced, retaining licks of youthful, fresh citrus character and that clean acid finish. The nose is soft with subtle stone fruit characters and hints of kerosene. Once it hits the palate, everything is gloriously in balance. This feels like exactly the right time to be drinking it. It’s exquisite. — 8 years ago

with Sam

JP Body

9.4

12.99 pour un bon riesling local — 9 years ago

Phil Kessling

9.0

Our go to house white. Great acidity, stone fruit, tropical melon, hint of honey with good minerality. — 9 years ago

Ann Marie

9.8

Fabulous!!! Christmas dinner with prime rib. marionberry fruit and white pepper and a warm spiciness - bit of nutmeg. New world/old world bridge kind of wine. — 9 years ago

Lana Valiente

10

When we go to the vineyard this is usually what my hubby and I get. Sweet and refreshing. Great with Food platter. — 10 years ago

Giovanni Bartolini

8.9

Tobacco, cherries, and stone fruit come through immediately on tasting the 2010. The Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre nicely blunt the dominating Zinfandel. Smoothness opens up with breathing. It is ready to drink now. An underpriced value! — 11 years ago

Matthew Marrier

9.5

I'm going to drink this right now!!! — 12 years ago

Kate Morin

9.5

@ SuWu on St Laurent avec Yohan et Josee before Rachid Badouri show — 13 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

WNH Zoom tasting #3 on 4/5/20. The theme was “10 years old or more” and I opened this after what I’d call a false start with a ‘96 Dominus Napanook. The cork was a bit soggy and difficult to extract and a sour nose greeted me as I decanted to remove a fair amount of sediment. But once the air hit it this wine spread its wings. It comes off as a hypothetical Volnay/Rioja blend as if there were such a thing. Mature warm red fruit, strong notes of rhubarb, cranberry preserves and sour raspberry mash. Very slight green notes but not in a negative sense. There’s still youthful exuberance here. This isn’t one of those “it’s drinking great for its age” wines it’s straight up exceptional. Great house. Great wine. Hell yes. Happy Bicentennial 🇺🇸🍷 — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this NV about three years ago and tried their new batch. The Carte d'Or cuvée has a very high proportion of Pinot Noir, which is “the Drappier style.” Aromas of stone fruit and spice in a light frothy mousse. On the palate peach, plum and raspberry with citrus zest and earthy spice. Nice flow of bubbles lead to a lingering finish ending with toasty notes. From my ‘16 notes very consistent house quality style. Nice! — 7 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Deep ruby color with light cherry undertones and a wide brim. I hope you like oak because there’s plenty to be found here. Almost shockingly, I can’t say this is over oaked at all, it really is well integrated. Fun little nose with a bit of pepper, cherry candies, stone minerality, and oak. Rioja always seems to get me tingly, especially Muga and while this isn’t the biggest star in their stable it’s consistently good. High acidity that needs some time to even out, but still leaving a refined mouthfeel. Seemingly more New World than Old on the rich palate, there is a ton of energetic fruit here and very interesting minerality. Mushrooms, herbs, and smoke round things out. I like this wine a lot. I’ve got a feeling that in a few more years I might love it. — 7 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Another outstanding vintage of this great domestic Gruner! New look, but same great wine. This one never gets old. — 9 years ago

with Mark

Michael F. Ferguson

9.0

My very first Malbec. 2014 vintage. First note on the pallet is a subtle spice. Then wood an after taste of dark stone fruits. I am thinking like cherry/plum. Nicely sweet. Tannins are not overwhelming But just dry enough to keep one coming back for another taste. Very drinkable. — 9 years ago

Theresa And Bruce

10

2015. Butter on the front and butter on the back. — 10 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

Charming young vine field blend. Fruity w/some spicy complexity. Old world style Syrah. — 10 years ago

Leigh Noir

9.1

In your face acidity with a stone fruit basket. Long lemon finish with lasting minerals and salinity. — 11 years ago

with Floyden and Kyle

Landshark 626

8.9

DeNiro vs Stallone. — 12 years ago

Tristan Kinsley

9.8

Is this the best Cali rose? Yes, I dare say it is. Mourvèdre in the house! — 13 years ago