Steven Beishuizen

8.9

Even with air, matchsticks, oak, and vanilla pervade. A big smack of vanilla. Still clean and thirst quenching though. My love/hate with the big, oaky chards swings like a pendulum, but when in the mood, I think this one really is the ticket. Some lemon in there, and I think it would go very nice with a crusty baguette and good butter. — 8 years ago

with Anita

Brian W

9.3

Solid Zin. More on the fruit side of the pendulum than spice, though some pepper (very subtle). Cranberry and plum on the nose, medium full body, nice acidity and very big on the palate. Robust Raisin finish. — 10 years ago

Nicholas Livingston

9.6

Glorious Chardonnay from a dynamic and promising vintage and thus very capable as a non dosé, extra brut, this ŒNOPHILE may be labeled 1er Cru but this is perennially 80% and more Grand Cru -an admixture of Chouilly, Cramant, Cuis, and Oger. Finishing off at a mere 1.5g/l rs, this penetrating Blanc des Blancs is just right by nature with ample ripe Asian pear lending an exotic fragrance to complement a baked ginger spice, and rye tangerine -with great depth for a vintage debutante leading off into this world in its first blush -into a world with a growing suspicion of non dosé after years en vogue. Its star rose among the great restaurants for its clear taste of goût de terroir -after all: without dosage there's nothing to hide behind (!) but despite what we read repeated in the press when the sommeliers speak in private paroles the consensus I hear is that this category's pendulum is on its return swing after some lean years left us wanting. Gimonnet's ŒNOPHILE however proves how balanced years marrying beautifully ripened fruit with racy minerality can not only pull it off but are all the better non dosé! This is a treat and I look forward to tasting this over the next decade to see it come of age and wow us all into certainty that non dosé Champagne in the right year and right hands can age gloriously. — 8 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

2008. Serious vintage, serious wine. One of the last Russ Raney wines. This estate vineyard and the material here is unfadeable. The pendulum swings from Oregon elegance in 2008 to tannic, brooding PN that makes any Pommard demure. Seriously though- get a bottle or two of this. — 9 years ago

Caleb Mosley

9.4

The pendulum on pinot is swinging. This wine is defined by elegant subtleties, instead of sweet, simple, red cherry. Takes time to open up, but worth the wait. — 10 years ago

with Laura