Shay A

9.3

My last of the 2014 Ultramarine’s. Sad day. Thankfully 2015s are up next, and I was able to secure extra 2016s during the release a few months back.

This was one of three bubblies (2010 Larmandier-Bernier VV du Levant, Egly Ouriet Rosé) opened alongside a lineup of some fun wines when a buddy, @Shawn R , was in town. As always, my experience with these wines is so unique. You can always tell this is like grower champagne from first smell and sip. Gorgeous golden color in the glass. I normally pick up aromas of cream soda with Ultramarine (aside from their rosé), but didn’t get that here. Caramel dipped golden delicious apples, spiced cider, brioche, a little shaved almond, sporting a gentle “oxidative” flair. On the palate it’s zippy and racy with a distinct herb crusted yellow fruit profile (which I get on some Heintz Chardonnays), alongside more apple, poached pear, and kiss of ripe red Berry fruits. There is also a backbone of limestone/mineral here. When compared to the Larmandier-Bernier, this drank more new world, though if I had tried this blind and not next to a true champagne, I may have been able to get there.

As an aside, we drank half of this bottle (and of the other two bubblies as well) and then put a champagne stopper on it to revisit the next day. Upon opening, the bubbles seemed to have diminish quite a bit and it drank closer to a still wine...and then 30mins later, it was like this roared back to life for one last hurrah, full of bubbles and totally vibrant. Not sure I’ve seen a bubbly do that before. The last glass on the second day was just as good as the first glass on the first day. — 2 days ago

with Shawn

Willie Carter

9.0

Not my first taste of Rose des Riceys but probably my favorite. A light clear cherry red in the glass. Part rosé, part Burgundy. The nose on this thing is just tremendous. A bowl of candied strawberries, cake batter, and fragrant peaches. Strong floral aromas combine with dried cherries and a pinch of nutmeg. I could go on and on about this nose, it’s magnificent.

100% Pinot Noir produced in tiny amounts from a single vineyard in Aube, this is such a precious and unique bottle. Serve chilled to really allow it to develop over time. Beautiful high acidity here with a distinctively ethereal quality. Low alcohol with absolutely no heat, just magic.

The nose transfers to the palate with more strawberry and peaches. Spiced cherries and apricots shine here alongside plums, white pepper, and rosemary. This is one of the prettiest wines I’ve had in forever. Magic wrapped up bliss. — 9 days ago

Mike Mayer

9.5

Chilling (literally) in Houston tonight by the fire bowl and pool enjoying some great music and wine. Beautiful ruby color in my glass. A great nose of baking spices, pomegranate and red plums. Elegant flavors of plums, pomegranate, orange peel, earthiness, and smoke. Beautiful acidity and silky soft tannins. A fantastic wine. I’ll sit on my other bottles for a while because I think this wine has great aging potential. Cheers everyone. — 3 days ago

with Lisa

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Vinaigrette salad with dried, dark cherries & caramelized walnuts calls for Pinot Noir. In fact, the wine needs the salad to really sing. Wine speaks deeply to the skin of the caramelized walnuts.

The one thing about Burgundy is you can get pre-ox, barnyard and VA. Here, you get just a touch of soft VA.

The palate is; round, lush darker fruits that are very ruby. Ripe & more extracted; blackberries, stewed black, plum, dark cherries, plum pudding, blueberries, black raspberries, dried cranberries, raspberries & strawberries on the way to fermentation. Moist clay, dry top soil, sludgy limestone, dark chocolate, notes of maple & brown sugar, dry herb, deeply grilled meats, dry & fresh tobacco, leather notes, oak powder, charcoal, forest floor, dark, tree sap, berry cola, blended black & red licorice, dark spices with a touch of heat, tea with sediment with candied, ruby, dark florals; dark, red, purple & blue florals. The acidity is round & beautiful. The finish is solid wire to wire, rich, lush, well knitted & balanced, sexy and persists endlessly.

Vincent Girardin in excellent vintages, like 2010, is one of my go to value producer for reds & blancs.

VA fades as you sip...salad assists as well.

1/15/21
— 4 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

Love the 93 vintage for red Burgundy. But who doesn’t!? This one was bit of a rollercoaster. Initially acidity seemed elevated, tannins were drying and the wine seemed a bit disjointed. But with time it settled in very nicely showing itself to be a very good aged Burgundy. Smokey, meaty and savory with an underlying elegance and delicate texture. Macerated black and red cherries, sous bois, roasted herbs, dried violets and rose pedals. There is still good verve, youthfulness and intensity here, with still some years ahead, but the finish is a bit short. — 2 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

The tete de cuvee and wow. Revelatory wine. First 5 minutes it needs to unwind the blammo you’re blown away. This is top tier Pinot. Sickness. Nose is so floral and sweet. Mind bending mid to late season confectionary cherries. Just insane. Hint of super well integrated sweet wood. Multi dimensional nose. Oh the florals are insane. Reminiscent of elite Ziereisen. Palate is just perfection almost. So fresh, so complex, and elegant density, and I mean elegant. Just one of the most complete young Pinot Noir’s I’ve had in years. Holy shit. Genius. The fruit is so perfectly defined and presented with just masterful clarity. Haunting. Stunning. A find and a find. Just incredible. — 8 days ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

Nice red fruits, cherries in particular and some black currant too, the nose as well as the palate has a touch of smoke or toasted scents but still the new oak treatment is not too prominent for my taste. It is very young but approachable with fine grained tannins and a nice acidity, the balance of that medium plus bodied palate with all elements is good, gorgeous fruit and decent length. 91-92

Au nez, magnifiques fruits rouges, cerises entre autres, un peu de cassis, une touche de boisé, légèrement toasté mais à peine. Ce beau fruit est très présent en bouche avec une belle acidité et les tannins sont de belle texture, des grains assez fins, une bouche avenante malgré la jeunesse et avec une puissance contenue, une belle fraîcheur, un bel équilibre et une finale sur des fruits très légèrement acidulés, avec toutefois une longueur correcte sans plus. — 10 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Coravined bottle from mid week.

The 2012 is still a little early for me but, drinking beautifully.

The nose reveals; ripe, slightly dried fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dried dark cherries & cranberries, both plums, poached strawberries with some raspberries & blackberries. Radiant, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dark colas, steeped tea, black & red licorice, moist & drier clay, rich, forest floor with dry leaves, some dry herb, soft, understated eucalyptus, lightly, grilled meats, dry tobacco, well, used leather with ruby, candied, fresh & withering floral that are; dark, red, blue & purple.

The body is medium full, round, lush with dusty, light tannin presence with excellent viscosity. ripe, slightly dried fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dried dark cherries & cranberries, both plums, poached strawberries with some raspberries & blackberries. Radiant, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry stems, dark, berry colas, steeped tea, black & red licorice, moist & drier clay, dark, rich, forest floor with dry leaves, some dry herb, soft, understated eucalyptus, mint notes, lightly, dark, Asian & Indian spices with heat, grilled meats, dry, used, pipe tobacco, well, used leather with ruby, candied, fresh & withering floral that are; dark, red, blue & purple. The round, lush acidity is like a cool stream in Spring. The long, steady, rich, elegant, well knitted & balanced finish loads as ripe, juicy fruits falling onto to spice & earth persisting several minutes.

Shows all the beauty of the vintage & still has 8-12 years of good drinking ahead.

Cheeses; Jasper Hill Alpha Tolman & Willoughby, Mimolette. Dried Turkish Apricots, Cashews & Columbus Italian Dry Salami. Otherwise, tonight’s dinner.

1/8/21 — 11 days ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.1

Discrete nose and palate but open ip nicely with air on dark and red fruits, very pure, medium plus bodied, structure and linear palate on a long powerful finish, very nice but not cheap.

Nez discret au départ tout comme la bouche mais s’ouvre et se bonifie avec beaucoup de temps dans le verre. Fruits rouges et noirs bien présents et très purs, une belle structure et droiture en bouche après un départ qui semblait mince mais qui ne l’est pas du tout finalement. Très beau mais pas donné. — 2 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Gorgeous Swiss Pinot from Maienfeld. Nose is bright, high toned and beautiful. Lovely mid season cherries. Sour cherries and such purity. Really refined and aromatic. Also an earthiness that is really reminiscent of Burgundy more than Germany. The palate tho is where this really picks up steam, unreal texture and just so stunningly beautiful. Wow. Opulence on the mid palate then this gorgeous, cleansing mineral finish. So finessed and filigreed. Nimble and energetic. Decadent sweet fruit awash in minerals. So refreshing but also complex and deep. This is excellent. The energy, stunningly pure and unique fruit and how mineral this is really stand out. Superb wine. So excited now to taste the pilgrim. The higher end wine. — 8 days ago