David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Since we can’t leave our house because the air quality is so bad from the fires near us & there is still the whole Covid-19 thing raging in California, we thought we’d open a bottle of Champagne & forget about the real world for awhile. This Jacquesson Cuvée 742 is a welcome break. Like Napoleon, we drink Champagne in good times & bad.

Seems the 2020 Napa vintage is also in more peril of smoke taint than 2017. At least in 2017, most of the fruit was picked. Presently, none or very little is picked. Maybe some Chardonnay is in. Not exactly hearing good news at this point. TBD soon.

The nose reveals slightly more oxidative notes than we prefer in our wheelhouse but, still very nice. Bruised; green & golden apple, Bosc pear. Lime & lemon pulp, overripe pineapple, overripe tropical melons, cream soda, white spices, touch of oyster shell, sea fossils, saline, bread dough, yeasty notes, baguette crust, grey volcanics, light dry herbal notes. limestone/sandstone, root in root beer, spring flowers, yellow florals in mix greens.

The palate is, round, rich, ripe and lively with micro-oxygenation. Bruised; green & golden apple, Bosc pear. Lime & lemon pulp, overripe pineapple, overripe tropical melons, dried apricots, cream soda, cream, white spice with soft heat, touch of oyster shell, sea fossils, saline, bread dough, yeasty notes, baguette crust, excellent, soft, powdery chalkiness, grey volcanics, light dry herbal notes. limestone/sandstone, root in root beer, spring flowers, orange blossoms, yellow florals in mix greens. The acidity is near perfect with nice crispness. The long, gentle finish is; elegant soft, well balanced with excellent polish and persists for days.

This will benefit from another 3-5 years in bottle.

Photos of; Jean Hervé Chiquet who joined Jacquesson family business in 1978, House of Jacquesson, one of their Grand Cru vineyards and cheese platter etc. to get the evening started. — 4 years ago

with Hefy, James and 1 other

Rhonely Boy

9.2

Clear, medium ruby

Clean, med+ notes of black pepper. Might be fooled into thinking Northern Rhone (also triggering a Susumaniello response), unidentified red fruit ontop of deep dark gnarliness.

Dry, medium acid tannin . Body is in the acid driven lean category. Weight of a Beaujolais @ 13% ABV. Red fruit and pepper. Holds its own as the black pepper in the mix of celery root, parsnips, Dittmer’s smoked turkey (oh yeah) and even kale. Cote Rotie of Chile. Rockstar.

Kick ass organic old vine and natural Cinsault (90%) wine from Chile. Could lay down 1.5 years.

NOTES: ”Located in the Guarilihue district of Chile's Itata Valley, Rogue Vines is one of the relatively recent producers to make expressive, organically farmed, minimal intervention wine. Cinsualt is abundant around these parts, and oftentimes dates back to the 1940s so they are nicely mature. *Natural Wine*” — 5 years ago

Roy Piper

9.6

This is the third bottle of this I've had the last 5 years and I think this might be the best wine SQN has made since it stopped sourcing fruit. Potent, extreme concentration of black fruit and celery root. Had years ahead. Just a killer wine. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Richard

Isaac Pirolo

9.1

Granny Smith apple, toasted biscuit, and ginger root. — 8 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.2

Better the second night suggesting
the need for a substantial decanting. Smokey aroma, leather, tobacco etc. Flavors the same with deep, dark fruit. Tannins in balance. Charming to drink. Rack of lamb and carmelized root veggies. Glad to have more. — 9 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.8

This wine has a nose full of lemons, limes and that good Paso Robles minerality. There is a nutty angle that plays in, too, but not as strongly as I anticipated given the presence of Roussanne. The palate is tasty and ripe, with citrus taking the lead ahead of those minerals. It’s a great white wine for winter, with a touch of warming oak. Pair it with root vegetable dishes or any kind of fish.
— 4 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Third times a charm! App keeps crashing on me.
thanks @Les Doss for the gift!

Tarragon and pomegranate seed permeate the nose, and give a the impression of a huge punch getting ready to smack you up side the pallete.

Yet, the wine comes on light and full juice blackberry, then starts its filtration through gravel, and root. Valencia orange like acidity and young sapling tannins bring this wine to a very interesting finish. Yum. — 5 years ago

Bill Bender

9.3

Office Holiday party on Rustic Root rooftop. Dense chewy blue and black fruit, cocoa, lots of oak but it works well here. — 6 years ago

John Willison

9.1

Standard AHF. Like an adult, good, complex version of Dr. Pepper. Loads of cherry, a bit of cola and root bark, some forest floor. Bright finish. Good QPR. — 7 years ago

Michael Descamps

9.2

Dried figs, root beer, mint, spicy cinnamon. This makes me so happy. — 8 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

10

It ain't even out yet. Spanish root, sarsaparilla complexity, full Graham sweetness, super focussed finish- great acid! Will I live to taste it as a mature wine? — 10 years ago

Richard Rosensweig

9.0

Red currant and stewed plum with a healthy dose of licorice root. Very well rounded with a full mouth feel. A little light on structure. Pays to try modest Bordeaux from the best years to see what they can do when everything goes right. — 5 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.3

Delicious. Like chewing on a root. — 5 years ago

Robert Torretti

9.3

Excellent Barolo with 17 years. Nice nose of leather, smoke and dark fruits. Opened for about two hours. Good mouthfeel with a little bit of grit. Earth, mushroom and, toward the end of the bottle, anis. Served with rabbit stew with mushrooms and root vegetables, and pasta. The last bits enjoyed with creme caramel for dessert. — 5 years ago

John Willison

9.2

Side by side, Rhys & RiversMarie Bearwallow. Damp earth, cranberry, rhubarb, licorice root. Dry, lingering finish. Well done. — 6 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.3

An interesting 28yr old. Cork was 1/2 dry and broke. Managed to get the other half out. Gentle decant. The first sip was intense funk, but it quickly mellowed with air and is now showing such pretty dried fruits and some leather and chocolate notes, as well a some root vegetables and pepper. I really enjoy how a well aged Bordeaux can be exciting as it changes in your glass over a few hrs. More about the Hartford later. — 7 years ago

Emily Martinez

9.0

Dark, rich fruit flavors, hint of root beer — 9 years ago