Norman

9.1

The nose is wonderful in my view. Of course the wood is there but there is a lot of brown sugar in it fit me. It reads hot on the palate, viscous with a long finish. Not a full mouthfeel but you still want more. — 5 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

8.9

Funky in a good way. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 6 years ago

Patrick Hurley

9.5

Absolutely fantastic Pinot Noir. Its reputation is well deserved. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

As long as its been since I’ve had a bottle of the Clos Mogador Nelin and much as I love it, with the heat, I’ve been looking forward to a glass of BSR all day. It never disappoints!!!

Always so fresh, consistent and delicious. The delicate pink rose petals, lean fruits of; strawberries, cherries, black cherries, less ripened watermelon, tangerine & touch of ripe peach. Medium intensity of volcanic minerals, sea shells/spray, razor sharp, smooth, grainy, chalkiness, beautiful acidity and long, rich, lush finish that goes on & on. — 7 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

Creamy and vibrant with notes of caramel, saltwater taffy, apple and melon — 8 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.2

13 July 2016. Eastside Cellars, New York, NY. — 9 years ago

LeLaine Clardy

9.1

1st anniversary dinner at Iris. — 10 years ago

Rob Sternthal

8.9

Just opened. Still a little tart. — 11 years ago

Randall Bowman

9.1

Nice mouth feel and balance — 12 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Light gold. Looks young. Took 5 hours to open up and show its stuff. In hour 6 this was cruising. Saline and sea shells, wispy lemon fruit, some honey, some white stone. The guesses from the fellas were 2002 Rav Clos and 1996 Rav Valmur. Shows how these properly stored aged Raveneaus can age effortlessly. — 5 years ago

Sarah Noh

9.5

Second Subject to Change wine in 2 days and now I understand the cult following. Fresh juice on the loose! Grapefruit rind galore with a hint of minerality. Skin contact but has less funk than other oranges. 10/10 would buy again for another warm Friday afternoon. Purchased from Gus. — 5 years ago

Yasuyuki Tauchi

9.4

Everyone could say it must be Burgundy! It’s a footprint of california-made wine that a faint oak vanillas. Cherry, cranberry, very elegant aromas and flavors. — 6 years ago

Justin Tomac

9.1

Really great wine smooth after, could not — 6 years ago

Amy Yan

9.1

Hit the wine jackpot on a work trip! One of two leftovers from the table next to me! Excellent Pinot. Lots of fruit and doesn't taste like a classic Pinot. Smokey wine indeed! — 7 years ago

Greg Wright

9.0

The Sea Ridge Chardonnay is rich and ample all in the Martinelli style but well balanced. Lemon pie, custard, ripe melons and French oak. Not the most subtle wine but very good in its own right. — 8 years ago

Nicole Holden

10

Love this! — 8 years ago

Robert Smith

9.1

Smooth and spicy. Great with a steak and chimichurri Sauce. Affordable. Dark currant and tobacco. Let it breathe. — 9 years ago

Fraser McKinley

9.7

Classic and stuffed to the brim with minerals and sea shells. Such a promising future ahead - 2009 — 9 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.1

Finishing off the night...cheesecake and bourbon. Ocean is definitely a wee bit briny but has all the savory caramel and vanilla notes of its Presidential brethren, smooth and rich comported. And not so loaded with the alky...so I may have another — 11 years ago

Jonathan Tyer

9.1

First time trying Sea Smoke chard. — 12 years ago

with Chloe

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Pale ruby color. Aromas of bing cherry, cranberry and ocean breeze. Good cherry flavors, not a bad Pinot for the price. — 5 years ago

Brian Grech

8.9

Pleasantly surprised — 5 years ago

with Ashley

AJ Gubser

9.5

Saltine cracker, smoke, sea shell, lemon peel. The saline/mineral notes are very intriguing.

Huge structure with green apples and searing citric acidity. Some undertones of biscuit along the way with a long, minerally finish.

Big champagne with a straight line of acidity all the way through, leaning to the austere side of things. Enjoyable now, but will bring more pleasure in the decades to come as it unwinds. — 6 years ago

with Brooks

Robert McNally

9.1

Delicious after an hour decant — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.6

What a nose. Soft lemon, rock pools, slate. Like fresh sea spray and lemon oil. Deep, fresh, invigorating. Oyster shells. On the palate beautifully evolved and rounded with perfect detailed acidity, some honeyed hints of secondary notes coming through, a touch of apple and a huge long finish. Stunning. — 7 years ago

with Howard, Tony and 1 other

Lewis Chester

9.8

1986 vintage. At Au Fils du Zinc in Chablis - thank you Fabian for picking the best white wine experience of the year. This was a wine that Mr Raveneau didn't release because he thought there was too much oak and sulphur. Only recently did they realise they had a gem. Medium golden hue. Honeyed, white peach, lemon pieces, iodine and crushed rock minerality. Slight bovril note and sea shell with air. Amazing complexity. On the palate, perfect balance between fresh acidity and body, highly concentrated and layers of complexity. Very very long. Outstanding. Still fresh enough to last another 7-10 years at least. — 8 years ago

Matt

9.2

Very earthy wine. Oysters, wet mushrooms, sea spray, hints of oxidation, wet soil. Golden apple, bosc pear, lemon. A certain palate weight and texture I've not had before in Chablis — 8 years ago

David L

9.0

12' Sea Smoke Streamside Chardonnay. Last time I tried this particular bottle...made a note saying WAIT. It hasn't quite been a year.

Light golden in color(slightly darker then a year ago )Medium-ish body. This acidity has settled down since I had this last year(it needed to) quite nicely. Tropical flavors are still pronounced in the wine. Yellow apple, pear, pineapple, nutmeg & vanilla. Secondary flavors are starting to open up. Would enjoy trying this again in 2/3 years. — 9 years ago

Jay McInerney

Novelist, Wine Critic Town & Country, Expensive Wino & Gastronaut

9.3

Not my favorite vintage but my favorite grand Cru chez Dauvissat. Fatter than usual but still showing sea shells and brine. Drink now. — 11 years ago