Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Just had to try another bottle!!Ruby with red fruit aromas and spicy herb floral notes, aged for 10 months in 40% new French oak. On the palate fresh black raspberry and cherry flavors with herb tea and earthy tones. Firm fine tannins, balanced acidity, nice mouthfeel, long finish ending with earthy mineral herb character. Nice! Paired well with a spicy seared sushi grade tuna with spicy peanut dressed sesame soy sauce. Wow!! — 5 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.4

White flowers, underripe apricot, lime, sea salt, radish, stony minerality, slightly beeswax. Savory and sweet herbs on the palate. Medium+ acidity. Round mouthfeel - cheeserind and lees, 😋. 4 months on lees. Indigenous varieties. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Decided to do a little comparison before @Shay A 's dinner and wine, and wish I could have stayed!! Tasting alongside a 2017 Rutherford SB from Modus Operandi. By comparison, this one was sourced from the Southeastern border of Rutherford whereas the Modus was on the northwestern region of Rutherford. This one definitely had more rounded edges, less tropical notes, more peach which increased as the wine sat and warmed up to room temperature. I would say that the nose of the Modus was a little more distinct than the nose of the Quivet. But, I think that more of the volcanic type soil characteristic of the Silverado Trail definitely showed here in the finish, even in an SB. Hey grade head-to-head comparison, with a very slight nod to the Modus. I think this is a slightly different food wine than the Modus which is probably a little more capable of standing on its own. — 6 years ago

with Shay

Arden Barnett

9.1

Was not familiar with Five Star Cellars’ work until yesterday, but after last nights successful Super Tuscan blend we decided to try the Boudreaux blend tonight. Really enjoyed this wine. Very bold red fruit, leather, smoked sea salt? and herbal notes on the nose. Lots of cedar wood, bergamot tea, 80%+ dark cocoa powder, baking spices particularly cardamom stood out to me. The right amount of spice on the palate. Velvety tannins. Really left you wanting more of this wine. Impressed with the quality of the wines they are producing around that $30-50 price retail. Apparently this 09 won gold medal at the 2015 Walla Walla Wine Competition. Looking forward to trying their Syrah next. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, strawberries, watermelon, tangerine and rose petals. On the palate, the fruits are ripe and delicate; strawberries, watermelon, tangerine & grapefruit. There's a nice intensity of soft chalky minerals with hints of sea spray. The body is so lean and delicious, you'd have no problem crushing a bottle very quickly on a hot day. — 8 years ago

David Walser

9.2

Enjoyed this wine on a 23 day cruise, currently at the south end of the Red Sea. 2009 is tasting good tonight. — 9 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.2

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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Now, this is a Champagne worthy of my last year in my current decade.

It’s not inexpensive but, there’s a reason for that.

From the moment I put my nose to the glass, I got a a sense of warm, inviting delicacy. There is; cream, soft ginger, fall green apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, green melons, lightly bruised pear, marmalade jam, as soft as white spice can be, grey volcanics, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.

The palate enters like Tango dancers & cross-fades into ballet. Perfect richness, mousse & micro-oxygenation with gentle, absolute, perfect acidity. The minerality is fine, delicate & straight up in my wheelhouse. Cream, understated, melted butter, ginger, fall, Granny Smith apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/ peel/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, peach, tangerine, green melons, lightly bruised pear, some apple cider, marmalade jam, honeysuckle, herbaceousiness, a shade of mint, as soft as white spice can be, delicate, grey volcanics with limestone, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with, orange blossoms, white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The long, amazing, well balanced finish is simply Mozart.

The 02 is a blend of 39% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay & 21% Pinot Meunier. This bottle spent at least 12 years in Krug's cellars, receiving its cork in autumn 2014.

Photos of; the House of Krug, their very tall & countless stainless steel tanks they hold still wine(s), fermenting or library bottles in their caves & Krug Clos du Mesnil Vineyard. — 5 years ago

Kayle Stevens

9.0

Good but needs time to breathe. — 7 years ago

J B

9.5

Drank this with a light meal of sautéed Japanese eggplant and French bread with garlic and olive oil and a little sea salt. This wine paired wonderfully. The nose reminded us of the smell of prunes in a big way. Loved the earthiness. — 7 years ago

Maria James

9.0

I had this with Chilean sea bass with mangos and it paired very well hence the 9.0 rating. Notes include honey suckle and floral on the nose. The wine is cloudy and is a full bodied chard. It goes well with fruit and cheese. — 7 years ago

William Hughes

9.4

Sean Boyd nailed this Mourvèdre! Smoke, tar, blackberry compote, and wildflowers with a touch of salty sea air. In fact, I just want to keep my nose in the glass! I expected something big, like a Bandol. This is certainly relatively full-bodied, but the fruit, lean tannins, and a touch of succulent acidity are harmonious. I suspect this will easily cellar another 7-9 years. Paired with duck breast and asparagus and wild mushrooms. — 7 years ago

Leanne Fayard

9.2

When I lived in San Francisco I would have this with sea salt dark chocolate all the time. So good for dessert. — 8 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

This is Drew, Fog-Eater Pinot Noir 2013. The color is darker than the average pinot. The legs are thin and moderately slow. The bouquet is elderberry and lavender. The initial palate is black cherry and spice. There are hints of pepper and vanilla. The finish is dry and lasts a good long while. The finish is beautiful and makes you thirst for another sip!!!! I bet you can't stop at just one glass! I couldn't. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals; lemon, lime, green apple, overripe pineapple, some some fruit, silvered almonds, honeysuckle notes, beeswax, wet river-stones, chamomile, orange peel, slight waft if dark caramel, soft vanillin, sea spray, light saline, warm toast, wet, soft chalkiness, touch of candied ginger, perfumed, spring flowers and fragrant yellow lilies.

The body is; thick, round, slightly waxy & voluptuous. 2010 is an excellent vintage and time in bottle has served it well. Striving to its peak, there is nice integration with honey qualities. Excellent texture/mouthfeel. Lemon, lime, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, some some fruit, silvered almonds, honeysuckle notes, beeswax, wet river-stones, chamomile, butterscotch, orange peel, slight waft of dark caramel, soft vanillin, sea spray, light saline, warm toast, wet, soft chalkiness, limestone minerals, gritty, pungent, grey volcanics touch of candied ginger, touch of white spice, perfumed, spring flowers and fragrant yellow lilies. The acidity is round & phat. Like Goldilocks & her last porridge, it’s just right. The long; beautiful, voluptuous, sexy & well balanced finish is delicious and lingers on the palate minutes.

Playing very well into our Jasper Hill Farms Willoughby soft white cheese with champagne washed rind.

Photos of; our cold, morning April walk in their Puligny-Montrachet Vineyard, our tour through their cellars with Olivier Leflaive and our multi-course lunch paired with six of their wines...finishing with their Bastard. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Light gold in color with a green hue.

Pronounced nose of citrus, lemons, oak, vanilla, spices, grapefruits, pears and red apples.

Full bodied, buttery and smooth, with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with red apples, citrus, lemons, grapefruits, sea salt, white pepper, oak, vanilla and spices.

Medium plus on the finish with limes and almonds.

This is a very enjoyable California Chardonnay. Shows a very typical taste profile, with an above average quality and flavor.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, as it is not bitter. Nice length on the finish, which I liked.

This is a nice surprise. Enjoyable and gracious mouthfeel with nice complexity.

Better when not very cold to show the complexity.

I paired it with cheeses and nuts.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Estate Rose Syrah. Very light pink, excellent clarity. Notes of red fruit, flowers, dust, sage and Provencal herbs. Cherry flavor with length, dry, lemon-orange finish with slight skin astringency. "Lightly done" seems to be the design principle, but there is a lot of fruit and varietal expression running through this wine. Paired interestingly (imperfectly) with Humboldt Fog goat chèvre cheese and woven wheat (Triscuit) crackers. Pricey, so you should expect more value delivered. Bad pairing on my part, but pretty good rose. — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.5

Located themselves on an apple orchard-turned vineyard just west of the Anderson Valley on the Mendocino Ridge, Jason and Molly Drew craft some of the most transcendent Pinot Noirs in the county. Their Morning Dew Ranch is nothing short of utterly magnificent. Elegant and silky, yet structured, it sings of rose geranium, salt and pepper, lavender, rosemary, and smoked cherry pit. The site's name itself is so evocative, and drinking this wine feels like swallowing the fog. — 7 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.4

Moderately saturated ruby color. On the nose its very perfumed, reminiscent of rose petals, black cherry, and black tea with a sharp minty note and hints of forrest floor. On the palate, its voluptuous in style with impressive structure and length. Its sourced from grapes farmed on steep southwest facing slopes with a view of the Pacific Ocean and access to its cooling breezes. The Santa Rita Hills is one of the great New World appellations for Pinot Noir with other great vineyards like Sea Smoke, La Rinconada, Sanford & Benedict, and Fiddlestix sitting below Rita's Crown. I love this appellation and Bevan's big style. RP $75. — 8 years ago

with Lisa and Kelly

TJ Engstrom

10

Bottle 8 of 60! — 9 years ago