Audrey Hiraki

9.5

Ablittlsweet, but smooth, balanced. — 7 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

🤩 Benanti is an iconic, family run estate with a front-seat majestic view of Etna’s terrain, founded by Giuseppe Benanti in 1988, now carried forward by Giuseppe’s two sons Antonio and Salvino. Preserving the heritage of Etna’s unique terroir, the Benantis devote themselves to making wine with local varieties. 🍇

After delicate pressing, the free-run juice underwent fermentation with an indigenous yeast and aged on the fine lees in stainless steel for 30 months with regular bâtonnage (stirring). 😆

📝 The result is divine with a bouquet of harmonious aromas and flavors featuring ripe papaya, mango, cantaloup, white nectarine, kumquat, bergamot, lemon oil, cherry blossom, cream, toast, gunflint, fresh tarragon, sage, crushed stones, oystershell, sea spray & blanched almond notes.

💫This wine has verve & elegance!

😋 On the palate, it’s dry, with electrifying acidity, a medium body, textured mouthfeel, medium alcohol (12.5% ABV) & persistent finish. — 9 months ago

with Deked1

James Mosman

9.0

Liked it. Definitely worth another bottle. — 4 years ago

Gary Nishimura

9.5

Smooth, worth the money. — 5 years ago

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. — 6 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

Edward Nelson

9.3

51! Nolan and wife. Waiting on some birthday chicken parm. Cheers! — 7 months ago

Austin Blackwell

9.4

Super crisp layers of green apple and citrus and some hints of surrounding some fig and tropical fruits. Very long finish and super well integrated oak. — 3 years ago

with Angelina

Mike Saviage

9.4

Medium gold color. Heavy in the glass like oil. Killer nose. Notes of ripe apricot, tan spice, sea breeze, cardamom, some chalky limestone soil and sea shells. Rich and silky in the mouth. Light and not too heavy. Long finish. In a great spot. — 4 years ago

Randy Fillingim

9.5

As good a Pinot - 2009. - that I have had. Seamless. Tannins and fruits in near perfect harmony. Initial taste - amazing. AND it finishes just as good. — 5 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. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The White Burgundy was excellent but, still have to have my BSR 375ml. It’s been awhile for us.

It is a little better tonight following the Burgundy & soft white cheese.

The nose on this bottle really flows out of the glass tonight. Beautiful lean fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon near the rind, blood orange, orange & tangerine & some pomegranate. Crisp volcanic minerals, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, vanillin, whiff of caramel, soft white spice, pink flowers and rose pedals.

Everything on the palate sings just a little louder tonight as well. Fruits are even a little richer than normal. Ripe & slightly gummy not as normal leaner fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon near the rind, blood orange, orange & tangerine & some pomegranate. Crisp and grippy, volcanic minerals, beautiful softer, powdery chalkiness w/o quite the sharper edge it normally has, soft, hints of Provence herbs, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, vanillin, whiff of caramel, soft white spice, pink flowers and rose pedals. The acidity is crisp, lively and dead on as alway. The long, rich, well balanced finish is deliciously refreshing and persists minutes.

Photos of; one of their Grand Cru Vineyards at sunset & inside and the Estate grounds of the House of Billecart, — 6 years ago

Jason Gelman

8.9

always love txakolina. this one is super minerally, heavy dose of salt and brine, good bite of lime, and some pear to round it out. this is a really enjoyable, crisp bottle but is one touch too austere (dry + salty) for me. one extra bit of roundness and acid (if that makes any sense) to cut against the salt and this is a total home run but still very enjoyable. — 7 years ago

romo

9.0

Keep it chilled. Hits the spot with the right (sea)food. — 8 months ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.7

This was opened and we enjoyed a few glasses before recorking and reapproaching 24 hours later, at which point it was really singing. Yellow peach, pear and medley of orchard fruit, layered with pressed yellow flowers, dried persimmon, and notes of vanilla and bourbon. So delicate. Such fine bubbles. Saltwater taffy and some caramel and rock salt on the palate. Subtle tannic echo. Mesmerizing. — 3 years ago

S T

9.2

Heavy, thick, bold pinot noir! Atypical, yet tasty. — 4 years ago

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. — 6 years ago

Peter Sidell

9.4

Kind to the palate — 6 years ago

Sebastien Leger

9.0

Young, needed decanting. Super strong at 14.7% vol, yet nice acidity. Felt tannic, not a traditional Pinot. Very hard to find! — 6 years ago

J Chechik

9.3

Delicious. Huge cherry fruit & long finish. Wonderful treat. . — 7 years ago