Nicolas Greinacher

9.2

The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle is fairly muted. Two hours in the decanter help unwind a restrained bouquet of rose pedals, violets, red and black cherry, cranberry, wood smoke and hints of iodine. Just a notch below full-bodied, the wine is tightly structured and embodies an underlying strength, which undoubtedly will be unleashed after a few years of bottle aging. I wouldn't dare touching this for at least 10 more years. Drink from 2030 until 2050. — 3 years ago

Glen Shikunov

9.0

Dark fruit, coffee and spice. Great on the nose, mediocre finish by otherwise top notch. Would buy again. — 4 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

Crunchy black cherries and all kinds of berries, roses and lilacs, distant notes of smoke, granite rocks and sous-bois funk. Wonderful acidity, slightly dusty at the end. Very harmonious stuff, good stuffing and structure, I’d say this is drinking beautifully now, yet has the backbone to survive, or even improve, for 5 years at least.

On day 2: fruit turns more serious - deeper, darker - and savory notes enter the spectrum. Acidity melts into the wine, as well. Yum..!
Up a notch! — 4 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Enjoyed this, though it does comes off a little harsh, which can perhaps be attributed to its youth. A NAS, but as I understand, the blend is at least as old as the standard 10 year old. It definitely has a pretty similar profile - pepper, brine, peat smoke, and citrus. Would be good to taste them side-by-side given the general consensus that the Storm's essentially the 10 taken up a notch. There's a really "sweet" inner core that pushes through to peaty, somewhat-medicinal finish. Medium length. Really liking this profile (particularly the saline character) so I'm definitely going to be checking out the rest of the range. — 4 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.3

The 2016 is out. It’s real and it’s spectacular. The past couple vintages have been enjoyable but a notch below. This one knocks it out of the park but it has to be your thing. Shows TONS of leather, mushroom, bacon fat. Lingering finish of iron. There quite simply is no better value out there than Pontificis - even in down years. Period. $7 at Trader Joe’s. Stock up! — 7 years ago

Bruce Walker

9.0

Not big on Zins but this one really changed my mind! Top notch! — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.5

I must thank my fellow lunchers for not wolfing down this wine despite how much they all adored it. It really gave the wine a chance to showcase its brilliance. This was full-bodied, concentrated, hugely complex, and most importantly, super energetic. The flavours are pretty much consistent with my last notes, but the seafood lunch really took this up a notch. Paired perfectly with some steamed prawns. What a wine! Everyone’s pick for wine of the meal. — 3 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Bright and dark rubi robe, asian spices, dark cherries and violettes followed by a dense and structured mouth that is opening up. Mme Tremblay does some of the very finest burgundies these days and this one is top notch. — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Eric L.

9.5

Really terrific, top-notch Syrah blend. Concentrated, but executed with perfect balance. I’m not always a big Paso fan, but Fulldraw is always great. — 4 years ago

Becky Turner

9.3

Fun, almost bubbly, a refreshing wine in a sea of so many! A notch above the rest with its interesting depth. — 5 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Very succulent Nebbiolo with the tell tale crushed violets and leather notes. Beautiful and restrained fruit balanced with great acidity. This is top notch stuff that sells for a song. Probably the best Barolo bang for the buck I know. This very drinkable now but will take many years on the cellar and benefit from it. Grab what you can ! — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.3

Just a beautiful #pomerol with elegant black currant aromas, velvety tannins and a faint echo of spice. This 2014 is a great representation of the region taken up a notch above very good.
— 7 years ago

Aaron Means

9.7

THE. BEST. DOMESTIC. CHARD!!!!!! Yes, yes, yes. I'm blown away. This is the best domestic chard I've ever drank. This particular vintage is killer. I could poor this in a lineup of top notch Meursault and none would be the wiser, that's how good this is. Intense smoke/funk brought on by minerality that most domestic producers could only dream of. A legendary wine in my book. @June's All Day, Austin TX — 8 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

After some 2300 km in the trunk of my car, this is now served (after a much deserved 3 weeks rest in my cellar) at cellar temperature (about 16°C). I'm of course biased but man, this is good for the €€€.

The nose is violet, red forest fruits and that irony thing which might well be a terroir thing (the soil they grew their vines upon are reddish which tells me they could well be full of iron). The palate is well balanced, with a good acid backbone but some matter too and I see some evolution in the way this wine is made as earlier vintages were much thiner and acid driven and here there's acid, yes, but there is sufficient matter and a very nice mouthfeel, and fruit all along to balance it perfectly. Some lively tannins, kicking things up a notch and a rather long finish with fruits, that irony thing and a bit of bitterness which is very much a varietal thing. I love it, but I'm biased 🙃. — 4 years ago

Brandon T

9.4

Another beauty. Reminded us of some top notch Cali pinots. — 4 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.4

Rich and buttery, fresh, balanced, long. Top notch and no rush to drink, probably killer in 5 years time. — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Eric

9.5

Just a top notch Napa CF. — 5 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

This is very good but not as good as the 14 lechet or the 15 montmains from the critically hated vintage. Go figure. It’s very good and perfectly balanced. But it lacks the density of the 14 Lechet. Still a eellnmade wine and a lovely drink with scallops.

After an hour this has this almost sweet tartness. Lovely. And the internal aromatics are very good. Lingering acidity. Still a notch below the other two wines but very good and Fabian worthy.

Bought from fass selections — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.0

A notch or two below the Kistler. Harmless but uninspiring. — 7 years ago

Richard Haynes

9.3

Year after year top notch #columbiavalley #Riesling — 8 years ago