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. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

An interesting CA Chardonnay done in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation, refreshing from typical CA style. Aromas of fruit, floral and spice. On the palate peach and tropical fruits with an underlying sweetness. Medium length ending on the crisp side. If you find a ‘13, drink now! Great value! — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Carbonic maceration version of Nero d’Avola. Stainless steel. Fresh with low tannins. Cherries. — 9 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Lime, steel and flint. Loads of fresh bright fruit. Lovely and clear. Great balance and length — 9 years ago

with Naoko, Larry and 1 other

April Wang

9.3

Sweet hazelnut, almond, stainless steel — 10 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Bright and fresh nose. Fresh white flowers and a touch of sandalwood. On the palate a broad, ripe citrus, fresh and long. Ripe. Lacks some of the steel of other vintages. Very good — 10 years ago

with Matt

Conrad Green

9.1

Really fresh, yeasty, with steel, lemons and good definition. A lot of promise. Young — 7 years ago

with Bex and Major-General

Delectable Wine

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9.3

(raised in stainless steel tanks and made with no malo) Limpid straw-yellow. Assertive, mineral-accented orchard fruit, melon and fennel aromas are sharpened by hints of ginger and lemon zest. Intense pear skin, Meyer lemon and violet pastille flavors show a suave blend of richness and delicacy thanks to a spine of juicy acidity. Closes minerally, taut and impressively long, leaving a powerful floral note behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, February 2018) — 8 years ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Lush and delicious - stainless steel and concrete keep this honest, fruit driven and energetic. Still has a full almost creamy mouthfeel but driven by crystalline orchard fruit, smoky minerals, and piercing citrus acidity. Fresh, drinkable, but complex and worthy of pairing with a great meal. — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.3

One of the better incarnations of Melville’s stainless steel-fermented chardonnay. Aromas of lemon peel, candied melon, and a trace of flint. Terrific acidity, with a nice evolution of flavors on the palate that serve to fill the wine out. Surprisingly lingering finish given the degree of acidity, which suggests to me that this wine is going to be very interesting for quite a few years. Great job by the team at Melville! — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2010 vintage. Santa Barbara County. Chardonnay sourced from 2 vineyards: Sandford & Benedict (55%) and Solomon Hills (45%). From the team behind Jonata. Aged 50% in neutral oak, 25% new oak and 25% stainless steel. Light brilliant yellow. Intense perfumes of white peach, lemon and flowers with a hint of coconut. Concentrated with layers of fruit, a certain minerality and crispy acidity. The oak is present but well-integrated. Long lemon confit finish . This should be even better in a few years. — 9 years ago

Joscelyn MacKay

8.9

Pretty good — 10 years ago

Reuben Smith

9.3

Fantastic dry chard. Steel barrel fermentation taste. Citrus and vanilla notes. $16 at K&L — 10 years ago

Melissa Housman

9.1

All on stainless steel, nice acidity/minerality. — 7 years ago

Mickie Meinhardt

8.9

May be time for me to explore the Dinger Lakes, as I enjoyed this so much. Super high acid on this, tart and vaguely tropical, right and dry and puckering even. But crisp, v light, drinkable and refreshing. Replace your Sauv Blanc with this on a hot day. — 7 years ago

Lea Jane

9.1

2016 Leo Steen Chenin Blanc, sandy Loamy soil, high natural acidity. Aged in steel tanks followed by 4 mos of barrel aging in neutral oak. — 8 years ago

Stephanie Cleary

10

Toasted notes of caramel and space are intermingled with deep dark fruit flavors. — 8 years ago

Max Meister

8.9

Danke Olli 😘 — 9 years ago

David D

8.9

Bright, aged in steel. Plums, cherries, nice acid, not so tannic. 90% Montepulciano, 10% Sangiovese. From Good Wines. — 10 years ago

Todd Slan

9.2

Not for the faint of heart... — 10 years ago

with Christian