Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Congratulations to TB12 on going to his 14th Conference Championship.

The nose shows; more macerated green & golden apple, pineapple than usual. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, chalk, sea spray, roasted white spice, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale with withering lilies and some spring flowers.

The palate has softer mousse & less lively acidity than previous bottles. Still nice but, it’s giving cause to wonder when this bottle was disgorged. Macerated green & golden apple, yellow peach, pineapple juice. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, grey volcanics, gritty chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, roasted white spice, nuts, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale that has the high notes of root beer, vanillin with withering lilies and some spring flowers. The acidity is ok but, seems off a bit. Change in base wine for this bottling? The finish still rich, elegant, well balanced persisting minutes.

Bottle is off slightly from the many others we’ve enjoyed.

Photos of; the House of Bollinger, branded cave with resting bottles, their Cooper making barrels and one of their Grand Cru vineyards.

1/17/21 — 5 years ago

Shane Walker

10

Clear, deep garnet in colour with clean, pronounced aromas of flowers, black cherries, tobacco, leather and figs. Dry, medium to full bodied with high acidity and high tannins that are in perfect balance. Complex flavours of blackberries, cherries and vanilla with even a hint of tobacco. Long finish. Opened 6 - 7 hours before being decanted for an hour or two before consumption. An outstanding wine. One of the best, if not the best, I’ve ever had. An absolutely fantastic accompaniment to the rack of Romney Salt Marsh lamb.
— 7 years ago

with Michele

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

This one is going to need a new hours. Some funk, but it will wander away soon enough. There’s also tobacco, flowers and tar. Mushrooms and chestnut and a sense of the warmth of 1997. Mint, menthol, a sender of gaminess. Chestnuts as well. Really well put together aromas after the funk blow off. A sense of harmony. Wood shavings. So old school. Dynamite nose. Juicy and so deep with unreal tannins and such purity and depth. Huge cherry fruit and a lovely gamey, feral quality. Palate has structure to burn and will really really age for another 10-15 years. This is a stunning stunning bottle. So juicy and super elegant despite being substantial with how much fruit and structure there is. Just a ridiculous bottle. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

As nursery owners in Bucks County, PA, Walt & Joan Flowers dreamed of combining their love of wine with their passion for agriculture and in 1989, they purchased 321 acres, in a ridge top above the Pacific on the Sonoma Coast. Bright straw yellow with aromas of tropical and citrus fruits, slight nutty tones. On the palate peach, melon and lemon zest pack a punch with sweet vanilla spice and some toasty nuts. Well balanced, a joy to drink. Long finish ending with some mineral characteristics. — 9 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

Distinct memory kick of the Muir Woods pine needle clad path by the mossy area. Sweet forest vanilla. Though even with that a bit light. Color has too much "water" on the edges. Still gorgeous. — 9 years ago

Thomas Droumenq

9.6

Never disappointing, I'll call it Bordeaux grand cru with a kicker (but let's be honest without the smoothness). You want a wine with long palate, magnificent fruit, strength in the tannins but no aggressivity. A bomb in the mouth but one of flowers. — 11 years ago

Patrick Knöfler

9.7

With my wife. The wine was pale lemon in colour and offered bouquet of flowers, citrus, peach, orange peel, almond, fresh sea breeze and mineral notes on the nose. On the palate the wine showed white flowers, stone fruit, peach, orange peel and almond, complicated by a salty mineral touch, paired with medium-level acidity, a great, buttery mouthfeel, and very good length. The medium- to full-bodied wine had good complexity and tasted concentrated yet fresh. A great Condrieu! 92 — 12 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

A generous gift from Dr Mark for my Cabernet Tasting. Sure it’s a wine which will live for decades more, but it is also a treat to try it at 24 years of age if you get the chance. From the excellent 1996 vintage. A rich dark crimson in colour - dense - hinting at the opulence to come. Aromatic heady perfumes with ripe black fruits, cedar and violets. The palate was rich and decadent and very long - full bodied with silky smooth tannins. What an experience! Sublime. A few bottles in the cellar would be nice. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Mmmm....better. 1999 was a meh vintage to most critics. I find it has evolved to better things with this much time in bottle.

The nose reveals, ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. Touch cooked green bell pepper, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers.

The body is just full. The tannins are soft, round, chewy and tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are pretty good for 99. ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. more cooked green bell pepper on the palate, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers. The acidy is nice. The finish is elegant, well balanced but, not as rich as other good vintages Palmer. It is spicy and persists minutes on the palate.

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 6 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.9

This was awesome with a floral nose with lemon and saline. Also a hint of brioche. Mouthfeel was more acidic than I was expecting which I really enjoyed. It integrated more with air, but overall was just gorgeous with apples, lemons, baked bread, and still more flowers. Lingering finish. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is a sample of the 16 Insignia still in barrel.

On the nose, the dark fresh florals exploded. The fruits are very dark currants and well extracted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries and blue fruits hues on the edges of the glass. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, core of anise and fields of violets.

The body is thick and full. The wine still very fresh. The tannins big, meaty and chewy. The dark fruits are quite floral. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries with blue fruits. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, crushed dry rocks, river stones, tough leather, cedar, core of anise with red flowers and fields of violets. Very good round acidity. The long, big, ruby, lush, well balanced finish is beautiful.

The fruit, tannins and acidity all speak to it being 95+ and a long cellar.
— 8 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.3

Like drinking a garden full of white flowers. Exactly what a decent Condrieu with a bit of age should be. — 11 years ago

with Michael and Craig

Scott Hill

10

Boldly aromatic with layers of stone fruit, lavender honey, crushed flowers and mineral. Unctuous on the palate, very complex and extremely rich, with expressive honeysuckle, peach, white grapes, baked pear and a hint of marzipan. Gorgeous on the finish! #wine #beaucastelblanc #roussanne #heaven — 11 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

Bright, green-tinged yellow. Penetrating aromas of fresh citrus and pit fruits are complicated by suggestions of chalky minerals and pungent flowers. Juicy and sharply focused, offering vibrant pear, Meyer lemon and honeysuckle flavors that show very good clarity and minerally lift. The mineral and floral notes carry through the incisive finish, which lingers with strong tenacity. Raised in neutral barriques. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Our favorite Spring day is when we get plant the yard. Especially, during Covid-19 lockdown. Never more enjoyable.

Flowers by Sofia. Garden is me.

A great weather day and worthwhile doing a cheers with of one of our favorite N/V Rosé Champagne’s.

With the lockdown, I am running dangerously low on Rosé Champange. I might have to Soda Stream some Rosé wine soon.

All my many, many notes still apply.

Cheers all and Happy Easter if you celebrate it. 🍾🥂🍷 🐣 🐰 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2003 'Vina Tondonia' Blanco Reserva is a tremendous effort from a challenging vintage. Needing more than 30 minutes in the decanter to be fully expressive, this wine opens to aromas of beeswax, smoky oak, Bartlett pear and slight suggestions of fresh white flowers. This leads to flavors reminiscent of nutmeg, cardamom, cantaloupe, beeswax and green papaya. There is an gorgeous overall range of flavors that persist with an oily texture through the finish. Drink 2019-2030- 93 — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid Gold in colour, looking way older than it actually is. Strong aromas of Apricot and to a lesser extent honeysuckle and White flowers. An unctuous flavoursome full bodied palate exhibiting great texture and intensity with the Apricot coming through. Finishes Dry. Delicious and different. Will purchase more. Muscat of Alexandria also known as Zibibbo in Sicily. — 7 years ago

Holly Orchard

Certified Sommelier, President of Savvy Cellar Wines Inc.

9.0

Really nice but definitely needs food! Plenty of acids and tannins and pairs magnificently with pork/beef meatballs in a homemade tomato sauce. I would recommend some aggressive, aerating style decanting before serving this wine- smokey tar, wet concrete, dried herbs, anise and dried flowers, dried cherries,dried red currants, finishing with a "meat jerky" note. Did I mention the acid?? Hold on to your teeth enamel, grab some food, and enjoy! — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.5

2005: gorgeous wine. Lifted aromatics, white flowers, very terroir driven with stony chalky notes, deft touches of green apple, pear and white peach. Gently integrated oak. Wonderful mouthfeel, light phenolics, lovely vibrant acidity. Very mineral led style. Is what a Grand Cru Chablis wishes it could be... — 11 years ago

with Matté

Christine Havens

9.6

This 375 ML is drinking beautifully now. Offers up a bouquet of spring herbs and meadow flowers. Red fruit on the palate, but fruit isn't the primary characteristic. There's dusty earth, savory herbs, and fine tannins that are very much like green or black tea. Finishes with a lovely spice note, sweet tobacco and bay leaf. There is, too...lively acidity that will make this classic Bandol an excellent food wine. — 12 years ago