Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”

The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.

The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.

Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,

Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.

The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.

All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 5 years ago

Ma K

9.1

This is Haneya Prism, Ginjo, not Kirabi.
Brewed April of 2019.
Flagrance is not as strong, but smells like fruity mix of pear and melon. Smooth and fresh, very light body as it goes into mouth. A hint of bitterness comes well after passing throat. — 6 years ago

Bethann Finley

10

Wonderful blend and wonderful story behind it. — 6 years ago

Micah Woong

9.0

Cherry, Cola, jammy — 7 years ago

Brian S

9.0

The entry level Montigiano, stewed tomatoes, raspberry, cranberry, candied cherry and purple flowers. All cement tank fermented and aged 16-20 months. — 7 years ago

Jason McLaren

9.0

Interesting white blend. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

Theorem was one of our highlights last year, so we made sure a return visit was lined up this year. Base of Diamond Mtn with one of the most beautiful properties I’ve seen. Over the last 12 months, they’ve added a couple new wines (with more to come from Moon Mountain). TRB is the winemaker.

In the running for red wine of the trip. When visiting last year, I preferred the ‘14 (ripe, balanced, savory) over the ‘15 (more acidity, touch lighter, high toned)...this ‘13 takes the best of each and marries them. This is a classic high end TRB Cabernet from a stellar vintage. Truffles raspberries, candied black cherries, cocoa dusted mixed berry pie and graphite aromatics accompanied by sweet blueberries, freshly squeezed blackberries, toffee and espresso, baking spices, and fine grained tannins. Built like a tank. Superb. — 5 years ago

Lance E. Farman

9.3

The 04' is giving it's all right now. Incredibly perfumed with brambly berries and Earth. Acid and fruit nicely integrated and firm but elegant tannins add depth and structure. Excellent and has plenty more in the tank. — 6 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.0

Loads of raspberries, nice rich/light purple, great jam and sour acid, mild tannins, good minerals and chalky clays, very drinkable — 6 years ago

Justin Wade

8.9

Not bad, only a little bit sweet. Good mouth feel and flavor. — 6 years ago

with Matt and Camilla

Tim Dowling

9.1

Tank garage winery Dream Police #yummy — 7 years ago

Jason McLaren

9.1

Good medium — 7 years ago

with Joseph

David Wanek

9.6

In a great place right now. Plenty left in the tank but drinking really well. — 8 years ago

Philip Patston

9.0

Taking a Kansas beer to a Super Bowl party hosted by SF fans. Perfect. And the beer is good too! — 5 years ago

John B

9.5

I am a big fan of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and every bottle I’ve enjoyed from Beaucastel has been a wonderful representation. However, this is my first time trying the Hommage as they can be hard to find and come at a significantly higher price-point. The Hommage, as the name states, is made in honor of Jacques Perrin and comes from the best vines on the property.

Our wine today is opaque medium ruby in color with pale ruby variation toward the edges of the glass. Slightly tight on the nose, we let this decant while my friend and I enjoyed a different bottle. Once the wine opened, the nose offered aromas of dusty pomegranate, graphite, sous bois, wet gravel, mushroom, and cigar ash. This is another wine I could smell all day. Since that’s not the main point of wine, the palate showcases notes of chewy cherry, red licorice, tobacco, soggy earth, and green underbrush. A beautiful bottle with plenty of gas left in the tank, this is full-bodied with moderately high acidity, fully integrated mild tannins, and a long finish that really made me wish we had more with my last sip. — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 4), HK GRUBER (Aerial, Concerto for trumpet and orchestra) with the amazing Håkan Hardenberger as the trumpet soloist and then STRAUSS (“Dance of the Seven Veils” from Salome). Andris and Håkan happen to be friends, and both are trumpet players, I expect to see some playful nature to their interaction this afternoon. Mr. Hardenberger is a world renowned and virtuousic player, we're always glad to hear him, this will be his 4th Tanglewood appearance in 5 years. We expect various mutes to be employed over the work, a cow horn (yes it is want you think) and then finishing with piccolo trumpet, exciting to have a soloist work multiple instruments over his appearance

Nose has strawberry-banana smoothie, light crushed red raspberry and freshly washed cherry.

Palate has red currant, red raspberry, slight grassy note and faint wet sandstone.

Exciting to get back to this bottle. Our last experience was directly off tank (Fall '18) which was tapped by Morten for us, very cloudy then, but flavors were beginning to come together. 100% Pinot Noir. — 6 years ago

Sean Conk

9.4

Awesome blend — 7 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Better the second time! Old world spice coated in lush dark fruit. Figs. Baked Cranberry jam. — 7 years ago

Matt Sterr

8.9

Perhaps the best box 📦 Wine I’ve ever had. — 8 years ago

Aleshia Pena

9.5

Wow... very yummy and a surprising texture. Much more smooth and full bodied than I've experienced with a rose. I'm a fan! Yum! — 8 years ago