Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The images aren’t flashy like Krug, Billecart or Ruinart etc. but, if you want a really nice, well priced Blanc de Blanc Champagne, this is for you. At, $24.99, I would challenge anyone to find another Champagne let alone a good one at this price point. As well, an equal Cremant or sparking wine in the same price range. Exceptional QPR here!

The nose is bright and fresh. Crisp green apple, lighter color citrus, overripe pineapple, orange peel and spray, touch of golden apple, touch of bruised pear, ginger notes, vanilla cream soda, caramel notes, spice, hints of baguette crust, honey, darker minerals with chalk, sea spray, fruit blossoms and withering yellow lilies.

The wine brings rich, reductive freshness and substantial acidity to your palate. Crisp green apple, lighter color citrus, overripe pineapple, orange peel and spray, under ripe green melon, touch of golden apple, light bruised pear, ginger notes, vanilla cream soda, caramel notes, marzipan, white spice, hints of baguette crust, honey, darker minerals that press the palate deeply with teeth & heat, nice chalkiness, sea spray, fruit blossoms with withering yellow lilies. The finish is quite nice with richness and goes on and on and on.

Photos of; the House of Baron Fuentes, Chardonnay grapes being harvested and Eric De Brisis, the proprietor for Baron Fuente, which is owned by Ignace Baron.

Baron Fuente is a Champagne negotiant that also owns thirty-eight hectares of their own vineyards. They are located in a village called Charly at the far western edge of Champagne. The side closest to Paris. — 6 years ago

Clive McNish

9.5

After last weekends 2014 success I discovered the 2009 lurking in a local liquor store. Firstly there was a cork emergency as it broke while trying to remove. I have read other reviews mentioning this for the 2009 so beware. No drama, the wine is fine but it might make me think twice about buying any more to lay down. First thirty minutes out of the bottle is no go, disjointed and harsh flavours. After an hour in the decanter the wine comes to life, visually some browning around the edges and great aromas of dark fruit, tobacco, earth and oak. Nose develops lavender, green pepper and chocolate as time goes on. Palate is rounded, with a complex blend of all of the above plus lead pencil (I never understood that one until today), tar and cherry. Great, fragrant finish. Real quality, two vintages on two Saturdays ‘14 slightly better than the ‘09 in my opinion but both really good. I see that the ‘15 is available now; next weekend? — 7 years ago

Keith Whitener WSET Diploma, CSW

9.5

Actuall this is 2013 Lindsay's Vineyard. One hour thirty minutes to Turkey. Ladies and gentlemen, pop your corks ! Happy Thanksgiving🍷Cheers — 8 years ago

Marissa A. Ross

Wine Editor, Bon Appétit

9.0

One of my favorite "writing wines", meaning a tart, funky, light red I can chill for a quick thirty and daydrink the shit out of for weeks on end. It's uncomplicated and chuggable on all levels, and reminds me of why I write about wine. Because above all else, wine is fun. — 9 years ago

Charlie Tapp

9.3

Incredible mint and eucalyptus on this one, thirty years on. — 9 years ago

Erica Schoonmaker

8.9

One of few Chardonnays that I like — 10 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

Really impressive. One of the most tannic young Burgundies I've ever had. Shut like a coffin up front, but blossomed into high-toned pinosity after thirty minutes. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.9

So, we arrived in Napa Friday morning and started at Promontory with a glass of 2006 Dom Perignon as they do not make a white, only one red wine. We also tasted the 2016 out of large Austrian oak vats. That wine shows great promise but won’t be available until 2021.

We then tasted their inaugural 2008 vintage and the 2009. Thirty-six hours later and five other excellent Napa wine producers visits later, I am still thinking about these wines.

This wines were so good, heady and absolutely stunning, it was painful not to spend an hour contemplating each of them. Instead, having to rush off to Vineyard 29 for our next appointment with my tasting glasses half full.

My notes below detailed as they may, will not do these wines justice and still underwhelm the experience. At times, I was at a loss for words to wholly convey the experience. It defied the allotted time and my verbal skills. These wines created an entire body experience. I am still thinking about my tasting experience and will likely still be thinking about it for weeks.

Beautiful dark currants & cassis framed in light oak with amazing florals. There’s a light smokiness, blackberries, dark plum, dark cherries, lots of blue fruits, boysenberries, black raspberries, strawberries, soft wood, beautifully layered light baking spices, very light spice, steeped tea, dark chocolate, mocha, light caramel, cedar, fresh tobacco, Provence herbs, dark floral bouquet, violets, blue flowers and lavender. Absolute stunning nose I didn’t want to stop experiencing the layers, the way it nuances crisscrossed in my head.

The body is light, weightless, yet full. Fine dusty tannins with some stickiness. It glides in layers & waves across the palate. What finely knitted structure, tension, amazing length with incredible balance. Both dark currants & cassis framed lightly in oak with amazing enticing florals. Light smokiness, ripe beautiful; blackberries, dark plum, dark cherries, lots of blue fruits, boysenberries, black raspberries, strawberries. soft saddle-wood to light presence of cedar. Beautifully layered light baking spices, asian spices, steeped tea, dark chocolate, mocha, light caramel, cedar, fresh tobacco, anise, Provence herbs, finely crushed rock dust, dark floral bouquet, violets, blue flowers and lavender. The acidity is brilliant like a gentle rain shower. The incredible finish is everything you look for in a wine and then some.

When I left, I wished I had another undistracted hour or more to enjoy and study each wine further.

Photos of, the view from Promontory over looking Harlan and Promontory vines, the fire we enjoyed on a cool morning to enjoy our 06 Dom Perignon, immaculate barrel room and new oak barrels and their oak & concrete vats. — 6 years ago

with James

Vincent Wouda-Séguin

9.3

What an absolute amazing wine. This is truly one of my favorite VQA’s. Subtle spice, strong fruit, light finish. Nothing too complex but just perfect. — 7 years ago

Bill Belanger

9.2

The wine steward at One Market recommended a montepulciano from Napa, of all things. Thirty minutes later, we were drinking the Pavi version of that grape. Dark purple, with prominent tannins, but also with the plum/berry flavors of Abruzzo. Wonderful! — 8 years ago

George Hesse

9.3

Here's another delightful Brunello. This one has the nose and color of a wine of decent age. 1986 to be precise! Thirty years has not harmed this Italian beauty! — 9 years ago

D Newman

10

There's a reason this winery's wines are all marked "sold out" and Trestle is one of them. Easy on the palette w/out cloying sweetness. — 9 years ago

Richard Betts

Master Sommelier/Winemaker/Mezcalero Saint Glinglin, Sombra

10

Best thirty bucks I've spent all year and one of the great Rieslings ever. Forever ever. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Sure is a classic example of dichotomy of Bordeaux and Napa wines. Especially, with a slightly aged Napa Cabernet vs. a thirty-two year old Bordeaux.

This 11 is big, bold, dark and super rich!

The nose reveals, black cherry kirsch, sour cherries, very ripe blackberries, light blueberries, stewed black plum & black raspberries. A little bit of gym locker, some smokiness, savory notes, melted black licorice, vanilla, clove, caramel, cinnamon stick, dark chocolate, mocha, hints of allspice, crushed dry rocks, Provence herbs, dark spice, steeped fruit tea, deep, sweet tarriness, rich dark soil, limestone minerals, warm toast with withering dark flowers, violets painted with notes of lavender.

The body is medium-full, lush and rich. The tannins are round, softening and sticky tarry. The structure, tension are big. The length and balance are just rounded into something a little special. Black cherry kirsch, sour cherries, huckleberries, very ripe blackberries, light blueberries, stewed black plum & black raspberries. A little bit of gym locker, some smokiness, savory notes, melted black licorice, vanilla, clove, caramel, cinnamon stick, dark chocolate, mocha, hints of allspice, used dark roast coffee grounds, crushed dry rocks, Provence herbs, dark spice, steeped fruit tea, deep, sweet tarriness, rich dark soil, limestone minerals, warm toast with withering dark flowers, violets painted with notes of lavender. The acidity is nicely round. The long finish is rich, lush, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and lasts minutes.

One of the better 2011 Napa Cabernet’s I’ve had thus far! Just missed 9.4. Happy 2019!!! 🎉🎊🎈

Photos of, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars tasting room & estate vines, inside look at their tasting area and their Fay Vineyard. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.8

One of the two or three most moving wines in this vertical, the 1988 Cristal is eternal. Deep and vertical, with Gothic spires of soaring aromatic, flavor and structural intensity, the 1988 has it all. At thirty years of age, the 1988 is fresh, vibrant and incredibly powerful. Lemon peel, white flower, chalk and almonds are all given an extra kick of vibrancy from the bright acids and underlying energy of the vintage. Even after three decades, the 1988 remains searing, classically austere and beautifully focused, with tremendous pedigree and stunning balance. The 1988 is a rare Cristal where the Chardonnay, at 48% of the blend, is on the higher side. “When I joined Roederer in 1989, we were blending the 1988s,” Lécaillon explains. “They were such hard wines to work with because the acidities were so high. My teeth suffered. I thought ‘am I going to have to deal with this for the rest of my life? Maybe I should change jobs?’” Luckily, he did not. “In 1988, flowering was very bad for the Chardonnay. Yields were quite low and flavors were super-intense and concentrated. This, to me, is one of the keys for making great Champagne with real dimension. Interestingly, the same is not true of Pinot Noir. Keep a glass of the 1988 to compare with the 2008 later. In my opinion, 2008 is the new 1988.” (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 6 years ago

Timothy Lynch

8.9

Starts out with sour cherry notes and not much else. Dreadfully thin. Thirty minutes in that sour quality has been replaced with a semi-rich barnyard presence that is simply a joy to drink. One hour in an amazing burnt orange tang pulls it all together. — 7 years ago

Paul H

9.0

2003 had a clove like smell upon opening the bottle along with some hot earth or some would call minerality. This was one that got better as it breathed. First impression was ash like and somewhat hot to me. Lots of tannins but the berries and chocolate did hang around. After about thirty minutes it drank nicely. Rich berries and chocolate lingered mixing well with hints of coffee in there. Finished nicely. — 9 years ago

with Kim

Willie Carter

8.9

This one needs a little time to open but after that you'll get aromas of cherries and just a hint of vanilla. Quite fruity with nice tannins, after thirty minutes you'll start to taste the dark fruits and volcanic herbs, if those kind of herbs even exist. — 9 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Chasselvin crozes hermitage blanc. 2013. Wow. One of the best under thirty whites all year rich but well balZnced. Not too much like many Rhone whites. — 10 years ago

Rich Bluth

9.6

One of the best Chards around!Balanced oak and minerality. — 10 years ago