Universal Wine Network

Hall Wines

Ellie's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Cici like. Very approachable, more universal Napa cab. Mild tannins, soft, balanced fruit. — 7 years ago

Bollinger

Brut Rosé Champagne Blend

Always reliable amazing QPR NV Rose bubbles @ £30-36 that is our go to Rose next to Bruno Paillard, LP Rose, Billecart Salmon, Perrier Jouet Rose ... oh ok we like too many NV Rose but hey it’s nearly Christmas 🎄🥂 & perfect in Zalto Universal glass 👍

📍 Bollinger Rose NV

🏵 93 points

🍇 62% PInot Noir, 24% Chardonnay & 14% Pinot Meunier with 6% still red

🍷 Peachy salmon glimmering pink

👃 Strawberry cream biscuit w/ raspberry & peach in rock minerals & a citrus mist

👄 Med bodied creamy fresh fine mousse of peach, strawberry, raspberry, red currant & grapefruit w/ red apple & a sweet citrus shortbread biscuit in med acidity

🎯 Long fresh red fruits w/ a dry biscuity grapefruit & red apple finale
— 7 years ago

Chris, Ted and 19 others liked this

Blankiet Estate

Paradise Hills Vineyard Merlot 2003

Somm David T
9.5

This is an elegant, feminine beauty. It's a back to back night of 2003. On the nose, liqueured black cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, warm, slightly chard toast, anise, black cherry licorice, baking spices and dark fresh & dry florals. The mouthfeel is resolved, rich and elegant. Fruits of; black cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, a blend of black raspberries & raspberries. Bright vanillin, cinnamon, medium spice, toast, bright red florals, violets, dark & milk chocolate, rich, moist loamy soils, touch of crushed rocks, delicate volcanic minerals, mouthwatering acidity and a polished, rich finish that lasts & lasts. This is somewhere around it's peak. It's incredibly delicious! Photos of; their beautiful vineyards, amazing Italian style villa estate and front entrance. Producer history and notes...Blankiet was started by Claude & Katherine Blankiet in 1996 with 46 acres ranging over several volcanic hills above the town of Yountville. I believe Claude made his first big money as the creator of Stone Washed Jeans. David Abreu was hired to develop the land and Helen Turley made their first eight vintages. The winery is connected to a deep underground network of caves and were designed by architect John Lail. Blankiet’s current winemaker is Bordelais Denis Malbec, the former cellar master at Chateau Latour. Blankiet is located in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are planted in volcanic soils while the Merlot is planted in gravelly-clay alluvial soils. Blankiet has great Terrior locations and have spared no expense in their winemaking facilities. If you haven't had their wines, they are definitely worth acquiring. — 8 years ago

Eric, Trixie and 23 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

What a photo!
TheSkip

TheSkip

If I were a billionaire, I'd totally just throw a ton of money to see if "I" could make (really, that means "fund") as many 100 point wines as I could. Total hobby.

Mettler Family Vineyards

Epicenter Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2013

OW
9.1

Velvety, almost licorice taste. Doesn't seem right to drink it while watching Cartoon Network. — 9 years ago

Venus La Universal

Mas Sorrer Montsant Red Blend 2013

Dig it. Bright, mildly tannic, fresh. — 10 years ago

Road 13 Vineyards

Old Vines Okanagan Valley Chenin Blanc 2014

Apple and honey with this one like a tight, dry apple cider. I like it, though that positive sentiment wasn't universal in our tasting group. This might be too dry for some. — 10 years ago

Anita Beishuizen
with Anita

Venus La Universal

Dido la Universal Montsant Garnacha Blend 2012

Dark berries, dry and delicious. — 11 years ago

Bob liked this

Et Fille

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010

Ladies Network. My lawyer brought this.

Great nose, smooth and complex all at the same time.
— 11 years ago

The Pinot Project

California Pinot Noir 2011

André Guérin
8.9

I can see why the Food Network gave this Pinot so much love. Probably the best inexpensive Pinot you'll get from Cali. Doesn't taste like purchased fruit. Not bad at all. — 12 years ago

Mas Champart

Causse du Bousquet Saint-Chinian Red Blend 2014

Drunk for first time out of a new glass-Zalto denk’art universal- holy moly: much more subtle & fresh for a “purple “ wine that I typically would expect. Maybe it’s the glass...but boysenberry, blackberry & lift. Kermit import. — 7 years ago

Alex, P and 3 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Sous Bois Champagne Blend

First indulgence of this £59 bubbly white crunchy fancy fizz bucket and it’s rather delish with a bit of white fish we nommed with it 😁 here fishy fishy 🐟 Perfect in a #zalto universal @zaltify your bubbles 😍

📍 Billecart Salmon Sous Bois Brut NV

🏵 94-95 points

🍇 A third equal Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier

🍷 Golden pale straw

👃 Vanilla custard & ice cream smothered over apple crumble w/ torn butter brioche, soft oak, lemon curd, mineral water & honey

👄 Med bodied dry refreshing fine bubbled mousse of creamy butter green apple & citrus pie in caramel custard creme brûlée w/ mineral sprinkles in med acidity

🎯 Long dry rich velvety zingy apple & citrus shortbread biscuit linger w/ lemon peel shavings
— 7 years ago

Chris, Ron and 28 others liked this

Davide Spillare

Crestan Bianco White Blend

Almost a fishy nose, but the flavor was interesting - in a good way - unlike anything else I've had. Not a universal opinion at the table though. Some hated it. — 8 years ago

Domaine Trapet Père & Fils

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2012

Wow. Universal applause from all five of us. Light bodied and fruity but with structured balance. Raspberry, citrus, nutty on the finish. Just right with cured meats. — 9 years ago

Venus La Universal

La Universal Montsant Syrah Blend

Still quite youthful fruit, but mellowed tannins, with cassis, tarragon and something dark and smoky on the finish. — 9 years ago

Lynne K
with Lynne

Finca Constancia

Parcela 52 Verdejo

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET
8.9

#verdejo #oakintegrated #tierradecastilla #castilla #gonzalezbyass #qpr can definitely age. Universal in the sense that it's great on its own and with many other dishes. — 10 years ago

Daniel P. liked this

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi

Rèmole Rosso Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2013

Smooth and nice. Very universal. — 10 years ago

Venus La Universal

Dido Blanco Montsant White Blend 2013

Also good with pig head! — 11 years ago

Matt and Dave liked this

Château de Chaintré

Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay 2013

Well balanced quality chardonnay clean fresh and minerally great finish. Food network example of this type of wine — 11 years ago

Fattoria Selvapiana

Vigneto Bucerchiale Riserva Chianti Rùfina Sangiovese 2009

To quote one of my least favorite food network stars (Rachel Ray), "YUM-O!" BTG has it by the glass! — 12 years ago

Cave de Saint-Désirat

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2017

Shone dried leaves black cherry nose. Power tannins! White pepper and menthol more prominent in your trap. Chalky lavendar hints. Pleasingly huge and tight. More brutal, less primary than the 2016, oddly. Down a point as the appeal is less universal even though this is more to my taste. — 7 years ago

Wind Gap Wines

Windsor Oaks Vineyard Pinot Gris 2012

Marc Stubblefield
9.2

A savory juicy textured herbal food pairing champ. Like cooking sous-vide with an immersion circulator, what was once a geeky oddity has found a permanent home on our table. Not a universal solution, but really the right tool for the job in certain situations. Like pan seared halibut with fennel or spring vegetable risotto. — 8 years ago

P, Jonathan and 15 others liked this

Remo Farina

Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina Blend 2015

Gulpable food wine with unmistakable Italian character, casual, dark berries, leather , like the universal donor of wine — 8 years ago

Trixie liked this

Venus La Universal

Dido "La Solució Rosa" Montsant Garnacha 2013

Banging. All natural, very bright, rich and round. Very happy wine. — 9 years ago

Gérard Villet

Cépage Arbois Chardonnay 1997

Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you watch a lot of Cartoon Network and drink mid-price Chardonnay at 11 in the morning.

- Conan O'Brien
— 9 years ago

Ben Richards
with Ben

Benjamin Leroux

Puligny-Montrachet Chardonnay 2013

Classic white burgundy served in Zalto universal glass. What is not to like? Paired seamlessly with all the food we had that evening - faro salad, Cesar salad, grilled octopus, mushroom pasta and chicken. — 9 years ago

Dinavolo

Vina da Tavola Ortrugo Blend

Gorgeous layers that take hours to fully unveil their scents & flavours. A #wine to sit with whist pondering universal untruths. #orangewine #italy good #booze — 10 years ago

Juvenile, Chris and 1 other liked this

Carletto

Ricco Marche IGT SuperTuscan Blend

Red Blend. Had at Vivo in Universal Studios Orlando City Walk. — 11 years ago

Darioush

Caravan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

The universal favorite of the night. A lovely California cab — 11 years ago

Venus La Universal

Dido Montsant Macabeu i Garnatxa 2012

Kim Colonna
8.9

Ahhh montant !! Great powerful and smooth white.. Really enjoyed it !! — 11 years ago

Hirsch Vineyards

Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2008

All around hedonistically pleasing wine. Sipped from the exquisite glasses with differing results. Loved the hi-tones and citrus notes accentuated by Zalto's Universal, but also found the uber flinty accents brought to fore in the Riedel Som Series Montrachet rather pleasing. Palate was incredibly vibrant and tensile while managing moments of indulgently soft tones yet finishing with deft, electrically zing. Yum! — 12 years ago

Hirsch liked this