David Annis

9.1

There's a reason burgundy with thanksgiving turkey is cliche. Well balanced. Near its peak, I'd guess. — 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.4

This is the kind of Burgundy where the old "iron fist in a velvet glove" cliche squarely fits. The texture is fine and velvety but the core is so solid and robust that I wouldn't be surprised if it needed a good 25 or 30 years to really open up. Still, it's impressive enough now that I don't feel too guilty taking an early peek. It starts out somewhat clenched but the fruit is still in line with a freshly released vintage: this actually seems to be developing at a more glacial pace than most 2010s are. (And if you have any preconceptions about a 2009 vintage style, they're not here--this is totally classic.) With air the fist relaxes and it becomes more supple and open-knit; with more air still, interesting gravelly flavors start to emerge to complement the fruit. — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.2

The lightest pineapple wafts above lemon oils misting over light alluvial rock surfaces. There are hints of lemon pudding, but they are not the vandal scrawl of winemaking delinquency, but crowning accoutrements to this lady's natural form. Seamless. #thecalling #duttonranch #chardonnay — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Nick Piccone

9.0

Vday cliche — 9 years ago

with Sarah

Michael Havens

9.1

Delicious, riding the edge between richness and raciness. Lemon sorbet, and if one might use the term without cliche, mineral cut. Great off-Cote Burgundy pleasure. — 10 years ago

with Mari

Keesha Shepherd

9.6

Keesha had this 10 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.5

As a nice follow up to the lower priced poire authentique from Dr. Bordelet this was very much a stark difference. If the poire authentique was the blanc de blancs then this is the house style cuvee. This was rather balanced and restrained in comparison carrying a silky gold-coated attack...a touch of sun and tanned skin. Buttery, acidic, jolly ranchers...I would go as far as pulling heavily cliche words like elegant and classy. — 10 years ago

August Deimel

9.8

Wine to go with Thanksgiving dinner #1. This time we hosted dinner with the in-laws. Gewurz with Thanksgiving may be a cliche, but that doesn't make it any less excellent. On the wine: I bottled this in March knowing that it had a little cabbage-y type reduction and that it perceived as a little hot. I believed in this wine. I knew it would come around. I was right!! 8 months later the wine is beautiful, with intense floral notes overlaying deep tropical aromatics. The alcohol no longer sticks out as bitter but instead gives a sense of richness. A good lesson in patience, demonstrating that an awkward youth can lead to remarkable things down the line. — 10 years ago

Mark Freund

9.7

Seems cliche to cap on the wine because it's so fashionable but it's damn good and popular for a reason. Exotic expression of Chard that doesn't veer too far from tradition. — 11 years ago

Christopher McDonald

10

Our favorite. — 12 years ago

Michael Sinowitz

9.2

Nice minerality and citrus notes that ride bright acidity (poetic note/ cliche mode). Good stuff and starting to round. — 9 years ago

with Robin

katey martin

10

At Vandal in NY with Kel, Kat and Jenny. Light, floral, lovely subtle flavor. A favorite. — 9 years ago

with Kelley

Rocket Rod

9.2

Was apprehensive at first as last time I had this (a year ago with Big Wave Dave) it was the cliche Oz Shiraz fruit bomb with high alcohol bordering on over extraction. On the second outing a lot more complex. Still classic cassis fruit and choc/tobacco overtones but not over the top and with some nice acidity still. Less spice than typical. Nice underlying tannin backbone. Lovely mouthfeel and medium body and finish. A little time has done its work nicely. — 9 years ago

with Big

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

V-DAY bubbles, a delicious cliche!
Orange and copper pink hues, a thick mousse and steady bubbles.
The nose was minerally, some hints of citrus and a yeasty, leasy note.
The palate was bright and juicy, at a certain point when the out warned up the wine the flavors popped with blood orange, pink grapefruit, sea spray, mineral and biscuit flavors. A fantastic rose #champagne that is powerful, it blows the doors open in complexity, depth and length. #eglyouriet — 9 years ago

M

9.0

First wine I've ever tried of this grape. Similar to a Sauvignon Blanc, with racing acidity and notes of grapefruit and gooseberry. Interestingly, there's blueberry coulis on the nose and palate. Very pale straw in color, light to medium bodied, 11% ABV. — 10 years ago

Stephanie Varner

9.1

One of my favs vintage to vintage. Grilled salmon, cliche but loved it — 10 years ago

Oneil Mcintosh

9.0

Oakey lol sounds cliche' but true — 10 years ago

Chris Krueger

9.6

Such a cliche, but w food and air this is killer juice — 10 years ago

McDuck .

9.2

Kirsch nose with a whisper of putrescence- big acidity into tarty stone fruit in the mouth. Neither Gabe or I have had the "Vandal Cliche" grape before. We dug it (Gabe saw possibilities) #VivaQuebec — 11 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.1

Cliche for a reason. But omg damn delicious with roast chicken. — 11 years ago

Igor Fishman

9.0

eye level gravel with my hands dirty, nine pm, fifteen years, give or take, we wanted to carry, hold eachother, push, scared of what's to come and the 'what to do', i once told you, whispers, humming bird, beak-heart, "i would love to fast forward", and now, cliche on cliche, i just want to speak to you and imagine the 'what to do', clean hands at nine pm — 9 years ago

Christopher Boyns

9.3

Super cliche but delicious. Red fruit and the mineral chalky characteristics dominate the nose and palate. Nice balanced mouthfeel and a good amount of dough character on finish — 9 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.4

This is showing very impressively, all the more so considering the very unimpressive 2001 I had recently after loving both vintages on release. It is in the heavyweight class no doubt and has only budged a little bit since release, with the structure more assertive and some of the baby fat gone and showing its bones. Visually it still has the deep, dark inky color of a wine barely past release so I was actually surprised not to find it more obviously fruit-gobbed on the palate. It's a packed and stacked wine to be sure, but the stuffing isn't about fruit so much as tarry Graves asphalt and gravel. The fruit it does show is red-complexioned, which is surprising since these are all blueberry and blackberry on release. Time in the decanter fills in a lot of the empty spaces and makes it positively voluptuous - still with a thick coat of tannin but soft and refined in texture. Not quite cashmere but not rough either. This is vastly richer, denser, and fresher than the 2001 was. It is at a point where it's probably fair to put to rest any doubts about ageability - it's stuffed but in proportion and fresh without being primary. But this and the 2001 were also the last SHLs I enjoyed on release - by 2005 the style seemed to have gone over the top. If the 2005 tastes like this in 5 years I'll have to eat some crow. That said, there's no doubt this is sort of a slutty style of Graves, not a wine for those looking for elegance or subtlety, although if it can keep developing at this rate the old "tour de force" cliche may actually fit just fine. — 9 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.5

Cliche right? I dont care, this restrained beauty is just awesome. Red fruit oriented, red currants and dried cherries. Pink roses and a nice red bell pepper finish to the nose. Acidic and ripe black cherries and underripe black raspberries on the palate with a lingering bell pepper and fresh earthy finish. Paired with a filet and mushroom ravioli. To die for. Tasted an 02 tonight and it was like water. This 03 is absurdly good. On the 02 i suspect maderization. Returning the bottle to try another. Well see what happens. — 10 years ago

Steve De Long

Owner De Long Wine Discovery Tools

10

In Nantes le Cigale with Oysters - the whole cliche but wonderful. Need to drink more Muscadet — 10 years ago

Stan Parish

9.0

The 1978 was still super fresh. Makes you realize why 'velvety' is not just a cliche with Chianti — 10 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.0

It's cliche at this point, but this really is California Grand Cru. — 10 years ago

Phil Stice

9.0

Cedar, sexy oak. Herbal notes. Cliche but does drink like Bordeaux. — 11 years ago

with Matt and Stan

Sybaritewino C.Lawrence

9.2

cliche but mineral driven with notes of savory salted butter scone. — 11 years ago

Pierre And Paula Soler

9.8

Makes me happy! — 12 years ago