Vineyard Drive

E. Guigal

Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 2016

The nose shows syrah usual traits : pepper, blackberry, there is even a bit of bacon in there! Definitely northern Rhone red. The palate is well balanced, there is a good acid drive in there, there is a bright fruit, some width, some matter, a good mouthfeel, lively tannins with a drying effect in mid palate and a long finish with fruit and pepper and that drying effect for quite a long time. I have been missing that wine for as long as we moved to Poland. I used to buy it from the grocery store downstairs back in Paris for 8 euro. I was so psyched to find it in the Wine shop downstairs here in Warsaw! As always, this is a solid CDR. — 5 years ago

Tom, Bob and 20 others liked this

Domaine Henri Boillot

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2002

Dark gold and a whiff of golden corn on the nose. The palate is fresh, strident and gorgeous. Real drive and acidity but a sweet edged ripe fruit, mint and lovely slatey balance. If I had more bottles I’d check in soon as these could possibly be at the start of premox, but right now this is lush, dynamic and strident. Very good. — 6 years ago

Aaron HorwitzWalker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Aaron, Walker and 1 other
Ira, Eric and 8 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

At 18 years it’s probably more “ox” than premox. 🙂
Conrad Green

Conrad Green Influencer Badge Premium Badge

That’s certainly possible though I’ve had older bottles than this that tasted a lot fresher. It’s hard to tell really

Oakridge

Single Block Release 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2014

On the improve perhaps? Really lovely. Acid ingrained with other phenolic and textural elements. Fine yet generous in flavour. Ripe stone fruit and the kernel. First class. 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 — 6 years ago

Ceccherini liked this

Philipponnat

Clos des Goisses Champagne Blend 2005

Bright White flowers, chalky, lemon zest. A ripe middle and real balance and drive. — 7 years ago

Mike, Douglas and 3 others liked this

La Crema

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Aromas of red cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and sweet tobacco.  Multi-layered flavors of red, blue and black berry fruit, plums, cherries and a hint of blood orange underpin subtle layers of exotic spice and toast.  Fine tannins and balanced acidity drive a long finish. Very Good. — 8 years ago

Ledge

Vineyard Drive Red Rhone Blend 2014

Bright berries, bramble, cocoa, sage; moderate tannins #undergroundceller #coronavino — 5 years ago

Paul liked this

Bouchard Père et Fils

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2002

in the zone—excellent. Really on fire. Lovely nose, soft mouthfeel, but nice acidity and drive with lemon custard, minerals, length, and a twang at the end that adds interest. Super wine. More than I expected. — 6 years ago

Anthony, Ben and 8 others liked this

Weingut Keller

Abts E de Riesling 2014

Ah! The prima ballerina of Rheinhessen. The precise footwork, elegant gait, and undeniable presence. Usually, she takes centre stage, but tonight, the queen of Nierstein has decided to make a forceful announcement during her grand performance - "I will dance instead, and you will love it!" :)

We thought that drinking the 17' Hipping first was a good idea. In hindsight, I'm not even sure why, especially given how the Abtserde was totally eclipsed by it. Nevertheless, the 14' Abtserde was still a great expression of riesling

For me, Absterde is usually the most filigreed and electric of KP's vineyards, but this time, it was showing a more breadth than the typically weightier Hipping. Very powerful with exotic fruits dominating, set on a backdrop of herbs and spice. Concentrated, but in the same vein as the 17' Hipping - new KP in my eyes. I can see why some would prefer KP's older vintages compared to this, which are seemingly more extracted. There's a mineral drive and acidity which really dances on the palate. Admittedly, this finishes a touch hot but nothing to detract from the sheer energy of this wine. It needs time to bring it more balance and finesse I feel.
— 6 years ago

Iwan, Alex and 25 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Nice creativity.

Paumanok

Limited Edition Apollo Drive Vineyard Petit Verdot 2010

What an awesome gem from North Fork. Will keep an eye out on petit Verdot more often. Had with duck marinades with balsamic red wine (Beasley blend from Coffee Pot Cellar, another cool winery from North Fork). — 7 years ago

C. liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2004

Fresh, bright and vivid. A chalky, lime inflected front to the palate. Real vigor, salinity and drive. Excellent. Decades ahead — 8 years ago

Lloyd SunWalker StrangisTony Garcia
with Lloyd, Walker and 2 others
Tony, Bryan and 10 others liked this
Bryan Thomas

Bryan Thomas

Very linear and precise - one of the most consistent champagnes on market
9.4

Château Lestage

Cru Bourgeois Listrac-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

This 2011 lestage fairs quite well. The nose is all black currant, tar, cedar and a tad bit of oak. It's very inviting. The palate is well balanced with a nice acid backbone which gives a good drive, there is a nice black fruit shining all along it, with a silky mouthfeel. Tannins are grainy and add another dimension to the palate, disrupting the very fluid and silky initial mouthfeel. The finish is rather long with blackcurrant, some discreet oak notes, well integrated now, and a salty, meaty thing popping up along with a subtle bitterness which adds a little bit of class to the overall. One of the very best lestage I've had. No wonder they got classified Cru Bourgeois exceptionnel for their 2019, there is consistency in their work. — 5 years ago

Aaron, Alex and 15 others liked this

Henry's Drive

Padthaway Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Another great vintage of a terrific wine! The 2009 has aromas and flavors of blueberry, plums, cedar, cola, vanilla, black pepper and earth. Hint of menthol. Very complex. Smooth tannins and well balanced. Both varietals are integrated beautifully! Great with a steak! Solid QPR! Revisited in February 2020. Still excellent, but probably beginning to pass it’s peak. — 6 years ago

Paul, Clive and 1 other liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2007

A lot of floral lift at the front. Wonderful drive and freshness through the middle. Definition, lemon curd, some saline. This is great and really long. Wow. — 6 years ago

Bex Green
with Bex
Keith, Shay and 21 others liked this

Henry's Drive

Dead Letter Office Padthaway Shiraz

Quintessential LLC Napa. 14.5% abv. Dark chocolate. Dark berries. Tabecco. Licorice. High acidity. Medium tannin. Probably great with steak but I had it with rotisserie chicken and Italian sub. — 6 years ago

Henry's Drive

Parson's Flat Padthaway Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

After 10 years this is absolutely fabulous. Throw the French or English kings of cheese at it, and it will match them nobly — 7 years ago

Hatzidakis Winery

Santorini 2016

A bit of CO2 at first but the bubbles go away after a while. On the nose : a bit of honey, peach, hay. Interesting and profound. The palate is wide and full of fruits, the acid backbone is a bit overwhelmed except at the end where the acid backbone comes back to drive the palate to a moderately long finish with peach. Cool wine ! — 7 years ago

Ira, P and 14 others liked this

Domaine Leflaive

Les Pucelles Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2000

Very powerful and intense. At 17 years amazing density and freshness. Honeysuckle, lemon, minerality and real drive and zip but still balanced and rounded. Delicious. — 8 years ago

Maya Dalla ValleNaoko Dalla Valle
with Maya and Naoko
Keith, Craig and 10 others liked this