Paul T HB

9.5

Rioja Blanco, not the Rose
K&L notes,
White Artadi? I am shocked that I didn't know that it existed, but I am so glad to know that it exists. This is everything that you would expect that it would be. This old vine Viura from Alavesa. It has the transparency that you expect for the winery, the palate is so expresive of the chalky soils of the region. This is not a traditional oaky oxidized white. This is a pure modern expresion of the varietal. Apples, citrus, drying floral notes and a dusty chalkiness. It is very fresh and the wine has the energy and drive that you come to expect from the reds. — 4 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

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. — 5 years ago

with Aaron, Walker and 1 other

Johnno Harris

9.5

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

Keith Newton

9.8

After 10 years this is absolutely fabulous. Throw the French or English kings of cheese at it, and it will match them nobly — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.2

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

Cory Charles

9.0

Nice smooth taste — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Very fresh, bright and young. Frankly, suffers in comparison with the 96, but super good fruit. Lime, chalk, slate, dazzling minerality and an intense palate with huge drive. A real baby. I suspect this won’t have the quality of the 96 but a zesty, wine with loads of potential. — 7 years ago

with Larry

Alan Weinberg

9.4

a constellation of factors came together such that I opened this young bottle—recent acquisition of 6 more bottles, the memory of 1990 Comtes on release, a Galloni post on Delectable touting the wine, and a thirst for quality champagne.

Delicious and more open than 08 Dom today, it’s not real creamy but has super balance and drive, delicious fruit, very expansive on the palate as it warms. Each glass gets better. Sweet midpalate fruit that is dense but not weighty, incredible persistence on the palate, really a wow.
— 4 years ago

Alan Weinberg

9.3

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. — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

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. — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.6

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

Conrad Green

9.6

A wonderfully inviting nose with hints of peaches, apricot, an underlying steeliness. The palate is heartbreaking- lush secondary notes but a bracing salinity and drive. In amazing shape and still bristling with life. Delicate yet powerful and hauntingly complex. Wonderful. — 7 years ago

with Howard, Walker and 2 others

Migue Gustavo

9.5

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. — 7 years ago

Kendall Johnson

9.3

Bright berries, bramble, cocoa, sage; moderate tannins #undergroundceller #coronavino — 4 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

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

Emerald Gratz

9.0

Great wine! — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.6

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

with Bex

K. Ross

8.9

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

Amy Yan

9.3

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

Daniel M

8.9

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