White Oak Wines

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2013

Not sure there are better 13 whites than Raveneau. Lafon also comes to mind. It’s an early drinking vintage (by Raveneau standards) while you wait for 12 and 14. Also, no Chapelot this year so it’s blended in here. A multi hour advance decant has it rocking, stunningly aromatic, soaring with layers of créme fraîche, baking spice, crushed stones and a whisper of botrytis influenced saffron. The palate shows immense power, concentration and depth of waxy yellow fruit chiseled with Chablisen minerality. Brilliant tension and racy lemony acids provide a seamless balance to its power and richness. MDT always hits 🫰🏻 — a month ago

Mark, Paul and 8 others liked this

Oyster Bay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Classic NZ label. Smells funky. Lawn just cut or a piece of fresh grass in the teeth. And lemon citrus peels. Flavors are complex and very audacious. Bombastic even. Plenty of citrus, but something else as well. Shells? Like the calcium carbonate in those. Also big gooseberries. This is a good example of how NZ Sauv Blanc differs from the other styles out there. This wine packs a punch. — a month ago

Jérôme Prévost

La Closerie Les Béguines Extra Brut Champagne Pinot Meunier 2013

Lovely bright tart mineral fruit. Great structure and balance — a month ago

Jean-Francois PelletierTony GarciaChris Thalken
with Jean-Francois, Tony and 2 others
Ira, Tom and 6 others liked this

Château Rieussec

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2005

Deep gold in color. Lower acidity than expected. Lots of white stone fruit and sweetness with some biscuit on the palette. Great complement to Brie. For the vintage and the producer a little underwhelming. — 2 months ago

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

La Grande Dame Brut Champagne Blend 2004

Popped and poured to celebrate a pretty cool personal and professional achievement; enjoyed over a two hour period. This particular bottle has been stored in my cellar since release. The 2004 “La Grande Dame” pours a brilliant yellow color with medium+ viscosity and a persistent mousse of fine bubbles. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of golden raspberry, Meyer lemon, some apple, some brioche and nuts; just a touch oxidative. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. However, I feel compelled to share that this gave me the overall impression of a sort of liquid lemon-raspberry custard croissant with shaved almonds on top. It was awesome. The finish was long and there is some palpable density in this wine. So much so that I think these easily have another 10-15 years in them. That being said, this was yummy and I wouldn’t hesitate to enjoy now. — 2 months ago

Lyle, Lele and 17 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1988

Tasting group meet up with many of the regulars not able to attend . I knew the organizer invited someone whom we had not tasted with in about 15 years . He certainly made an entrance bringing this, in magnum no less. When poured it showed a fine mousse but it faded quickly. A very broad nose that hinted of some age. In the mouth it was like a sports car traveling a highway. Almond , brioche and some oxidative notes sped thru my mouth. The flavors accelerated only to linger similar to when you take your foot off the accelerator. Coasted effortlessly with no need to step on the brakes — 2 months ago

Austin, Jan and 35 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I was fortunate to have this a year or two ago (in 750) and was completely spellbound. I’d like to find one for myself one of these days.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Oh snap!

Vincent Dauvissat

La Forest Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay

Structured and what a length! — 2 months ago

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2021

I don’t know why it’s taken so long to try this bottling. I have missed out all these years. Clean purity of fruit mild depth at this early age and just plain exciting. Definitely worth the wait — a month ago

Ira, Ted and 9 others liked this

Arianna Occhipinti

SP68 Bianco Terre Siciliane Albanello Muscat of Alexandria 2022

2022. Loved it with our grilled bass and bouillabaisse! — a month ago

Paul Krzych
with Paul
Aravind, Peter and 8 others liked this

Far Niente Winery

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022

I’ve now had 3 consecutive vintages (‘20-‘22) of this iconic Chardonnay, and even with the hefty price tag, it has always delivered. Big and bold but I wouldn’t say buttery, tropical fruit salad, exceptional balance with great acidity and a long, high end finish. One of those rare times when the hype is deserved. $70-$75 — 2 months ago

Merry Edwards

Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Lots of tropical fruit! What a great wine from our anniversary Russian river valley wine trip. — a month ago

Eric liked this

Sandlands

Amador County Chenin Blanc 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Significantly better on Day 2 as the wine completely opened up. The 2021 Amador County pours a pale yellow color with medium+ viscosity and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is clean; developing with notes of golden apples, quince, lemon verbena, white tree flower, lanolin, and wet stone. On the palate, the wine is dry with super sneaky, high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a woolly texture. Lovely stuff. Drink now with patience and a lot of air otherwise better after 2026 and should be great through 2035. — 2 months ago

Peter, Brian and 8 others liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Drinking, not tasting! Late release grande cuvee, vintage unknown, but somewhere between 1967 and 1981 — 2 months ago

Jan, Ivor and 8 others liked this

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Yellow Label Brut Champagne Blend

[Tasted on April 6, 2024 at Home with Linda and Joel]

Blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier. Mandarin orange, apricot, pear and red fruits, with honey, ginger, vanilla and toast.
— 2 months ago

Cloudy Bay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Pale straw color, grassy notes, acidic and balanced with a finish that lingers in your mouth. — 2 months ago

Moët & Chandon

Impérial Brut Champagne Blend

Tasty: sea salt, brioche, yeasty, light grapefeuit — 3 months ago

Katie Anderson
with Katie

Charles Smith

Kungfu Girl Washington State Riesling 2021

Pale lemon color.
Aromas of lime, floral, mineral.
Dry. Flavors of lime, pear, peach, ginger, honeysuckle.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
— 3 months ago

Domaine Coche-Dury (J.F. Coche Dury)

Meursault Chardonnay 2002

Monumental. Among the highest expression of Burgundy. Still incredibly young. It has decades in front. — a month ago

John, Freek and 4 others liked this

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Columbia Valley Riesling 2022

This wine has barely any color at all, just a very faint yellow-green tint. The nose is nice. There is a slight trace of petrol, which I always love to find in a Riesling. More dominant is a lanolin note which joins a light floral aroma. The palate straddles the fence between dry and sweet, offering up some tasty stone fruit and a savory side marked by gentle spices and a workable acidity. I would like a drier wine better, but I drank this quaff gladly and poured another. — 2 months ago

Paul, Tom and 1 other liked this

Dr. Loosen

Dr. L Mosel Riesling 2021

Best Riesling ever! Mellow with soft fragrance reminiscent of the Mosel Valley! On the sweeter side, but perfect for our Dal & Parathas! — a month ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1956

1986 vintage. showing well 4/10/24. balanced. medium tannins, medium acid. really lovely. I always thought that this wine needed time. — 2 months ago

Shay and Laura liked this

Bonneau du Martray

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2018

Different style showing up here after a few months since I had one. — 2 months ago

Ira, Byron and 9 others liked this

Kim Crawford

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Pale yellow hue. Aromas of grass, grapefruit, guava, melon, passionfruit, pineapple. Light body and high acidity. Satisfying and exemplary New Zealand SB.

(Tasted in 2019.)
— 2 months ago

Bollinger

La Grande Année Brut Champagne Blend 1996

From magnum, the 1996 Grande Année pours a brilliant pale gold color with a persistent mousse. Initially, the wine showed more oxidative notes but it freshened up considerably with air (in fact, a tiny amount was leftover for the next morning and it remained brilliant, racy even!). On the nose, notes of almond, citrus, honey, chalky minerals and brioche. On the palate, wine is developing with absolutely brilliant acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. The 1996 vintage is simply amazing. Here we are, 28 years past vintage and this bright and full of life! Granted, it’s a magnum, but still. Drink now with patience or enjoy through 2046+. — 3 months ago

Douglas, Billy and 8 others liked this

Matua

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Absolute favorite Sauvignon blanc — 3 months ago

Perrier-Jouët

Grand Brut Champagne Blend

Jeroboam for a great New Year’s Eve — 5 months ago