#1
G.D. Vajra
Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2020
Domaine Bachelet
Côte de Nuits-Villages Pinot Noir 1996
A tale of two cities. Bottle #1 had an enjoyable nose of decaying earth, red fruits and with air some darker fruit. One could tell it was a ‘96 given the unresolved tannins and the powerful acid. Mushrooms and darker fruit in the mouth. Bottle #2 unfortunately was DOA.. Very shrill and stewed fruit. — 9 months ago
Alphonse Mellot
La Moussière Sancerre Rouge Pinot Noir 2023
Above average but maybe not the #1 choice at $80 a bottle. Lots of green and yellow pear. Limestone. Pairs great with oysters. — 2 years ago
Enoteca La Fortezza di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2020
Bottle #1 from montalcino! A young brunello but still very good! — 8 months ago
Perla Terra
Barolo Nebbiolo 2019
Gavalas Winery
Aidani Dry White Blend 2024
Santorini Wine Tasting -#1 Very light and refreshing — a year ago
Hewitson
Gun Metal Riesling 2015
2015 MAG. such a fun bottle. bone dry with a little grapefruit and paperwhite flower. great example of why south australia is my #1 place for riesling now — a year ago
Enfield Wine Co.
Brosseau Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
I love his wines and I guess lucky for me was added to his e-mail list a decade ago. This wine has now typicity aka terroir which comes from this vineyard (the vines are getting older he started out when they were quite young). Pear/honey on the nose - tons of acid, meyer lemon, sour mandarine on the back palate very restrained fruit. Not tropical or floral at all. Sharp clean and crisp. Almost steely. Very burgundian in style - folks would have a very hard time to identify this as CA in a blind tasting. 2 Puncheons produced and just 12.9%! (His Watson Ranch {napa}is my #1 but allocated followed by Heron Lake {wild horse valley}. Those 23‘s I will review in the future. — 8 months ago
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
Smooth and effortless with no hard edges, even in a warm year. Seductively savory with currant, strawberry, leather, tobacco, coffee bean, and bone marrow. There’s an incredible gamey streak here. Oak is impeccably balanced. Just tip toeing into some bricking.
The pedigree is clear. Counting myself lucky.
My #1 tonight. — 9 months ago
Château d`issan
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The US is now their #1 export market. You would be surprised at what some producers spend on labels. It is more than you think. All those countries, languages and different requirements for what needs to be written on them.
I think this is in a dumb faze or just closed down.
The nose is muted and not all that revealing. Soft blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries with powdery raspberries. Clayish soils, some clove, dark earth, very light herbs, notes of baking soda, sandalwood and dark withering flowers.
The palate is a little flat..showing stubbornness. Ripe but dullish; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries & raspberries. Dry clayish soils, dry top soil, limestone minerals, dark spice, clove, dark, rich earth, very light herbs, notes of baking soda, sandalwood that falls into cedar, soft tobacco with dark withering flowers and violets, its acidity is very good, the finish while balanced, polished, somewhat elegant, lacks some complexity today and lasts a minute.
I would reserve a full assessment of this one tasting it again in 5+ years. It is in need of further evolution. — a year ago
Wrath
San Saba Chardonnay 2020
Bottle #2 from the LB chardo mystery case….one of those super heavy chard btls…much better than #1, a ton of flavor, heavy on citrus & honey, not offensive in any way, but at the same time a little too up front on the palate, not much restraint. Stands up well to strongly flavored dishes. NB: open btl does not age well! — 2 years ago
Neal Ferry
I’m told this is last years #9 by Wine Spectator. They have it right, it’s toward the top of the list. Today I’m calling it my #1 of the day, week, this yeas Thanksgiving Day wine — 7 months ago