Gilbert Van Hassel

9.1

This remains one of the greatest white dry wines of France although probably not for everybody. Every year is a surprise and that inconsistency can be off-putting. Golden color, medium weight, quite high in alcohol (14.5) and cloudy. Long burn, apricot, dried raisins, apple and pineapple. — 6 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Always loved this 07, sadly my last btl out of an owc showing beautiful red cherry, baking spices, cinnamon, orange peel, earth, crushed rock & violet — 3 days ago

Vino Joe

9.3

A tad off. Better to have let it sit another 10. This champagne is so lovely when it gets dense. Tight small bubbles but not as sweet as normal. Might have just been a bad bottled. — 3 days ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on May 15, 2024 at Home]

Strawberry and cherry fruit, with herbal and iron notes, and firm tannins. — 5 days ago

Victor Hsu

9.1

This IS Santa Barbara County Pinot! First taste was a big burst of fruit. Not too sweet, not simple and unsophisticated, not a jammy Zin bomb, mind you. Instead, more like a zing of bright, pure, winey fruit. Remarkable and memorable. We had the 2022 vintage in a magnum bottle so perhaps that helped preserve its freshness and purity. We enjoyed this Big Mama at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating my daughter Rachel’s graduation from UCLA Law School. Congratulations, Rachel! — 8 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 17 days ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.2

On the nose, there is blackberry and dark cherry... On the palate, beautiful baked blackberry tart... Maybe even some baking spices in there as well including a wee cinnamon... The mild spice of an oriental pipe tobacco lurking... Acidity is middle of the road... Blueberry makes a late appearance... The tannins here are very soft and contributing to a long length that seems to go the earthy, savory direction... — 8 days ago

with Anita

Severn Goodwin

9.2

2005 | Pinot Noir
Goldeneye; Estate
Mendocino; Anderson Valley, Philo, CA
(91-93; Drink 2020-29) — 2 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

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. — 19 days ago

garry post

9.1

Big, complex Pinot, jammy, fruit forward but not, I think, a fruit bomb. Dark red,purple shades. — 2 days ago