Ming L

9.0

The generous nose shows ripe dark berry fruits scented with lavender, olive, black pepper, and dark chocolate. Medium to full body. Juicy palate with smooth texture. Voluptuous but not flabby, with enough grip and lift on the finish. — 3 days ago

Ming L

8.8

The nose is dark and brooding with plum, blackberry, clove, fig, cured meat, black pepper, and wet autumn leaves. Dense and powerful on the palate, but a bit off balance - quite jammy bordering on syrupy. Slightly disappointed. — 8 days ago

Ming L

9.2

The house style is still here with ripe, slightly over extracted blue fruits, baking spices, cocoa, and a plush velvety palate. But the fruits become less confectionary and some savory components have emerged. Acidity seems more apparent. Really nice integration.

I think Pinot bottlings from Belle Glos are at their best with 5-8 years bottle aging. This is another proof. — 15 days ago

Ming L

9.1

From estate vineyard with vines age between 50-97 years, this is a lovely Muscadet.

The nose is quite fragrant for a Muscadet with green apple, lemon zest, white flowers, sea spray and hint of fresh herbs. The palate is crisp yet nicely textured with profound salinity. As good as it gets when pairing with raw oysters. — a month ago

Ming L

9.3

The bottle is heavy!

Distinctively Napa with Bordeaux sensibility. Dark cherry, cassis, blackcurrant, cedar, and a touch of tobacco unfold on the nose. The palate is beautifully structured palate with polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and concentrated dark fruit. Composed and well balanced with long candied finish.

The winery is the first customer of the Stagecoach vineyard and The Oracle used grapes from the vineyard exclusively until the 2015 vintage. — 4 days ago

Ming L

9.3

The nose is immediately captivating with lush crème de cassis and dark cherries, intertwined with the more reserved, classic aromas of sweet tobacco, leather, and dried herbs, and a whisper of coconut. The palate is full-bodied and intense with powerful core of dark fruits reined in by a backbone of crisp acidity and silky tannins. The sweet oak spices and dark berries on the long finish is of particular satisfying.

It will continue to evolve and reward cellaring for another decade, if not longer. — 13 days ago

Ming L

9.1

A blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, and Petit Courbu from the Irouleguy AOC in the French side of the Basque region, this immediate reminds me Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Blanc in its aromatic intensity but with more citrus and mineral snaps and less tropical exotics.

On the palate it’s refreshing and savory at the same time, with a saline and lightly herbal edge. Not as rich and textured as Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Blanc, but still has a substantial feel.

A fascinating white. — 23 days ago

Ming L

9.3

The gentle and deep nose opens with blackberry, cassis, incense, dried herbs, and hint of violet, underscored by sweet oak. The palate is full-bodied and plush, and wrapped in ripe, silky tannins.

Fruits are mostly from Sacrashe vineyard in Rutherford. — 5 days ago

Ming L

9.3

The Don Rolando bottling was a tough act to follow, but this Cab Franc is equally impressive.

Perfumed nose of black cherry and plum layered with violet, pencil shavings, tobacco leaf, a subtle green herbal note that added freshness without becoming vegetal. The palate, almost Bordeaux like, is concentrated and layered, driven by vibrant acidity and stony minerality, with fine grained yet firm tannins. — 11 days ago

Ming L

9.2

This is from Caves Ambacia.

A rare chance for me to experience a really well aged Vouvray.

The nose has hint of tropical fruits to go along with honey, ginger, dried apricot. The palate is juicy with waxy texture. Not very complex as I hoped for a bottle with such age, but it’s remarkably fresh and with fine balance of natural acidity and sweetness. A great pairing with the region’s goat cheeses. — 16 days ago