Willie Carter

9.5

Exquisite. A deep ruby rose color in the glass with effusive perlage. The nose is alive and explosively immediately. Bright, ripe red fruits for days along with toasted biscuits. Vanilla cream and orange zest. There’s an undercurrent of nutmeg and herbs here that are quite nice.

100% Pinot Noir Rosé de Saignée. Power and elegance combined, but of the two, elegance is at the heart of this champagne. Bold and striking, this is full bodied but never overbearing or overwhelming. Very silky and smooth throughout with a definite sense of place.

Sharp acidity that is just wonderful with a rather lush mouthfeel. Quite vinous. Strawberries and raspberries in the mouth with a touch of earth. A deliciously long finish that truly leaves you wanting more. An exceptional wine. — 8 days ago

Willie Carter

9.7

Beautifully golden in the glass with vigorous effervescence. Crisp and inviting immediately. You can easily tell this will be a stunning wine. Citrus notes are dominant on the nose with lemon zest and white peaches. Almonds and dried herbs with a touch of warm brioche. Wet rocks, pears, apples, and a hint of nutmeg. Gorgeous.

Full bodied and intense, this is a superb champagne just now beginning to come into its own. Bright acidity and well balanced, there’s depth and complexity for days. The mouthfeel is nice and the attack sensual. More citrus and brioche on the palate with a plethora of apples. The finish is long and strong. Pure delight in a bottle. — 4 months ago

Willie Carter

9.3

These champagnes simply do not miss. Clear salmon in color with particularly active, attractive bubbles. The nose is so immediately pleasing and oh so clean. All the red berries that you would expect along with semi sweet bread and rose water. Chalk is a superstar here.

One of the more impressive rosés I’ve tasted. Composed of 90/10 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, this is a smoother champagne. Elegant and rather substantial, this has nice weight to it. Nicely restrained acidity throughout with the terroir singing.

Immensely drinkable and bright. Vibrant red fruits abound. Spice on the tongue that elevates this. And some exquisite chalkiness. That’s what truly makes this a top notch wine. I will definitely have to get more of this. — 5 months ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A bit of apricity to combat the colder months. A really distinctive and lovely brass golden hue in the glass. The aromatic notes are sudden and pleasing with apples, peaches, and pears upon opening. Pineapple and melon for days. A luscious smear of honey runs throughout.

A quite unique and energetic Chardonnay from Mendocino County. Bright acidity and lively. This is a wine with a personality and soul. Crisp and clean with precision. More citrus fruits on the palate with apples and tea, for good measure. A really fun wine. — 11 days ago

Willie Carter

9.3

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. A pale lemon color in the glass with barely visible little green flecks. Lemon zest and apples of different varieties on the nose. Limestone and honey with a touch of sugar. Minerals and chamomile. So very sexy.

Lithe, lively, and lovely. Medium plus acidity with a ton of character and elegance. Very pure and fresh, clean. There’s a hint of slivered almond initially in the mouth followed by butterscotch and nectarines. Plenty of citrus notes here. A long finishing leaves you wanting more. A truly compelling Burgundy. — a month ago

Willie Carter

8.7

A really nice burgundy color in the glass with no signs of bricking. The nose is a bit shy upon opening but it does eventually blossom with cherries and cranberries. A bit of oak, a touch of leather, a dash of cinnamon. There’s a green element here that grows on you.

A nice Burgundy with depth and structure. Nothing shoe stopping here but it doesn’t need to be. Well made and very traditional. Very pure with nice acidity throughout. The palate is superb with more red fruits and some earthiness. A Burgundy for everyone. — 4 months ago

Willie Carter

9.5

Ethereal and gorgeous, not your average rosé. A medium crimson color in the glass with effusive perlage. All the pretty red fruits on the nose. Strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, no doubt, but pineapples join the party too. Sweet brioche and beautiful floral notes complement.

From Les Riceys, the cross section of Champagne and Burgundy and it shows. Vinous, vibrant, and deep. The acidity is high and lovely along with terrific balance and weight throughout. 100% Pinot Noir with a nice combination of fruity and savory. The palate closely follows the nose with more sumptuous red berries and biscuits in the mouth. Oak on the long finish. A powerful champagne and one of my favorites. — 5 months ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A wine to celebrate with. A deep, lusty burgundy color in the glass. Classic Barolo characteristics on the nose with raspberries, cherries, and dried figs. An entire bouquet of flowers and soft vanilla. Spice, mocha, and more than a touch of oak.

Still young and with miles to go, this is still a worthy example of the beauty of Barolo. Dense and firm throughout with tight tannins. Takes plenty of time and air to fully open up. Nice structure and balance compliments the palate. Cranberries and cloves in the mouth with leather and cigar smoke. Nice now but will better with more time. — 22 days ago

Willie Carter

9.6

Italy in California, and it’s gorgeous. A particularly attractive shade of yellow straw in the glass. A touch of haziness. The nose is enticing with pretty white flowers and a touch of spice. Citrus aromas are dominant with the addition of fresh cut grass. There’s a faint hint of dried herbs here that is nice.

A blend of Ribolla Gialla, Riesling, Friulano, and Malvasia Bianca from the Russian River Valley. Full bodied and distinctive, this is a seriously fun wine. The Riesling here shows very well but the Ribolla Gialla is fantastic. Melons and mango on the palate along with more herbs and apples. Utterly delightful, a terrific wine from a new winery. — 3 months ago

Willie Carter

9.1

A truly beautiful pale lemon colour in the glass. Clear, crystalline, and clean. The nose is a real feast with pineapples, golden apples, and melons. Smoky with moist stone and a wonderful smear of honey. After a good bit of time there are plenty of floral notes and orange zest, for good measure.

Rich, with nice balance and weight. High acidity and sharp, on day two things have mellowed out a bit but there’s still plenty of vim and vigor throughout. Medium viscosity and nice depth. Drama and love on the attack with deep citrus fruit and apples for days. A touch of jasmine and butter. Sea spray, minerality, and beautifully fresh herbs. The finish is long and lusty with the hint of vanilla. A lovely Burgundy. — 5 months ago