Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Referred to as the “Baby Grange,” blend of 51/49 Cab Sauv & Shiraz, aged for 12 months in 36% new American oak, partly in previous-vintage Grange casks. Dark Ruby with aromas of fresh black fruits, complex with sweet spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry flavors with notes of cacao, oak and toasty spices. Well balanced with acidity, full firm tannins, long ending with smoky spice, fruit well integrated with oak, drink over next 10 years+, will only get better. Nice! — 6 months ago

JKT

9.1

First taste!? Mature with a bit of bricking but still nice solid color and bouquet of mature red fruits and earth. Velvety and enticing on palate. Excellent with Evan’s Shanghainese pork belly. 51/43/4/2 Merlot/Cab/CabFranc/Petit Verdot on label from Bernard Magrez touting same attention as his Pape Clement, and long history dating back to 1120. Importer label says 37/55/6/2 instead! (Oldest in Medoc, 1400 by house of Foix loyal to King of England. 1486 Camet new owner. 1500s by Michel de Montaigne.) — 2 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Outstanding QPR! 51% Cab Sauv, then Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot. Drinking very well now with some air but has stuffing. Love the balance here. With NY Strip. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A blend of 6 vintages - 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%), and 2015 (2%). From the Hoffmann’s Dallwitz vineyard. 6327 bottles filled. Aromatics of old vine Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is so plush and ample together with liquorice, chocolate, blue fruits, and spices that it masks the M plus tannins. I note that Fraser likes to taste these Little Wines “when primal and vital, a year or two after vintage “. I totally agree. I have tasted Little Wines with over 5 years of cellaring and find that you are giving up that freshness and vitality for a limited increase in savoury profile. The secondary value of Sami-Odi wines have increased dramatically in recent years. I paid $55 per bottle on release and note that United Cellars are now selling for $325. All the more annoying when I broke a bottle unpacking the tricky little cartons of 3 when I received them. The odd 4 letter word was uttered!!! Therefore I have one left for future enjoyment. I ended up having the last bottle 68 weeks later on 4th May 2025 with consistent notes taking into account Fraser’s note that he likes to drink Little Wine in its first couple of years. Blackberry currant and chocolate. — 2 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

8.9

2018 vintage. 51 Grenache 43 Shiraz 6 Mataro. Definitely showing a lot of Grenache's tanginess. Stewed strawberry, tart cherry, red currant, plum, white pepper, fuzzy sage. — 5 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.0

2016 vintage.
51 % Merlot, 31% Cab Franc, 17% Cab Sauv, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Dark ruby red with aromas of ripe black fruit, nutmeg, cedar and mushrooms Rich, ripe plum and raspberry with milk chocolate and smooth tannins. This wine is so easy to drink now but will age beautifully. Great value.
— 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

Pale Gold in colour. A muted restrained nose initially from this excellent vintage for White Burgundy. Also restrained on the palate. Lacks intensity in comparison with local Chardonnay for similar money. I know this is at odds with my previous note 32 weeks ago but you can only taste them as you see them. I have had some particularly good Australian Chardonnays lately albeit a little dearer than this at $51 AUD. Nothing inherently wrong with this Burgundy it just doesn’t deliver much. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Confidence de Bastor-Lamontagne – White Blend, 2023. Bordeaux AOC – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A modern white Bordeaux from Château Bastor-Lamontagne, crafted with an unconventional yet compelling blend of 51% Sauvignon Gris, 29% Sémillon, and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. This composition brings both aromatic lift and textural depth, delivering a wine that balances freshness, subtle richness, and a distinctly mineral profile rooted in classic Bordeaux terroir.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh and expressive on the nose with notes of citrus peel, white peach, and hints of mango, followed by soft herbal tones and a touch of wet stone. The palate leans crisp and clean, showing lemon zest, green apple, light tropical fruit, and a gentle brioche nuance from the Sémillon.

Mouthfeel
Dry and refreshing with bright acidity and a lightly stony texture. Medium-bodied, well-balanced, and smooth, finishing clean with a subtle saline and mineral-driven persistence.

Food Pairings
Shellfish, grilled or poached white fish, oysters, goat cheese, vegetable-forward dishes, or light poultry. Also works beautifully as an aperitif.

Verdict
An approachable yet thoughtfully made white Bordeaux that bridges the gap between casual sipping and more serious tasting. Its balance, freshness, and unique grape composition make it versatile and crowd-pleasing without sacrificing character.

Did You Know?
Sauvignon Gris is a rare mutation of Sauvignon Blanc and brings extra weight, aromatics, and texture, adding a distinctive twist to traditional Bordeaux white blends.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This wine really resonates with my white-blend style preferences. Dry, crisp, and subtly mineral, it’s the kind of bottle that easily becomes a go-to companion for casual cuisine or relaxed sipping, effortless yet quietly sophisticated. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. 51% Syrah, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 3% Carignan, 2% Zinfandel. Willow Creek District. 78% Paderewski Vyd, 11% Capapult Vyd, 11% York Mountain Vyd. Heavy/full-bodied. Out of the four, current, Epoch red efforts, this had the best QPR. Just under $40 resto cost. 5.29.24. — 2 years ago

M F

9.0

2021 Salmon Run Chardonnay-Riesling
51% Chardonnay 49% Riesling
Very nice. Birthday gift from P. To E. — 2 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.2

Dark ruby hue. Medium-plus tannins and acidity. Notes of bell pepper, blackberry, blueberry, bramble, and tar. Stark on the nose, but brilliant and smooth on the palate, with grippy tannins. 51 Merlot, 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7 Petit Verdot. — 3 years ago

David Walser

9.4

51% CF, 49%ME. Enjoyed the wine & blend. For me, these wines are a bit rough when young but smooth out nicely with age. — 4 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Another very interesting example of this cool climate Bordeaux Style Blend. Pennsylvania grown and produced. Cabernet Sauvignon (51%) Merlot (43%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Only bottled in select years. Dark cherry aromas and flavors with subtle notes of earth and vanilla. (Aged 19 months in French Oak.). Lighter in body than many traditional Bordeaux Blends, but the tannins are reasonably chewy and the finish is long. Nice effort. Revisited in November 2021. Aging nicely. — 5 years ago

Sarah Stuart

9.5

Baby making yum yum! — 6 years ago

Rana Sahni

9.5

Magnum Format and 51 years later it drinks like the complex wine it is — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chapellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend 2023
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend from Chapellet, a pioneering family-owned estate high on Pritchard Hill since 1967. Known for its rocky, elevated vineyards and bold mountain-grown fruit, Chapellet crafts this approachable yet terroir-rich blend for both immediate enjoyment and graceful aging.

Blend Composition
• 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 24% Merlot
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 8% Malbec
• 7% Cabernet Franc 

Aromas & Flavors
Effusively aromatic with dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, framed by spicy oak notes of clove, cardamom, cedar, plus touches of black pepper and savory herbs. The palate mirrors this with plush ripe berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins, and finishes with lingering dark chocolate and anise.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a luxuriously textured core. The fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit beautifully, balanced by inherent freshness—creating a long, silky, and satisfying finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the guidance of Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the 2023 vintage benefitted from a cool growing season and carefully managed canopy work to preserve freshness and reduce yields. Fermented and aged to deliver immediate appeal without compromising structure. 

Food Pairing
A versatile pairing wine—ideal with grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or herbed lamb chops. It also complements rich pasta sauces and grilled mushrooms—luxurious yet approachable.

Verdict
Mountain Cuvée 2023 is a powerful yet elegant Napa blend, showcasing depth, freshness, and mountain intensity. It’s a beautifully balanced wine that offers a compelling mix of immediate pleasure and layered complexity. A benchmark for mountain-grown Bordeaux blends. — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

#kosherWineSunday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, light cedar, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, black pepper and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old Petite Sirah blend from Israel is still drinking very nicely. Fruit forward and rich. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes in the decanter.

I had it 2 years ago and it is still delicious. Alcohol is high, but it is well integrated by now. Spicy and tangy on the finish.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Lamb Loin with red wine and baby Bella mushrooms.

A blend of 51% Petite Sirah, 33% Petit Verdot and 16% Shiraz. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. Kosher and Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40 (recent vintage). — 2 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.4

2017 Vintage. 100% Syrah Clone 470 from two vineyards 51% Laetitia and 49% Bien Nacido. Very smooth. — 3 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.3

Strong sangiovese grape Chanti. Delicious begging to finish. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Tasted alongside the 2015 vintage. Both wines were opened about eight hours in advanced and allowed to slow-ox at cellar temp (51°F). Comparatively, this was more open for business. Dark cherry, gym sock, dried herbs, leather, and tomato leaf on the nose. On the palate, dusty cherry fruit with black tea and dried herbs. Rustic. Quite an old school charmer! Towards the end of the bottle, this started to tighten back up a bit but it was still my favorite of the two vintages tonight. I expect this to enjoy a long life. — 5 years ago