Birthday weekend bubbles! 🥂🍾
With notes of candied pear & orange peel, yellow apple, lemon curd, nectarine, yellow cherries, raspberry coulis, fruitcake, toast, smoke, brioche, pastry, biscuit, dried rose petals, anise, nougat, roasted almond, wet stones.
A creamy mousse and mouthfeel — stunning. 😍 — 5 months ago
Nosing the 2020 Cervaro della Sala is like waking into a French bakery in the early morning, with notes of lemon oil, butter cream, crusty bread, fresh dough and vanilla bean contrasted by a whiff of crushed oyster shell, which may not be on the menu, but still works perfectly here. This glides effortlessly across the palate with the silkiest of textures, steadily gaining in tension, as mineral-drenched orchard fruits give way to sour melon and, finally, pretty inner florals. The 2020 lingers impossibly long and lightly structured, displaying notes of candied citrus enriched by almond custard. I'd love to toss this blend of 92% Chardonnay and 8% Grechetto into a blind tasting of white Burgundy. Beautifully done. (Eric Guido, Vinous, November 2022)
— 3 years ago
🤩 Benanti is an iconic, family run estate with a front-seat majestic view of Etna’s terrain, founded by Giuseppe Benanti in 1988, now carried forward by Giuseppe’s two sons Antonio and Salvino. Preserving the heritage of Etna’s unique terroir, the Benantis devote themselves to making wine with local varieties. 🍇
After delicate pressing, the free-run juice underwent fermentation with an indigenous yeast and aged on the fine lees in stainless steel for 30 months with regular bâtonnage (stirring). 😆
📝 The result is divine with a bouquet of harmonious aromas and flavors featuring ripe papaya, mango, cantaloup, white nectarine, kumquat, bergamot, lemon oil, cherry blossom, cream, toast, gunflint, fresh tarragon, sage, crushed stones, oystershell, sea spray & blanched almond notes.
💫This wine has verve & elegance!
😋 On the palate, it’s dry, with electrifying acidity, a medium body, textured mouthfeel, medium alcohol (12.5% ABV) & persistent finish. — a month ago
The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2013 Brut is simply exceptional. With an elegant nose that unfolds notes of white fruits, citrus, and delicate toasted nuances, it invites you to delve into its complexity. On the palate, its silky texture and fine bubbles give way to flavors of pear, apple, and toasted almond, with a subtle hint of vanilla. Its persistent finish leaves a lasting and memorable impression. In summary, a champagne experience that captivates the senses and delights the palate. — a year ago
Graceful as a ballet dancer—heady notes of yeasty and nutty roundness (think morning fresh baked bagel with almond and hazelnut) punctuated by the staccato of gently sour citrus (lemon, lime, citron, yuzu), balanced by minerals and delightful fizz. Drinks much younger than it is, so if you are lucky enough to have more of this ambrosia there’s no rush to empty out your cellar (20 is the new 10, as the Boomers would say). Enjoyed this gem at Hayato Restaurant in LA (best Kaiseki I’ve ever experienced) with my daughter Rachel and her friend Lindsay right after they finished taking the California Bar Exam. Best of luck, girls! — 2 months ago
Jay Kline

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2019 pours a pale yellow color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with intense, ripe notes of Comice pears, baked green apple, mixed fruit cup, lemons, white tree flowers, lanolin, raw almond, tarragon, a touch of raw honey and minerals. On the palate, the wine is off-dry(?) with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is waxy. I questioned the off-dry call because I actually think it’s dry but the power and ripeness of the fruit, not to mention the 15% ABV(!!), give the impression of sweetness. An utterly balanced wine despite the big personality. A wine that gives main character energy. I wish I had a week or more to track the development because this is such a wee babe. Drink now to experience its youth and enjoy through 2049. — 2 months ago