Brian Hearty

9.1

2023. I was not prepared for the deep color of this wine, so I had to check out the D&G website “While it is a white variety for which we immediately direct-press the grapes, the resulting juice and wine are always orange. This doesn’t appear to be true in Grecos found in Italy, but seems to be the result of the unique clone, or the terroir of the vineyard. This results in a little bit of a head-scratcher of a wine. While it looks like an orange wine the aromatics and flavor profile are much more similar to a white wine.” I agree, fruit and floral forward aromas and flavors with bracing acidity that paired well with oyster chowder. — 2 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Organically farmed Loire Valley Viognier grown on south facing, granite soils, and aged in 500L neutral barrel. The nose is textbook with floral, blossomy aromatics and fresh-picked stone fruit. The palate exercises a great amount of restraint with medium bodied notes of orange peel, peach, and river stones. Excellent tension here. — 5 years ago

Gary Roberson

9.3

Refreshing and delicious! A perfect break fr m Covid 19 Worries — 6 years ago

Dominique Jones

9.1

Absolutely lovely unexpected orange wine (with the green bottle I thought it was a white). Interesting minerality. Dry on the palate. — 7 years ago

Brent Clayton

9.1

Wow! Deep citrus botrytis thing. Cool stuff. Orange blossom/peel/burnt and flowers and spice and acid. — 8 years ago

Shawn Thompson

9.2

Another lovely Chenin Blanc with a bright gold colour, hints of orange marmalade, and warm peach cobbler on the nose. The palate is oaky, almost Chardonnay like, dry and citrusy. I love my South African Chenins! — 8 years ago

Maureen Sande-Munyi

10

Friday night unwinding made perfect with a bottle of good wine. Even when you're out of crackers and have to lay your cheese on Ryvita! 😄 #tgif #pinotage #wineoclock #unwind #fridaynight #fridayfeeling #helloweekend #thankful — 10 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

2006. Honey, blood orange, apricot, nutmeg, baking spices. Reminds me of a Coteaux du Layon. Great lift and balance. Wonderful. — 11 years ago

with V

Jan A

9.0

On day two this rounded/fleshed out considerably and the dominant syrah grape of the blend (39%) came forward. — 2 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

So freaking good. This would be perfect for thanksgiving. There’s fruit, savory herbs maybe even sage, good acidity from a plum/cranberry/orange like mixture. This is just outstanding. Between this and broc zin you’d have a great party with anyone. — 4 years ago

Martinez

9.0

Blend of Grenache (80%) and Mourvedre (20%) from 6 parcels in the Palastor, Bois Dauphin and Cabrières lieux-dits, located around the road to Orange in the cooler, northern part of the Châteauneuf du Pape AOC. From 60-80 years old vines Gradassi inherited from his grandfather rooted on sandy and clay soils, with few galets roulés (round river stones). Whole-bunch fermentation in cement vats. Aged for 10 months in older barriques. Intense, complex and fabulously aromatic, with aromas of dark fruit, garrigue, licorice and an edge of graphite/gunpowder. Big and powerful (14.5%) yet balanced. Earthy, leathery qualities and some chewy tannins. — 6 years ago

Dmitri

9.8

Such a smooth mouthful with orange flavors and beautiful melody. — 9 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.4

Very pale yellow, almost devoid of color. The nose is bright and alive with ripe honeydew melon, green fig, citrus zest, alfalfa sprouts, and fresh grapefruit juice. Gorgeous flavors come in waves; tangerine, citrus oils, lime, lemon zest, lemongrass, cara cara orange, white grapefruit. The acidity is literally laser focused, like the edge of a perfectly sharpened chef's knife. Minerality comes towards the end; clean, white river stones, granite. Hints of wheat grass and radish mix with wet stones on the long lingering finish. This will get even better over the next 5 years. One of the last wines from the true Jedi Master of Sauvignon Blanc. — 10 years ago

with Diana

Jess

9.0

Pale lemon color.
Aromas of peach, floral.
Dry. Flavors of peach, orange blossom, apricot.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 3 years ago

Iliana Zuluaga Vega

10

This is an excellent balanced wine. Rivals Uruguayan Tannats without problem. Perfect as a gift. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Similar to the note I made a year ago in August 2020. Aromas of dried herbs, bay leaf, tomato bush with a woody note (not Oak) which we identified as Walnut similar to the previous note. This Cabernet is slightly different to the northern Margaret River (Wilyabrup) Cabernets like Woodlands and Moss Wood. On the Medium plus bodied palate red and black fruits with currants and mulberries. This was from a good vintage and is currently in a great place. Enjoy a bottle if you have any. POSTSCRIPT: A note by James Halliday from the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting in 2010 , for the 2007 vintage - “the trio of Cape Mentelle, Moss Wood and Woodlands pushed Leoville Las Cases and Chateau Margaux out of contention. “ Admittedly 2007 was not a great year in Bordeaux. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Deep crimson in colour. Noticeable oak and spice on nose. Medium to full bodied. Red and black fruits on palate- plum and blueberry notes sadly dominated by the Oak. As mentioned in other posts I believe Margaret River is much better suited to Cabernet and blends rather than Shiraz - no better exemplified than the 2 offerings from this well performed winery - Cape Mentelle. Tasted again 19 weeks later. Similar sentiments as above but this time more Northern Rhone in style with black pepper, plum and dried meats. Pretty good actually. Will drink remaining 2 bottles over the next 3 to 4 years. Score 2nd time is 93 points. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

This is a tiny family winery near cold climate Orange in NSW which was a welcome discovery when I was judging at the 2017 Toowoomba Wine Show. They make award winning Shiraz Viognier and straight Viognier in minute quantities. It would be safe to say this would be the first bottle of this wine ever consumed in Copenhagen as I brought it over here. This is a full bodied flavoursome and voluptuous White with attractive Apricot flavours and some bitterness to finish off. Very Good. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Cape Mentelles prestigious Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend with the addition of barrel ferment like a White Bordeaux. Nose of orange fruit flesh along with grapefruit notes. Medium plus acid which will allow this to be cellared. The winery says up to 15 years. — 10 years ago

Courtney Walker

9.5

A heavy charcuterie silver platter is served with baked honey ham, cured Spanish jamon, blood red chorizo, and smoked maple bacon. Hints of cinnamon, sweet paprika, basil leaf, gunpowder pepper, and cloves simmer on moist tobacco coloring zesty notes of ruby grapefruit, mandarin orange peel, soft kiwi hair, and peach fuzzed suede ~ buttered leather and flint coos as baby's breath on your nose.
Sandalwood and cedar patina the long legs of this elegant Blue Crane of a wine as it slowly grazes the river waters of the Indian Ocean. Nursed and balanced by the terroir of South African trade winds this purple warrior has flawless camouflage. Formal enough to serve the Master of War yet humble enough to grace the tongue of seraphim. The glass illuminates a select spectrum of mollusk purples and violets that have to be seen with the naked eye alone. Sublime in deed and grape. — 11 years ago