Clarity

Domaine de Chevalier

Pessac-Léognan Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2023

Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2023 – Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé de Graves. BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A masterclass in precision and balance, delivering crystalline clarity and architectural tension from a Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blend. Layered citrus, stone fruit, and mineral tones unfold with seamless flow, showing absolute control from entry through the finish. Everything feels calibrated, pure, and intentional, a wine that operates at peak efficiency without excess weight or distraction.

Aromas & Flavors
Lime zest, white grapefruit, green pear, white peach, crushed chalk, wet stone, subtle white flowers, faint almond cream and whispering oak spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied yet remarkably concentrated, laser-focused acidity, perfectly knit texture, seamless mid-palate density, and a long, ultra-clean, high-definition finish that snaps into perfect alignment.

Food Pairings
Oysters with mignonette, scallop crudo, sushi and sashimi, turbot with beurre blanc, citrus-poached lobster, delicate herb-driven dishes.

Verdict
An elite reference-point white Bordeaux showcasing extraordinary precision, balance, and purity. The finish alone separates this from the pack, energetic, exact, and endlessly refined. A benchmark wine for understanding modern Pessac Blanc at its highest level.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of wine that makes you stop mid-sip and recalibrate your internal benchmark. Effortless power, surgical accuracy, and zero wasted movement l, pure elegance at full throttle. The Max Verstappen of whites: dominant, composed, and ruthlessly precise.
— 3 months ago

Ted, Tom and 2 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Wow! Sounds amazing.

E. Guigal

La Turque Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2011

Fragrant and red-fruit-driven nose shouting clarity of purpose led a crisp, somewhat linear palate of nicely delineated red and black fruit, black tea, asian spice. After a while in the glass secondary notes emerged of strawberry and even lilac. Great now but miles from peak with delightful acidity still driving the palate. Outstanding. — a year ago

Ed, Daniel and 19 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 1985

Dark and sweet and delicious. Gnarly deep fruit but a lifted clarity and deliciousness. Really good — 2 years ago

Paul Woolls
with Paul
Juan, Iwan and 7 others liked this

Two Vintners

Boushey Vineyard Grenache Blanc 2023

92/6/1/1 blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussane, Picpoul and Marsanne (back label), 625 cases made. Pale white, sparkling clarity. Orchard fruit and citrus in mouth - pear, orange, dried lemon, a hint of apricot. Dry, very slight seed bitterness, almost crisp. Not getting much in the way of aroma initially beyond a maybe for white floral, but it’s not Viognier either — 4 months ago

Ted, Neil and 1 other liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Grands Échézeaux Pinot Noir 1989

Really great clarity and color. Do beautiful and complex. Plum and anise and roses and an absolutely gorgeous detailed long finish. Stunning — 8 months ago

Peter NelsonGregg G
with Peter and Gregg
Ira, Bob and 7 others liked this
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

Duck is the perfect match.

Bonneau du Martray

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 1989

Gorgeous clarity. This is a great bottle. Clear and intense. Softened at the edges. Delicate lemon and stone. In really good shape and kinda haunting — 2 years ago

Walker StrangisTony GarciaJean-Francois Pelletier
with Walker, Tony and 2 others
David, Jay and 12 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Oh hell yes
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

The twin titans 85 and 86 are still holding up. What a great deal this used to be.

Domaine Catherine Cuchet-Béliando

Cornas Syrah 2018

Lyle Fass
9.7

Just a hugely expressive nose of dark berry fruit and huge amounts of crushed granite. Blowing me away. Insane clarity. Exuberant minerality. Stunning depth. A 10.0 nose. Yes I said it. This is a no brainer 10.0 nose. Palate is a bit behind but it is all there. Such fine, elegant and refined tannins and unreal purity and length. The length is truly crazy. 2+ minute finish. Nose gets some bittersweet cocoa, some spice and confectionary florals. Wow. The finish is maybe 3+ minutes. Unreal concentration and just so nimble and pure. This is young obviously but needed to taste: Will follow throughout the day. This will get better. 9.7 for now.

The 7 hour update.

Nose is perfect melange of blueberry/blackberry and granite. Also a meatiness has developed. So detailed and just perfect. 10/10. No more notes.

Palate has softened a bit but still is tight! The will be a 40 year Beliando. Wow the texture is velvety and the tannins are big but refined. Much more mineral at the juncture. Loooonf finish. But it has lost some midpalate effect. Will try one more time before midnight.
— 2 years ago

Spencer, Jay and 11 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Lyle Fass thanks for the early check-in and sharing your notes on this one!
Lyle Fass

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@Jay Kline I walk so you can run. Happy NY!
Jay Kline

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🙌🏽

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Marey-Monge Romanée-St. Vivant Pinot Noir 2007

Tangy and vivid. Punchy fruit plum and violets and rose with real clarity and intensity. Black pepper and vines taste. Very 2007. Loads of character. Great — 6 months ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Jay, Juan and 3 others liked this
Bob McDonald

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@Conrad Green I have a bottle of this very wine. Thanks for your note - I will probably drink this early next year.
Conrad Green

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It will definitely be better many years from now. There’s no rush
Bob McDonald

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Thanks Conrad.

Savage Grace

Red Willow Vineyard Blanc Franc 2023

Light yellow, excellent clarity, citrus and thyme aromas, flavors of sweet lemon, lime with minerals and an almost creamy finish. Lime aftertaste. Super crisp overall. Pair with food, ideally. — a year ago

Ted and Sharon liked this

Winzerhof Thörle

Saulheimer Kalkstein Spätburgunder 2021

Lyle Fass
9.5

Nose is all mid season red cherries, cherry flower and so so pure. Mulberry, cranberry bog and so much more. Lipstick like intensity and just so focused and clear. Insane nose. Unreal limestone and depth but also it’s like it’s vibrating on its own plain. Wow what a palate. Juicy and structured with just silly good cherry fruit of the early to mid season style and unreal clarity, focus and linearity. Unreal concentration and depth. So stunning and like a squeegee on the palate. Now some violets on the nose and unreal concentration and sorry but light and ethereal. Stunning beyond belief.After air it gets more supple and textured. All red fruit on the palate. — 2 years ago

Vanessa, Severn and 13 others liked this