Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2020 Reserva pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart dark fruits: blackberry, black cherry, toasted coconut, dill, vanilla, wood, and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Already balanced but the oak is playing a significant role at this stage (this is traditionally made Rioja Reserva we’re talking about). There is plenty of stuffing however and I expect this will become even more balanced with some time on its side. Want to see a wine under $20 that can age for 30 years? Welp, here you go. Drink now through 2050. — 16 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This bottle had been cellared since release and cork was in near pristine condition. At 54 years old, it remains a deep garnet/purple and now with loads of sediment. Classic Rioja character with dried black cherry, toasted coconut, cedar, dried flowers, leather and earth. The structure remains intact and the acid is still pretty fierce. This should continue to age very well if conditions are good. — 4 months ago

Shuhui Ng

9.3

Heavy bodied, mild tannins. Notes of plums, fresh mint, liquorice and coconut. So pleasant to drink! — 2 years ago

Guillermo Camacho

9.1

Classic example. The oak is not as coconut and dill heavy and the fruit is a bit more forthright than some other Rioja producers. Nose of cigar red and blue berries. Palate of bright fruit with medium acid and tannin. Drinking well now, but this still has plenty, plenty of life. — 3 years ago

Daniel M

9.2

You're not 40 every day and I wanted a special wine to celebrate that special day. Fortunately the wine bar / open kitchen restaurant we went to had that special wine, amongst 400 references, that I had been desperate to taste for a long while. I didn't take notes so it's all from memory, but the nose is what I liked the most. Coconut notes, leather, cherries, coffee... I spent probably 15 minutes in total smelling that wine. The palate was great with some acid drive, some matter but not in an overwhelming way, some gentle, well integrated tannins in the rear, before a long finish with savoury notes, red fruits, coconut and that gentle grainy tannic layer. A great experience to top up a day to remember.
Oh and if you happen to be in Warsaw, Poland and be looking for a great wine place, make sure to check out Kontakt - wino & bistro. — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 9 months ago

Matthew W.

8.9

Tropical fruits, hints of coconut & vanilla . — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Served with Fisherman’s Pasta - sablefish, mussels, saffron gnocchetti pasta, fennel, fresh baguette toast. If there is one thing constant about every Lopez de Heredia Blanco that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying, it’s that they are never boring. The 2006 delivers on that with notes of dates, dried apricot, German candied nuts, marshmallows, cumin, dill and toasted coconut. Dry with fantastic acid and the texture is waxy. One of my favorite white wines on earth. Will probably live for another 20 years easy. — 3 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Christmas pairing with pistachio crusted rack of lamb. Near perfect. Lots to be thankful for.

This Geyserville is drinking great. Blackberry jam, sandalwood, coconut. An awesome ripe accompaniment to the gamey lamb. — a year ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Celebrating my b-day today with this beautiful Golden hay Chardonnay and sushi! Yummy!!! Nose is subtle but complex. Initially, Apple-pear and coconut dominate the senses followed by lemon zest, baked apple and sandalwood. Taste - white peach, apricot fruits and floral are soft on the palate, but the texture of a chalky oil feel coat the entire mouth and secondary notes of orange rind, lemon, green melon and minerals give this wine its long finish. A great evening of celebration and gratitude! — 2 years ago

with Karin and Jill