Jan de Weerd

9.1

If a wine does not meet your (high) expectations, is it a disappointment?? 🤔. Yeah, everything is relative. This six year old Gran Malbec was still super tight. Sharp, spicy oak tannins (lots of new French oak?) kept anything possibly underneath totally hidden. Although some greener notes came through early on and again later after about 2-3 hours of opening. So, yeah. Not balanced, very intense, limited lingering and single note. Agung will help for sure but not confident if this wine will ever fully shine. But don’t be down on Pulenta. Fantastic winery. We will visit this fall (their Spring) as Spoken Wines. Talking about Spoken Wines, have you seen our latest video story of Hartenberg?? And their incredible commitment to regenerative viticulture, lead by… cows!! Beautifully explained and demonstrated right in front of you by Wilhelm Joubert, the viticulturist. Check it out. And don’t miss the surprise at the end 😁. www.spokenwines.com — 3 months ago

with Tammy

Shay A

9.2

I’m between a 91-92 (same as I was for the Brut Reserve). After going through 6 of these and 6 brut reserve over the last year, I feel confident in the longevity of these Blanc de Blanc champagnes.

For a Blanc de Blanc, this shows plenty of yeasty/toasty notes with fleshy characteristics. Sea salted flaky honey buttered biscuits with lemon scone and honeysuckle aromatics. While the palate is similar, the finish is so drastically different than the rest of this champagne…almost too tart. Palate profile is rich with yellow fruits, kiss of nougat, and some classical limestone. The finish is just crazy underripe and again, tart. Razor sharp acidity. I think this is a champagne that benefits from time, whereas the Brut reserve is perfectly fine to consume now. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.3

This was my contribution for a big white wine theme, where all bottles were served blind.

Placed in the exact middle of the lineup, I considered this as my wine but wasn’t fully confident. Similar to the 2016 Belle Cote I opened earlier this year, I’m somewhat nicely surprised that this is as beautifully balanced as it is. Some of these wines have a reputation for “large and in charge”, but this was supremely balanced, toeing the line between Sonoma and white burgundy with richness. Aromatically it revealed sugar frosted stone fruits, white peach, caramel dipped golden delicious apples and baking spices. It has a beautifully textured palate that is almost creamy before snapping back with good acidity. Added notes on the palate of powdered lemon bar, floral honeysuckle, and whipped lemon cream. This will age effortlessly for another 7-10yrs, but it sure is giving now. — 4 years ago

Mathew

9.3

Cherry and pepper with tannic bite upon opening which relaxed into a confident and mature subtle rounded earthiness. — 6 months ago

Mike Lev

9.3

Really nice, the layers of apple, pear, lemons balanced with floral notes and clove and a very present minerality. Confident and vibrant. — 2 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.4

When I went to open this wine for a friend who contributed to my wine education during the early years he immediately said, "Not until it was at least a decade on .” I shrugged my shoulders and buried it. I understand now. I had concerns as there was something floating around in the bottle. In the mouth it felt 3-D but never heavy. Flavors of watermelon , peach , red berries, and flavors quite frankly I had never experienced in a wine or could identify. At times it showed like a cocktail one would get on the beach , at other times like a complex sour ale. I feel confident in its youth it had a higher level of sweetness but like a great Riesling it perfectly integrated. A lingering juicy finish. I realize this wine would not be for everyone but for me one of my most memorable wine experiences and what I love about wine.. Honestly, my score is irrelevant. — 3 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

Dense, chewy, meaty Santa Maria Pinot I enjoyed getting to know over three consistent days. Thick and throat coating like cough syrup, raw and confident. Pours an oily murky browned ruby with aromas deep to penetrate the nasal brain barrier.

Kirsch level cherry depth. Sour and bright in the mouth. Green stems and dried cedar, with cinnamon mocha accents. Yum. — 2 years ago

Lauren Ruvolo

9.2

A bit lighter than your standard Cali cab, but still a confident wine that will stand up to a thick NY strip. Cherry wood, mild spice, light leather. — 3 years ago

with John

Fredrik Finn

9.3

First encounter with the 2016 Trediberri Barolo. After an hour in the decanter it is very closed and tight. After an additional 30 minutes of had work of spinning the glass the wine finally unleashed its inner complexity. As it opens up it displays an intense fruit profile with slightly tart red berries; cranberries, rose hip and blood orange with a softer edged strawberry fruit and lavender coming from behind. Beyond the fruit there is plenty of complexity coming from a pronounced portion of incense, tar and spicy characters.
A penetrating acidity and pronounced, ye approachable, tannins with a gripping texture dictates the palate. A very good fatigue on the mid palate, strong but with light steps and plenty of vibrant energy. An expansive complexity holds your attention through a solid finish. 92 +
If opening today I would give it 3-4 hours in the decanter, and don’t rush it in the glass. I am confident that it will age beautifully, and I will keep my additional 6 pack on the back for a couple of years before a revisit. — 4 years ago

Dr.Meandor

9.0

Sensual, captivating, caressing, stupendous & utterly fresh 100%Viognier aged in inox for 7 months.
Dedicated 4ha plot at at foothills of Caucasian mountains (5km to Black Sea).

Pale lemony, light emerald glitters.
Refined and delicate yet confident nose of saturn peach, mango, white plum pith, wet stones, thyme, apricot, pear, canned pineapple, white currant leaf, white grapefruit, blooming lemon, lily of the valley, with very touch of white pepper.
Crisp and focused palate. Medium body (12.5%), vibrant acidity. Decently mineral of limestone. Sweetie, green apple, white currant, rhubarb, feijoa, carambola, white plum scents.
Persistent and refined finish of white currant peels, pippin apple, pomelo and sea minerals.
Paired Faroe salmon steak.
90/100 — 4 years ago