Neal Ferry

9.4

One of the best Chards out there $86 and from Oregon ??? — 2 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.5

This magnum was a gift from co-workers at my old job when I left to take a new one. Nice coworkers! So rich and resolved. This wine reminds me of Neil Young’s Vampire Blues. “I’m a vampire babe. Suckin’ blood from the earth.” Grenache pulled from God’s earth. Incredible intensity and length, but still entirely in balance. Length for days. Iodine, stones, blood. — 10 months ago

with Dan and Angelo

Aaron Tan

9.1

A beautiful vintage study! It was really nice to look at the 17’ Greta Carbo after the 19’ the day before - this was grittier, less fruity, and more concentrated to me. MH and I thought it might have been some winemaking changes, but after a quick text with the producer, it was revealed that no stylistic changes were made and the differences were mainly due to hail and lower yields than 19’.

This was firing on all cylinders and incredibly different from my first bottle (cleaner and less of an oddball, though the same DNA was present - see previous notes). Aromas of red fruits, roses, herbs, and a tinge of nectarine. On the palate, it was juicy with flavours of pomegranate, raspberry, and blood oranges, along with black tea and grass. Super silky texture with a notable “furry” edge. Finishes with spices and a light earthy savouriness. Complex and super drinkable - a win in my books! — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.9

The 2019 Lynch Bages is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel, if not moreso. What a wine! Towering and vertical in its bearing, the 2019 is a total stunner. There is plenty of Lynch Bages charm, but what distinguishes the 2019 most is its spine of tannin and energy. Time in the glass brings out sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate and mint. The 2019 is a great, great, great Lynch Bages. It reminds me of the epic 1989, but with the youthful grip of this vintage. A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar. (Antonio Galloi, Vinous, February 2022)
— 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Summum: Popped and poured; enjoyed with our first course of corn chowder. The 2015 Summum pours a bright neon yellow color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is youthful with bright notes Meyer lemon, star fruit, yellow flowers, some butter, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and has a chalky texture. The balance of fruit and minerals soooo Eola-Amity Hills. Drink now through 2030. — 5 months ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.5

The 2021 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is bright, aromatic and wonderfully effusive. Crushed rose petals, mint, blood orange and cinnamon give the 2021 notable aromatic lift. Vibrant acids drive through it all, adding tension and persistence. This is a superb Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot from one of the appellation's historic families. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

The 2019 God Only Knows Grenache from wizard winemaker Christophe Baron is a radiating beauty. Pale ruby-colored, it displays fragrant aromas of violets, blood orange, exotic spices, raspberry liqueur, ripe cranberry, forest strawberry and crushed rocks. Medium bodied and layered, the ever-so-silky tannins and balancing acids contribute to a seamless mouthfeel so characteristic of Barons wines. It ends with a bright finish and should provide ample drinking pleasure over the next 15 years. — a year ago

Kyle

9.0

High alcohol. Medium to high concentration. Nose is almost refreshing like a juicy pear. Silky. Low tannins. Smooth, balanced from start to finish. Maybe a little caramel and vanilla at the finish. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This was a real treat after the Gentaz-Dervieux since Rene Rostaing is Marius Gentaz’s son-in-law. While the vineyards that belonged to Marius are now famously part of the Rostaing domaine, that vineyard goes to Rene’s Côte Brune; this is his Côte Blonde and arguably his most famous bottling. This 2004 pours a cloudy ruby with brambles, purple flowers, blood, dust and leather. Slightly rustic which is what I want from Rostaing. I love the individuality and how it paired with the Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. Plenty of life left. Drink through 2034+. — 8 months ago

Vanessa

9.1

Burgundy 🇫🇷 is renowned for its Chardonnay, but did you know that Aligoté is the second most planted white grape in the region? 👀

Some of the finest Aligoté comes from ‘Bouzeron,’ an appellation in the Côte Chalonnaise region (north of Mâconnais, south of Côte d’Or).

In a land of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, Bouzeron AOC is 100% dedicated to producing Aligoté 🙌🏻. In fact, it first became a legally-recognized AOC in 1998 thanks in part to the efforts of Aubert de Villaine, the winemaker behind this beautiful bottle. 👏🏻

Interestingly, Aubert is also a co-owner & co-Director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) (and, as an aside, was on the tasting panel for the 1976 Judgement of Paris 😆)…

Yet, instead of devoting himself exclusively to DRC — one of the world’s most famous and prestigious estates — he and his wife, Pamela (a California native), were enchanted by the possibilities of Aligoté, and terroir of Bouzeron, where they put down roots through “Domaine de Villaine”.

This wine is Domaine de Villaine Bouzeron AOC (2019). It has a shimmering lemon robe and bouquet of white blossom, just-ripe white peach, yellow apple, pear, citrus, fennel, and wet slate notes. It’s remarkably fresh on the palate with mouth-watering acidity balancing the warm (14% ABV) and fruit-driven profile. It’s positively delicious!

We’re pairing it w/ pan-seared sea scallops, roasted asparagus, & lemon-herbed farro…

Cheers to nurturing the diversity of Burgundy in all of its splendor! 🥂
💙🤍♥️ — a year ago

with Deked1