Lyn Farmer

9.1

This beautiful wine has a slight spritz, crisp acidity ands bright red fruit like strawberry, cherry and cranberry plus lemon, rose hip and an herbal nuance of white flowers and basil. Good balance of fruit, alcohol and acidity. Refreshing and delightful, like summer in a glass. — 6 months ago

Karin Anna

9.3

Almost sparkling, a bit sour in a good way. Drank as part of the new year menu — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.3

After opening a 2012 two weeks ago, I wanted to check in with the 2005. I also open a vintage L’Ermitage every 4th of July (as well as a bottle of zin), as it’s hard to beat this American sparkler at the price (and if you can, tell me).

Again, just a total QPR winner as evidence by this being 16yrs young. I believe this is the “oldest” L’Ermitage I’ve had, and my love for this sparkler is cemented. At its age, it really hasn’t oxidized much at all. I get a kiss of an autolysis flair here, but it’s more just rich and flamboyant. Yeasty/toasty. Toffee, honeycomb (always get that with these), sea salt and cinnamon topped golden delicious apple. Added notes of bruised pear and caramel round out the rich, yet vibrant, finish. The fact that these (yes, this vintage) can be picked up locally at $45-50 is just crazy. Takes a lot of restraint to not buy all they have. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Forgot I opened one of these earlier in the year. Whoops. Wish I had more.

Hour decant, then consumed from decanter over the next 3hrs.

My note here is fairly similar to the 2014 note, but there is more concentration and power going on. Dark purple in the glass, with aromatics of both sweet oak as well as a kiss of whole cluster stem inclusion. Loads of dark floral notes, ripe blackberries, and smoked jerky. Large-scaled mid palate depth and richness of blue and black fruits with plenty of herbal flair and spice but it’s more iron fist in a velvet glove style. There’s black peppercorn and iron, as well as big central coast Rhône style with its rich and textural palate.

I love Syrah in all expressions. It’s natural to compare these wines to SQN (and Andremily), and rightly so. These are dialed up to 9, but pull back, whereas the others aren’t afraid of going to 11. No right/wrong answer, just style preference. I happen to love both. — 9 months ago

FKA Bilal Zou

9.2

Sparkling Grape juice! — 4 years ago

Keaton Kail

9.5

I feel like I’m rating this so high but if you’ve got a more impressive $30 American Chardonnay tell me about it 👇🏻.

Seamlessly mineral-driven, unencumbered on the palate by a kiss of oak, and distinguished by a bright purity of acid expressed as citrus oil and apple juice. Greek yogurt, lemon curd, perfectly ripe Granny Smith, tart pineapple, salted butter puff pistachio pastry. — 4 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.6

Nose: mostly closed on open. Some peach skin. Tiger lilies. Yellow roses. Really pretty with some air. Almost a little vanilla bean but not in an oak way. A 9.6 nose.

Palate: dry elegant peach. A kiss of honey. Mineral. Very elegant. Expansive. A kiss of elegant richness. as this opens more just pure elegance. That vanilla bean. A kiss of peach.

Fass selections. — a year ago

Joe Dunn

9.0

Good acidity. High alcohol. Powdery. White flowers some vanilla. Kiss of citrus. Very chenin like — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Henriot often flies under the radar and I get it, there are so many options out there...but don’t sleep on this house. This, their most modest offering, delivers immense pleasure for the price. A near 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (I guess they use 5% Pinot Meunier) the Brut Souverain displays well ripened pears, lightly roasted nuts, slightly burned brioche and a kiss of citrus. The texture is rich and creamy. The finish is long and satisfying. No disgorgement data. While there is a code on the back, I was social and wasn’t going to give myself the brain damage to decode that mess. — 4 years ago

Matt

9.2

Like drinking lightning bolts ⚡️ Ripe green pear, white peach, tart citrus, zest and pith, citrus blossom, tea leaves, crushed chalk, a layer of spring honey just barely. Tense on day one with electric acidity. Day 2 showing more aromatic complexity and a kiss of breadth on the palate. So much acid and rocks. Day 4 still fresh as a daisy — 4 years ago