I'm not a Chardonnay fan but this was good, didn't taste like the usual. (taste at Brandt's in May) — 3 years ago
Decent weekday red blend — 4 years ago
Inexpensive enough to pop one straight off the truck after its week long journey from the east coast. Right there with the 16, less botrytis than the 14 & 15 which is what I was hoping for.
VM94
Rated 94 by Vinous Media
The 2017 Viré-Clessé, which will be bottled at the beginning of 2022, has a killer nose with an almost Germanic feel, intense nectarine, melon and damp earthy scents with just a hint of petrol. The palate is beautifully balanced with a line of acidity keeping everything taut and linear. The 2017 is a little waxy in texture with orange rind, stem ginger and white pepper furnishing the very persistent finish. This is superb - a Viré-Clessé with genuine substance and longevity.
Winery
100% Chardonnay. Bongran is Thévenet's original home estate (Domaine de Roally, also in Viré-Clessé, was added later). Cuvée Tradition is its single bottling of dry white wine (in certain vintages, a sweet botrytized wine is made). The old vines are organically farmed and harvested manually and notably late at a very high ripeness level. The grapes are pressed very slowly and gently. After settling, the juice is fermented in tank with indigenous yeasts, very slowly, taking up to two years to finish; there are often a few grams of residual sugar remaining in the wine. The wine is aged in tank only, then in bottle for several years before release. It has an extraordinary richness of flavor and texture along with firm acidity and minerality. — 3 years ago
Genuine Northern Rhone aromas, balanced and layered. Excellent wine. — 5 years ago
Nice genuine bordeaux, would definitely buy it again. — 6 years ago
The Wine Pontiff has been a bit too harsh on this one, IMHO...
Plummy fruit, licorice, grilled vegetables, mocha, touches of toast, leather and forestfloor characterize this lovely, genuine, trustworthy and affordable Pomerol.
Medium body, medium length.l, I quite liked it. — 4 years ago
The whites from Van Westen are often overlooked under the shadow of their excellent reds. This grigio is excellent though. This wine is real and without gimmicks. That almost makes it an exception for Pinot Gris in Naramata. Genuine and well made. A very nice glass of wine with the mineral, lemon, and sage in perfect balance. — 5 years ago
Matthew Cohen
Nose: cab franc vegetal
Palate: crunchy fruit. Delicious. — 10 days ago