Vanessa

9.3

Marie-Courtin was established in 2005 by Dominique Moreau, who named her winery after her grandmother – a “woman of the earth” – surely an inspiration behind Dominique’s unwavering commitment to organic & biodynamic viticulture. She’s among the few (but growing # of) producers pursuing organic / biodynamic practices in Champagne, a notoriously challenging climate for mildew & rot.

Champagne Marie-Courtin is a Grower producer located in the village of Polisot in the Barséquannais, specializing in compelling terroir expressions, using a low intervention approach in the winery, with wild ferments and minimal (if any) dosage…

This wine fermented and aged in used (neutral) French barriques, allowing delicate oxygen influences w/out the oaky flavors. It spent 36 months aging sur lie (on the lees).

The result is a precise and chiseled wine with toasty notes next to layers of blossom, lemon peel, bright raspberry, strawberry, peach skin, kumquat, ripe pear, oyster shell, saline, blanched almond, bread dough, pastry, and baked red apple.

This wine represents a singular expression of a particular year, vineyard, and variety – it offers a sensory glimpse into a specific place and time. A magical & lovely wine. Cheers! — a year ago

with Deked1

Delectable Wine

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9.6

It’s almost impossible to pull yourself away from the bouquet of the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. Here I’m finding a beguiling mix of crushed dried roses, incense and red currant complemented by autumnal spice and hints of menthol and smoke. The textures are velvety-smooth, coating all they touch in ripe, lavender-tinged red and black fruits, contrasted by hints of sour citrus and a salty core of minerals. This tapers off with outstanding length. Structured for the long haul, but already showing a glimpse of the glorious Riserva that it will one day mature into. Wow – and from the 2011 vintage. Only 3,000 bottles were produced. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2021)
— 5 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

We visited Champagne Ayala today, located in the grand cru village of Äy, Champagne. 🇫🇷

This champagne house is now part of the Bollinger family 🏠 ; it has a distinct and marked personality, leaning especially towards Chardonnay with a light, elegant, and focused character. 🌸

We had the pleasure of touring the grounds and cave with @carledmundsherman where we learned about the history of Ayala, the subsoils and topography where grapes used to make this wine were grown; we rode an elevator with crates of bottles that had been riddled, and we even caught a glimpse of wines being disgorged, dosaged, and corked in action. 🤩

It was a memorable, educational, and delicious experience. 💕Here is a lineup of wines we tasted - mostly blends of predominantly Chardonnay (with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and a Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay).

All of these wines were lovely, though our favorite was the Vintage 2012 La Perle — ‘The Pearl’ — prestige cuvée, due to its richness, aromatics, and complexity. 👏👏👏🍾🍾🍾

Santé!!🥂🥂🥂🥂 @champagne_ayala — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright and deep red. Shy nose and more present palate of pomegranate, citrus rind, dry red flowers, and anise fruit leather. Bracing acidity shores up the medium to full (for a rosé) body. Young Tavel giving a glimpse of what could come five to ten years on. A great wine with light “red wine” or heavier “white wine” dishes as well as an intriguing late summer/early fall sipper. Drink now or hold through 2028. — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

4-5 hour decant at first thought barely opened this quality Barolo but in glass we got some preview of its future majestic state. Initially utterly sealed on the nose. Very strong tannins still need integration & the perfumed rose & Black fruits were coaxed out by much glass swirling. So not complete infanticide but kinda close. Still fascinating though to glimpse the inner power of a developing Barolo — 6 years ago

with Owen

Jay Kline

9.2

Let me be there first to say that I have always struggled to appreciate Pinot Noir, regardless of origin. That being said, I try to remain open minded so as not to miss out on something that could, perhaps, change my perspective. This may very well be one of those wines that I look back on and say, "that was it...that was the moment I experienced a glimpse of what PN was capable of." Slow-ox'd for about an hour before dinner and then drank over the next several hours; seemingly gaining momentum as time went by. Once in the glass, I was greeted with intoxicating aromas of crushed Marionberries, something wonderfully floral (roses???) and a touch of ever-so-slight barnyard funk. On the palate it was mouthwatering raspberries, a bit of strawberry, minerals and a mushroom thing that caught me by surprise but was absolutely charming. Long-ish finish. This seems built to last with ample structure and while it's quite delightful now, I can only imagine what pleasure these could bring once they begin taking on more secondary characteristics. Tannins are firm but not overpowering. Acid enough to pair beautifully with boeuf bourguignon. This was a humbling experience with Pinot Noir and one I'll look forward to again in the future. Bravo. — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. “Oh, hello friend!” This is what Sancerre is supposed to smell/taste like. Herbs and star fruit. Pyrazines are not prominent (long hang time has something to do with that). On the palate, the wine is dry and has simply wonderful acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and unbelievably chalky. This is a baby with a very bright life ahead. What a treat to get an early glimpse of the brilliance to come. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to find Sancerre like this. Drink now if you have multiples and you can appreciate the potential. Better after 2027. — 3 years ago

Charles York

9.2

Stone fruit, petrol, a glimpse of honeycomb, crisp mineral finish. This surprised me - in a good way — 4 years ago

Jan A

9.2

New vintage just released and could not resist to check-in. Golden yellow color, rich scents of tropical fruit. On the palate overripe fruit, orange peel bitters, citrus fruit. This is thick, full and on the sweet side. No oak used and it doesn't need it either. Still nervous with rough edges so this can use some additional cellar time. Upon aeration the last glass revealed honey and gave a glimpse of what is to come. I see this moving to 94 with some age. Next bottle in 2 years. — 5 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

Cherries, strawberries, spices and a glimpse of animal aromas. Palate is open, fresh and elegant but with a bit of grippy tannins that is not without merit. Decent length and very good. 91-92

Nez de cerises et de fraises assez mures avec des épices et une touche animale. La bouche est avenante, ouverte, fraîche, assez élégante avec des tannins de grains assez fins, malgré un petit côté asséchant qui est quand même agréable, sur la finale de longueur moyenne plus. 91-92 — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Man. This wine is a petulant genius child. When it was young was amazing. Now on open it’s a child hiding in the corner.

Nose at 2 hours just reluctantly gives you a glimpse. Reticent bastard. Just a peek of gorgeous flowers. But they are glorious.

Palate is gorgeous. Cherry flower more than cherry. I love you. Yes I do. So silky. So elegant. Yes you are holding back on me you annoying young genius bastard. But I am old and wise. And can enjoy your promise and can wait for it become apparent. Because I am old. And I have nothing left but patience. And you in the impetuousness of youth will be out lasted by me.

Bought from fass selections. — 6 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

8.9

Fresh, lean and savory. Solid and enjoyable weekday kind of wine, but you pay a premium for the Jamet name and it only provides a mere glimpse of the real deal. — 7 years ago

Sage Shimoda

9.2

Opened a 2010 Napanook bottle. Wow, the strong alcohol was still prevalent after two hours. We were able to catch a glimpse of its potential, gorgeous dark fruits, cassias, chocolate and cedar with earthy notes after three hours. There are still many years of aging potential. Will try this again tomorrow.

ドミナスのセカンド、ナパヌークの2010年を開けてみました。これはパワフルなワイン。開けたては、アルコールを強く感じ、2時間経ってもその強さは変わりません。3時間経つころに、徐々に落ち着いてきて複雑な表情が出てきました。明日、もう一度、試します。まだまだ熟成する余地のあるワイン、もう1本は当分セラーに保管しておきます。

— 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.8

The 2016 Barolo (magnum) is obviously a very, very young wine and yet its inclusion in this flight is essential, both for getting a glimpse of the wine at this early stage and also for understanding its place among recent vintages. Supremely elegant and classically austere in bearing, the 2016 is sublime. The vibrancy of the flavors is captivating, as is the wine’s energy. All the 2016 needs is time. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2023) — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I was gifted this bottle last year and since I had decided on lamb for dinner, I figured a 2014 Marcoux would be splendid (spoiler alert: it was). Popped and poured; consumed over the course of a few hours. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and browning edge with a slightly watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with very light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Powerful notes of desiccated strawberries, black cherry, bramble preserves…ensconced in leather. This is a real leather daddy. But there is more! Red flowers, hot rocks, garrigue, mushrooms, dry leaf tobacco, and allspice. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium tannin and medium acid. I would say that the tannins have mostly integrated at this point. Note from the nose are confirmed. Alcohol is medium+ alcohol and the finish is long. As the 2014’s from CdP continue to mature, they are becoming even more Burgundian and I’m here for it! They are so unique and strong producers made stupendous wine. NOTE: this bottle came across more advanced than I anticipated and may not be indicative of better cellared examples of 2014 Marcoux. The cork did show very slight signs of seepage which could have caused the wine to oxidize more than normal at this stage. Nevertheless, this was a beautiful, mature wine that perhaps gave a glimpse of what we can expect when the 2014’s begin to enter their twilight years. Drink now and over the the next 3-5 years. — 3 years ago

Denis Pulin

9.2

Solid. Chоkeberry. Some dark fruits dried to the extent of a soy sauce. At some point a glimpse of raw shortcrust pastry — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

The 2018 Lapierre Morgon is a spark plug bursting with energy. Even six hours in the decanter wasn’t enough to get this to uncoil but it started to give a glimpse of things to come. In the glass, it pours a hazy, garnet color. On the nose, it’s all raspberries and apricots. On the palate, it’s raspberries, apricots, rhubarb, dry earth and minerals. Medium tannin. Medium acid. Best to let these sit for a few years in my opinion and could potentially be at their best around 2025. I really like where this is headed. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Recent reviews by some on CT had me curious about how these were evolving so I had to check in myself and personally assess, you know, for science. Popped and poured; consumed over three days. The first day was OTT with red fruit and spices...but mostly the fruit. The spices, really sort of a one-note black pepper bomb, pricking the tongue, perhaps giving a glimpse of something more interesting if patience was exercised. Super clean with no signs of brett. I was almost taken aback because this was coming across rather ham fisted and definitely an outlier for Pegaü. I say almost. Two days later, I revisited the remaining half of the bottle and that’s when things really started to show off. Chewy red and black fruits were still very much in abundance but they were now more delineated and showing somewhat grainy tannins which seems much more pronounced now than they were on the first night. Think the texture of eating a mouthful of brambles. The spices that were teasing on the first night were stepping up to play a more pronounced role taking on more of a black licorice character with some lovely garrigue. Sound structure...though perhaps not as impressive as the 2016 Cuvée Réservée. Long, lip smacking finish though...and really delivering the goods! Based off this experience, I would imagine the best is yet to come for the 2015 Pegaü. If you’re drinking on the pop and pour, prepare for disappointment. These could use some time. I look forward to revisiting in 2025 and beyond. — 6 years ago

Nicole

9.5

She sprints into the fog laddened forest. Her white gown floating behind and showing glimpses of her calves and delicate feet.

You follow in hopes of a glimpse of her face or a kiss from her lips. You come to a fork in the road. Which way did she go?

Her laughter floats through the crispy air. The pursuit continues. — 8 years ago

Miguel Ostrowski

9.3

Still tight but have us a glimpse of brilliance — 9 years ago