Eldon Sproule

10

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 10 months ago

Riccardo L.

9.2

A beast that needs yet to grow up. — 4 years ago

Patrick O Driscoll

9.3

Soft red that is maturing well with ripe forest fruit nose, will grow into a great wine with time. Does need to be aired to enjoy it — 4 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Clean & clear as a mountain spring, with salt, crushed rocks, a whiff of herbs and some reductive naphtha. On the palate this is linear & clearcut yet with precision & depth, good pure yellow fruit and lemony acidity following. Finishes off with, again, a salty mineral streak.
I find the Alzinger Rieslings much better than his Veltliners. And they improve immensely with time. This is still a baby and will continue to grow, even though it’s ‘only’ a Federspiel.
Delicious stuff. — 6 years ago

Timothy Lynch

9.1

No longer a puppy but still has room to grow. It will never be sensational but it will get awfully close. Paired it up with Alla Puttanesca. A perfect match. — 8 years ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.2

Potential to grow awesomly with some proper ageing 91+ — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 2006 Comtes de Champagne is striking, especially in the way it brings together elements of ripeness and freshness in a hypothetical blend of the 2002 and 2004. Smooth and creamy on the palate, the 2006 is all about texture. There is a real feeling of density and weight in the 2006, qualities I expect to see grow with time in the bottle. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. The 2006 has been nothing short of magnificent both times I have tasted it. Comtes de Champagne remains the single best value (in relative terms) in tête de cuvée Champagne. I suggest buying a case and following it over the next 20-30 years, which is exactly what I intend to do. There is little doubt the 2006 Comtes de Champagne is a magical Champagne in the making. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Jul 2015) — 8 years ago

Rick Zywotko

9.3

Now we're getting serious.....
Wow......fantastic bottle,, but still has room to grow! Had a bunch of tannins yet, and showed lots of earth, exhibiting some wonderful fruits but not fully developed at its open, but a half hour later was just luscious. Have more, and glad I do! — 9 years ago

with Michael

romo

9.4

En mag. Epic bottle. Took this home and night-capped it w three friends. Room to grow still, but hedonistic now. — a year ago

Ashish Pant

9.4

Fantastic, had one in Fuengirola with fantastic Iberico feather. Soft is the word that comes to mind. Berries and tobacco. The 2018 can grow with age. — 3 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.0

What a wonderful little gem this wine turned out to be. A rather young blau but one that is light and drinkable with opportunity to age and grow in the bottle too. Has a ruby color, looks lighter body from the onset. Lively scents of rose petals and cola, but mostly red berries like currants and cherry. Drinks beautifully with a bright quality and low to medium acidity featuring some pepper but mostly sour cherry. Has a refreshing quality that I like. — 4 years ago

with Jillian

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 7 years ago

Severn G

9.4

Call me crazy...Faint petrol, wet slate with smooshed cherry/strawberry! Whaaa where is that note coming from...on Riesling, Rhine!!!???

Update Day No. 8: Red fruits note was still going strong, and confirmed by three others, so my sanity is intact.

'Try to catch snowflakes on your tongue. It's fun. Mm. Needs sugar. It's too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January. They sure look ripe to me. You think you're so smart with that blanket. What are you gonna do with it when you grow up? Maybe I'll make it into a sport coat.' — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

The origins of the Damilano family dates back to over a century ago, when Guiseppe Borgogno, the great-grandfather of the current owners, started to grow and make wine from his own grapes. Medium Ruby with aromas of fresh berry fruits and generous spice. On the palate this medium body wine shows flavors of juicy cherry and blackberry with notes of citrus and vanilla spice. Light tannin structure, lively acidity, medium ending with fruit finish. Nice value. Drink now, consistent, no aging benefit. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

A really pretty dark garnet color in the glass, almost impenetrable. The nose is very interesting and lovely, especially as time passes. Black and red cherries with some soft vanilla. There’s a bit of coffee and cigar smoke. On day two, chocolate and floral notes come to the fore. Earthy and fruity in equal measure.

This starts off as a very well balanced, quite nice wine but becomes so much more if you can let it grow into itself a little bit. Full bodied but not clunky. Smooth with vibrant energy. Soft tannins and nicely dry. On the palate you’ll find tobacco and chocolate with dark fruits. A nice streak of spice brings us on home to the long finish. This is no novelty, it’s just good wine. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

In 1989, Melville Vineyards, was founded in Sonoma, where Ron Melville grew high quality, Chard, Merlot, and Cab Sauv. In 1996, Ron's desire to grow Pinot Noir brought Melville Vineyards to Lompoc's Sta. Rita Hills, in Santa Barbara County. Ruby with aromas of sweet red fruits and vivid spice. Flavors of raspberry and strawberry, currant like, adding cinnamon and leathery notes. Fine tannins, long ending with nice mouthfeel bringing back fruit and subtle spice. Drink now starting to lose luster! — 5 years ago

Jae Cho

9.1

I wasn’t acquainted with the whole gang until now. Ready to grow old together, is all I got to say. — 7 years ago

with Diana

Jody Scharf

9.1

It grows on you. — 8 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.2

Small is anything but. Bold fruit with significant strawberry and raspberry’s. Still room to grow... — 8 years ago

Scott Plambeck

9.6

Opened a Magnum, soft cork — split in half but recovered nicely with no residue falling into the bottle. Decanted for 30min prior to pouring into glass. Beautiful color, light nose and mouth feel initially. Later noticed fine grain tannins on the palate, with no sediment whatsoever , No Brown at the edge of glass or carafe. Light fruit developed over the course of the hour we enjoyed it. Three of us enjoyed this excellent wine with a NY Strip and Filet as main course and a chocolate decadent cake for dessert. This wine still has room to grow. — 9 years ago