Roman Ochocki

9.0

Very good: bold & deep. A blackcurrant, coffee, leather, smoke and chocolate. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”

The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.

The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.

Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,

Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.

The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.

All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 6 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.0

Pleasant surprise! I wasn’t familiar with Jerry Riener or his boutique Washington state winery until today. This one is a Cab/Syrah/Merlot/Petit Verdot blend from some of Columbia Valley’s best vineyards. This is a big red with plenty of structure, luscious dark fruit, smokiness, and muscle. Notes of blackberry, black cherry, savory mocha, and hints of chocolate. Tannins are smooth and the wine is well balanced. Really good! I’ll definitely be trying some of Jerry’s other wines in the near future. Pair with a steak or spiced rack of lamb now and enjoy! Or, cellar some for 5 - 6 yrs. 2016 vintage on Nov 5, 2018 — 8 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Blueberry Pomegranate Cider. Light carbonated head. Fresh blueberry note in nose. Blueberry seed, pomegranate tartness, perfumed apple followed by fresh blueberry flavor with length. Slight apple malic aftertaste, including tiny chunks of blueberry pulp. Very tasty, fresh but not at all apple dominant. Probably off dry. Alcohol 6.5% but tastes lower. Label promises "hard cider with a focus on nuance, delicacy and depth"; promise delivered — 8 years ago

Matt Tinnon

8.9

2014. Solid wine that got better after opened for about 30 minutes. — 9 years ago

with Dennise

Rachel

9.1

Smooth light fruit flavor. — 9 years ago

with Rebecca

Jake Hajer

9.1

2018 vintage. Slutty milk chocolate in the best way. Vanilla and more vanilla. Kirsch and bourbon. Enjoyed and think this will age. — 5 years ago

Greg Thatcher

9.5

Beautifully balanced — 6 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

Beaune Boucherottes-not Pommard.. this bottle was textbook Burgundy and was well preserved @ 34 years. generous nose of rose pedals and soft small berries. Pothier was a master wine maker and vineyard guardian. The wine and the man continue to live on.🍷🍷 — 7 years ago

with Joe

Barb Anderson

8.9

Hints of golden delicious apple, white plum, great buttery texture with a hint of oak on the finish. Pairs well with crab dishes. — 7 years ago

Earle Dutton

9.4

The 2016 was just released on October 1, 2018 and should enjoy a long shelf life — 8 years ago

Barb Anderson

9.7

This is an absolutely amazing Merlot! De-li-cious! My taste buds are exploding with pleasure. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

As much as I like older wines with more evolution to them, I really enjoyed the 07, but this 2012 really grabbed my, mind, palate & body. Something special with this bottling that I look forward to trying again in another 8-10 years plus.

On the nose; brighter perfumed florals than 07. Beautiful violets & lavender. Black licorice, dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, smoke, scorched earth, dark moist soil, nice soft spice, light baking spices, leather and dry stones.

The body is full. The tannins are big, chewy & sticky. The structure is huge, the length beautiful, nice tension and excellent balance. The fruits are ripe & slightly ruby; dark currant/cassis, blackberries, black plum, blue fruits, black raspberries, raspberries with strawberries pulling up lightly on the rear. Leather, stones, dark moist soils, black licorice, vanilla, light spice, crushed rock powder, stems, lovely violets, beautiful acidity and well balanced, polished finish that lasts minute. The 12 far exceed the 07 in time. Drink 2020-33.

Photos of, Viña Almaviva, ancient wooded, Chilean Guardian statues, our tasting there today and their first barrel room with the 2017 vintage. — 8 years ago

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

10

I got my hair done for the first time in 4 months on Friday. Between running my own full time business and #mumlife I tend to put these types of things down the bottom of my to do list. Terrible I know.

So after I got home feeling wonderful and relaxed, I just had to pop something yummy to continue the pampering and Koonara kindly gifted me this sample bottle earlier in the week so I couldn’t resist. Plus my outfit seemed to match 🤷‍♀️

The Guardian Angel 2020 Sparkling Chardonnay from Mount Gambier is named after the ‘angel’s share’. It’s typical in the wine and whiskey world when you use oak barrels for maturation. Because barrels are porousness some of the liquid inside disappears during the aging process. Therefore it’s the angels share ⭐️

We loved it! From it’s fresh lemon shade on the eye to its juicy apricot, lemon & lime sherbet and shortbread on the nose. Not to mention it’s ultra smooth mousse, balance across the palate and delicate refreshing apple driven finish. A gorgeous sparkling for only $25!

This #wine was sent to me as a sample, I was under no obligation to post about it.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! — 5 years ago

Barb Anderson

9.4

Raisin in color, fruit & leather on the nose, full bodied medium-high tannins, sumptuous dark fruit, tobacco leaf, plum sauce, and a hint of mint. Baking spices on the long finish. — 7 years ago

Melissa Duffes

9.8

Yummy, easy to dri nk — 7 years ago

Barb Anderson

8.9

Deep purple in color. Opens up nicely with aeration. — 8 years ago

Mandi Speidel

City Territory Chicago, Maverick Wine Company

9.3

Loosing your debit card on the street=meeting your guardian angel and drinking Greek wine in Greektown. OPA!!!!!!!! — 8 years ago

with Bradley

Nenad Kesin

9.1

Requires decanting for at least an hour. Thick, rich, powerful, fruity, medium aftertaste. Rather expensive, but worth of trying. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

From The Guardian... "'You think, has the world gone mad?' says Sam Harrop. 'We're spending thousands on cases of en primeur Bordeaux when a few hundred miles up the road there's a region producing red wines showing better terroir, and with more vibrancy for a fraction of the price.' He's talking about the Loire. Specifically, about Loire cabernet franc. Harrop's a New Zealander and master of wine, who's just spent four years advising Loire wine-makers on how they might improve their wines for the British palate, so he's not unbiased. But he does have a point. Cabernet franc is under-valued, not just at the top level, but all the way down to the supermarket shelf."
While no one should be comparing cabernet franc from Loire Valley to cabernet franc from the Right Bank, I can't dispute the quality nor the value. If modern gamay from Beaujolais is considered fresh and bright, then modern cabernet franc from Loire is fresh and dark. Wet cement, juicy raspberry, vibrant blueberry, and roasted red pepper, with some faint cocoa powder and floral undertones. — 9 years ago