Ron from VA

9.0

This might be my last bottle of commitment — 3 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

“Nothing added, nothing removed” is a phrase some use to describe the philosophy of low-intervention (or “natural”) winemaking. 🌱

The winemaker is like a vessel, carrying Mother Nature’s gifts from the land (and vintage) to your glass, where each sip can transport you to a particular place and time.

Nicolas Joly is an illustrious vigneron revered for his deep commitment to biodynamics and minimal intervention winemaking. 👏 He leads his family’s estate – Famille Joly – located in the prestigious appellation of Savennières in the Anjou-Saumur region of Loire Valley and specializes in top quality, cerebral, age-worthy dry whites made from the Chenin Blanc grape.

This takes patience, strength, and resilience for which the seahorse is a spiritual symbol (among other things). 🌊 It’s no wonder the Famille Joly features this beautiful, gentle creature on its bottle and labels.

This wine comes from ‘Les Vieux Clos’ where vines are harvested at 25 hL/ha which is HALF of the appellation’s allowance of 50 hL/ha.  👀

As a result of favorable growing conditions and these low yields, the grapes were allowed to become ripe, which explains the high alcohol at 14% ABV and round but balanced fruit expression.

This wine underwent a wild fermentation, followed by a natural malolactic conversion (MLC), and then it aged 12 months in large neutral oak with no fining or filtering before bottling.

The color is pale gold. On the nose and palate are harmonious notes of yellow apple, quince, papaya, dried orange peel, citrus blossom, chamomile, ginger, saffron, cinnamon, cream, white pepper, lanolin, wet slate …

It has power and elegance, nuance and vibrancy, with a persistent finish.  We think it pairs nicely with the baked herb & lemon salmon, asparagus and couscous.

Cheers to winemakers who share a piece of their land and heritage with the world one glass at a time! 🥂🥂🥂
— 2 years ago

with Deked1

Vino Joe

9.7

I sometimes wonder why I drink other wines…. This wine is so fantastic and so consistently fantastic it’s hard to justify my commitment to variety. Lovely violet color. Nose is full of robust lingering perfume. The balance and length always gets me. It’s constructed so well and deep. The fruit is mature but still has some kick of youth. Outstanding. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

8.9

This wine is chock full of juicy, ripe blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red plum, and strawberry notes, violet, leather, and soft tannins.

Winemaker Maxime Graillot is the son of the revered Northern Rhône winemaker — Alain Graillot — who passed away in March of this year. Surely his father left an indelible imprint on Maxime’s winemaking, and his commitment to quality, which he will carry forward.

This style of Syrah reflects youth, innovation, and a personality of its own that is so approachable, textural, and delicious; it would make a great choice for any holiday gathering. A crowd pleaser.

We chose this wine to pair with roasted chicken and it’s lovely.
— 4 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to the wines of South Africa 🇿🇦

This Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is unique in that the grapes used to produce it primarily came, not from Hamilton Russell vineyards, but rather from neighboring vignerons.

Hamilton Russell made this unprecedented decision in the aftermath of devastating wild fires that imparted smoke taint to its estate-grown grapes. Unwilling to compromise on quality, I applaud Hamilton Russell for its tenacity and willingness to forge ahead to create this delicious Pinot Noir for its customers. 👏👏👏

This wine is comprised of fruit hailing from three different Hemel-en-Aarde (aptly meaning “heaven and earth”) Wards within the Walker Bay District, in the Cape South Coast Region of South Africa’s Western Cape.

This wine is a reflection of community, camaraderie, and commitment to excellence.❤️

👁 It is medium ruby with pale fuchsia rim variation.

👃 On the nose this wine has a medium(+) intensity of youthful aromas. The aromas include candied cherry, strawberry rhubarb preserves, violet, dried orange peel, white pepper, star anise, clove, and nutmeg.

👄 On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium(+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins, and medium intensity of flavors consistent with the nose. This wine has a medium finish.

Hamilton Russell, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, ABV 13.5%. Vintage 2019. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

J. Kim

9.2

Super Nebbiolo. As delicious as any 2016 Barolo’s and no further analysis needed. The material here is stronger than most other’s Barolo cru’s. There is a sense of commitment, seriousness and properness that is uncommon. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Bisson “ü Pastine” Bianchetta Genovese 2023
Portofino DOC, Liguria, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A rare white wine made from 100% Bianchetta Genovese, an indigenous Ligurian grape, cultivated in steep coastal vineyards above Portofino. The “U Pastine” bottling highlights winemaker Pierluigi Lugano’s commitment to reviving traditional Ligurian varieties. Fresh, saline, and deeply tied to its maritime terroir.

Aromas & Flavors
Fragrant notes of citrus zest, green apple, white peach, and Mediterranean herbs. Subtle accents of sea spray and crushed rocks give the wine its unmistakable Ligurian identity.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, crisp, and energetic with zippy acidity. The finish is marked by a refreshing saline minerality and a delicate citrus lift.

Winemaking Notes
Hand-harvested grapes from terraced vineyards overlooking the sea. Vinified in stainless steel to preserve freshness and purity of fruit. Bisson is also known for the famous Abissi Metodo Classico — a sparkling wine aged in the sea off Portofino — though U Pastine is a still white wine, equally unique in its coastal character.

Food Pairing
Perfect with Ligurian seafood classics — anchovies, branzino, or seafood pasta with pesto. Also excellent with raw oysters, fresh mozzarella, and light salads.

Verdict
A vibrant, terroir-driven Ligurian gem that captures the essence of sea, sun, and stone. Refreshing, honest, and endlessly food-friendly — a must-try for lovers of coastal Italian wines. — 10 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.1

If a wine does not meet your (high) expectations, is it a disappointment?? 🤔. Yeah, everything is relative. This six year old Gran Malbec was still super tight. Sharp, spicy oak tannins (lots of new French oak?) kept anything possibly underneath totally hidden. Although some greener notes came through early on and again later after about 2-3 hours of opening. So, yeah. Not balanced, very intense, limited lingering and single note. Agung will help for sure but not confident if this wine will ever fully shine. But don’t be down on Pulenta. Fantastic winery. We will visit this fall (their Spring) as Spoken Wines. Talking about Spoken Wines, have you seen our latest video story of Hartenberg?? And their incredible commitment to regenerative viticulture, lead by… cows!! Beautifully explained and demonstrated right in front of you by Wilhelm Joubert, the viticulturist. Check it out. And don’t miss the surprise at the end 😁. www.spokenwines.com — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Vanessa

9.1

At Flying Goat, the goal is to produce unpretentious, playful wines while retaining a serious quality focus and commitment to a purity of expression from single-vineyard sites such as the Solomon Hills Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Rancho Santa Rosa, to name a few.

This intention is reinforced by everything from the whimsical labels (Flying Goat, Goat Bubbles, YNOT), to the critical acclaim Flying Goat Cellars has garnered for its impressive wines, to the impeccably balanced and delicious Pinot Noir and vintage, traditional method sparkling wines.

This 2016 blanc de noirs sparkler — made with Pinot Noir hailing from the Bien Nacido Vineyard — is medium gold in appearance, with a fine and creamy mousse, and fresh notes of just-ripe yellow apple, pear, white peach, lemon zest, citrus blossom, biscuit, toast, brioche, toasted almond, and marzipan. It has a lingering, elegant finish.

@Delectable Wine this is the blanc de noirs bien nacido vineyard 2016 vintage sparkling (Goat Bubbles, Flying Goat Cellars) — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Jay Kline

9.4

Okay, so there are haters out there that don’t appreciate Joly’s approach to winemaking and question his vineyard practices. Something about his commitment to biodynamics and not doing his vineyards justice. Well, people are entitled their opinions and if those opinions keep his wines away from some people, that’s okay because it just means more for me. The 2014 Clos de la Bergerie is a wine of tremendous soul. For the uninitiated, it’s going to bend the mind. Visually, it pours an almost alarming, burnished gold color that is slightly turbid. On the nose and the palate, it’s a wonder. Bruised apples, marmalade, honeysuckle, lanolin…whoa. The acid makes the whole thing work so well. This is drinking really well right now but I expect these will drink well over the next 5-10 years…possibly more. These wines really need a crazy amount of air. Like…insane. I really wish I could drink them more often. Unfortunately, I’m not that privileged. — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Châteaux Pradeaux is located in Bandol AOC, of Provence, France, near the magnificent coastal town of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer, situated on the Mediterranean Sea. I imagine there are breathtaking views of the azure waters from the vineyards and estate of Château Pradeaux. 🌊

Generations of the Portalis family have produced wines from this estate dating back to 1752. The land has seen devastation such as the French Revolution, Phylloxera, and World War II, and yet today it remains strong, carrying forward the family traditions, thanks to the fortitude, will, and courage of the Portalis family. 💪

👁 It is medium ruby with garnet rim variation. It has a subtle haze, perhaps because this wine was not fined nor filtered.

👃 On the nose this wine has a baked, black fruit quality, with notes of blackberry, plum, and black cherry 🍒 ; also notes of dried lavender, anise, clove, cedar, nutmeg, tobacco, leather, peat moss, meat, and barnyard.

👄 On the palate, this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a medium(+) body, medium alcohol, high tannins, and medium(+) intensity in flavors that are consistent with the nose.

The grapes were not destemmed in the winemaking process, which has undoubtedly contributed to the strong and grippy tannins experienced in the glass. This wine benefits from decanting and could also benefit from more time in the bottle. 👍

In sum, this wine tells a story of commitment, perseverance, and respect for the land from which it’s cultivated. It’s made with minimal intervention and has 95% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache. 📚

Château Pradeaux, Bandol Rouge, 2014, ABV 13%. — 5 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Here’s to all of the strong, brave, inspiring women from all ends and angles of the industry. 🥂🥂 You contribute to and enrich the world of wine.

We’re celebrating International Women’s Day with a beautiful bottle of rosé bubbles from @domainecarneros, where Eileen Crane, a pioneer, innovator, and intrepid leader, spent 33 years as CEO and head winemaker, having just retired last year.

Thank you, Eileen Crane, for your example of strength, ingenuity, humanity, and commitment to your craft. I’m excited for the deliciousness that lies ahead with incoming CEO Remi Cohen and her team. We’re looking forward to visiting the Domaine Carneros Château next month. 😆

Domaine Carneros by Taittinger, Cuvée de la Pompadour, Brut Rosé, Methode Traditionnelle. 12% ABV. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

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

Matt

9.7

Ah, "Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Albariño'-a veritable jewel from the spectacular landscapes of Spain's Galicia, specifically the picturesque Rías Baixas DO, where the Atlantic whispers sweet nothings to the vines. This splendid Albariño unveils a bouquet of zesty lemon, fragrant white flowers, and a hint of sea breeze, tantalising the senses like a playful flirtation. The producer, Bodegas Terras Gauda, founded by the illustrious Ramón V. de Garay, is famed for its commitment to sustainable practices. Fun fact: they pioneered the use of genetic research in their vineyards-a cleverer endeavor than my attempts at crossword puzzles! Albariño, that beguiling grape, is renowned for its bright acidity and versatility; a wonderful partner in crime for seafood, particularly oysters, as the minerality complements their briny sweetness. It also loves the spicy embrace of Asian cuisine, where its zesty notes dance playfully. This delightful nectar has garnered praise, earning a commendable 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Truly, it's one to uncap whilst contemplating life or... other intimate matters far too risqué for polite company! — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2018 vintage. Tasted 2.21.24 (9.3) and 10.25.23 (9.4). Medium body. Serious stuff without the ca$hi$h commitment. Tasted with the winemaker/owner-Jeff. 8.9.24. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Okay, so I cheated…sort of. I made a commitment to drinking only Greek wines on my trip however, when Kostas Lonis pours you a glass of Egon Muller’s Riesling from Slovakia, you don’t turn it down. This is a powerful Riesling that gives me serious Austrian vibes. I’m not sure how long this bottle had been open but it was gorgeous. Bright, ripe tropical and lemon/lime fruits, some petrol with almost palpable minerals. High acid but not punishing due to the effect coming from the abundance of fruit. An unbelievable value. I wish I had access to more of this. — 3 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.4

Who doesn’t love that feeling when you point to a wine on the list and the sommelier’s eyes light up and they make an involuntary “ooh” of excitement. This bottle was spectacular tonight and so incredibly youthful for its 15 years. Still showing greenish gold in color and positively vibrating with stony minerality underneath Asian pear and honeysuckle, mandarin orange and star fruit flavors. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, there’s no better bang for the buck in the wine world than aged Riesling. @weingut_hexamer FTW! — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Floral because it’s Fleurie? Maybe not but I’ll never stop commenting on how much I love that Cru Beaujolais sounds like it tastes. Violets just throw themselves at you like a bridal bouquet (don’t know if violets are traditional to a bouquet but if I ever have one maybe they will be) and anyway even if you are a commitment-phobe like me you’re gonna catch this wine. There may be rose or so and some plums and then just this wine wants to flow through your veins with happiness and if happiness flowing through your veins is something a relationship could bring then I am at least giving this a second date. — 5 years ago

Paul H

9.3

This is one of the rare things that brings pure joy to me. So many wonderful memories have been made with my drinking companions while savoring this wine. Thanks to the everyone at Gundlach Bundschu for their commitment to excellence. — 5 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.1

Surprising win coming out ahead of meursault Genevrieres and Sta Rita hills Chardonnay. Lowest cost bottle on the table. Richness, mineral, very terroir driven and pure and energetic. Commitment to terroir at Domaine Jadot is alive and well!!! — 6 years ago