Knock Knock Wines
Château Villemaurine
St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
2018 vintage. Owned by Belgian Justin Onclin, consulted by Hubert de Boüard. A spectacular effort. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Classy nose with ripe red fruit, flowers and subtle cedar wood. Concentrated and very elegant, impressive depth, beautifully balanced with perfectly integrated alcohol (abv. 15 %) and a knock-out finish. Definitely up to Premier Grand Cru level. Highly recommended. — 4 years ago
Cantina del Pino
Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016
The 2016 Barbaresco is a knock-out. And it is, for lack of a better word, the entry-level wine in this range. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon, red berry fruit and orange zest are some of the notes that lift from a Barbaresco that is all class. There is plenty of structure, but the purity of the fruit is so striking that the tannins are not especially noticeable. The 2016 is a stunning wine, that’s all there is to it. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2020) — 4 years ago
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Santa Barbara County Viognier 2017
Wow! This is a great viognier, although my husband said “it doesn’t knock my socks off”. Has a slightly sweeter finish than I like, might have been a year with sudden cold snap? — 5 years ago
Reyneke
Cornerstone Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018
Johan Reyneke’s Cornerstone blend is a match for many a decent Bordeaux, and in the 2018 vintage is particularly good. Replete with classical aromas of cassis, pencil shavings and cedar, the palate follows with great elegance, structure and a chalky, long finish. If anything, I’d prefer a little more savoury character as this tends towards sweetness (but not over-extraction), but it’s young right now! It’s extraordinary how inexpensive this wine is - it would knock the socks of some Bordeaux Crus Classés in a blind tasting. — a year ago
Domaine Olivier B.
Les Amidyves Côtes du Ventoux Grenache Blend 2017
Smells like a spiced pastry
Lively! Red stars dance across the tongue for only a meaty mingling moment, before the tannins start smacking every part of the mouth, up, down, left, right, Jab, Jab, Ka-pow! Those knock out tannins longer on and on.. and on..
Wish I had bought 2 bottles, this needs at least 5 years to relax those teen tannins.
I mean, don’t close your mouth for too long on these tannins, as they act like a vacuum and super glue. You’ll never get your jaws apart.. — 4 years ago
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Santa Barbara County Syrah 2018
The 2018 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) is superb. Rich, deep and fleshy, this striking, absolutely delicious Syrah has so much to offer. Blueberry, violet, lavender, chocolate, spice, licorice and black pepper capture the essence of cool-climate Syrah. The 2018 is an irresistible appellation-level wine that punches well above its weight. What a knock-out! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago
Nicolas Joly
Clos de la Coulée de Serrant Savennières Chenin Blanc 2019
Rocca di Montegrossi
Geremia Toscana Cabernet-Merlot Blend 2016
The 2016 Geremia is a total knock-out. An exotic mélange of sweet dark cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, spice and menthol races out of the glass. The 2016 is deep, dense and full of character. It is also easy to drink with minimal cellaring. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon work so well here in the way they express richness and structure, all with a real sense of Tuscan raw power. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2020) — 4 years ago
Domaine Vocoret et Fils
La Forêt Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay
Popped and poured. Glorious Chablis. Fresh, vibrant with accents of ripeness, sea mist, apples, chalk, flint, rocks, citrus. I dare you to find a bottle of white wine for $24 that is as good as this, let alone a Chablis. I feel like Robert Conrad from the Eveready commercials in the 70's with a bottle of Vocoret on my shoulder. Go ahead, knock it off. I dare you! 92pts. — 6 years ago
Carl Camp
No oak. Very good. — 7 months ago