Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2018 vintage. Decent S-L-B pricing for a 1er Cru but just not enough stuffing to justify my love. 8.21.24. — 4 months ago

Willie Carter

9.3

These Pierre Gimonnet champagnes are always of the highest quality from the Côte des Blancs and with terrific prices. An original member of the Club Trésors de Champagne, the Special Club, and an easy buy, each and every time.

The color of starlight on a cloudless night. A surplus of tiny bubbles and persistent perlage throughout. A very clean and focused nose showcasing lemon peel, pears, and sea salt. Vanilla custard and pronounced smoke. Hazelnuts and freshly baked dough with a nice dose of spice. Apples of the green and red varieties.

Some love has to be shown to the labels. Classy metal front label and an ultra informative back label. Pure Chardonnay from the Grand Crus of Cramant (59%) and Chouilly (25%) with the rest coming from the Premier Cru terroir of Cuis. The acidity here is outrageous and highly focused, really beautiful. Very pure and creamy. Disgorged in December of 2019 with an Extra Brut dosage of 4 g/l.

Everything carries over to the palate. A very complex and harmonious champagne. Fresh and bold with more apples and spice. Strong minerality and yeast here. Long, enduring finish. This definitely lives up to the standards of Gimonnet and the Special Club. Don’t sleep on these 14’s, they’re alive and kicking. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

A very pleasant and unexpected Puglian surprise! 80% Chardonnay, 15% Muscatel, 5% Fiano. Straw yellow color. Aromas of citrus and white flowers. Lemon/Lime and peach flavors with a hint of vanilla and dried herbs. Creamy texture. (Aged on the lees?). Betting this wine saw some neutral oak. Crisp and smooth with hints of mineral and sweetness on the finish. Solid QPR! l want more! Revisited in July 2020. Absolutely fantastic! Revisited again in May 2023. Still lively and fresh! Thanks for sharing your last bottle of Edda, Kieth S! — 5 years ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Better than the 16, not as sweet.
Jeb 94
$20.00 out the door doesn’t hurt either
Winery notes

T A S T I N G N O T E S
Seductive black cherry, blackberry and currant fruits laced with cocoa nib, sweet baking spices and cigar box with silky texture and a long, savory finish.

S O U R C I N G
Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills, Moon Mountain)
Syrah (Dry Creek Valley)
Cabernet Franc (Los Carneros)
Merlot (Moon Mountain, Coombsville)

T E C H N I C A L
Aged in 100% French Oak, 25% New — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A perfect bottle, direct import from a Negotiate via K&L. It has seen only Chateau & Negotiate storage.

Love, love, love the style of 80’s Bordeaux. Especially, the very good 80’s vintages. The style at this age is just so good as is the 12.5 ABV.

The fruit is still very solid & fresh. Ruby; blackberries, plums, poached strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries & blueberries hues. Lead pencil for days, some light v/a-bandaid, used tobacco w/ ash, very used leather, dark spice, understated mushroom, baking spices- light nutmeg/clove, cinnamon, vanillin, dry, river stone, limestone, dark rich soil with dry leaves, mix of dry and fresh herbs, touch of mint, moist clay, withering & dry dark, red, flowers, rainfall acidity and a well balanced, nicely structured, softly tensioned, beautiful finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Paired with/ Allen Brothers Cover Ribs. — 8 months ago

Ming L

8.9

Raspberry, pomegranate, peach, grapefruit, light brioche, and hint of white flower. Great fruit intensity. Robust and clean. The mousse were a bit too aggressive.
For about the same price, I will take B-S or L-P anytime. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Picked this up this week at K&L Wine Merchants because the bottle was in pristine shape. The neck fill was the same as it was the day it was bottled. I love 1980’s Napa & Bordeaux wines. Really appreciate the ABV of that era, 13.6%. Additionally, I’m always motivated to try producers I haven’t had before. Further, as I swirl my glass, I think to myself, what was I doing the year an old wine was made? Memories?

I figured with the bottles age, I would use my Durand corkscrew. But after pulling it, I realized I didn’t need to use it. Better safe than sorry! The cork was in perfect shape.

The wine still shows good life. The fruit is ripe & fresh with some dark spice, earthiness & shades of dark tannins.

The nose reveals a little barnyard from being in the bottle so long. It needed to stretch a bit and has calmed some. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, well extracted pomegranate with hints of blueberries & rhubarb. Black, rich earth, eucalyptus, steeped black tea, dark, red liqueured notes, anise, understated vanilla, clove, nutmeg, shades of black olive, cedar, soft leathery notes, mid intensity dark spice, limestone, dry, crushed, rock powder, dry herbs, dry stems with bright, red, dark, fresh & withering flowers framed in a field of violets.

The body has leaned with age but, is fresh & clean as it glides over the palate. It shows some barnyard on the palate as well. Tannins are largely resolved but, by no means is this wine over the hill. Past its prime, yes. However, that’s what makes it infinitely more interesting, complex and a welcome change of pace. This bottle certainly will not improve but, would still drink well for another five years. Ripe, floral, blackberries, bright; dark cherries, strawberries & cherries. Black raspberries, black plum, well extracted pomegranate, raspberries with hints of blueberries & rhubarb. Forest floor with dry leaves, eucalyptus, steeped black tea, dark, red liqueured notes, red cola, anise, understated vanilla, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, some caramel, shades of black olive, cedar, soft leathery notes, dry tobacco, mid intensity dark spice, limestone, dry, crushed, rock powder, dry herbs, mint, dry stems with bright, red, dark, fresh & withering flowers framed in a field of violets & lavender. The acidity is excellent...like a cool stream. The long finish is clean, fresh, elegant, well knitted and persists on the palate minutes with medium, dark, gently heated spices on the long set.

I did not decant this bottle at the start. I wanted to see if it would improve or fade in the glass first. As it turned out, decanting this nearly 35 years old was still the correct decision.

Photos of; Sullivan Vineyards, private tasting/dinning room, current Winemaker- Jeff Cole and their Estate vines as view from their terrace. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

The Coquillette family is known mostly for Saint-Chamant; a house their family founded in the 1930’s. Stephane Coquillette now runs the operation and while he remains committed to his focus on Chardonnay for Saint-Chamant, his desire to work with Pinot Noir is expressed through his eponymous label.

Popped and poured; no formal notes. The “Cuvee Les Cles” is a Blanc de Noirs exclusively sourced from the village of Aÿ and therefore 100% Grand Cru. It’s a beautiful expression of Pinot Noir with a lovely mix of strawberries and raspberries. The fruit profile was generous which gave it an almost round impression even though the dosage was rather modest at 5g/l. The finish was rich and very enjoyable. A very lovely way to start the evening.
— a year ago

Willie Carter

9.5

This superstar 2012 vintage just doesn’t seem to miss. Especially not when paired with the elegance of Bollinger.

A gorgeous rose copper color in the glass. Plenty of fine bubbles that seem to just go on and on. The approachability of these outstanding 12’s is immediate. Wild strawberries and herbs shine on the nose. Red currant, raspberries, and stewed plums. Some exquisite spice notes along with white flowers. Tangerines and watermelons play a part.

The vitality and sheer energy of this is amazing. 67% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Verzenay. 33% Chardonnay from Oiry and Le Mesnil sur Oger with 5% still red wine from Bollinger’s legendary Côte aux Enfants vineyard. Terrific youthful tension and balance. Zippy acidity with 8 g/l of sugar. Disgorged in August of 2019 and already showing some maturity.

Pure romance on the tongue. Silky smooth and elegant with fresh red berries and more spice on the palate. Saffron and honey with oak complimenting. The Lehmann Jamesse Grand Blanc provided more floral notes, while the Riedel Dom Perignon showed more ripe fruit and minerality. Both wonderful. Yes this will obviously develop over time and become so much more special but you deserve this now. So do I. Enjoy.
— 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2000 is delicious but, it still proves out my thoughts that 2000 is a stubborn vintage. It’s going to be 25 years plus in bottle from vintage before this and many other 2000’s show their full beauty & elegance.

It’s starting to show nice integration, elegance & beauty. But, there are better days ahead. Round, ripe, slightly stewed fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, mint, loamy soil & clay, dry stone, tobacco, leather, black earth, granite and red, dark, blue flowers. Great round acidity. It’s well balanced, delicious with a finish that persists minutes.

Served with Creek Stone Farm Filet of Beef, Sautéed Potatoes, Red Wine Sauce. @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking HB terroir & vintages & dinner guests. — 5 years ago