Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. This bottle of Efflorescence from the 2016 vintage pours a pale, salmon, gold color with a persistent mousse made from the tiniest, most beautiful bubbles. Gorgeous fruit leaping from the glass: strawberries, golden raspberries, white peach, lemons, a whiff of brioche, limestone minerals...oh, the minerals! Incredible freshness. Acid is high, but the fruit does such a great job in bringing balance. The finish is medium with chalk-like minerals. This is a really lovely, biodynamic Champagne. Maybe the pendulums Dominique uses in the vineyards do make a difference? Drink now or over the next 15+ years with ease. Disgorged July 2022. — a year ago

S.S. Mandani

9.2

Plush and sharp at once, cedar, forest musk 🌳

Effervescence dancing on the tongue, juice bomb, tart wild cherry, acidity that of numbing spices, leaping tannins, slight funky melons almost overpowering on the palate. Weirdly, in a welcoming idiosyncratic way. — 3 years ago

Lance E. Farman

9.7

A hair away from perfection. Aromatics leaping out of the glass. Crisp, intense, luxurious and just absolutely delicious. What a pleasure. — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

My second time with one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from the 2019 vintage, this time Les Cruzelles from Lalande-de-Pomerol. This is absolutely stunning from the get-go, open for business and leaping from the glass with dense, polished black fruit, plum, fig, liquorice and pencil shavings. I’m sniffing this for ages, and it reminds me of Glenelly’s Lady May, one of South Africa’s finest Bordeaux blends - such is its utter purity, glossy fruit and dense aromatics. The palate is saturated, large but balanced, with immaculate tannins and great length, and a wonderful medley of savoury cherry fruit with sweet tinges of toffee.This is astoundingly good, complex stuff, especially for the region and price point. I can’t wait to see how this ages. My best experience to date with Durantou, may he rest in peace.

94+ — a year ago

Catherine Cranford Elliott

9.3

Wonderful summer wine to combat the Charleston heat! Paired beautifully with Korean food we served tonight. On the sweeter side, with notes of peach. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Absolutely stunning, with aromas leaping from the glass. You can smell it just being nearby. It’s ultra intense aromatics of smoked meats, campfire smoke, black licorice and both black and red fruit couldn’t be more assertive. Hard to put this one down.

It’s flavors expand on the palate showing superb richness and a searing intensity, and they detonate like little tiny grenades. There is a supreme elegance to this wine that provides impeccable balance and a sensuality to complement its rich and robust flavors. Finishes exceptionally long with soft caressing tannins. A well stored bottle has much life left indeed. Fantastic showing, especially for what can be considered an unheralded vintage for the Northern Rhône. No problem for the La La’s 💥 — 3 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Not great notes, a testament to the company with whom this wine was enjoyed!

Nose: absolutely gorgeous, leaping from the glass with ripe cherry, blackberry, fig jam, cinnamon, baked nuts, lavender and vanilla bean

Palate: in a perfect spot, with ripe but incredibly fresh black & red fruits, kirsch, Morello cherry and balsamic glaze

In an absolute sweet-spot for younger drinking, the overall impression is of a Port beginning to acquire the savoury qualities of age but with incredible freshness and perfume. A delightful drink and one I’ll enjoy checking in with in 5-10 years’ time. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2014 vintage. Multiple scents leaping out of the nose. Light-medium body but über-concentration. Lean and mean. Quintessential Pauillac. — 2 years ago

Alexis M

9.5

Smooth wine. Berries and oak. Cellar rat $100 case. Great find! — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A luscious solid gold color in the glass with a highly expressive nose of apricots leaping at you. Lemon cream, maple syrup, and sweet pears run rampant. A touch of almonds to go with constant honey tips this off.

Similar to the Sauternes we all know and love, Monbazillac has a higher percentage of Muscadelle and are a bit more of a secret. Sweet but never cloyingly, there’s nice balance and focus instead of an overwrought syrupy mess. The palate follows the nose closely with all the apricots and pears you could ever want. Spice abounds, along with more almonds and molasses. A very pretty dessert but one with heft and character. — 4 years ago