Jeffrey Woo

9.0

Pale lemon (translucent) hue. Pronounced aromas of bell pepper, gooseberry, grapefruit, with a hint of grass. Medium-minus body with high acid. Citrus and minerals on the palate. Long finish. Exemplar of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. — 3 months ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

The 2016 Montrose is a supremely gifted Saint-Estèphe. Very harmonious and precise on the nose, faint hints of mocha and freshly rolled tobacco are behind those floral scents, black rather than red fruit. The palate has very fine tannins, extraordinarily harmonious with a nigh-perfect line of acidity. There is a subtle crescendo that leaves you utterly smitten by its charms, a touch of graphite on the finish. I just have the feeling that this might close up for a while. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2024)
— 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.

I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.

It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.

Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — 8 months ago

Vanessa

9.5

Nikolaihof is among the oldest winemaking estates in Austria with roots going back approx. 2,000 years. The estate sits among Roman ruins and ancient structures. It was acquired by the Saahs family in 1894, passing from generation to generation since then.🤩🤩

In 1971 it was one of the first estates in the world to adopt biodynamic practices and has been Demeter certified since 1998. Its vineyards can be found on steep hillsides of the Wachau region (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in Austria, overlooking the meandering Danube River, with geographical features that help fuel ripening and moderate temperatures during the growing season. ☀️🌱

This wine is medium (trending deep) gold in appearance. 👁️

👃🏻 On the nose are complex aromas with pronounced notes of peach skin, nectarine, ripe papaya, dried apricot, yellow apple, honeysuckle, peony, steely minerality, wet stones, orange marmalade, hay, fennel, damp leaves, honey, cream, and petrol.

👄 On the palate this wine is dry with mouth-watering acidity, mouth-coating and textural qualities, medium alcohol (12.5%), flavors match the nose, and a long, polished finish.

It’s hard to believe this wine is essentially 24 years old, as it has retained incredible vibrancy adding lift to the earthy and honeyed characteristics. It was bottled in June, 2016, after nearly 16 years aging in old Austrian casks, resting underground in Nikolaihof’s dark Roman-built cellar.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 3 months ago

with Deked1

Jeffrey Woo

8.9

Pale yellow hue. Aromas of grass, grapefruit, guava, melon, passionfruit, pineapple. Light body and high acidity. Satisfying and exemplary New Zealand SB.

(Tasted in 2019.) — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened and poured into a decanter immediately prior to service. The 2017 “Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico” pours a deep, slightly hazy ruby color with a translucent core. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of funky strawberries (leaves and all), dark cherries, forest floor, horse blanket (yes, there is a kiss of brettanomyces), some dried herbs, and some light spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is medium+, tart and slightly savory. A lovely wine with character and Sicilian charm. Drinking well now with a short decant and should continue to do so through 2030 with ease. — a year ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.1

The 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is spicy with a bouquet of crushed woodland berries and flowery underbrush complicated by shaved cedar. It’s soothingly round and energetic, with cool-toned acidity and fresh red and blue fruits that swirl throughout. It leaves a subtle tinge of licorice and blackberry, only gently tannic, along with a hint of citrus that adds lovely depth. This is a perfect introduction to the Penner-Ash style. (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2024)
— 3 months ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Classic NZ label. Smells funky. Lawn just cut or a piece of fresh grass in the teeth. And lemon citrus peels. Flavors are complex and very audacious. Bombastic even. Plenty of citrus, but something else as well. Shells? Like the calcium carbonate in those. Also big gooseberries. This is a good example of how NZ Sauv Blanc differs from the other styles out there. This wine packs a punch. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a cloudy reddish/ brick rim.

Earthy nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, earth, wet leaves, herbs, light vegetables, coffee, eucalyptus, mediterranean spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 28 year old is still drinking very nicely. A great Second Growth Bordeaux.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 45 minutes of airtime.

Complex and engaging. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Aged in (65% new) French oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing currents, plums, cherries, oak, wet leaves, herbs, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee and black tea.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 26 year old Merlot is still drinking very nicely. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years, but will not improve from here on.

Needs an hour to open up properly, so be patient.

This was not a good vintage in Pomerol, but it held up pretty well.

Good by itself or with food.

A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$250. — a year ago