Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Medium lemon color, aromas of stone and citrus fruits with floral, honey and mineral notes. On the palate flavors of apple, peach and pear with citrus and floral wrapped in a nutty spice. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, spice and savory citrus character. 230 cases, good now! — 5 months ago

Ericsson

9.4

Tasting notes during visit to the winery where absolutely everything is done in-house by hand; preserving centuries old winemaking traditions. In the Tondonia offering one can really appreciate the time and patience dedicated to crafting this wine. The wine evolves to a rustic yet graceful profile with strong notes of dark berries with slight oak and dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is bliss, medium bodied, fully integrated, with balanced acidity and a long finish.

The juice is fermented in old large wooden “tinas,” then transferred to American oak barrels (made in house to medium toast specifications), stored underground in their +100 year old cellars for at least a year. After that it is bottled and stored in the same underground cellars and finally released about ten years later. Learning about their curated winemaking process was inspiring. — 8 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. From magnum. Deep dark tawny color, opaque. Notes of cherry cola, earth, black fruit, gravel/stone, red cherries. Seems old, lacking tannin or acidity. My guess was an old Graves bottle from the 30s. This was fun to follow over the evening as it really blossomed in hours 7-9. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A pale lemon yellow in colour - quite youthful looking for a 12 year old Chardonnay. Aromatics of white peach - mealy and nutty notes, still with a nice acid cut at the finish. Drinking at its peak. Fuller than some Marg River Chardonnays I’ve had lately like Xanadu and Fraser Gallop. I have had richer Art Series Chardonnays but personally I love the balance in this. Tasted in May 2025 the first bottle. Had my 2nd last bottle on 20th September 2025 and it was utterly delicious. Stone fruit and dried pear character to the fore. I will have my last bottle in the coming summer or early 2026 and will make a fresh Delectable note. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Mid 20th century fashionable country resort, popular with Hollywood due to 1892 stone Manor House & historic gardens. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, rest other Rhone varieties, aged 20 months in 37% new French oak. Dark Ruby, aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs & spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and black currant with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Well balanced, fine tannins long finish ending with fruit, espresso notes and sweet spice! Nice now and will drink well over next decade. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Another memorable Port drunk at my 70th Birthday last weekend following the 1982 Reynella. This was not as full bodied as the Reynella tawny in colour. A top quality Tawny Port from the famous house of Quinta do Noval. Notes of toffee and walnut - quite sweet on the medium bodied + palate. Very savoury. Slightly preferred the Reynella for its full bodied flavour. The Quinta was more elegant. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Tasted from 1/2 bottle. They come in handy for dinner for two in many cases, but especially at a restaurant that allows corkage. Most do in California. It is even harder to find vintage champagne in 375ml’s.

The 2018 vintage was good to very good. You need to taste and or read up for its best offerings.

A note, I tasted at the Billecart-Salmon property in later October 2022 with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. As insightful as that was, he was asked other than Billecart Salmon champagnes, what was one of his favorite champagnes? His reply was surprisingly an older vintage Paul Bara he had recently. That’s a producer question that gets asked often. Normally generates a pause with some minor angst to answer.

The nose shows; lemon chiffon/meringue, bruised apple to slightly cider, bruised pear, yellow & white stone fruits, just ripe pineapple, orange citrus blend, lime pulp, tropical melons, whipped, white cream, white spice-ginger, yeasty bread dough, saline, crushed limestone pulp, crumbled chalk, sea fossils, white spring flowers set in yellow lilies.

The palate is round & soft. The mousse is delicate w/ micro oxidation. Ripe; lemon chiffon/meringue, white & yellow stone fruit, slightly bruised apple & Bosc pear, lime pulp, orange citrus rind, some tropical melons, cream, ginger white spice, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, saline, sea fossils, dry crumbled chalkiness, caramel notes, heather honey, warm perfectly toasted toast, graham cracker, nougat w/ nuts, yellow flowers set in a field of white spring flowers, excellent acidity with a nicely; balanced, structured, tensioned, polished finish that lasts a minute and falls on limestone laced with soft, dry, powdery chalkiness.

Photos of; the house of Paul Bara, chalky caves w/ riddling racks, old wood basket press & a vineyard picking party. — 8 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

Impressive, Cranberry, touch volatile acid, cherry, juicy, lots of tannins. This is really good and reminds me of the Burghs in the old old days before they did get stylized. Biodynamic, 13%. — a year ago

DAL 9000

8.9

Minerals and citrus on the nose. Minerals and flinty upfront then a creamy mineral citrus finish. — 3 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.3

A most beautiful ethereal Zinfandel that hearkens back to the old Napa Zins back in the 60s and 70s. A mixed black field blend of Zinfandel, Carignan, Petit Sirah. Vines were first planted in 1895, 1995 was the first vineyard (as John O didn’t care for any grapes other than Pinot Noir…) Barrels passed from from the Pinot Noir program. Aged for 18 months. Medium concentration. Pale bright ruby. Red crunchy cherry, white pepper, bread dough, blueberry pie, cedar, pencil shaving, hints of stony characters. Elevated acidity and medium-grained tannins. Med++ finish. I love how light it is on its feet and I would have never called it a Zinfandel if given in a blind tasting. — 3 years ago