Per Cazo Cellars
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino
Laboro Disubbidiente Per Terra Madre Vino Rosso Barolo Nebbiolo 2012
Agrapart & Fils (Pascal Agrapart)
7 Crus Brut Champagne Chardonnay
The NV Brut 7 Crus is a very pretty, entry-level wine in this range. Bright, mineral and intensely vibrant, the 7 Crus is all energy. All the elements are so well proportioned. A blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, this captures all the house signatures with tons of energy and better overall balance than in some previous editions. White flowers, chalk and citrus linger. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2023. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago
Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Etna Bianco Carricante Blend
At la Quercia 2018 per Cathy on 1/29/2023 for $50. Pineapple. Musky scent. Acid only in finish. — 2 years ago
Donnafugata
Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria Zibibbo 2022
Burnt blood orange, autumnal spices, candied ginger, dried nectarines and a lifting hint of mint create a kaleidoscopic bouquet as the 2022 Ben Ryé blossoms in the glass. Weighty and velvety in feel yet remarkably fresh, it floods the palate with masses of tropical citrus, mango and papaya, all supported by a core of zesty acidity. The 2022 finishes with dramatic length and concentration. A peach nectar resonance and savory spices linger on and on. The 2022 is sure to join the ranks of the best vintages of Ben Ryé. It finished at 200 grams per liter of residual sugar. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago
Philipponnat
Royale Réserve Brut Champagne Blend
The NV Brut Royale Réserve (base 2018) is a very pretty, entry-level offering from Philipponnat. Crushed flowers, green pear, spice and a touch of chamomile all grace this soft, open-knit NV Champagne. The blend is 69% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay and 3% Meunier, with 26% reserve wines. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 2022. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2023) — a year ago
Guffens-Heynen
Le Chavigne Mâcon-Pierreclos Chardonnay 2004
A day opened from another dinner, and shared during our cheese course. Honestly didn't focus much on this wine after the insane Comté and 13' Les Chalasses Marnes Bleues pairing. Plus, let's not forget about the battering of Rieslings that came before. One taste and I knew this just didn't have a fighting chance during the night. Too rich and creamy to match the energy of the Rieslings, yet not quite rich enough to match the 09' Lafon Perrieres. Nothing wrong per say, but it was just so average among the other wines of the night. Another one to look into again on better circumstances. — 2 years ago
Black Hills Estate Winery
Per Se Red wine 2014
Beautiful example of the longevity that BC Syrah has. Still fruit and balanced at 10 years — 7 months ago
Long Shadows Vintners
Poet's Leap Columbia Valley Riesling 2021
The 2021 Riesling Poet's Leap is decidedly green in character, wafting up with notes of lychee, lime zest and crushed green apple. This flows across the palate with grace, displaying a pleasant inner sweetness, as tropical citrus and saline-minerals add a lovely tension throughout. This tapers off with young mango notes accentuated by a salty flourish through the long and crisply refreshing finale. The 2021 is so balanced and refined, just 12.5% alcohol, and at just under one gram of residual sugar per liter. (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023) — 2 years ago
Billecart-Salmon
Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart Brut Champagne Blend 2002
Today we began with a visit to Billecart-Salmon, which has been family owned since 1818. They are 7 generations strong, producing between 2 and 2.5 million bottles per year. We received our informative tour from Jérôme Lafouge. 👏
He explained how Billecart-Salmon grows and manages many of the vines used to produce their wines; they also source grapes 🍇 from other growers, but otherwise own the production process from the pressing of the grapes on… the facilities are pristine and processes are executed meticulously.
Each wine is vinified by vineyard plot. A unique feature of Billecart-Salmon is its decision to have a slow, cool fermentation process for all of its wine - both those vinified in barrels and those in stainless steel tanks - a process that takes 6 weeks to complete.
Each winemaking decision is customized based upon the type and condition of the grapes, e.g., some undergo a malolactic fermentation (where tart malic acid is converted to soft, lactic acid) while others may not, some have a first fermentation in oak where as some are stainless steel, etc.
At the end of our tour we had the pleasure to taste a few beautiful wines (pictured here).
Our favorite was the 2002 Vintage Cuvée Nicolas François comprised of 60% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ, Aÿ, Ambonnay, and Verzenay and 40% Chardonnay from Chouilly, Cramant, and Avize.
This wine was clearly developing lovely tertiary aromas. It also had great complexity retaining its primary and secondary notes. It was disgorged January of 2016, resting over a decade on the lees.
The aromas and palate had caramel, toffee, brioche, pie crust, toast, hazelnut, cream, melted butter, honey, ginger, candied lemon peel, quince, fig, and chamomile notes.
What an enjoyable experience and we loved meeting some new friends on the tour from Savannah, Georgia and Canada.
Santé mes amis 🥂🥂🥂 — 3 years ago
Matt Perlman
Declassified Barolo riserva. Certainly hits all the classic notes. Floral and forest floor aromatics and bright acidity accent a powerful red berry core — 25 days ago