Phat Wines
Domaine Henri Boillot
Bourgogne Chardonnay 2018
There are better White Burgundies but, for far more money. More expensive ones work for special friends & occasions. However, I am really happy w/ a number of White Burgundy producers Bourgogne’s in good vintages. Happy w/ Bourgogne Blanc’s as well vs. heavily new oaked Sonoma/CA Chardonnay’s. Stylistically, just more pleasing to my palate.
The palate is creamy, rich, lush, waxy, honeysuckle, lemon juice, stone fruits, pineapple, lime candy, brilliant powder, chalkiness, delicate limestone volcanics, sea spray/fossils, crust part of toast, phat, round acidity, well balanced, nice length and very well polished.
Hold this a bit longer for something even more special…three years.
Excellent for $30. — 3 years ago
Mt. Brave
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Many of you that see my posts know I don’t open a Napa Cabernet this young. However, this was selling at my Costco for $69.99. K&L Wine Merchants $99.99. Delectable at $115. So, I had to buy a four. I coravined this bottle for a Somm friend last weekend who likes his Napa reds young. 🤷♂️
While this has seen a bit of bottle evolution, it still needs another 6-8 yrs before I open another and has the potential to pick up another point or two then.
Nose shows; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, anise, dark, rich, turned earth and withering, dark, slightly candied flowers.
The palate expresses some evolution. It is rich, ripe; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries, hints of blueberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Tarry, dry medium plus tannins. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice with a touch of heat, mixed darker berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, black tea, anise, mixed fresh & drier herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, barrel shavings/dust, a hint of black pepper, moist, grey clay, dry top soil, dry river stone and withering, dark, red, slightly candied flowers with violets, very round, phat acidity with a well; balanced, big structured, tensioned, lush, elegant and nicely layered & polished finish that lasts a full 90 seconds. Still kind of in its primary stage.
This is made by Chris Carpenter who also makes; Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, Hickinbotham (Australia) made at Yangarra. Sofia & I tasted at Yangarra and after tasted his Hickinbotham with him in 2017.
Photos of; staff picking on Mount Veeder, Chris Carpenter in the cellar and scenic shot of Mount Veeder. — 9 months ago
Lucien Le Moine
La Pièce Sous le Bois Meursault 1er Cru Chardonnay 2013
Wonderful white Bourgs. Phat barrel n quite exotic fruit. Fine. Could have even more freshness. — 3 years ago
Verget
"Les Combes Vieilles Vignes" Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay 2018
I’ll go back to drinking more CA Chardonnay when pigs fly like the top right photo.
This was under $40 and still better than any CA Chardonnay I’ve truly enjoyed. I may have given out slightly higher scores or similar scores in previous CA Chardonnay notes but, it was more for their technical achievement for the varietal within region(s).
The nose reveals; green & golden apple, lemon flesh, pineapple juice, lime zest to candy, kiwi, underripe green melon, cream, light, fresh herbs, candle wax, honeysuckle, white spice, refined chalkiness, gritty volcanic minerals, sea fossils, saline, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, spring flowers & mix greens.
The body is; full, oily with nice viscosity. Green & golden apple, lemon flesh, pineapple juice, lime zest to candy, kiwi, underripe green melon, cream, vanillin, soft caramel notes, light, fresh herbs, candle wax, honeysuckle, white spice with pronounced palate heat, refined chalkiness, gritty volcanic & limestone minerals, sea fossils, saline, yellow lilies, white florals, fruit blossoms, spring flowers & mix greens. The acidity is beautifully round and phat. The finish is long, nicely knitted, polished, perfectly polished, elegant ending in persistent white spice.
Nice pairing for our white cheeses.
Photos of, our friends deck in progress and vistas. — 4 years ago
Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard
Savigny-lès-Beaune Chardonnay 2018
Fantastically phat — a year ago
Domaine de la Bongran
Cuvée Tradition Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015
My last bottle of six. We drank through them like water. Time to write detailed notes.
This Bourgogne is like stealing candy from a baby at $39.
The is rather honeyed vs most 2015’s I’ve had to date. Certainly more than my other five bottles. . Marmalade, stone fruits- apricots/yellow peach, overripe pineapple, green apple, touch of soured lemons, lime, hints of molasses, salted caramel, slivered almonds, saline, volcanic minerals, white spice, chalk, limestone withering; yellow lilies, yellow flowers with mixed greens.
The body is rich, thick, waxy with nice viscosity. Marmalade, big honey/beeswax, stone fruits- apricots/yellow peach, overripe pineapple, green apple, touch soured of lemons, lime, hints of molasses, salted caramel, vanilla, cream, slivered almonds, saline, volcanic minerals, white spice, chalk, limestone withering; yellow lilies, yellow flowers in mixed greens. The acidity is round & phat. The long, elegant, rich finish is; well balanced, well polished, perfectly knitted and very persistent.
Photos of; oops, in a rush, multi-tasking I pulled the wrong structure photo, Chardonnay grape ready for harvest, entrance sign and one of their vineyards. — 4 years ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I would invite you to find a bottle like this older & well stored 03, “The Sisters. “I would enjoy tasting this blind w/ Napa Cult wines & lovers. Then, watch their eyes open wide when I pulled off the brown bag. Many would call Colgin, Scarecrow, Harlan, Bond & the like etc.. I recently paid $50 for this 2003 at auction. That includes tax & auction fees. For vintage, they would call 10, 13 or 14. This is still youthful. Beautiful M+ somewhat rounded tannins, fruit buffet w/ dark pronounced spice. This has ten years plus left.
The palate is round, plush, phat fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries, purple fruits with blueberries. Dark, well pronounced spice, soft baking spices, sweet graphite, soft, fresh, tobacco notes, used leather warm, gray clay, river-stone, mocha, caramel notes, dry crushed rock, limestone marl, some dry top soil, dark, purple red fresh & withering florals, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, beautifully structured and elegant finish that lasts minutes falling on elegant earth & spice.
TRB made wine. Stunning!!!! — 2 months ago