Phat Wines
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. — 5 years ago
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. — 4 years ago
Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin
Blanchot Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2014
@Delectable this is 2014 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, “Blanchot”
The nose reveals; candle wax, lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, topical melons, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter, with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers.
The palate is; rich, lush, round, waxy and elegantly smooth. Excellent viscosity. Glorious as it slips over the beautiful mouthfeel. Sour lemons, green apple, overripe pineapple, kiwi, lime pulp & candy, pear, white peach, apricots, peach, guava, topical melons, beeswax, candle wax, honeysuckle, vanillin, creamy butter, fresh herbs, caramel, subtle chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, limestone, grey volcanics, the lemon in Lemon Pledge, green grass, dry straw, glazed, brown butter with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine & spring flowers. The acidity is; round, phat & lively. The finish is; polish, rich, lush, balance fruit & earth and has no hiccups. Great wire to wire.
Photos of; one of their Vineyards, Benoît Droin tasting through his wines & Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin,
Producer notes; The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years (their history as vignerons goes back at least to 1620). Benoît is the 14th generation guardian.
The Domaine has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grand Crus. They prune specific to each vineyard. The wines are fermented differently by vineyard.
All their wines are fermented in mature oak. The Blanchots are all fermented and matured in tank. Vaillons, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre receive 25 per cent of barrel fermentation and maturation, 35 per cent for Vosgros and Vaudésir, 40 per cent for Montmains and Valmur, peaking at 50 per cent for Fourchaume, Grenouilles and Les Clos. However the age of the oak and the choice of tonnelier may vary according to the cuvée. The maximum new oak is ten per cent in the Grand Crus. — 5 years ago
Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard
Savigny-lès-Beaune Chardonnay 2018
Fantastically phat — 2 years 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. — 4 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. — 5 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
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. — 2 years ago