Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

After pressing dried grapes from making Amarone, Valpolicella wine is passed over the still warm skins of Amarone for 2nd alcoholic fermentation, increasing the alcoholic content, aromas and color. Blend of 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta. Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet dried berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, currants and sweet cherry with complex spice. Well balanced with acidity and alcohol, full-body with soft tannins on long finish. Nice value. — 6 months ago

Matt

9.7

Ah, "Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Albariño'-a veritable jewel from the spectacular landscapes of Spain's Galicia, specifically the picturesque Rías Baixas DO, where the Atlantic whispers sweet nothings to the vines. This splendid Albariño unveils a bouquet of zesty lemon, fragrant white flowers, and a hint of sea breeze, tantalising the senses like a playful flirtation. The producer, Bodegas Terras Gauda, founded by the illustrious Ramón V. de Garay, is famed for its commitment to sustainable practices. Fun fact: they pioneered the use of genetic research in their vineyards-a cleverer endeavor than my attempts at crossword puzzles! Albariño, that beguiling grape, is renowned for its bright acidity and versatility; a wonderful partner in crime for seafood, particularly oysters, as the minerality complements their briny sweetness. It also loves the spicy embrace of Asian cuisine, where its zesty notes dance playfully. This delightful nectar has garnered praise, earning a commendable 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Truly, it's one to uncap whilst contemplating life or... other intimate matters far too risqué for polite company! — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

My last bottle unfortunately. See previous notes from 74 weeks ago and 130 weeks ago. Mid yellow in colour. Obvious parrafin/kerosene on the nose. On the palate ripe grapefruit, nectarine and a little chalkiness. Only 10.2%ABV but not overly sweet. Low acid. Drinking at its peak. Riesling in Tasmania is excellent and flies under the radar to an extent. — 5 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

More and more I will be getting out of my comfort zone. This is a single vineyard Chenin Blanc from South Africa, Stellenbosch. Hand-picked whole bunches, kept on the skins for 12 hours after harvest before gentle pressing. 12 month fermentation and maturation in 225L French oak barrels. The skin contact produces a beautiful medium gold color that's as shiny as a wedding band on a honeymoon. Indeed, honeysuckle is among the aromas that also include pear, peach, apricot, marmalade, and a twist of lime. Everything gets confirmed on the palate, with a touch of brioche. Medium plus bodied, dry (with a hint of residual sugar on the tongue), medium acidity. A great wine.

92+ points — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

Winery notes, Sun Chase Vineyard is planted on the west-facing hillside where the cool Petaluma Gap collides with Sonoma Mountain, this site overlooks a broad sweep of the county from the San Pablo Bay to north Santa Rosa. Our Chardonnay block with an east-west row aspect sits on a sun-drenched, rocky incline at 1000' where fruit yields are naturally limited with small clusters and aromatic fruit. Technical Notes: 76 clone, Whole-cluster pressing, 100% native yeast primary fermentation, 100% wild malolactic fermentation, 11 months in low toast, air-dry 3-year-old French oak, 25% new."
My notes , Aubert style without Aubert price. — 6 years ago

Mike Ancuta

9.3

Consumed to early. Left a pour in a glass for several hours and it opened up. Cherry, spice, roses. Wife likes and that’s what matters. Need more to lay down. — 6 years ago

Mike Reed

8.9

Slightly sweet went well with chicken tender salads on 7.04.19. 2016 vintage if that really matters here.... — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Domaine Derey Frères – Marsannay “Les Vignes Marie” 2021 🇫🇷
Marsannay AOC, Côte de Nuits – Burgundy, France

Overview
100% Pinot Noir from Marsannay, the only Côte de Nuits village allowed to produce wines in all three colors (red, white, and rosé). “Les Vignes Marie” is a standout parcel that shows the classic finesse of Burgundy Pinot while keeping Marsannay’s hallmark freshness and approachability.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry lead the nose, with hints of rose petal, subtle spice, and earthy forest floor. A touch of mineral undertone brings lift and precision.

Mouthfeel
Elegant and medium-bodied with silky tannins, lively acidity, and a refined structure. Balanced and supple, finishing with freshness that keeps you coming back for another sip.

Winemaking Notes
The Derey family has been established in Marsannay since the mid-17th century, and their work focuses on organic farming and gentle cellar practices. The 2021 vintage, cooler and classic in style, emphasizes delicacy over power.

Food Pairing
Perfect with roast chicken, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or a charcuterie board. Its finesse makes it versatile across light meats and earthy vegetarian dishes.

Verdict
A graceful Burgundy Pinot that captures Marsannay’s balance between Côte de Nuits structure and charming approachability. For me, this sits as one of my most favorite wines in the Côte de Nuits — at a very affordable price point, it punches well above its weight and shows how Burgundy can still deliver tremendous value.

📚 Educational Sidebar – Why Marsannay Matters
Marsannay, at the northern gateway of the Côte de Nuits, is often overshadowed by its neighbors like Gevrey-Chambertin. But its wines deliver exceptional value, showing Pinot Noir with purity, finesse, and terroir character — a smart entry point into Burgundy without the Grand Cru price tag. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2006 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 3 hours. Ummm...yeah. Not the greatest vintage for the Right Bank. It matters not. This wine redefines the word "brooding." Massive body (still!) after 1.5+ decades and a nose chock full of black truffles and fudge. Flavors added pine forest mud and a fines herbes ensemble. Generally not the biggest Pomerol fan but this wine casually tosses out both exquisite brusque and delicate tendencies in the same draw. This has at least two decades to stroll around the grounds until it feels at home. Goo goo koo joo. Simply, effing magnificent. WOTN! Happy birthday, Dermott! 3.5.23. — 3 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

Elegant as all get out. I can’t get over Palo Cortado, even with its shady requirement to be called “Palo Cortado”—pretty sure some are no more accidental “failed Finos” than chocolate chip cookies were a ‘whoops I dropped chocolate in the dough’—but that matters not. Mixed nuts and lemon and amaretto don’t sound like things I’d want to consume all at once but they are elements of this wine I love all at once. — 5 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Pale gold with tiny persistent bubbles. Inviting nose and palate of ripe golden apples, ripe peaches, and clover honey. Light and fizzy on the tongue. Sweet (of course) but balanced with refreshing acidity. Short-ish finish, but you’re likely taking another sip before that matters. The gold standard for Moscato. A lovely treat on its own, with fresh fruit, or with lightly sweet dessert crepes. Also a great pair with the exceptionally spicy dishes that my dining partner likes to make (remember, “Sweet beats heat!”). Stop fronting. You know that you like this stuff. Drink now. — 6 years ago

with Jay

Simone Pizzi

8.9

Very interesting and unusual pinot. A rustic personality and a good acidity leave room after a while to more aromas and elegance. I must say, the terroir of Lunigiana is full of surprises and it always leaves a strong mark on a wine's character, no matters the varietal. — 6 years ago

Benjamin Hall Jr

8.9

Well blended reflection of the richer side of the Tuscan region. I detect some fruit that’s been intensified by drying the grapes in the sun before pressing. A Last Bottle $14 selection... have it with anything! It’ll hold up against Wínes that have a grander heritage any day. — 7 years ago

Sagee Aran

9.2

Franciacorta Cuvèe Brut D.O.C.G. an aromatic brut with yeast attributes. Lovely, tasty and with a twist.
Grapes: Chardonnay 80% - Pinot Bianco 10% - Pinot Nero 10%
Vinification: Soft pressing of the grapes, fermentation in steel vats and in small oak barrels at a controlled temperature. After fermentation, the wine is kept in contact with the yeasts through a batonage operation. The Franciacorta is then prepared for the tirage with which the refermentation in the bottle begins and the refinement on the yeasts for an average of 24 months.

Permanence in the bottle in contact with the yeasts: At least 24 months.

Sugars: 5.5 g/l — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Last bottle of this very impressive Chardonnay. Still very flinty and burnt match on the nose with a slightly sweeter palate than the last note. That grapefruit in its youth is now more yellow peach. Technical notes - using the P58 clone. All grapes were hand harvested prior to whole bunch pressing to French Oak puncheons - 30% new oak. Malolactic conversion was prevented. Drinking at its peak - made by one of Australia’s leading exponents of Chardonnay In David Bicknell. This is world class! — 3 years ago

Deborah M

9.2

2015 Renieri Brunello Di Montalcino - This wine gives lots of richness and structure. Tannins are still not fully integrated, but improved from my last try a couple years ago. FWIW, James Suckling gave this wine 100pts. This was my second time with this one, and while I still don’t see the 100pts, I do see it as delicious and for me that matters more than points.

Winemaker notes says it best - this wine opens with earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood. Fruitier orange zest and lemon. Ripe, incense and with dense forest of aromas. Rich to the center palate, the fruit is vivacious and elegant. Robust and generous tannins. The finish is long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. — 3 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

2016 Sparkling Pinot Gris orange wine.

Ryan, yes, more please and thank you!
A fan of the orange Pinot Gris, geeked to of received an email regarding the release of a personal winemaker stash of sparkling orange Pinot Gris.

“To quickly explain, an “orange wine” is made from white grapes, but instead of pressing the white grapes and discarding the skins like normal white wine production, they are kept in contact (just like red wine production) with the juice for 21 days extracting the orange of color. For fun, I produced a small personal batch that was made like a traditional method champagne. Perhaps the only one of its kind.

I hope you enjoy!

Ryan”



Perfect amount of bubbles, lightly carbonated, any more and it would of been a bit rough.

— 5 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.1

A Soave Classico cru. The vineyards in Casette Foscarin are situated to the north of the Soave Classico area. In calcareous soil of volcanic origin. Multiple passes through the vineyard for picking, soft pressing with low temperature maceration, and aging in barriques and tonneau for 6 months. The signature cherry blossom jumps out of the glass, CHERRY, CHERRY, CHERRY, stony minerality, hefty salinity, mushroom, dried herbs, cherry pith, yellow apricot, and Meyer lemon. Medium+ finish. Elevated acidity. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I should first say that I like Ca Chardonnay but, it’s not the love it once was for me. After I started down the path of drinking good Burgundy, my affection & palate shifted.

I’ve had Kongsgaard Chardonnay here & there. I know this producer is well regarded and therefore pricey. However, my palate is having a bit of difficulty with this bottle tonight.

When I first put nose in the glass, I get more alcohol vapors than I want on a nose. Then, a very strong rigid structure & backbone of white spice, gritty minerals & heat. Followed by lots of, butter/buttered popcorn, green apple, overripe pineapple, lemon with peel, lime zest, peach, soft caramel notes, spearmint, honeycomb, vanilla, sulphur, limestone chalkiness, dry rock & stone pebble mix with yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers in mixed greens.

The body is rich, lush, round & somewhat waxy. The structure is just too abrasive for my taste. I like beauty & elegance with no astringencies. I guess this is why I’ve learned to drink White Burgundy primarily over Ca Chardonnay. I am more & more so over high alcohol palate burning Ca Chardonnays. Green apple is the primary fruit followed by; overripe pineapple, lime zest, waxy lemons, grapefruit with pith, white peach, touch of tangerine, mango & some green melon. Lots of white spice, honeycomb, grey, gritty volcanic minerals, limestone chalkiness, mix of dry rocks & stone pebbles, sulfur, spearmint, caramel notes, vanilla, butterscotch with yellow florals/lilies, jasmine, fruit blossoms with mixed greens. The acidity is round and lively. The long, firm structured finish is rich, polished and ends in a persistent alcohol burn.

Next time you open a bottle have a sip and sense what’s on your palate. Ask yourself, does it burn? In Sommelier technical thoughts, alcohol burn is considered to be a flaw in wine.

From 375ml

Photos of; John Kongsgaard in front of his winery, Judge Vineyard, Chardonnay grapes ready for pressing and their barrel cellar. — 6 years ago

Linden McGreevy

9.0

Light prickly cranberries with soft tannins. No manual pressing, only gravity utilized. — 8 years ago

with Elena