Austin Hohnke

9.2

Great stuff. Wants air. Primary fruit beginning to soften. Root beer. With lasagna tonight. Will try to hold the other couple bottles. — 13 hours ago

Rebecca Cooper-Mullin

9.0

Funky to the nose sweet to the palette. Root fruit. Like rhubarb. Citrusy. Fun! Happy Birthday Sarah! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It has taken a long time for this 95 Calon Segur to settle in. Finally, after two previous bottles. If you buy this producer, expect to wait 20 plus years for really good things with better vintages. While it’s very good, it has not revealed its best self. I think another 5-8 years before it peaks with another 15 years of good drinking ahead. Properly stored of course.

This still needed a two hour decant to settle it earthiness & funk.

The nose still reveals a fair amount of earth but, it has calmed. Classic Claret older nose. Ripe, candied & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strewed strawberries, baked plum, macerated cherries, cooked rhubarb with hints of blueberries and raspberries softly over the top. Old tobacco, old, soft leather, limestone, dry stone, dark spice, nutmeg, vanillin, dry twig, graphite, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, forest floor, mushrooms, raspberry cola with withering to fresh, dark; red, purple, blue florals framed in violets.

The body is round & leaner from age. It’s clean wire to wire. The structure, tension, balance and length are just starting to hit their stride. It is gloriously lush on the palate. Ripe, candied & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strewed strawberries, baked plum, macerated cherries, cooked rhubarb with hints of blueberries and raspberries softly over the top. Old tobacco, old, soft leather, limestone, grey volcanics, dry stone, dark spice, nutmeg, vanillin, dark chocolate, some caramel, shades of black licorice, dry twig, graphite, sage, hint of cooked green pepper, sweet tarriness, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, forest floor, mushrooms, raspberry cola with withering to fresh, dark & candied; red, purple, blue florals framed in violets. The acidity is dead on. The long finish is; balanced fruit & earth, elegance that slides into persistent earth and dark spice with just the right amount of heat.

Paired with New York Strip w/ Root Vegetables Tain, Cipollini, King Trumpet & Peppercorn Demi-glaze & Duck Fat Fries.

Have yet to have anything but a very good meal @Compline Napa. As well, they have a very nice selection of reasonably priced wines in their retail shop. Owned & operated by Master Sommelier Matt Stamp & partner(s). — 5 years ago

John Willison

9.0

Black cherry, licorice root, sarsaparilla, a bit herbal. Sweet berry and tannic finish. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Dusty minerals, some purple fruit, a little va and a minty, slightly soapy aroma. The nose never uncoils fully. The palate more than compensates. It is lively, bombastic, clean fruited and fun. Musty herbal black currant flavors, plus some ripe red fruit and a clever balance of structural tannins & acids with a juicy sweetness, though this is definitely dry. Good wine.. root day? — 4 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Precise nose of beeswax and juniper that becomes clove and chive, jasmine carnation and magnolia, candied lemon peel, ginger and dill. The palate is juniper berry leaping from the glass, juniper flower, bee pollen, orange blossom, lemon blossom, coriander, violets, lavender, peppercorn edge, celeriac root, and depth! This is thick fare, with heat and resonance. #barrhill #barrhillgin #caledoniaspirits #caledoniaspiritsbarrhillgin #gin #moderngin #vermont #vermontgin #juniper #rawhoney #craftgin — 5 years ago

Richard Rosensweig

9.0

Red currant and stewed plum with a healthy dose of licorice root. Very well rounded with a full mouth feel. A little light on structure. Pays to try modest Bordeaux from the best years to see what they can do when everything goes right. — 6 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.2

Lime peel, green candy, petrol, yellow Gatorade, marjoram, sage, slate, jasmine, fresh ginger root, saffron on finish — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Congratulations to TB12 on going to his 14th Conference Championship.

The nose shows; more macerated green & golden apple, pineapple than usual. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, chalk, sea spray, roasted white spice, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale with withering lilies and some spring flowers.

The palate has softer mousse & less lively acidity than previous bottles. Still nice but, it’s giving cause to wonder when this bottle was disgorged. Macerated green & golden apple, yellow peach, pineapple juice. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, grey volcanics, gritty chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, roasted white spice, nuts, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale that has the high notes of root beer, vanillin with withering lilies and some spring flowers. The acidity is ok but, seems off a bit. Change in base wine for this bottling? The finish still rich, elegant, well balanced persisting minutes.

Bottle is off slightly from the many others we’ve enjoyed.

Photos of; the House of Bollinger, branded cave with resting bottles, their Cooper making barrels and one of their Grand Cru vineyards.

1/17/21 — 5 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.8

This wine has a nose full of lemons, limes and that good Paso Robles minerality. There is a nutty angle that plays in, too, but not as strongly as I anticipated given the presence of Roussanne. The palate is tasty and ripe, with citrus taking the lead ahead of those minerals. It’s a great white wine for winter, with a touch of warming oak. Pair it with root vegetable dishes or any kind of fish.
— 6 years ago