Neil Valenzuela

9.8

Pale gold and brown hue. Aromas of caramel, creme brûlée, pineapple and orange pith.! Tropical fruits, dried apricots, burnt sugar and orange blossoms.

🏅91 Points - Robert Parker — 12 days ago

Jess

9.3

Deep brown color.
Aromas of demerera sugar, raisins, caramel.
Sweet. Flavors of raisins, baked demerera sugar, chocolate, caramel, butter tart filling.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 5/5 — 10 months ago

David Weaver

9.3

Deep ruby in color. Dark fruit (blackberry, plum), baking spice, vanilla, brown sugar, cedar, a floral note, and licorice that is on the medicinal side. Nondescript dark fruit, pepper, and some alcohol heat on the palate. Moderate acidity and silky tannins. Tart cherry and bitter cocoa on a lingering finish. — 4 years ago

Catherine Leith

9.7

Love this. Tons of flavour. Vanilla, brown sugar, toasted oak. Pairs well with food but also great on its own. — 4 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Still fairly primary. The fruit on the nose is remarkable. The purest apricot, and a little lightly burnt brown sugar, lots of flowers. Intense in the mouth. Not that sweet, and pretty good acids. Great length. This will go a long time. Delicious now, and certainly much better down the road. — a month ago

with Rebecca

Randy Fuller

9.5

This wine has a burnished look, deep brown. The nose is a treat all on its own. There are aromas of brown sugar, coffee and orange zest which combine for an amazing olfactory experience. The palate is just as joyful, with caramel, raisin and mocha notes. The acidity is fresh and exhilarating. Although the wine is described on the label as “cream,” it does not strike me as creamy. The viscosity is nice, though. It will pair well with dessert, or serve as one by itself. — a year ago

Paul J

9.3

Half bottle. Lovely gold color. Different nose from most Sauternes I’ve had, and really enjoyed it. It had more brown sugar and herbal tones to it. Wine was lighter than expected but very clean, which was honestly nice especially with the great texture it had. Orange, pineapple, and peach dominate. Solid finish. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Ron R

9.5

My snowboarding bud just opened a pizza joint in Montclair, NJ. Making dough from scratch and serving it quick, and the quality!!!
SugarShack became the pizza’s perfect foil. Lovely butterscotch notes on the nose transitioned to citrus notes on the mid palate. Just enough acid to caress the Italian mozzarella. I love the moderate sweetness this wine possesses. Overall, another excellent example. — 9 months ago

with Anne-marie

Roberto Carli

9.9

This is “will never forget the first time I tried it” level. Definitely greatest wine I’ve ever tasted in its category, possibly best sweet wine. Starts much paler than I expected, light gold. Nose is a journey, surprises with freshness, liveliness though with the highest concentration imaginable. White peach, white nectarine, lychee, rose water, intense white florals, an after-rain sense of freshness. On the palate yet another surprise: so much minerality (!!!) that the intensity gets carried by bright, almost riesling-like acidity and the insane amount of sugar is so well balanced that it’s barely noticeable until the crazy long finish. What a ride!!! — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Seasonal Grand Opening of the D&S Lounge. That’s going to require some BSR to celebrate.

As well, going to detail notes of this with my new Riedel Vintage Sommelier flutes, center picture. I’ve been wanting to write notes on this Champange in the new flutes as I wanted to do it one I am very well acquainted. As @Paul T- Huntington Beach & @Severn Goodwin have pointed out the many times I have posted it.

The nose is definitely more vibrant. Tangerines lead where they haven’t in my previous notes now using the new flutes. More pink rose petals, blood orange, pink grapefruit, leaner; strawberries, watermelon, warmed, creamed raspberries, apricots & cherries, liqueured marmalade, hints of scorched rhubarb, lemon/lime aid, chalky powder, delicate, grey volcanics, sweet, sea spray, bread dough, baguette crust, touch of brown sugar/molasses light, haunting, dry herbs, limestone and bouquet of; white, red, pink & orange roses.

The body is round with some gummy or gluiness. Everything about the mouthfeel is more delicate and softer. The bubbles smaller & more refined. Pink rose petals, blood orange, pink grapefruit, leaner; strawberries, watermelon, warmed, creamed raspberries, apricots & cherries, liqueured marmalade, hints of scorched rhubarb, almost a date presence on the long set, chalky powder, delicate, grey volcanics, sweet, sea spray, lighter intensity of white spices but, still has the heat & palate penetration, bread dough, baguette crust, touch of brown sugar/molasses light, haunting, dry herbs, limestone and bouquet of; white, red, pink & orange roses. The acidity is all fresh & lively with this cuvée. But, even that seems better. The finish is as always; well knitted & balanced, polished, fresh, persistent and never disappoints.

Photos of; the best room in our house for 6+ months of the year, our backyard. Aka, the D&S Lounge on Memorial Day Weekend 2020. — 5 years ago