Z. R.G.

8.9

Good on its own — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

There's been a lot of shade thrown on these wines and particularly, towards the wine maker...most of it probably deserved. As for some of the more recent low scores, there must be some bottle variation because I’m not gonna lie, this was a really strong showing. Popped and poured; consumed over two hours. Bruised strawberries, tart brambles, rhubarb, forest floor, and sandalwood. Tannins are well integrated…but still there. Acid is pretty high but perfect for a nice meal of whole, roasted chicken and root vegetables. The wine is otherwise quite balanced and if my bottle is representative, this still has a long life ahead of it and should drink quite well through 2030. My last of the Maison Ilan “Les Chaffots”. — 4 years ago

Hannah May Tatum

9.0

Cheaper but very smooth and affordable habit. Oak flavor shines, hunt of plum — 4 years ago

Brett Vanderbrook

9.3

Back in May of 2014 Serge and Gaston Hochar came to New York City and led a tasting at my local wine store. I wasn’t familiar with their winery or family at the time, but I understood it was a big deal. At this tasting we got to try both red and white wines dating back to the 1970s. Serge was enigmatic and passionate, and it was one of the most unique wine experiences I’ve ever had. My girlfriend and I splurged and paid (at the time) the most we had ever spent on a bottle of wine for the 1999 flagship red. We had really liked the 1994, but it was beyond our price point, and we figured if we held onto the ‘99 for a few more years it might start to take on characteristics of the ‘94.

Tonight, almost 6 years later, while in week 3 of quarantine here in Brooklyn we decided it was time to get dressed up, make a fancy dinner and open that bottle. So we pan seared some duck breasts, oven roasted some asparagus, and made a celery root and potato purée.

In my brief experience with Serge, I learned he wasn’t much for tasting notes. He didn’t care to hear what the wine smelled or tasted like but more about the esoteric way it made you *feel.* So in honor of the late, great Serge Hochar I won’t tell you that the wine poured a translucent brick red or that its nose was an intoxicating perfume of red fruit, spices, leather, and barnyard. That it was still vibrant and bright on the palate with cherry and baking spice, and without even a whisper of tannins. Instead I’ll just tell you it made me feel not cooped up for a few hours. That I was actually sitting down in a restaurant and enjoying a meal and conversation with my partner, and not locked down for the foreseeable future. It made us feel normal again, at least for one meal. — 5 years ago

with Raina

Chad Henderson

9.0

Nose is wood, leather and hint of stone fruit. Taste is pepper, leather and oak. Not picking up much fruit maybe black cherries. Finish is dry oak. This one has been in the wine fridge for probably 4 years. — 3 years ago

with Kristen

John Willison

9.1

Cherry fruit, cherry licorice, rhubarb, licorice root. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

See many previous notes of this excellent Pinot Noir. My last 2010 Bass Phillip Estate sadly. Pale to mid Ruby in colour giving no hint of the intensity to come. A floral earthy perfume showing beetroot and red fruits - a hint of whole bunch in the ferment. On the palate the same earthy root vegetable flavours with savoury red fruits and that Bass Phillip palate intensity with great length and persistence. Low acidity. An excellent new world Pinot which has cellared well. — 4 years ago

John Willison

9.1

Crushed dark fruit, licorice root, black tea, sarsaparilla, sweet tannic finish. — 3 years ago

William Paley

9.6

stewed cherry and a very present coffee bean opening. animal hide. fruit and grip folding in on itself. an hour in, cocoa notes, herbal highlights, fermented tea, an after-whiff of caramel which stays in the nose even when the palate dissipates...grass-fed butter, cola, burdock root, medicine. an extraordinary and unexpected ride. — 4 years ago

with Ron, Marisa and 1 other

K

9.2

島田屋で購入
チェリーやプラムのような峻烈な酸味と濃い目の甘味が調和。
これもカベルネソービニョンなのかとぶどうの奥深さを知るチリワイン。 — 5 years ago