David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s a night of first year consecutive decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order

From the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases.

Another great Clyde Beffa direct purchase from the Chateau or Negociant.

Still ripe older Bordeaux fruits with smoothed out lead pencil. Blackberries, black raspberries that lean into pudding, black plum, darkest, cooked cherries, raspberries edges, baked rhubarb and hues of poached strawberries. There is nothing that bites back. Dark chocolate, smooth mocha, caramel, soften baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, old tobacco w/ ash, used leather, dry top soil, limestone powder, black licorice to anise, dry river stone, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, amazing, rainfall acidity and a well; balance, structured, knitted and smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Steak slow cooked in the oven at graduating low heats and then seared at 1300 degrees, 30, 30, 30 & 30. .

“The Truth is Inside” is an expression about the very bottom of a bottle of wine. Tannin soaked & it never lies. Typically the best part of the bottle. 93 that lands 94 in truth. I always leave two-three inches of wine in bottle just because it is always slightly better than the rest of the bottle. It is more concentrated. — 2 months ago

Chris Books

9.0

Not too sweet, light and crisp — 3 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.3

202 spring / summer. I wonder if my ratings are suffering from inflation, but the truth is often I would be happy doing all of my drinking from de Villaine’s range. This particular Fortune was notably more developed than the 2017 or 18, in a good way - lots of woodsy complexity over the brighter berry fruit. — 4 years ago

Ericsson

9.1

Good wine but straight to the truth: herby finish on this merlot, gets better with time, but doesn’t quite turn. — a year ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

Very drinkable Cali sauv blanc that grows on you with time in the glass. Had at virtual tasting with Bodkin’s Chris Christensen and he told the story of how the fruit that went into this wine wasn’t from his main vineyard in Lake County (too much smoke damage in 20) but a blend of fruit contributed by good friends of his at 3 Sonoma wineries that had better luck that year —talk about a wine being the story of a vintage! A softer, rounder Sauv B that’s light on the grassy/grapefruit/quince notes, with more lemon, stone and tropical fruit. Great story teller and great winemaker! — 3 years ago

Jemma Walton

9.6

Lovely. Fresh and not too sharp. Andy liked it as well. — 4 years ago

Julia Metro

9.2

Super juicy, mineral notes, great chilled. Party in your mouth, would drink all summer (and spring and fall and winter). — 4 years ago

Lars Miller

8.9

Compost on the nose, although we just opened this 6 year old bottle. So, ok. Truth time. We've had carmenere wines before and thought they were oddly flavored, off balanced, and overall not so great. Whew! Got that off my chest. This wine shows some real promise. Fully flavored with lovely red fruits, smooth tannins and silky finish. We enjoyed this and am sure it will open up. — 2 years ago

Matt

9.4

So happy to get this in the glass. Have not seen around CA, used to buy back home. Incredible terroir here, absolute truth in the glass. Steep, decomposed granite and old vine Syrah! Intensely deep black fruit, explosive florals, hot stones, iron, crushed apricot, resinous herb, cocoa powder. Loving the balance now, this will age beautifully. — 3 years ago

Dean Bernal Sr.

9.5

2012 Voir Dire Cab Sauvignon w/grilled lamb chops. 😘 In wine there is truth. — 4 years ago

with Erika, Julie and 3 others