Bob McDonald

9.3

One of my favourite Italian whites - this is made from the Falanghina grape which is the main grape of Campania. Harvested at full ripeness. Fermentation takes place as 70% in stainless steel and 30% in Barrique. See previous note here in April 2025. Not designed for long cellaring. Previous notes still apply. An ideal winter white wine. White flowers, herbal notes with unctuous ripe fruits on the palate. Impossible not to enjoy this. Sadly my last bottle. — 2 months ago

Mario Zillner

9.5

June 2024 disgorgement; would’ve preferred to pop this +12 months (vs. 6), as it would certainly benefit from some time. A grower BdB favorite; of course made from 100% Chardonnay, coming from several Grand Cru villages in the Côte des Blancs. The Cuvée de Réserve is a blend of more than twenty vintages, dating back to 1988 (via the solera method)! Peters considers this their “flagship” champ, even at the NV price point.

Firm upfront with a rather long finish. Sharp acidity; strong lemon, pale stone fruit, orange zest, and young tangerine notes. Medium body with pillows to carry you through. Steel vs. wood. 12% ABV. Simply delicious. — 9 months ago

Diane M. Napolitano

9.0

Obtained via Zachy’s summer sale lol. Surprisingly pale when poured. Nose is floral cherries, palette is a bit medicinal with like dandelions lol. Medicinal quality slowly dissipates as it comes to room temp 🤔 — 4 years ago

Gene Buonviri

8.9

This Vineyard is located on land confiscated from the Mafia.
A hint of blackberries and an aroma of black pepper. A touch of minerals with balanced acidity. Taste of blackberry and a hint of coconut.
— 3 months ago

with Justinian

heidi schlegel

10

Rich and creamy. Could finish a bottle or two. — 10 months ago

David Shaw

9.1

The perfect accompaniment to an archived broadcast of the Oakland Athletics last game at the Coliseum. Come home, Reggie Jackson; all is forgiven. — a year ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.0

I still have quite a few wines like this from my early days of wine collecting - stuff that was highly rated or recommended in the $15-30 price range (this was $18 from Wine Library in 2009). Wines that could provide a great quality for the price, but that no one, including me, ever expected would spend a dozen years in my cellar. Many people would assume wines like this one to be hopelessly past prime, but over and over again I’m surprised how well so many of them - from both the old and new world - hold up. At first this wine seemed to be over the hill, with some brownish tinge to the color, balsamic aroma and leathery mouthfeel, but the longer it’s in my glass the more I’m enjoying it. The sweet and intense red cherry fruit is sightly raisiny in character yet still somehow bright, the tannins are integrated but still firm, and the acid is balanced and mouth watering. Pretty classic Grenache-Carignane that would hold its own against Priorats costing several multiples of its price. Sometimes wine makes you smile (most times). — 5 years ago

Fabio Franchella

9.3

Weisse blüten, geschmeidig, leicht buttrig, pfirsich, akazie, buchsbaum, leicht mitschi. Grosser wein! — 3 months ago

Mo

9.1

Concur with the WS review below, although I dropped my score one point and would add that the wine presently requires hours of natural aeration—no less than four in the bottle! We tested the use of a Vinturi, which produced unsatisfactory results. Perhaps decanting would take less time. Paired with pistachio crusted rack of lamb.

WS: 92. A fragrant and elegant red, delivering tuberose, strawberry, cherry and grassy aromas and flavors. Taut and balanced, with bright floral and red fruit notes gracing the lingering finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. 375 cases made, 150 cases imported. — 3 months ago

Kristen McCabe

9.2

Lovely and drinkable — 4 years ago