I can't believe I'm giving a domestic Viognier such a rave review, but this was amazing. Fresh and crsip. Lovely lemons and orange peel flavors, combined with (not too overpowering) floral scents. Wonderfully pungent. A bit of a powdery, crushed mineral sensation as well. Very well balanced.
Lemons, cream and a bit of honey, but this was lively and energetic, with crisp acids. Some slight vanilla and oak notes, but this will surely integrate with time.
Dark golden yellow. Honied on the palate, yet this seemed somewhat flat. Some gritty minerals on the finish. Slightly oxidized. I suspect this is past peak.
Very ripe, with blackberry, oak, vanilla and sweet cherry. Up-front and forward, perhaps a bit lacking in structure. While I can appreciate the quality of the fruit, this is just not too my personal tastes.
Lovely wine that combines the fruit of the new world with the complexity and minerality of the old world. Cedar, cassis, earth... firm and fine-grained tannins counterbalance the deep (but not over-ripe) fruit. Gorgeous.
Lovely wine that shows the classic purity of fruit that this bottling so often displays. While this seems to be more accessable than other vinatges, it is fine, balanced and well delineated. The blue fruits are concentrated yet not overwhelming. Very good length.
Lovely, mature nose soars with bottle aged scents. Minerally and stern on the palate. The fruit is there, but I wonder about the copious structure. A bit drying on the palate, but this was wonderful with food.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Given the lofty reputation of this wine, it was a disappointment. Primary, high-toned cherry fruit and some sous bois. Grippy on the finish, but the mid-palate seemed a bit thin and watery for a Grand Cru. Nice wine, but nothing out of the ordinary... showed more like a good village level wine. A sample held for the next day showed the same.
Fully mature, maybe on its decline, but it is absolutely drinking well. Loads of secondary and tertiary flavors, leather, earth, cedar and truffles. Still holding a beam of cassis. Slightly milky mouthfeel. The silky tannins are completely resolved.
Consistent with my previous note... silky and accessable. Classic Graves flavors of rocks, earth, cassis and tobacco. Elegant and mild for a first growth. In a real nice spot for drinking... although no real rush.
2007 Alban Vineyards Viognier 94 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
I can't believe I'm giving a domestic Viognier such a rave review, but this was amazing. Fresh and crsip. Lovely lemons and orange peel flavors, combined with (not too overpowering) floral scents. Wonderfully pungent. A bit of a powdery, crushed mineral sensation as well. Very well balanced.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Lemons, cream and a bit of honey, but this was lively and energetic, with crisp acids. Some slight vanilla and oak notes, but this will surely integrate with time.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2002 DuMOL Chardonnay Isobel 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Vanilla creme nose. Some drying wood flavors. A bit flat on the finish. A bit too mature... this might be getting a bit long in the tooth.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1971 Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach Steinberger Riesling Spätlese 85 Points
Germany, Rheingau
Dark golden yellow. Honied on the palate, yet this seemed somewhat flat. Some gritty minerals on the finish. Slightly oxidized. I suspect this is past peak.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue