| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2015 Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes Côte de Brouilly Cuvée des AmbassadesGamay more |
9/11/2016 - Billigan Does not like this wine: NRSorely disappointed in this showing. Deep purple in the glass, with strong, grapey aromas and a big whiff of alcohol. On the palate, more grapey flavors and an almost syrupy texture with a hot finish. No improvement on night #2. The snappy acids and stoniness I've long-loved in this wine are nowhere to be found, as it shows scarcely any expression of its terroir or varietal character. What happened here? 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (7) |
| White - Off-dry |
2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #5Mosel Saar Ruwer more |
9/3/2014 - Billigan wrote: NRVery similar experience as Seth. Was expecting more fireworks given past experience and the quality of the vintage, but this seemed like it was tucked tight in its shell. Only after several hours of airtime, when some lovely jasmine and minty aromas peeked out, did I get a sense of the complexity that may come one day. Time to put the rest of my stash to sleep for a good many years. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Red |
2012 Marcel Lapierre MorgonGamay more |
3/22/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 pointsGiven how my first bottle went and the vintage characteristics, I was expecting something really lean, but this has fleshed out beautifully into a prototypically wonderful Lapierre. Great, red-fruited aromatics, along with some mild Bojo funk and the trademark iron-like mineral notes of this producer. On the palate, it's filled out its frame and taken on a silken, more richly fruited feel (almost creamy in texture) but with ample acidity and just the faintest hint of greenish herbs to give it some snap. I almost balked at the price hike for this on release, but I'm glad I didn't. It's worth the tariff and a testament to great winemaking in a tough year. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Red |
2018 Château Thivin Côte de BrouillyGamay more |
11/15/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 pointsAnother banner year for Thivin. Beautiful nose of crushed blackberry, iron, and a whiff of sweet spice. Juicy, vibrant fruit with ample, cleansing acidity but with plenty of density and weight (by Beaujolais standards) to give me hope for an even better future. Not as deep, dark, and brooding as Thivin can be in warmer years, I found this to be an exceptionally balanced and compelling drink. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| White |
2009 Chateau Montelena ChardonnayNapa Valley more |
8/6/2013 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 pointsA bit tight out of the gate, but all its charms became evident by the second night. Rich, lemon custard, light florals, and a pat of butter on the nose. The oak is very much dialed back, letting plenty of citrus fruit and minerality come to the fore, with everything well structured and balanced and delineated. No roundness or flabbiness here, but no angularity or austerity either. Superb! 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Rosé |
2012 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina RubentisRosé Blend more |
5/5/2013 - Billigan Does not like this wine: 82 pointsI think Brix really nailed it with his note here in terms of the wine's characteristics with the exception being that I found this rather joyless. For me, rose is about refreshing, energetic, food-friendliness, and if it has some additional complexity (like in a Baudry rose or a Mordoree Tavel), then that's bonus. But this wine delivered none of those qualities. Sour, spritzy, and a bit of a slog to drink on what was a nice spring picnic with my family. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Red |
2009 Ridge Lytton SpringsDry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel more |
4/22/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine: 94 pointsThis was just dynamite. Slight browning at the edges gives away its age, but the nose was just lovely, with plenty of the fresh cracked pepper and blackberry you'd expect from a zin, but with lovely earthy and mushroom tones that give it an almost Bordeaux-like flair. Silky, sweet, and effortless on the palate, but not without some sneaky structure (from the big petite sirah proportion in the blend?). Great with burgers off the grill; this bottle disappeared quickly. In a perfect spot, but could easily go on a few more years without losing its edge. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Red |
2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña TondoniaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
10/5/2013 - Billigan wrote: 88 pointsAlmost a citrusy quality from the abundant, juicy acidity, along with the usual leathery scents. Typical LdH silk on the palate but undercut slightly by a sourness on the finish. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| Red |
1981 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
7/13/2016 - Billigan Likes this wine: 94 pointsAbsolutely gorgeous perfume, with a smoky depth, like burning embers in the glass. Exceptional balance and proportion on the palate, which still shows of plenty of muscle to last in the cellar. But no need to wait; this wine is singing now. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| White |
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña TondoniaWhite Blend more |
6/29/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 pointsClassic LdH nose, rich with nutty and floral aromas. Similarly oxidative elements on the palate, which managed the usual high-wire act of oily texture and lovely acidic freshness with an almost-metallic minerality to accompany the sherry-ish nutty flavors. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| Red |
2010 Jean Foillard FleurieGamay more |
11/30/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine: 93 pointsThis wine made me think of that classically cheesy Robert Palmer video, "Simply Irresistible," as it's just one of those whose sheer deliciousness bowls you over. That's not to say it's simple by any means, as its nose is plenty complex, with loads of black cherries, canned peaches, spices, some floral action, and a hint of Bojo funk. On the palate, the trademark Foillard silk is in full effect, as this just glides down with effortless sweetness. The price is steep, but it's hard to argue when the bottle is drained so quickly with huge smiles on everyone's faces. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| Red |
1981 Chateau MusarBekaa Valley Red Blend more |
7/13/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine: 97 pointsOn opening, the usual VA cloud hits your sniffer, but a short time in the decanter let that recede and the usual cornucopia of Musar aromas came wafting to the fore: dark coffee, cherry pie, walnut, beef blood, ash, leather, spice cabinet. Brought a smile to my face with every whiff. On the palate, perfectly resolved tannins and that unmistakable sweet cherry Musar fruit with tingly spices, acid, and VA varnish. Like old Beaucastel, the wines' flaws are always plain to see but somehow meld seamlessly into the wines' character, becoming virtues. What joy they give me! 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
1981 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
1/27/2018 - Billigan Likes this wine: 97 pointsThis bottle was just breathtaking. Burgundian elegance and balance, svelte and silky palate presence, gorgeous whiffs of mourvedre funk, and beautiful richness without any of the alcohol fumes of modern CdP. Just stunning and no-doubt one of the greatest CdPs ever made. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
1997 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave HermitageSyrah more |
5/15/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine: 95 pointsMy goodness this was in such a perfect spot. Gorgeous nose of smoked meats, cracked pepper, cinnamon, and a little floral/rosy stuff for good measure. Savory, rich, and earthy on the palate with an almost satiny texture with just a hit of spicy bite on the finish. Chave just always seems to deliver, vintage after vintage. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2014 Château Thivin Côte de BrouillyGamay more |
1/31/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine: 93 pointsIt'd been over a year since I last give this one a whirl, and I was glad to see it still showing beautifully. Plenty of the same cool, granitic smells and stony textures with just pitch perfect balance. This is basically my archetype beaujolais, and my favorite from the 2014 vintage. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2009 Château Thivin Côte de BrouillyGamay more |
1/1/2018 - Billigan Likes this wine: 93 pointsFinally sourced this wine again, and I'm so glad I did. As big and bold as it was in its youth, but now gradually unclenching its fist. The ripe black fruit has softened considerably while still showing ample spine. The minerality, which was always there in spades, has moved further to the fore, giving the wine a distinctly volcanic vibe to finish. A completely sui generis and completely delicious Beaujolais with miles ahead of it. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2012 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. JosephSyrah more |
3/6/2016 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 pointsThe "baby" [insert famous vineyard/producer] moniker gets tossed about often as we search for some way to capture the magic of a legendary wine that's now out of our price range, but it's not often that I've found the substitute wine to live up to its billing. However, this is the rare case where the "Baby Chave Hermitage" is actually an apt description. In its gorgeous array of savory and meaty aromas flavors, it was reminiscent of some of the finest Texier or Gonon wines that I've had, but it also possessed an extra level of both depth and refinement that put it on another level, especially for the appellation. Only a 92 now, but it shows tremendous potential for the cellar. No, it's not Hermitage, but for the money, it's as close as you'll get. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2011 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée CorceletteGamay more |
6/13/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 pointsConsistent with previous notes. The Corcelette has all the charms of Foillard's other bottlings, but with an accessible quality than the more structured Cote du Py. Ready to drink anytime, but no harm in holding a few more years to see what other elements emerge. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
1986 Château Gruaud LaroseSt. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more |
3/14/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine: 96 pointsA stunning wine and proof positive that the "forever-burly" 1986s are really hitting their stride. After an 8-hour Audouze, this was humming. A knockout perfume full of cassis, turned earth, smoke, and leather. An exceptionally balanced-but-richly-fruited palate, with the tannins perfectly integrated. No, this isn't some powerhouse heavyweight, but it is an exceptional middleweight that truly shows the best of what Bordeaux is all about. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2015 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon La Croix BoisséeCabernet Franc more |
7/12/2018 - Billigan wrote: 93 pointsExceptional. Rich, glossy berry fruit but tons of earthy and savory flavors, green tobacco, and that chalky, fine tannin that’s a hallmark of the vineyard. Bar none the best rendition of this consistently excellent wine since the 2009. Maybe not the spine of the also-great 2010, but more immediately approachable and absolutely delicious. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2001 Château SuduirautSauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
2/9/2021 - Billigan Likes this wine: 96 pointsEnjoyed it over five(!) nights with my wife. A wine of great intensity, with all the aromas and flavors of Sauternes packed in, creating a feeling of density and complexity with every sniff or sip. Heady smells of ripe apricot, orange marmalade, toffee, vanilla, and a bit of Xmas cake spice. Incredible weight on the palate, just coating every nook and cranny with marmalade sweetness but undergirded with an equally powerful acidity that stands up ably to the mass of ripe fruit. An absolute knockout with the stuffing to last another several decades and still probably the best value from this justifiably legendary vintage. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2016 Alain Jaume Lirac Domaine du Clos de SixteRed Rhone Blend more |
4/27/2020 - Billigan wrote: 88 pointsNot going to win any awards for complexity, but this hits the mark for a polished, balanced, CdR experience that's easy on the pocketbook and that brings enough bold fruit, savory spice, and freshness to give it a sense of place. Solid QPR. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
1994 Dominus Estate Napanook VineyardNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
11/3/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine: 96 pointsBrilliant combination of new world richness and Bordeaux aromatics. Dark, earthy, and herbaceous aromas; absolutely gorgeous, effusive, fun to swirl and sniff. Cashmere texture, with lovely touches of fresh herb and mineral flavors, marred only by a bit of heat on the finish. Tremendous wine and drinking beautifully right now. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2009 Domaine du Château de Chorey (Germain) Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches Vieilles VignesPinot Noir more |
12/24/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine: NRLovely floral nose, ample red fruits, but nothing confected here. In fact, the wine was tight, structured, and a bit ornery on the palate at this stage. With time, I feel this will slim down a bit, while softening as well and ultimately make for a stunning wine. Hold for many years. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2011 Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvée Marcel LapierreGamay more |
8/31/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine: 95 pointsSomehow this cuvee had eluded me until now, and it didn't disappoint. So much sweet, saturating fruit while still maintaining an almost molten mineral presence, especially on the finish. This is like the normal Lapierre Morgon but with the dial turned way the hell up. One of the most intense and delicious gamay wines I've ever had (and I've had a ton). Marvelous. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
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- Tasting notes: 930 notes on 743 wines
