4/25/2024 - Vivian Chen Likes this wine:

Refreshing, light, strawberries, very enjoyable

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Bought from a quick visit to the winery. Made in a reductive BdB style with toasty and brioche notes, didn’t find this very compelling.

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Gift from Phil. 100% Chardonnay. Base 2016, disgorged November 2022. 2g/l dosage, vinified in 350l barrels. More interesting than the Waris-Hubert alongside. Oxidative, slightly natty and wild but in a good way.

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

I haven’t tasted new Arnoux-Lachaux but I can imagine this is what it would taste like. Crazy aromatics from stem use, light and airy palate with incredibly pretty fruit. Not much depth but so gulpable. Again, good for 80€ off the wine list but not worth the insane prices now.

4/25/2024 - bentobox Likes this wine:

Light floral nose, yellow apple, Asian pear, and white peach. I think this is already losing aromatics so time to drink up.

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Consistent with the 2019 I had two years ago. Ambitiously-made Aligoté that combined tropical fruit with electric acidity. Strong winemaking signature but my type of white. 64€ off the wine list but not worth anywhere near the secondary market prices.

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Was singing immediately after pop and pour. Explosive nose of cherries and rose petals, silky and sensual palate of dark red fruit. Not the most complex, but so hedonistic and pleasurable. Agree with Benoit’s comment that the oak spice was more Vosne than Chambolle, would peg it as an excellent village-level wine.

4/25/2024 - gnsti wrote:

검은 과실, 허브, 민트, 파마약
묵직한 바디감에 꽤나 높은 산도가 적절하게 밸런스를.
살짝 달큰한 뉘앙스도 풍기지만 뭉게지지않고 구조감도 좋다.
참 매력적이네

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Disgorged December 2022, no dosage, 1985 bottles produced. Was afraid that this would be strict based on previous notes but think this benefitted from an extra year before disgorgement. Quite open-knit with clean, saline stone fruit. There is no make-up at all to this wine, and to me this is natural winemaking its best. Everyone at the dinner table loved this.

4/25/2024 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine:

This wine was a bit awkward initially and after about 2 hours it really developed and was just classic Bevan magic for the rest of the night. Absolutely decant if you can.

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at La Table Kobus. Probably the only miss of the champagne trip - really bad, generic champagne that tasted like it was artificially sweetened.

4/25/2024 - cellar-360 Likes this wine:

Very good

4/25/2024 - Gnieboer Likes this wine:

I've been sitting on 4 bottles since release, so some of the recent reviews had me worried, so popped one last night, 2 hours decant.
Good news is that my bottle didn't have the same disjointed feel that @eschuldt had.
The most cassis-driven fruit profile I've ever encountered I think upfront, with a smooth and savory mid-palate and a long earthy finish.
It was a bit hot on the finish, and a bit more blackberry/acid upfront would have been improvements, but still a great bottle, even if not quite an the RP100 in my mind.

4/25/2024 - Psdycp wrote:

Very floral and ripe berries with undertones of savoury herbs and earthy spices on the nose. Palate is rich, perfume and smooth. Balanced and almost silky in the texture, leading to a clean and dense finish. Ready to drink now and for the next few years.

4/25/2024 - BoxerBee Likes this wine:

Barnyard, dairy, tart red berries and fresh herbs. Well balanced, with excellent acidity and harmonious tannins, no joints or seams. Dry, yet mouthwatering finish with delicious pomegranate, cranberry, cherry, and an herbal edge. Classic. Drink now - 2032. 92+ points.

4/20/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at La Table Kobus. Solid, no-frills northern Rhone. Does what it says on the tin - savoury, peppery blue fruit. Primary, but approachable now.

4/25/2024 - michigan dogs Likes this wine:

still very lively with good acidity, well balanced. Would not have guessed it was 14 years

4/19/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at La Grillade Gourmande. Disgorged March 2022, 3g/l dosage. Yeasty and brioche notes on the nose, showed the weight and warm, supple fruit of 2012 that made it a delicious drink. Well-balanced.

3/24/2024 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine:

Wow, I loved this. It’s easily the best Burgundy of this year. One of only two bottles… this was beautifully dark red fruited, mostly dark red cherry, with iron traits and bauxite thoughts. I loved it for its richness and weightlessness. It had a lovely spice component, Vosne-like almost, Christmas spice and clay road petrichor. This had a great mouthfeel, poise and balance. I would love to find a few more of these!

4/18/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Generously shared by Phil. Felt less ready than the 2009 generic cuvee tasted the day before. Same rich, opulent style but this didn’t have the same length, which I think will come with time. Felt it had the same markers as the Ledru which was interesting since their styles are completely different - the latter resolutely traditional while Jestin is one of the biodynamic pioneers in champagne.

4/18/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Slightly flabby with honey and hazelnut on the first day, but when we retasted it the second day it had gained the textbook Roulot minerality that balanced out the sweetness. Better to cellar for some time.

4/25/2024 - michigan dogs wrote:

different experience than other posters. 1st day maybe 90pts, second day it just fell apart- did not even finish bottle- way over priced

4/18/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Unlike the La Serene Noire which had to structure to back up the candied style, this had artificial, almost plastic-like candied red fruit. Did develop more structure with air achieve a better balance.

4/18/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

85% Chardonnay, 15% Petit Meslier. Disgorged November 2022, zero dosage. Thankfully not very natural with no cider-like notes, but was rather light such that it came across as dilute compared to the more powerful Ledru alongside. Agree with Phil that I don’t quite understand the hype but was a good experience to taste this style.

4/18/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

First time trying this almost mythical producer. Very old-school champagne that had almost a rustic quality, agree with Benoit who said that it might come across as a little brutal. Also why I felt this was clearly Pinot with fresh but coarse strawberry fruit; though I could see why previous notes said it was Chardonnay-like because of the acidity. Again, I think the secondary market prices reflect the scarcity and the singular style of the wine rather than its quality, but off the list for 145€ was reasonable to me.

4/25/2024 - pbaek wrote:

Medium yellow color. More advanced than a bottle we drank in September 2023. Lemon curd, mandarin and salt on the nose. Red apples on the palate, chalk, lemon curd. Good freshness. Interesting wine. Will probably live for a number of years from here, but will it get better?

4/25/2024 - Psdycp wrote:

Profound bouquet, toasted almond, deep blue and black fruits, earthy spices and no hints of oak overtones even though this is aged in oak. Bold and intense palate, full-bodied and firm structure. Some minerality. This needs time as most elements are hidden behind the opaque mid-palate for now. Transition from entry to finish is quite seamless and extended. Long and lingering finish. Potential to show more complexity and layers in 5-8 years time. 91-93 pts.

4/25/2024 - Vivanco Likes this wine:

Nice Malbec blend. It is still young but ready to drink. Let it breath a bit or keep for a couple of years.

4/18/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at La Rotonde, the wine bar of Les Crayeres. Thick and viscous as expected of Raveneau, but the creamy oak dominated too much at the moment. Needs more time.

4/19/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at La Gare. Been a producer that I’ve been trying to find for some time and I wanted to visit but unfortunately they were unavailable. However, it was a happy coincidence that Quentin and Marine were having lunch just at the next table and we managed to say hi.

100% Chardonnay and everything I look for in a BdB. Powerful with lots of dry extract in its citrus and green apple fruit. At the same time, what I loved most was the drive and precision, topped off by a stunning finish. A very complete, delicious wine. Just a shame that they don’t export anything since production is so small, but definitely one of my discoveries of the trip.

4/17/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Bought this at Au Bon Manger and was interesting to compare this with the Jestin since Herve consults at Leclerc Briant too. This 300-bottle cuvee was made in tandem with the owners of Au Bon Manger. Made in a taut Chardonnay style, was less expressive than the Jestin alongside on both the nose and palate. Needs more time.

4/17/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Generously shared by Phil. Almost golden in colour. A round, rich old-school champagne that gained precision and tension with air. Superb aromatics, delicate red fruit on the palate in spite of its power. Very good.

4/16/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at Le Cerisier. My first Gangloff and another steal at €145. Took time to get going but with time in the glass in it showed the elegance and concentration of old vines. Incredibly purity to the fruit and refinement to the tannins. Fruit profile was similarly dark red to the Faurie but lighter; both spoke of their origins well. Such a sensual, yet restrained and balanced wine, but again not sure of its value proposition.

4/25/2024 - linkswinelover6549 Likes this wine:

Delicious. Nice fruit, smooth tannins. Good value. Reminded me of a nice California Zin

4/15/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at Le Mangevin. Deep, structured nose with powerful dark red fruit and a little smoky bacon fat. Gained concentration and weight with time in the glass, and sucrosity on the second day. A lovely old-school, honestly made Hermitage that managed to avoid the excesses of the warm vintage. His last commercial vintage I believe.

4/16/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at Le Cerisier. Much more open than my first bottle three years ago. Rich, broad nose and mouth feel with brioche, citrus and pear notes. Very 2013 Chardonnay which is right up my alley; brilliant drive and salinity. Another one of those very complete wines with a lot of everything. Lucky to have gotten the last bottle, not sure if it is worth the current prices but a steal at 145€.

4/20/2024 - DrBad Likes this wine:

Some orange tint, a bit of beer yeast like some of Keith's natural wines. We enjoyed this on the patio with some apps.

4/2/2022 - mphatic wrote:

Screwcap, 14% alc.
Deep red with minor bricking.

Dusty cupboard, plum, and eucalypt on the nose.

Much more red–fruited on the palate than the recent Dutschke St Jacobi. Malty, jubey, slightly ferrous. Even and balanced, this is a very tidy wine for the money. Pretty fruit softening. Acidic backbone and with resolved tannins.

Drink now. Aways impresses with its VFM.

4/2/2022 - mphatic wrote:

Screwcap, 14.8% alc.
inky red-black, opaque.

Aromas of cola, tar, blackberry, plum, nutty earth, and pan juices. Some alcohol fume.

Glossy, dense palate. Richly fruited with a lot of the tertiary complexity coming forward. Slippery in the mouth. Chalky tannins have softened considerably since the previous bottle. Alcohol isn’t obvious on the palate except for the glossy/slippery texture.
A delightful herbal, nutty, meaty aroma emerges with extended airing.

4/21/2024 - DrBad Likes this wine:

Really nice, vibrant PN. Herbs, spice, cherry, really came alive with our grilled salmon dinner.

3/24/2022 - mphatic Likes this wine:

Screwcap, 14% alc.
Mid red-crimson. A large slab of sediment was evident on the side of the bottle.

Developed nose of graphite, pencils, pan juices, dusty wooden chest, star anise, cherry and blackberry.

Wonderful balance on the palate; glides across the tongue with gentle tannins, autumnal, weedy flavours and well-balanced acidity. Retains fruit sweetness
.
In a lovely spot. I may have formed an incorrect premature opinion about his ability to age.

3/20/2022 - mphatic wrote:

Screwcap, 12.5% alc.
Beautiful light salmon-pink.

Intense aromatics of raspberries, redcurrant, mulch, and a hint of passionfruit.

Light bodied, but intense flavour; not just fruity, but also with a flinty/earthy backdrop. Good drive and long finish for a Rosé. Chalky tannins; good grip and texture.

The label says chill for best effect. I’d say only chill if you don’t want to taste the fruit; just below room temperature brought out the most attractive aromatics that are not far from a proper light red.

3/16/2022 - mphatic Likes this wine:

Cork, 13.5% alc.
Cloudy mahogany red-brown. Tawny at rim. Crumbly cork.

A volatile nose of leather chair, cola, dill, grilled meat, cherry, and raspberry, stems, timber, smoke.

Round, creamy entry to the palate, then it tightens up. Very reduced on opening. Retaining significant chalky tannin. Starting to dry out and appearing a little thin compared with previous bottles. Reasonably long finish, and with persistent, bitter dill flavour on the aftertaste.

Opinion: even at this age, it needs quite a bit of air to express its full aromatics. Looking best on day three. Give it air! Excellent Aussie Pinot with great complexity and interest, with plenty of life left.

4/25/2024 - gallu wrote:

90 Granate cubierto. Nariz con buena madera, fruta roja. En boca es agradable, bien hecho, notas lácticas. Se deja beber bien.

4/23/2024 - jeduardoms Likes this wine:

One of the best white wines in South America

4/25/2024 - ptaylor2112 wrote:

Day 1 was all soft residual sugar on the finish. Day 2 was similar. It wasn’t until Day 3 when things got interesting. The acidity began to assert itself on the midpalate and finish, and the pleasant tartness balanced the sweet. Drink now if you like softer, sweeter wines. Otherwise, hold for at least another couple of years.

3/11/2022 - mphatic wrote:

Screwcap, 13.2% alc.
Dark and vibrant blood crimson.

Aromatic nose of liquid lead pencils, blackcurrant, a touch of beetroot and ripe capsicum, but not under-ripe. Nutty oak, redcurrant, wet rocks, chocolate.

Dusty tannic grip. Rather closed on the palate, with only shortish length. Pretty light, bodied and fruited. Smells sweeter and richer than it presents on the palate, where it is reasonably sour-fruited and austere. Different on day 2; more integrated and fleshed out.

Opinion: A nice drink. Guzzle-able. Could sit smelling this for hours!

4/25/2024 - Pancreatitis wrote:

Duty free purchase in Thailand (for roughly 1/4 my local retail) so presumably not stored with regard to temperature for however long?
Copper tinged.
In comparison to the ‘03 version tasted a few times recently this was entirely devoid of fruit. With air revealed a biscuity mineralite that was heavenly.
But I suspect this particular bottle suffered its provenance…

3/9/2022 - mphatic wrote:

Screwcap, 13.5% alc.
Luxuriant and glossy, dark ruby colour. Youthful bright hue.

Some lavish oak initially on the nose but when digging deeper, earth, blackberry, baking spices, and raspberry emerge.

Acidity is a feature on the palate, while the tannins are very delicate and dusty, yet flood the mouth. A touch blocky; it doesn’t reveal its charms reluctantly. Good, but not great length. Finishes savoury and earthy yet still seems like it needs more time to open up. A strong white pepper note runs through the wine, that I initially confused with alcohol breathiness.

Opinion: Not entirely convincing; it fell apart after a couple of days open.

4/25/2024 - thkim Likes this wine:

괜찮은데 국내가격 생각하면 가성비는 별로인듯