4/22/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Bought at Caves du Forum in Reims. Serious, powerful champagne with red-fruited notes whilst remaining elegant at the same time. Some baking spice notes, texturally rich and pleasurable with a superb finish. Someone at the table impressively managed to nail everything except the vintage.

4/25/2024 - Winance Tom Likes this wine:

Tasty mature Bordeaux. Probably should have decanted longer, only had 30 minutes. Subdued tannins and acidity but still enough to show a good balanced structure. Mature fruit flavours, some dusty earthiness and some requisite Bell peppers.

4/25/2024 - Rbhan12 Likes this wine:

Flat out gorgeous. Honeyed apricot and a hint of ginger. Incredible mouthfeel without being heavy. Expands across the whole palate.

Almost 40 years old but can probably age another 40 years without a problem.

4/25/2024 - NavyVet6874 wrote:

Crisp refreshing and fruity.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Very Burgundian, Vosne-like with spicy dark fruit. Some new-school stem use and crunchy dark red fruit with a solid backbone.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Slightly cloudy, dark yellow in colour. Rich, honey notes with the typical Ganevat high-acid, high-octane citrus fruit. Ganevat in warm vintages is always a winner.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Off the list at Septime La Cave while waiting for Clamati. 100% Carignan, seems like they haven’t made this cuvee for some time. Serious and structured, grippy tannins. This producer makes some of the most serious natural wines

3/17/2024 - Wine Of The Moment Likes this wine:

Savor this wonderful estate Hill Country sourced fruit and relish the magical flavors that Mason County grapes can provide. Amber color, apple aromas, and tropical fruit notes...this all-round refreshing jewel is just filled with luscious mouthfeel to excite your senses. This white wine leans towards the bold side, so it is lovely on its own, but simply divine paired with your favorite fish, poultry, or vegetarian dish. The acids balance out quite nicely, as well. Enjoy!

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

One for the road before we left Champagne at L'Assiette. Very typical PYCM - ripe mix of tropical and citrus fruit but completely outclassed by the stunning Dureuil-Janthial.

4/24/2024 - Eric Wright Likes this wine:

From 750. Initially shut down, but with an hour of air it opened up well. Some fruit still coming through well. Good body and well balanced. Pleasant, but not compelling

4/25/2024 - Scottlmatthews Likes this wine:

Another 2 years in the cellar is the only set back from scoring a perfect 100.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Saw this on the wine list and there was no way I could pass this up, glad it was uniformly a hit with everyone. Again, generally agree with Benoit’s note below. Intense, expressive aromatics of white flowers and citrus fruit with very well-judged oak use. A very complete wine on the palate with all the individual components dialled up in terms of concentration and intensity, but so seamless at the same time. tylistically reminded me of a top Meursault. Another white with a lot of everything like the Ramonet and Ente earlier in the trip, and I think this was the best white that I’ve had on this trip among some tough competition.

4/25/2024 - Odedis.Wine.reviews wrote:

Pale lemon in color.

Nose of citrus, green apples, grapefruits, bitter herbs and minerals.

Light bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with citrus, green apples, spices, grapefruits, herbs, minerals and earth.

Short finish with bitter almonds.

Easy drinking and better with food.

A blend of 80% Caprettone and 20% Falanghina.

13% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$20.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Don’t have much experience with Selosse but discussed with Benoit who said Guillaume is making more precise wines which are less variable than his dad’s. Golden in colour, still quite oxidative with precise citrus fruit. Good, but overall less interesting than the two stunning Gaspard Brochets.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

2020 base. 100% Meunier, no dosage, disgorged January 2023. Only 573 bottles made. Benoit kindly let us open this despite having already tried this the previous day, and it was a good contrast with the Pinot de Sacy - while the former was delicate and elegant, this was delicate and powerful. I’ve generally found rose de saignées difficult since they can be structured and tannic, but this managed to balance the power with crunchy blackcurrant fruit. More intellectual but less seductive than the Pinot de Sacy; both equally impressive.

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

2020 base. 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage, disgorged January 2023. Only 551 bottles made. Pale salmon colour but not sure if this was meant to be a rose. Agree with Benoit’s note that this was so delicate and finessed that it was a wine that I fell in love with on the first sip, but the intensity grew as the wine finished in your mouth. What a wine.

4/25/2024 - ohne_musik wrote:

A short decant - needed more. Wonderful aromatics from the first pour - black fruits, bay leaf, meatiness and a hint of fresh pine. Tighter in the mouth, with black fruit (cherry, blackberry), black pepper, beef blood, but really tightly wound around a mineral core that takes a lot of coaxing to emerge. Ripe fruit, but framed by enough acid and minerals to keep everything in check. Medium bodied and holds the 14.5% alcohol well. Needs a few years sideways to show all of its cards. 91++

4/21/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote:

Disgorged April 2022, no dosage. First time trying this producer and again very impressed by a 2012 grower. Warm, round red apple fruit that made me think it was Pinot-dominant but turned out it was 60-40 Chardonnay-Pinot. Nice intensity and length. Think 2012 in general is a good fit for zero dosage growers.

4/25/2024 - wineton.mee wrote:

One of the most viscous champagne I’ve had, looks like a thick white burg as you swirl it in the glass. The nose is full of honey, apricot, honeysuckle, lemon pie, and enormously vinous and muscular, propped up by a searing acidic spine. Such a powerful and tensile champagne that for sure, will be even better in time.

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.