11/3/2014 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

Brown sugar, apples otn. Med. bodied, with slight dry minerally tannins.

11/3/2013 - blancdeblancs wrote:

Black wine with burgundy edges. Tiny black berries, lots of dark currant notes, some soft leathery notes with a kind of metallic quality. Light bodied, but concentrated, touches of texture

11/3/2017 - blancdeblancs wrote:

This is nothing short of brilliant. Lush, perfumery nose of dusky blackberries, black spicy plums and hints of sweet earth. Medium bodied. Some minerally texture, Incredibly elegant.

11/3/2017 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

Deep copper color. Nose is metallic and orange pulp. Round in the mouth. You can feel the prescience of former tannins flitting about. Hints of thyme--- practically savory at this point (fascinating!). Minerally, with texture otf. A real treat to drink a historic wine (Gravner's first amphora vintage).

10/7/2017 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

This reminds me why I love drinking Burgundy, and why I should wait to drink it. Bertrand is one of the top producers in NSG, and has long employed minimalist efforts in the vineyard, with some light handed work in the cellar. This was no disappointment. Really in its stride, a huge pleasure to drink, but I wouldn't wait many more years.

11/3/2017 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

Was afraid it could be a little 'done' because the vintage was so challenging and so warm. Luckily, we caught it just before---beautifully integrated texture, mature notes of brown sugar, leather, dried flowers. So pleased it was showing well.

11/3/2015 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

My first Yquem. Toasted walnuts and nail polish remover otn, round, silky, creamy otp. Lots of honey notes. Lasted beautifully being Coravin'd for a week or two after initial enjoyment. Honestly? Was expecting incredible fireworks or emotion from this famous meditation wine, but not sure I would heavily invest down the road versus other great producers. Nevertheless, a special treat for sure.

11/3/2014 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

Golden yellow in color, not oxidized. Delicate, elegant aromas, lots of honey, not oxidized, a strong vegetal/herbal core; broad but not astringent. Should have decanted or drank more slowly---everything is exploding now. Chamomile, thyme, baking spices. Mouthfeel is rich and round. Still lively.

2/14/2015 - blancdeblancs Likes this wine:

Perfection. Tea leaves, dried currants, hint of leather, rose petals; balanced texture, finesse, fruit. Wish I had more than a bottle to drink. You could wait longer, but it's...perfecto. Grazie mille, GQ.

8/10/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

Knowing that this was purchased by the Cazes family in 2006, I'd be interested in comparing my notes here with a more recent vintage by the 'new' owners. Burgundy color with ruby tinges. Very brambly with wet stone notes otn. Balanced, elegant, light minerally grip otf. This could still go for a few more years, but I say drink up!

7/31/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

slight brick edges. rich, flowery/grapey nose. some truffle-y, earthy notes as well. a hint of metallic otn. smooth, with beautiful fruit and nuance---still has a crazy minerally finish! was afraid it was over-the-hill, but still lively and a real pleasure.

6/15/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

Wow. still an exquisite nose--high-toned notes of currants, blackberries, wet stone, floral and leather hints. lean, mean cru Beaujolais machine. tons of texture. seriously, this has barely mellowed. minerally tannins, and a long slow burn of a finish. wish I had put down more of this.

6/14/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

Wow! As alive as the day it was bottled. Honeyed nose with hints of lemon, a slight nutty quality, incredibly fresh and herbal. Light bodied but rich, tangy mid-palate. Loads of acidity---truly exceptional. I can't say enough great things about this Muscadet TEN YEARS after its debut. Drink now or experiment with longer...

6/4/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

I admit, this is one of the few Cali wines I've held on to, but it made me wish I had more voluptuous wines hanging around. Dark, sweet blackberries, damp earth, slight raisin, honeyed note otn. full in the mouth. A lavish, but not unwieldy amount of alcohol with a dry, textured finish. Still some grip to contend with. This was perfect with sweet & spicy braised lamb shank---really balanced the rich flavors.

6/3/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

Went to the cellar to drink some overdue Burgundy and accidentally opened this! Woops. Slightly closed nose at first---macerated cherries, wet stones, a slight pungent quality that evolves into earthiness w. hints of brown sugar. Still quite minerally and taut. Damn, wish my luck of the had left this to sit a while longer, but a lovely mistake nonetheless.

6/3/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

pretty flat and undrinkable at this point. why did I wait so long?!?

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

tasted with Angelo and Daniella. 4 years in cask---only made in best vintages. burnt sugar, rich perfume, good ol’ tar and roses. again, I’m just carried away with the aromatics. slightly spicy, rich, minerally tannins, hints of tea leaves. elegant but rich.

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

60 year old vines, 2 years in cask. wowser---gorgeous rich nose of brown sugar, blackberries, roses. so delicious otp. rich, dark fruit, minerally finish, structure to spare, gorgeous texture.

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

tasted with Angelo and Daniella. from the San Rocco Seno d’Elvio vineyards. whoa! cola, nail polish remover, high intoxicating notes otn balanced with low earthy notes, lovely. slightly softer than expected.

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

tasted with Angelo and Daniella. Nebbiolo d'Alba. these wines are so beautifully perfumed. silky smooth---tinges of structure. super elegant. yum---brown sugar, damp earth.

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

80% nebbiolo w. barbera and cabernet. a slight soapy nose (light perfumes, earthy). the fun is on the palate---nice acidity and structure. perfect w. salumi or pretty much any kind of food.

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

tasted with Angelo and Daniella. currant and raspberry jam, hints of earth, floral, wow. lean, minerally, lengthy textured finish. I feel like I can taste the whole grape, stem and all.

4/23/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

tasted with Angelo and Daniella. cortese w. 10% new barrel. fresh, floral, hints of oak, really gorgeous nose. rich otp.

3/18/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

savory dry nose---herbs, dried fruits, medium-bodied, still has some grip, but I would think better vintages would have more life, more freshness at this point.

11/10/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

darker, richer nose than 07 Marcenasco. slightly fuller fruit. again, beautiful balance and minerality and grip.

11/10/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

plenty of wood otn, beautiful fruit not clouded by the barrel---black raspberries. softer texture, gorgeous minerality and grip.

11/10/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

warm nose, strawberry nose, a little more grip, a hint of leather, minerally, long finish.

11/10/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

slightly metallic nose, great fruit, smooth, good minerally finish.

1/18/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

slightly stony, berry notes. lengthy finish and some concentration---minerally tannins.

1/18/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

classic smoked meat nose, slight potpourri mixed with herbs. smooth, long finish---not overly concentrated. some definite minerality.

1/18/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

fairly clear, ruby color, leather and black pepper notes, herbal nose. lean, smooth, definitely a tangy finish. mid-weight, slight grip otf.

1/18/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

soft biscuit, white flowers, melon notes otn. not overly fruity or luscious otp. some heat on the finish. not bad for mid-priced Condrieu---would love to see this with food or some more time in bottle.

12/1/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

80% pinot noir, 20% chard. very light peach color. red fruits---sweet nose, same bracing acidity as 04 vintage Cristal, gorgeous fizz.

12/1/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

honey and brioche, slight hints of citrus and herbs otn. palate is subtle, expansive, tons of acidity and minerality. really fine, creamy fizz. incredibly long finish. for this vintage, the hype is real.

12/1/2011 - blancdeblancs wrote:

clean, metallic nose, green apple otp. nice fizz---some underripe lime zest and angular flavors, but round-ish in the mouth.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

from six vintages, 65% pinot noir, 25% chard, 15% pinot meunier. nice---really good for the price. some minerally tones that work well with oysters. fruit up front, lots of linear citrus. slightly aggressive, not fat.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

merlot and syrah. all raspberry jam and cordial notes otn. luscious fruit, almost a sour cherry quality otp, some cherry notes on the finish.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

high and "dry" nose, cologne notes, just a hint of dried herbs and roses, some animal quality. lean, still some grip---lovely elegance, black currant and kirsch notes.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

floral and citrus peel nose---quite fragrant with some bruleed orange. not stony, but slightly herbal---not as lush otp, lovely minerality!

2/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

hints of flowers, cool melon otn, rich texture, slight minerally finish with a touch of acidity. would not have seen this as a Cali Chard---really elegant.

2/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

barrel, some vegetal notes, medium-bodied, slight acidity otf, silky smooth.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

lost its pretty fruit that you usually expect with dolcetto, but has notes of spice, roasted plums. lean, still concentrated and has some minerally grip. always a pleasure drinking Nicoletta's wines!

2/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

62 months in oak. opaque black in color. notes of hay, bramble, honey-soaked dried fruit, tons of concentration and grip. going to be an elegant grande dame down the road.

2/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

gorgeous nose---flowers and tea leaves, beautiful wine---balanced texture, minerally touches, round black fruit.

2/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

raisin color with almost brown edges, cola nose, smooth, grip, lots of acidity.

2/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

slavonian oak. beautiful berries, candied note otn, lots of minerally texture balanced with gorgeous fruit.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

50% cab, 42% merlot, with touches petit verdot and cab franc. lots of tobacco, cola, sweet spice box otn, earthy dark fruit, some herbs.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

inky burgundy color, currants, craisins, spicy, richly concentrated. tons of minerally tannins.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

more candied currants otn, some eucalyptus but in harmony with fruit. long tannic finish but plenty of fruit to follow otf. 60% merlot, 40% cab.

3/1/2012 - blancdeblancs wrote:

labeled as Cotes de Bordeaux - Francs (instead of Cotes de Francs). 80% merlot, 15% cab franc, 5% malbec. lavendar, berries, some spice---green peppercorns, lovely balance of grip and concentration, some minerality.