2/8/2021 - rjoyer wrote:

Simply put, this was divine. Layers of bracing yellow citrus notes all tamed by the round palate feel from bottle age. A hint of oxidative notes in the background (honey and light butterscotch) tells you that this wine is coming up on two-decades since the grapes were harvested, but the mix of acidity and lively fruit profile keeps it feeling fresh. On point, and another stunner Chardonnay from chez Arcadian. Somehow Joe's Chardonnays seem to fly under the radar despite the great track-record of age-ability. Go figure.

7/24/2020 - rjoyer wrote:

Holy schnikes....this may be the best rendition of Sleepy Hollow syrah I've had to date. Sensual and suave on the palate that delivers a mouthful of meat, earth, dark berries, and a soy/umami undertone. This bottle kept building and building like a freight train rolling down the track with the last glass being the best glass after 4+ hours open. Joe's '08 are on-point and, in my opinion, the best vintage across the board for Arcadian since the 2005's. Damn.

5/19/2020 - rjoyer wrote:

Popped and poured and followed over ~7 hours or so.
This was fragrant from the initial pop/pour with aromatics of spiced cherries and warm earth. The palate took a bit of time to fill in and gain depth, and towards the end it was trending towards warm red strawberries and baking spice tones. H-N's Suchots is always so enjoyable and while that was the case here, I do think the 2011 vintage is at play as I couldn't help but think "enjoyable, but not delightful." I just find 2011's lacking the verve and depth of structure to compete with the better vintages and that held true here with this Suchots.

5/13/2020 - rjoyer wrote:

This was popped, poured and followed over a few hours along with grilled pork chops. Dark, macerated cherries and a little sous bois on the nose. The palate is somewhat rich, buttressed by decent acidity and showing more of the dark cherries and brothy notes indicating its age. Holding on fine, but I don't surmise it is going to improve with any additional bottle age. Smoke 'em if you got 'em as, honestly, its a bit simplistic to begin with and not improving with more sideways time.

5/11/2020 - rjoyer wrote:

Decanted at 3pm and slowly consumed over the evening, with the last glass at about 11pm. This got better, fuller, rounder and more complex the more air it got. By the end, it had a really interesting mix of crushed/wet bricks and subtle black plum fruits on the nose. The finish turned into an all-out onslaught of black tea notes. Tannins were velvety and the mouthfeel was plush and suave. Persistent finish that kept my attention all night long. Really enjoyed this one.

4/2/2020 - rjoyer wrote:

Damn....this is sexy stuff, especially given the price-point. So much acid on the palate with the hallmark murky red color, tart cranberries, rhubarb and spiced orange peel notes. Finish just lasts and lasts from the acidity pulling on the back of the tongue. Still so juicy and fresher than a recently consumed 2010 Sonoma Coast bottling. Just a hint of soy/balsamic starting to develop in the background. Either at or nearing its apex and, as such, I plan to drink my last bottle sometime here in 2020.

7/7/2019 - rjoyer wrote:

I’ve been lucky enough to have had this particular wine now 4 times and this bottle is consistent with those, though surely showing the benefits of age.

Each of the four times I’ve had this wine I have found it to be brash and bold but maintaining the intense acidity of the 05 vintage (that I love) which keeps it all together. Initially pouring a bit brown, it gained color and concentration with air but always carried a delicious tea flavor from the tertiary characteristics now developing (which are new and delicious).

This wine is special, not just because of the rarity, but because it has an amazing ability to be at once savage yet dignified...in short, though, it is delicious and I cannot thank my wife enough for finding a way to get this one into my cellar.

6/11/2019 - rjoyer wrote:

This was outstanding. Initially a little reticent on the pop-n-pour but boy did a little air and time do wonders here. It just kept expanding on the palate and nose all night long, and the last glass (which was finished on day two) was the best glass. Impressive density and size in the mouth but kept fresh and lithe by the acidity and clean fruit profile. White peaches, red apples, lemons and a kiss of salinity all melded together in a seamless package. The finish just pulls at your mouth in every direction and lasts and lasts. This bottle, sadly my last, was stunning.

1/5/2016 - rjoyer wrote:

Last of a 6-pack purchased on close out years ago. This wine has hardly changed over the years, always showing great acidity, a fair bit of structure and dusty red cherry fruits. The tannins and acid give good grip on the finish and create a nice balance. Perhaps a bit more fruit would be nice, but it does not come across as stingy or hollow. All in all, a nice drink, and one that is in no immediate peril should you decide to age a bit longer.

12/30/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

Followed over 2 nights and I found this to be really nice stuff. Very Puligny, with big lemon tones and a creamed butter note abounding. Generous and giving, but with a decent core of energy keeping things fresh. Certainly, though, the '09 character is here, but there's ample acidity to keep it all in check. Lovely, if perhaps forward, and I expect that another few years in the cellar should do it well.

11/7/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

I’ve had two bottles (this bottle and one back in January) of this wine now, and both times it improved, markedly, with more air and showed best on night two after sitting in the cellar sans cork overnight. They both opened up a bit tired, showing decaying autumnal notes before gaining in freshness and intensity after getting a chance to breathe for a few hours. Once on, they displayed raspberry centric fruit flavors atop a core of earth tones and clean acidity that keeps it feeling nice and fresh. This is a nice wine and works well with food. If you decide to open one, be sure to give it a few hours of air before drinking.

11/7/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

Another great bottle and a true expression of the vineyard. A little more forward than normal perhaps, but still maintaining a zippy core of orange/cran/rhubarb fruits that one would expect. This was way too easy to gulp, and should age very nicely.

7/24/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

My last bottle. Color is starting to show just a hint of brown, but she is still quite fresh. There's a cool menthol tone on the nose, along with a hint of rootbeer and rhubarb. The palate shows a lively side, and is lithe and acidic. The fruit is all red apple skins and dark cherries. This is in a nice zone right now, but could still go for a while yet. Very pleasant and complete wine.

7/13/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

This was kept in my wife's family's cabin in the mountains (in a cupboard) for who knows how long before I acquired it in 2011. Been keeping it ever since, and decided to open up for a birthday dinner. Note is after 2 days of being open and following the wine, which showed absolutely no signs of fading over that time.

Cork came out in one piece and pours a nice medium amber color into the glass. The nose wafts up vibrant scents of vanilla, butterscotch and caramel atop a background of pear fruit. The palate is surprisingly fresh, with a great swath of acidity keeping the unctuous texture in check. There are notions of clove, orange rind and pear skin that come and go over time. Really impressive and captivating stuff.

4/24/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

This showed some serious reductive stank at first, but that mostly went away after an hour or so to reveal a bouquet of tar, black cherries and violets. In the mouth there is more of the black cherries, some licorice and a bit of funky asphalt lingering in the background. The tannins are nicely polished and the package is kept fresh by a great streak of acidity. In short, this is a very tasty effort (particularly at the price of entry). If I had any more of these, I'd be excited about the upside potential of another year or three of development but, alas, this was my only remaining bottle.

4/11/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

Popped, poured, and followed for 24+ hours. This was real pleasant and, while still showing youngish, has a great presence about it. On the pop and pour, it was a bit tight, loosening up over a couple of hours on night one, but day two showed a much more complete wine. The hallmark Rosella's pink grapefruit and acidity are here keeping things fresh, against a somewhat lactic/creamy background. Tannins are softening, but this is still on the early side of its drink-window for my palate. Tasty, if not heady or overly complex, but a fun drink and paired nicely with grilled tri-tip.

4/4/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

This is a simply stunning example of mature chardonnay that is, for my preferences, at its zenith. Showing a bit of bronzing in color and some slight oxidative notes, but buttressed by loads of still-fresh acidity, lemon, and salted hazelnuts in the mouth. The finish keeps on rolling thanks to the great extract and just seems to pull on the back of the tongue. Wow...super impressive juice.

4/3/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

This was popped and poured to go with stilton burgers on the grill, and followed over several hours. Ready to go from the moment we pulled the cork, and full of all the hallmark RM traits one would expect. Rhubarb, orange peel and scents of pine meet you on the nose. There's much of the same on the palate, with hints of Christmas spices lurking in the background before a moderately lengthy finish punctuated by good acidity. This certainly isn't shy, but it is a fun drink. Glad to have held onto this one as it seems to be in a good zone now, and I can't say I see any real upside development coming (at least based on this bottle), so would advise putting these in the on-deck circle if you have some.

3/6/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

This note reflects my impressions after following a bottle that was opened for 24 hours and sampled over 2 nights. I'm trying to figure out what to make of this one as it is my first 2012 Chablis, and I find myself missing some of the sea-shells, minerality and austerity I typically find in such young examples from the region. It is surprisingly open from the pop and pour and, perhaps, also surprisingly plump for a fresh 1er cru Chablis. I'm greeted by warm spices, banana curd and a kiss of vanilla on the nose, and find a wine that is full and fleshy on the palate, with notes of ginger, pineapple and lime. The lime lingers on the finish, which possibly keeps things more refreshing than the rest of my note lets on, and I have to say that I like the wine fine...I just find myself wishing for a bit more intensity and focus.

1/31/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

My last bottle. This wine was real hard to get a read on from the nose, as it never did give up much (despite being open for more than ~16 hours). The "bouquet" gave little to no fruit flavors and I think FMIII got it right in describing it mostly as graphite. Thankfully, the palate was much more giving. What I found was a wine focused, with some good energy with a core of red apple skin and dark cranberries. There's good acidity, which keeps it all fresh and linear. This was a nice drink, and it is too bad it was my last bottle, as I think another 1-2 years would put it into its optimal drinking window for my palate.

1/25/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

I opened this up last night, took a glass and am now finishing the last of it ~20 hours later. Man, this is lean and taut, so if you're acid-shy then this certainly isn't for you. Maybe tending more toward the purple/floral tones than the normal red/black cherry spectrum that I usually associate with the Haut. There is indeed some fruit lurking in the background and I do think time will let it shine a bit more against the strong acids, but I doubt it will ever take center stage. On the balance, I am enjoying this Haut because I happen to like pinots with some good punch and cut from the acids, but I also think it is going to need to find a better sense of balance against the fruit if it will ever be a great Kiser En Haut.

1/15/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

I am convinced that this is the best Rhys pinot I've ever had, ironic that it would be declassified juice. Good core of red with a great balance of soil, structure and a dustiness to the fruit. Tasty stuff. No rush on these either.

1/17/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

I am beginning to think these RM '10s are the best in the last few years, as all have been outstanding. This Summa is no exception and delivered all of the usual characteristics I look for and expect from this site/bottling. I'll try to be patient and hold onto my remaining bottles for a few years, as they will undoubtedly continue to improve, but it is hard when they taste this good young.

1/17/2015 - rjoyer wrote:

Billigan's note from September is pretty spot on with the impressions I got on this one. Hadn't had one of these since last January, and I do think the oak influence seems more pronounced than prior renditions, though it does subside in time, and I do think it shows less now than it did a year ago and should continue to integrate. The other components are all well proportioned and the sum total is a very nice chardonnay that, I believe, will continue to get better in the next 2-3 years.

3/8/2014 - rjoyer wrote:

hot damn this was tasty. sour cherries, wet soil, excellent acidity that just pulls on your saliva glands....man this was great on the pnp, but it got better over the 24+ hours i followed it. Thrilled to have more and see lots of potential here.

2/8/2014 - rjoyer wrote:

this was boisterous on the p-n-p, showing a nice big dollop of vosne spices and mirroring many of the flavors of the duck rub. there was a slightly annoying roasted fruit character to the blackberry/cherry mid-palate that, even 30+ hours later, never fully went away. the orange zest and ginger reappear on the palate, and this was the better pair w the duck vs the '11 H-N Chambolle

2/15/2014 - rjoyer wrote:

good, not really good. fun, electric yellow color....coconut meat, macadamia nut and green apple skin prevail....which all sound good, and are, but the wine seems more one-dimensional than I'd prefer.

3/9/2014 - rjoyer wrote:

hey now....what have we here? electric yellow color in the glass, cool lemon scents buttressed by slate/salt on the nose. great palate presence w an oily texture, though built on a lean frame and showing lots of grapefruit notes. notable extract levels and saliva-pulling acidity on the finish. this is really damn good stuff. I am probably most impressed w the combination of acidity, extract and palate staining sensations.

3/14/2014 - rjoyer wrote:

Followed over two nights. This bottle is great, much more fruit forward, full and less funky soy/jerky notes (though they are still there). Pepper, chilis, menthol and plumb skins. Younger than I seem to recall the last bottle being. Good stuff.

12/6/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

I ended up popping an '04 Arcadian Homage a Max and throwing a 2-bone ~5 pound standing rib roast on the BGE for dinner tonight with the in-laws. We whipped up some instant polenta with lots of parm and a simple green salad with pink lady apples, chevre-blue cheese and an apple cider vinaigrette. The food worked perfectly with the wine (which was decanted for about 4 hours before drinking), with the smokey prime rib working nicely against the softening tannins and ripe fruit from the vintage. The palate still feels precise and shows a nice minerally spine and just a hint of menthol. Really classy and a great accompaniment to the dinner.

12/4/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

I am sipping on the last glass of the 2010 Rivers Marie Gioia Vineyard, which has been a delightful drink and very true to the house style. It's got that slightly cloudy color in the glass and is not shy on the bouquet with loads of cranberry and pine sap (though some of that, admittedly, could be from the Christmas tree we were decorating tonight). More cranberries, earth, spice and a zippy acidity follow on the palate in a distinctly RM fashion. Decidedly fun to drink and I am looking forward to seeing how these Gioias differentiate from the rest of the stable with a few years in bottle, so will sit on my remaining bottle of the 2010 for a couple of years.

11/26/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

Occidental certainly sticks out as a sore thumb (to me at least) when compared to the other '05 Rivers Marie wines (Summa OV, Summa and Sonoma Coast), especially in the early days (I have fewer data points with the newer vintages, especially now with the addition of Gioia and Silver Eagle). That said, this wine has grown up quite a bit with a few years of age and sits in what I would consider to be a prime drinking window after 2+ hours of air. Cinnamon, clove and cocoa notes all come and go, but the backbone is all centered on dark cranberries. My nits would be that I'd like a bit more acidity and that there is some wood tannin, suggesting that further aging is an option, though I plan to drink my remaining bottle by Thanksgiving 2015.

11/24/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

I am finishing off the last glass of the Swan now, and two days open in the cellar has done this wine well. Still a prominent raisin note throughout that detracts a bit for me, but everything else is all goodness...the fruit has a crisp red tinge and the acidity has an orange-zest streak to it that pulls on the tongue. This bottle of Mancini paired surprisingly well with our dinner of homemade chicken tortilla soup.

11/9/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

exactly what one would expect from a young Fourrier, pure red-fruits, savory nuances and a linear feel from the heightened acidity. Elegant and tasty. Perhaps overpowered by the fare at the table, but delicious on its own right.

11/9/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

yet another young, fresh bottle of this delicious pinot. This wine has a special place in my cellar, as it is one that I've always connected with and have had more than any other single wine I own. This was the family's, and my, favorite at the dinner-table. Perfect foil for the Thanksgiving spread and it just feels "right" to drink American wines on this American holiday.

11/9/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

bone dry. Lots of minerality with a little yellow pear fruit hiding behind the yeasty/doughy/flour scents. Better with food than as a stand-alone drink, but good none-the-less.

11/9/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

little bit of spritz when opened on Friday, but that mostly went away after a few shakes in the bottle and was gone by the time we got to the last sips of this on Sunday. Nice richness and palate intensity with a good complementing acidity tempering the sweetness. Green pears, limes and melon fruit abound with a slight waxiness lending to the length of the finish. Nice.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

this one kind of got lost in the mix over the weekend, so I had the duty and responsibility of drinking this on Monday evening after it had sat out on the counter for 2 nights. There is great balance of the dark rasp/blackberry fruits that I associate with the vineyard and good length on the finish. This is still quite young and holds the prospect of more upside development with a few more years in bottle. Charming.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

Crikey! This wine goes to 11. Dark purple color in the glass and the nose is a cornucopia of purple florals. Super plush and velvety on the palate and a long, drawn out finish that just lingers. Perfect balance and as good a young wine as I have ever had.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

this got a ton of air, having been opened up for more than 24 hours before we got to it. It did not feel out of place amongst all of the burgs consumed over the weekend, but the debate we had was whether or not the fruit will ever be left standing by the time the stems/structure recede. Excessive amounts of stem tannin cover up what appears to be black-toned fruits and a menthol finish. Good, but hard to get too excited with all of the structure taking center stage (a common theme with many of the early Rhys wines, I’ve noticed).

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

the consensus here was that this wine was good, though showed more simple and hollow in the shadows of the Arlaud and Confuron. Typical acidity from the vintage and nice Vosne spice elements, but lacking in the depth and structural elements to make it stand out. That said, it worked very nicely with the duck as well, though I kept filling my glass with the other wines at the dinner table.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

Yowzers….this is some impressive juice. Loads of Chinese 5-spice, dark red fruits and excellent harmony on the palate. The tannins were velvety and this was sensational with the Chinese-style roasted duck dinner.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

the white wine of the weekend and another very strong showing. Loads of cut and acidity, fresh lemon fruit with all the extract you want on the palate. Super good.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

this was nice, but not great. Loads of tropical fruit flavors centering around ripe pineapples, but no real depth or structure and lacking in acidity. Nice, and good with food, but a little bland/vanilla for my taste.

7/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

showed a little more in the oxidative vein with notes of red apples and pears. Good body and mouth feel, though I couldn’t help but want a little more drive on the finish.

10/12/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

P-n-P and followed for a few hours over dinner at home and through the evening.
Black rose petals, wet clay, iron, meat and notions of menthol come and go on the bouquet portending a masculine wine. Driven by its acidic spine, dusted with tannins, and displaying all of the meatiness one looks for in Gevrey. Loads of structure with zero heaviness. This one needs time, but should mature into a very sophisticated and impressive appellation wine.

10/12/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

P-n-P and followed for a few hours over a nice dinner at home.
My 3rd time with this wine, and it seems to have taken on a bit more of a lanolin/bee's wax note on the nose that I don't recall being there before. I also picked up some white pepper and a slight green/herbaciousness. The fruit is plush and waxy on the palate and has really grown up since release. Sneaky good. Entering a very nice drinking window, but no rush on these, either.

10/12/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

Followed over 2 nights. Showed a bit of stem tannin early on, but there is plenty of fruit that emerges with air. In the mouth the fruit is sweet, though not confected, and reminiscent of plum-skins and black cherries. The stems add a spiciness to the fruit, especially if you let the glass warm up (where there's just a touch of warmth on the finish). With air this drinks fine now, though should soften around the edges a bit with another 24 months or so in the bottle.

10/9/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

Followed this one over 2 nights. Poured out a very pale hue in the glass, but the color did gain in intensity after a couple of hours. This bottle took about 1.5-2 hours to get going, and once it did it was a tasty, textbook Volnay. Elegant, strawberry fruited and lacy. Went great with a roast chicken dinner.

10/3/2013 - rjoyer wrote:

Surprised not to see a more recent note on this one than 4+ years ago.
This is really quite nice, having entered into what I believe is it's prime drinking window. The nose smells of the Fall with earth and a mixture of cranberry/blood oranges. Medium weight with decent flesh to the fruit on the palate. Probably best served at cellar temp, as there is just a kiss of heat on the finish when this warms. Went great with the grilled pork tenderloin we paired it with. Glad I held on to this last bottle for as long as I did, and this should hold nicely for another couple of years.