April 9, 2021 - This has evolved into a wonderfully complex and rich white wine. Sweetness is apparent on the front end, but not dominant, like a Sauternes. Nice fruit, the back end lingers with vanilla spice, herbs, and a pronounced acid backbone. Paired well with cheese, but I'm sure would excel with Foie Gras. Drinking window is still probably 10+ years.
January 31, 2021 - This wine has now been open for more than a week with no adverse effect.
Clearly marked by botrytis both on the hue and the aromatics.
The balance of this wine is exquisite: it seems so light despite the RS with laser sharp aromas. Brilliant.
November 5, 2017 - Sadly corked.
October 29, 2017 - This has now been open for four days now with no detrimental effect so far as I can tell. Absolutely gorgeous to look at with a dark golden hue and wonderful, thick legs. Has a decidedly orange cast to the color. Quite excellent. In fact, one of the prettiest wines I have ever seen. Nose is beautiful with apricots, orange zest and caramel. Showing oxidization, but in a decidedly good way. Not a detraction, rather an addition. Sweet but not overly unctuous fruit in the mouth. Excellent balance of fruit and acid. Fully mature but not close to the end of its plateau. Seeing how good this is now I wish I had bought more when I had the chance. This wine is a fairly new experience dor me, and a very pleasant experience it has been. 5-13-17-9: 94/100.
August 29, 2016 - Deep yellow. Honeyed overripe nose, but only moderately sweet palate with terrific acidity and pear/apple fruit.
January 16, 2016 - Dinner in Orlando (Robert's House): Beautifully rich gold color with aromas of bananas, mango, wool, & white florals. Personally, I thought this was a bit advanced - but the 2002 vintage in Vouvray has been given me fits for a while now. The body of the wine had a bit of acid, just not what I was hoping for. Don't know if this wine has had oxidation issues in the past, but I fear this bottle might have been slightly over the hill.
October 14, 2013 - Beautiful chenin. Really young, and just starting to find its voice. Still very primary but not at all too sweet or forward. A steal at $40.
September 25, 2013 - As beautiful as I remember the previous bottle. Lovely nose on this of melon and honey - one might think it's a desert wine. On the palate, this wine somehow manages to keep a tension between sweetness and dryness. It has some lovely steely notes, a slight sourness (perhaps this is a flaw, but it somehow adds to the complexity). Maybe I'm just not used to Vouvray, but this is pretty captivating. The age shows nicely, giving the wine a laid-back, rich, decadent and mature composure. Really lovely stuff. Paired well with Halibut.
December 26, 2012 - Clear lemon yellow color of medium intesity, Nose of pear, citrus, floral and chalky minerals. heavier bodied than expected Nice acid for balance. Nice finish. Improved over the three days . Outstanding
January 22, 2012 - Championship Sunday Wines: Medium yellow. Interesting interplay of quince and lemon on both the nose and palate. Medium weight, crystalline and pure due to its great acidity, off dry rather than sweet and definitely not botrytized. This has miles to go but is not as forebodingly backward as a bottle I had almost 2 years ago. Truly excellent.