Incredible bottle, no sign of age, a cross between a top tier white rhone and a great Alsacian. Deep green gold color, Unctous, oily, balanced with fresh acidity, lychee nuts candied fruits, yet still a dry wine that's food friendly. A classic!
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Absolutely delicious Rhone blend of 90% Roussanne & 10% Voignier. 3 couples were unanimous this was fantastic and wishing we had more. Big unctuous honeyed fruit with surprising depth for its age and a very long finish. Going to hunt for more....
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Waited too long for this one, unless it's in a dormant stage. A little flabby and there was a waxiness on the back that wasn't too pleasant. Bummed I didn't drink it sooner.
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Yum! This golden, rich, delicious wine bursts on the nose with nutty, honeyed, apricot aromas. On the mouth, the richness shows up again with the same nutty, honeyed character. Acidity is decent and stands up to the richness. Good medium length finish. Just a great wine.
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Final landing for L'Avignon. This was a "flyer" for me, experimenting with my first adventure in Roussane varietal, and my first bottles from Stolpman. Both are a rousing success. I won't reiterate my previous tasting notes over the past two years, except to say this last bottle is at the peak, with truly stellar flavors. I will also add that Stolpman has become one of my favored producers for Syrah, too. Outstanding!
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Beautiful aromatics showing off ripe peach, honeycomb (botrytis?), wax, white flowers and minerals.
It's a little clunky on the palate with a waxy texture and quite a bit of heat. But it has great minerality on the finish showing off the limestone soils it was grown on. The fruit is very ripe, but has great purity.
Overall, the wine has med-plus complexity and length. The acidity is still holding and should hang on for another year or so. The heat is the main factor keeping it from a higher score. A very nice wine!
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Sunday night at home - Herb and Elaine over for grilled flank steak and swordfish - corn shouffle and grilled fennel and bok choy. Didn't drink it - only Jill and Elaine. Jill seemed to like it.
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Ready for take off. All my notes similar to bottle from last year, but this has mellowed over time, actually increasing in lusciousness, without losing its clarity, complexity and coloratura. Fascinating palate with uniquely sharp yet soft layers of flavor.
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After a little time, the nose gives up notes of banana, bee's wax and creamy oak. That new oak, along with the 14.9% alcohol dominates the palate, marring some otherwise nicely rounded fruit. I'm hoping, but not expecting, the second half of this wine sees the oak settle down so that I can enjoy more of the fruit here as I seem to be able to somewhat tame the alcohol with a good chill on the bottle.
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Even better than a year ago. Color may have darkened a tiny bit. Palate is more harmonious and luscious, but somehow seems lighter in body and producing stronger acidity than I thought before. Less burn and bite and a nice creaminess now takes over. I wish I had more and a great lesson to me about how some whites definitely improve with a little cellar age. 5+12+17+8 = 92
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Might be past it's peak. Interesting pineapple and grapefruit. Full bodied, slightly off-dry. Has a stoney element that gives it some backbone, but it could use a little more acidity. Overall, very good.
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This was a good Wednesday white and it also made a good base for a pork chop marinade. The pork chops were awesome and the wine was pleasant. Worth trying.
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Still nice, but has probably lost some fruit. Dry, with good body and some pear and tropical fruit flavors. A bit of a floral component, but more so on the nose than the palate.
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I had 4 bottles. (I previously had tasted some bottles of the 2005.) While the first and third I see as 91s, and the second a 92, my comment in Spring 2009 that more time was needed turned out to be correct. This fourth bottle was a solid 96. The aromas had no element of sweetness, but rather a myriad of strongly present and lengthy citrus and stone fruit. Again no sweetness element on the patate, with completely pleasant and extended flavor of quince, nectarine, nutmeg, and green grape. Zero bitterness, but frank in its presence. All the flavors were part of a clean, deep, viscous liquid. 90% Roussane (a native grape of the Rhone) and 10% Viognier (a grape of the Northern Rhone) from California.
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Popped & poured. Yikes - oak! Seems a little over the top for my palate. Color is a nice, decidedly lacking in fruit on the palate. Good medium finish. 2 days later, a bit better. Still pretty oak-y, but now there's a little more creaminess on the palate, a little more fruit (still not much), less harsh, can taste the alcohol less. 86 initially, 88 after 2 days. Certainly, it was a challenging and interesting bottle, if not totally fun and enjoyable. I'm going to wait awhile before opening the 2nd bottle, maybe the oak will integrate better.
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Consistent notes. Nutty, with aromas and flavors of tangerine dominating. I believe this has 3% Sauv Blanc in it; not sure how it manages to show through, but it does. A big Rousanne.
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JOJ nailed it, I think, especially regarding the custard component. 3rd time I've had this wine since release and it's still a handful, needing some airtime before the 14,9% abv and very rich and ripe concentration begins to soften. Drink thru 2012. A bit over the top for me. Err on the side of overly complex when considering a food pairing.
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Medium yellow, like a duller beryllium shade. Deeply nutty with a feint towards funk, with a bit of apple and raspberry juice as well as citrus blossom. A full mouthful of fleshy and slightly saline yet predominantly sweet-warm flavors; this wears its ripeness on its sleeve, at least in the mouth. A somewhat guilty pleasure I'll admit.
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Amazing perfumed nose of honey, figs, stone fruit and custard. Palate is unctuous honey and peaches, offset with a mineral note. A little over the top, in my opinion, but still very good.
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I get a fun nose of flowers, honey and menthol. I also get a peachy lemon aroma. The palate is nice with a good acidic finish. It has a sweetness, probably from the honey I taste. I like this. It has a lemon/honey flavor and is crisp.
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A challenge that was ultimately a delight. After opening, the medium 10 carat gold when swirled revealed strong legs. Initial aromas were subtle buttercups. The first sip was astringent, unusual and not all that pleasant. Letting it settle in the glass for 20 minutes, the second sip was again astringent -- but then, an appealing mouth-filling texture, followed by an acidic finish. After 15 more minutes, the étude of Avion revealed itself. A fore-palate agressiveness to gain your attention, then a mid-palate sumptuousness that reminds me of Werthers (I know how strange that sounds), finishing with citrus top notes that go on and on. The second day the experience lengthened as it repeated this memorable three-act bravura performance.
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Color: this might be the darkest, yellowest white wine I've had. Nose: Lemon. Taste: Some lemon, but almost like a cough drop with some menthol and some herbs. Bitter. Very different tasting, but, well, it's not outright delicious. Short finish. Viscous mouth feel.
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Medium-dark gold, 10% opaque. Very much agree with pgordon62's assessment. Very viscous, deep and tropical. Stands up to food extremely well. Acidity could be higher, but I don't find it lacking or flabby. I get potato bread toast, butterscotch, and lemon in the bouquet. Interesting and pretty yummy. (5+11+17+7) = 90
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Pure liquid honey with notes of white flowers, roasted nuts, limestone, pineapple and peppery spice. Viscous, oily on the palate and a little flabby. The finish shows effervescent bright white rock and peppery spice. The alcohol is less noticeable than a year ago. Seems to be in a good spot but I wish there was more acidity to carry weight of fruit.
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Lime yellow color; fiery, intoxicating, flame-broiled pineapple nose; oily, just-over-oaked flavors, viscous, exotic, adult lemon drops, hints of banana, apricot, and minerals; great pairing with vietnamese shrimp and sauteed spinach; acidity perfectly straddling the line between lip-smacking and flabby; a tad hot but fun.
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Talk about a luscious wine. Tropical fruits abound with banana and pineapple. It has a honeyed nose and rich mouthfeel. Lacks the acidity that I am looking for in a great Roussanne, but quite enjoyable.
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Only been a few months since the last one..largely as I remember. Mostly, it just seems flabby, needing more acidity. The alcohol is also out of balance. Med/dark gold color. Copious amounts of lemon oil on the nose. Citrus and pepper on the oily palate. Just a bit too much.
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A very nice honeyed pineapple-apricot texture with generous tropical aromatics leading the way. The oily texture could have benefitted from from slightly lower PH, sure... but the palate did not tire me at all, as hints of citrus sneak in and out and linger on the finish.
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This suffers a bit in comparison to the 2005. It shares that nice oily texture, but lacks the intensity and cut that made the previous vintage so intriguing
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Golden Green in color. Floral, honeyed nose with an apple and citrus scent. Oily texture, lemon, honeysuckle, big and rich. Reasonable on initial entry and mid palate, initially disappears quickly on the finish....but, it comes back (oddly) and fills the mouth with a buttery, marshmallow, and lemon custard type finish. Some heat on the tail end. Could use a bit more acidity to balance things out a bit. Interesting, good for something different, but does not leave me craving for more.
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Unctuous, floral nose of lemon curd, apricot, lots of honey. The fat palate shows honey and tropical fruit. A fruity, zesty, slightly hot finish. Lacks a little acid and minerality. Hopefully the 2007 with be more like the superb 2005.
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Golden in color, this smells like a great Belgian Tripel, with malty sweetness, banana/apricot fruitiness, and sugary preserved lemon. Much more fruit-forward than I remember the 2005 to be. Fat in the middle and just so slightly spirity on the finish, this oddly has less viscosity than the lower octane '05. An interesting cocktail.
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This golden yellow wine features a bouquet that is similar to the Sauv. Blanc, but richer. The palate is full and the wine is rich, but it has nice minerality to keep it in check. This was my favorite of Stolpman’s offerings.
Initially rather reticent, showing honeysuckle, face powder, a little butterscotch and a pronounced peppery spiciness. It opened up after an hour or so, adding a doughy element, lemon oil, gooseberry and a petroleum edge. The finish was nice and peppery but also showed some heat. A good wine but I have to disagree with “the godfather” (hope I do not find a horse head in my bed) – I find the balance here is nowhere near the ’05 version. It shows all of its 14.5% alcohol while the ‘05 was in the low 13s and full of minerally complexities.
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This is a flower-forward wine. Even the texture has a flower-like oiliness. The fruit is subdued, but there is some good lemon custard, and a bit of melon and pear. Struck me as a well-made, balanced wine without flaws, but didn't have enough firepower to get me excited.
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4/16/2022 - popasq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Agreed with the last reviewer. Incredible wine.
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4/18/2015 - williewonk Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible bottle, no sign of age, a cross between a top tier white rhone and a great Alsacian. Deep green gold color, Unctous, oily, balanced with fresh acidity, lychee nuts candied fruits, yet still a dry wine that's food friendly. A classic!
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4/20/2014 - IAmVintage wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely delicious Rhone blend of 90% Roussanne & 10% Voignier. 3 couples were unanimous this was fantastic and wishing we had more. Big unctuous honeyed fruit with surprising depth for its age and a very long finish. Going to hunt for more....
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10/2/2013 - chavito wrote: 83 Points
Waited too long for this one, unless it's in a dormant stage. A little flabby and there was a waxiness on the back that wasn't too pleasant. Bummed I didn't drink it sooner.
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12/19/2012 - nicu2001 wrote: 94 Points
This is rich and balanced and still going strong.
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8/16/2012 - JorgeH wrote: 93 Points
Yum! This golden, rich, delicious wine bursts on the nose with nutty, honeyed, apricot aromas. On the mouth, the richness shows up again with the same nutty, honeyed character. Acidity is decent and stands up to the richness. Good medium length finish. Just a great wine.
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3/21/2012 - JorgeH wrote:
Yeah.....no chance of remembering anything from that night.
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2/20/2012 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
Final landing for L'Avignon. This was a "flyer" for me, experimenting with my first adventure in Roussane varietal, and my first bottles from Stolpman. Both are a rousing success. I won't reiterate my previous tasting notes over the past two years, except to say this last bottle is at the peak, with truly stellar flavors. I will also add that Stolpman has become one of my favored producers for Syrah, too. Outstanding!
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11/15/2011 - DLCampbell wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful aromatics showing off ripe peach, honeycomb (botrytis?), wax, white flowers and minerals.
It's a little clunky on the palate with a waxy texture and quite a bit of heat. But it has great minerality on the finish showing off the limestone soils it was grown on. The fruit is very ripe, but has great purity.
Overall, the wine has med-plus complexity and length. The acidity is still holding and should hang on for another year or so. The heat is the main factor keeping it from a higher score. A very nice wine!
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10/11/2011 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 91 Points
Similar to previous notes. Golden and succulent. Ready for take off.
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7/10/2011 - eastover wrote:
Sunday night at home - Herb and Elaine over for grilled flank steak and swordfish - corn shouffle and grilled fennel and bok choy. Didn't drink it - only Jill and Elaine. Jill seemed to like it.
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7/7/2011 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
Ready for take off. All my notes similar to bottle from last year, but this has mellowed over time, actually increasing in lusciousness, without losing its clarity, complexity and coloratura. Fascinating palate with uniquely sharp yet soft layers of flavor.
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6/7/2011 - rjoyer wrote:
After a little time, the nose gives up notes of banana, bee's wax and creamy oak. That new oak, along with the 14.9% alcohol dominates the palate, marring some otherwise nicely rounded fruit. I'm hoping, but not expecting, the second half of this wine sees the oak settle down so that I can enjoy more of the fruit here as I seem to be able to somewhat tame the alcohol with a good chill on the bottle.
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5/15/2011 - fingers wrote: 92 Points
Even better than a year ago. Color may have darkened a tiny bit. Palate is more harmonious and luscious, but somehow seems lighter in body and producing stronger acidity than I thought before. Less burn and bite and a nice creaminess now takes over. I wish I had more and a great lesson to me about how some whites definitely improve with a little cellar age. 5+12+17+8 = 92
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4/22/2011 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding! Consistent with previous bottle: Great nose and upfront flavors; nice buttery finish. Consistent with notes from other posts
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4/19/2011 - eastover wrote:
Passover Seder - second night at our house. Didn't drink any, but seemed to be enjoyed by June and others.
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4/18/2011 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Might be past it's peak. Interesting pineapple and grapefruit. Full bodied, slightly off-dry. Has a stoney element that gives it some backbone, but it could use a little more acidity. Overall, very good.
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3/9/2011 - rjrausch Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was a good Wednesday white and it also made a good base for a pork chop marinade. The pork chops were awesome and the wine was pleasant. Worth trying.
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1/2/2011 - MuseMaven wrote: 89 Points
Much improved in just these few months. Creaminess, tropical fruits and citrus. Good body, similar to viognier. Nerdy and interesting.
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12/25/2010 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still nice, but has probably lost some fruit. Dry, with good body and some pear and tropical fruit flavors. A bit of a floral component, but more so on the nose than the palate.
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12/20/2010 - eastover wrote:
A delayed Hanukah party at Lisa's - served this as the white wine. Enjoyed by all.
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10/25/2010 - Sterling Minor wrote: 96 Points
I had 4 bottles. (I previously had tasted some bottles of the 2005.) While the first and third I see as 91s, and the second a 92, my comment in Spring 2009 that more time was needed turned out to be correct. This fourth bottle was a solid 96. The aromas had no element of sweetness, but rather a myriad of strongly present and lengthy citrus and stone fruit. Again no sweetness element on the patate, with completely pleasant and extended flavor of quince, nectarine, nutmeg, and green grape. Zero bitterness, but frank in its presence. All the flavors were part of a clean, deep, viscous liquid. 90% Roussane (a native grape of the Rhone) and 10% Viognier (a grape of the Northern Rhone) from California.
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8/15/2010 - MuseMaven wrote: 88 Points
Popped & poured. Yikes - oak! Seems a little over the top for my palate. Color is a nice, decidedly lacking in fruit on the palate. Good medium finish. 2 days later, a bit better. Still pretty oak-y, but now there's a little more creaminess on the palate, a little more fruit (still not much), less harsh, can taste the alcohol less. 86 initially, 88 after 2 days. Certainly, it was a challenging and interesting bottle, if not totally fun and enjoyable. I'm going to wait awhile before opening the 2nd bottle, maybe the oak will integrate better.
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8/12/2010 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Consistent notes. Nutty, with aromas and flavors of tangerine dominating. I believe this has 3% Sauv Blanc in it; not sure how it manages to show through, but it does. A big Rousanne.
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7/11/2010 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
JOJ nailed it, I think, especially regarding the custard component. 3rd time I've had this wine since release and it's still a handful, needing some airtime before the 14,9% abv and very rich and ripe concentration begins to soften. Drink thru 2012. A bit over the top for me. Err on the side of overly complex when considering a food pairing.
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7/6/2010 - tcfishler wrote:
Medium yellow, like a duller beryllium shade. Deeply nutty with a feint towards funk, with a bit of apple and raspberry juice as well as citrus blossom. A full mouthful of fleshy and slightly saline yet predominantly sweet-warm flavors; this wears its ripeness on its sleeve, at least in the mouth. A somewhat guilty pleasure I'll admit.
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6/23/2010 - JOJ wrote: 91 Points
Amazing perfumed nose of honey, figs, stone fruit and custard. Palate is unctuous honey and peaches, offset with a mineral note. A little over the top, in my opinion, but still very good.
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6/22/2010 - rjrausch Likes this wine: 91 Points
I get a fun nose of flowers, honey and menthol. I also get a peachy lemon aroma. The palate is nice with a good acidic finish. It has a sweetness, probably from the honey I taste. I like this. It has a lemon/honey flavor and is crisp.
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6/18/2010 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 91 Points
A challenge that was ultimately a delight. After opening, the medium 10 carat gold when swirled revealed strong legs. Initial aromas were subtle buttercups. The first sip was astringent, unusual and not all that pleasant. Letting it settle in the glass for 20 minutes, the second sip was again astringent -- but then, an appealing mouth-filling texture, followed by an acidic finish. After 15 more minutes, the étude of Avion revealed itself. A fore-palate agressiveness to gain your attention, then a mid-palate sumptuousness that reminds me of Werthers (I know how strange that sounds), finishing with citrus top notes that go on and on. The second day the experience lengthened as it repeated this memorable three-act bravura performance.
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6/13/2010 - oog wrote: 83 Points
Color: this might be the darkest, yellowest white wine I've had. Nose: Lemon. Taste: Some lemon, but almost like a cough drop with some menthol and some herbs. Bitter. Very different tasting, but, well, it's not outright delicious. Short finish. Viscous mouth feel.
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5/31/2010 - fingers wrote: 90 Points
Medium-dark gold, 10% opaque. Very much agree with pgordon62's assessment. Very viscous, deep and tropical. Stands up to food extremely well. Acidity could be higher, but I don't find it lacking or flabby. I get potato bread toast, butterscotch, and lemon in the bouquet. Interesting and pretty yummy. (5+11+17+7) = 90
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5/12/2010 - souleillou wrote:
With B & A Pogue at our house
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4/5/2010 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
Pure liquid honey with notes of white flowers, roasted nuts, limestone, pineapple and peppery spice. Viscous, oily on the palate and a little flabby. The finish shows effervescent bright white rock and peppery spice. The alcohol is less noticeable than a year ago. Seems to be in a good spot but I wish there was more acidity to carry weight of fruit.
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3/26/2010 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice peach and tropical fruit notes, with a bit of floral character and just enough sweetness.
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1/5/2010 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Lime yellow color; fiery, intoxicating, flame-broiled pineapple nose; oily, just-over-oaked flavors, viscous, exotic, adult lemon drops, hints of banana, apricot, and minerals; great pairing with vietnamese shrimp and sauteed spinach; acidity perfectly straddling the line between lip-smacking and flabby; a tad hot but fun.
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9/23/2009 - CADomer wrote: 89 Points
Talk about a luscious wine. Tropical fruits abound with banana and pineapple. It has a honeyed nose and rich mouthfeel. Lacks the acidity that I am looking for in a great Roussanne, but quite enjoyable.
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9/5/2009 - cadamson wrote: 86 Points
Only been a few months since the last one..largely as I remember. Mostly, it just seems flabby, needing more acidity. The alcohol is also out of balance. Med/dark gold color. Copious amounts of lemon oil on the nose. Citrus and pepper on the oily palate. Just a bit too much.
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9/1/2009 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding! Great nose and upfront flavors; nice buttery finish. Consistent with notes from other posts.
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8/2/2009 - elefkowitz wrote: 89 Points
Big flavor up front with a tight finish. Very fruity and a wonderful alternative as far as white wine goes.
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7/24/2009 - AdamWallstein wrote: 92 Points
A very nice honeyed pineapple-apricot texture with generous tropical aromatics leading the way. The oily texture could have benefitted from from slightly lower PH, sure... but the palate did not tire me at all, as hints of citrus sneak in and out and linger on the finish.
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6/20/2009 - thalver wrote: 88 Points
This suffers a bit in comparison to the 2005. It shares that nice oily texture, but lacks the intensity and cut that made the previous vintage so intriguing
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6/18/2009 - cadamson wrote: 88 Points
Golden Green in color. Floral, honeyed nose with an apple and citrus scent. Oily texture, lemon, honeysuckle, big and rich. Reasonable on initial entry and mid palate, initially disappears quickly on the finish....but, it comes back (oddly) and fills the mouth with a buttery, marshmallow, and lemon custard type finish. Some heat on the tail end. Could use a bit more acidity to balance things out a bit. Interesting, good for something different, but does not leave me craving for more.
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5/9/2009 - Sterling Minor wrote: 91 Points
Needs some more time; probably 2011-12.
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2/4/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 88 Points
Unctuous, floral nose of lemon curd, apricot, lots of honey. The fat palate shows honey and tropical fruit. A fruity, zesty, slightly hot finish. Lacks a little acid and minerality. Hopefully the 2007 with be more like the superb 2005.
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11/15/2008 - JerzeyJohn wrote: 91 Points
glden color and very aromatic, with a lemon and floral nose. Oily texture with nice acidity ffrom the Viognier
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11/10/2008 - rogerr wrote: 92 Points
Upon opening 90 pts. Much better 2 days after opening - stored in refrigerator.
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9/22/2008 - tcfishler wrote: 89 Points
Golden in color, this smells like a great Belgian Tripel, with malty sweetness, banana/apricot fruitiness, and sugary preserved lemon. Much more fruit-forward than I remember the 2005 to be. Fat in the middle and just so slightly spirity on the finish, this oddly has less viscosity than the lower octane '05. An interesting cocktail.
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9/15/2008 - beachnic wrote: 89 Points
Great, very aromatic floral nose. Rich and fairly sweet with decent acidity. I just like my whites dryer than this.
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8/15/2008 - grafstrb wrote: 89 Points
– 90% Roussanne, 10% Viognier –
This golden yellow wine features a bouquet that is similar to the Sauv. Blanc, but richer. The palate is full and the wine is rich, but it has nice minerality to keep it in check. This was my favorite of Stolpman’s offerings.
B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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8/13/2008 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
Initially rather reticent, showing honeysuckle, face powder, a little butterscotch and a pronounced peppery spiciness. It opened up after an hour or so, adding a doughy element, lemon oil, gooseberry and a petroleum edge. The finish was nice and peppery but also showed some heat. A good wine but I have to disagree with “the godfather” (hope I do not find a horse head in my bed) – I find the balance here is nowhere near the ’05 version. It shows all of its 14.5% alcohol while the ‘05 was in the low 13s and full of minerally complexities.
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7/30/2008 - rmalloy wrote: 89 Points
This is a flower-forward wine. Even the texture has a flower-like oiliness. The fruit is subdued, but there is some good lemon custard, and a bit of melon and pear. Struck me as a well-made, balanced wine without flaws, but didn't have enough firepower to get me excited.
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6/8/2008 - the godfather wrote: 92 Points
what beautiful white wine, actually more balanced the 2005, but not as hedonistic
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5/3/2008 - JDRFoster wrote: 89 Points
rich and smooth in the mouth, this was a lovely Rousanne with the Viognier showing though despite its small percentage of the blend
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