Jumped out of the list of Le Bon Georges, Paris on account of how rarely we find this wine on wine lists and how well priced it was. Bright ad full of energy , green stone fruits, soft waxy feel, soft bitter edge, good powerful and well made wine. The problem we have it with and usually is of the same for many of its kin , whites from the Rhone valley, it becomes tiring on the palate and its a bit of a fois gras situation. Some is great a lot is difficult. A good 90
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
Starts of classic, oaky chardonnay with a bit of a smoky edge but evolves well and we would suggest one decants this wine on account to that as it is so much more once it gets in its full stride. Floral, jasmine, soft citrus, stone fruits, light mineral edge too al interlace well with the background radiation that is the oaky dynamic. Good rich feel and very much a pretty and well made wine. 91-92
Testament to how good is this wine is that the very classic team of French sommeliers ( albeit young in age) at Le Bon Georges, Paris raised the alarm for every one of them to pop by and taste from the glass we happily offered. Once again great value wines on French wine lists. This was exceptional once again and to us we drew a parallel with the classicists of Napa in Cab Sauv that effectively make ( at least used to make till early 2000s ) a classic Bordeaux but with an extra dollop of ripeness just to set it apart. And here is the same it is a very much classic in the way its made ,earthy , soft round and ever so elegant but with a touch extra on the ripeness that come from the terroir. An impressive wine that will continue to evolve for a few more years, still fresh and energetic but showing a good level of maturity and evolution. This will be at peak probably in 3-5 years in our view. 94+
We really look forward to trying their wines how they try to avoid the pitfalls of over ripeness and spiciness that so many of its new world pinots unfortunately suffer from and make us stay away. But here, and in a few others ( same story with the 2017 Vintage, Papies 89) that we have tried, they go a bit too much the other way and the wine felt a bit lacking presence and was a bit just soft juicy and lacking energy. Not sure if its a change in the style or our palate as we remember loving their 2012 Escarpa ( Papies 93) . Almost made the wine have a confectionery edge albeit there was no sweet feel at all. Especially comparing this with the 2014 Domaine de la Côte "La Côte" ( Papies 94-95) that we had side by side with it . In a way in trying to avoid being a classic Cali Pinot they also deprived the wine a spine. Instead of making a soft mannered Californian ( like Domaine de la Cote did) they made in this case rather neutral and at times generic/boring wannabe of something it can never be on account of the terroir. 90 from us and we wonder if this producer is moving away from our style
We decanted this way in advance as we were pretty sure it would be a beast . By the time we came round to it like an hour plus in the decanted this was beautifully singing its own tune. Good rich feel but also elegant, savory wine and was on the silky and polished side. Probably this has a lot more to give too but its already in a good place , earthy , well matured and still very much energetic. Dark fruited, light spice, herbs de Provence. We have only tried one more of this cuvee the beautiful 2007 almost a decade ago ( Papies 93) and this definitely was up there and accounting how much more demanding we have become this was an impressive show. Just remember to decant and give the wine time to come round. 93 easy maybe more.
This wine had the toughest task, it arrived at the end of a proper line up, long summery lunch in 30C Paris. And it it brought the sunshine. Tired palates were revived, wine discussion rekindled around it. Just this in our mind is enough to show what a great wine this was and send it to 95. The fact that it was served blind just add to the beauty. Sweet mandarin, mandarin marmalade at times, floral, waxy at times on the palate , sweet for sure but effortless too and with a lightness to the ripe fruit, tea leaves maybe too. Luscious and lovely to cross paths with it at this young age akin to a young sauternes experience. Just beautiful 94-96
Our first exposure to this type of fortified wine , this time by the glass to finish ( or to be finished) our lunch at Le Bon Georges, Paris. Amber soft cloudy in colour, 10% Colombard and the rest Ugni Blanc, blended with cognac and aged in 350L barrels. Nutty , soft oxidative, nice rich feel , bold and full of character. A touch like a very soft and lacking heavy VA madeira at times and definitely a lot sweeter. 17% Acl. Good find and a good 92
By the glass to finish our lunch at Le Bon Georges, Paris. 10th of May 2023 bottling. Bright and firm, polished and round though , smooth in many ways and a very dangerously welcoming one. Nice rich palate feel and with a lot of depth and intensity without ever becoming too alc fwd.
By the glass at Le Bon Georges, Paris. A punchy way to finish a lunch and indeed difficult to see the finer details of this with a tired palate but felt pretty much the box standard bright and punch yellow chartreuse.
Solera 90-16, From a 4.5L Bottle at Le Bon Georges Paris. This is becoming a habit when this arrives at the end of a big wine lunch and our palate is just so tired for it. Maybe one day we need to try this as an aperitif.
2017 Domaine des Tours Grenache Blanc Vaucluse Les Tours 90 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vaucluse
Jumped out of the list of Le Bon Georges, Paris on account of how rarely we find this wine on wine lists and how well priced it was. Bright ad full of energy , green stone fruits, soft waxy feel, soft bitter edge, good powerful and well made wine. The problem we have it with and usually is of the same for many of its kin , whites from the Rhone valley, it becomes tiring on the palate and its a bit of a fois gras situation. Some is great a lot is difficult. A good 90
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2018 Evening Land Vineyards Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard 92 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
Starts of classic, oaky chardonnay with a bit of a smoky edge but evolves well and we would suggest one decants this wine on account to that as it is so much more once it gets in its full stride.
Floral, jasmine, soft citrus, stone fruits, light mineral edge too al interlace well with the background radiation that is the oaky dynamic. Good rich feel and very much a pretty and well made wine. 91-92
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir La Côte 94 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Testament to how good is this wine is that the very classic team of French sommeliers ( albeit young in age) at Le Bon Georges, Paris raised the alarm for every one of them to pop by and taste from the glass we happily offered. Once again great value wines on French wine lists.
This was exceptional once again and to us we drew a parallel with the classicists of Napa in Cab Sauv that effectively make ( at least used to make till early 2000s ) a classic Bordeaux but with an extra dollop of ripeness just to set it apart. And here is the same it is a very much classic in the way its made ,earthy , soft round and ever so elegant but with a touch extra on the ripeness that come from the terroir. An impressive wine that will continue to evolve for a few more years, still fresh and energetic but showing a good level of maturity and evolution. This will be at peak probably in 3-5 years in our view. 94+
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2020 Ceritas Pinot Noir Elliott Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
We really look forward to trying their wines how they try to avoid the pitfalls of over ripeness and spiciness that so many of its new world pinots unfortunately suffer from and make us stay away. But here, and in a few others ( same story with the 2017 Vintage, Papies 89) that we have tried, they go a bit too much the other way and the wine felt a bit lacking presence and was a bit just soft juicy and lacking energy. Not sure if its a change in the style or our palate as we remember loving their 2012 Escarpa ( Papies 93) . Almost made the wine have a confectionery edge albeit there was no sweet feel at all. Especially comparing this with the 2014 Domaine de la Côte "La Côte" ( Papies 94-95) that we had side by side with it . In a way in trying to avoid being a classic Cali Pinot they also deprived the wine a spine. Instead of making a soft mannered Californian ( like Domaine de la Cote did) they made in this case rather neutral and at times generic/boring wannabe of something it can never be on account of the terroir. 90 from us and we wonder if this producer is moving away from our style
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cabassaou 93 Points
France, Provence, Bandol
We decanted this way in advance as we were pretty sure it would be a beast . By the time we came round to it like an hour plus in the decanted this was beautifully singing its own tune. Good rich feel but also elegant, savory wine and was on the silky and polished side. Probably this has a lot more to give too but its already in a good place , earthy , well matured and still very much energetic. Dark fruited, light spice, herbs de Provence. We have only tried one more of this cuvee the beautiful 2007 almost a decade ago ( Papies 93) and this definitely was up there and accounting how much more demanding we have become this was an impressive show. Just remember to decant and give the wine time to come round. 93 easy maybe more.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Le Mont 95 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
This wine had the toughest task, it arrived at the end of a proper line up, long summery lunch in 30C Paris. And it it brought the sunshine. Tired palates were revived, wine discussion rekindled around it. Just this in our mind is enough to show what a great wine this was and send it to 95. The fact that it was served blind just add to the beauty.
Sweet mandarin, mandarin marmalade at times, floral, waxy at times on the palate , sweet for sure but effortless too and with a lightness to the ripe fruit, tea leaves maybe too. Luscious and lovely to cross paths with it at this young age akin to a young sauternes experience. Just beautiful 94-96
Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue