Second time having this and served double blind. My guess was an Italian Sauvignon Blanc. Close but no cigar.

Consistent notes of apple, pear, white flowers, minerals. An additional hint of biscuit, cheese, and fresh bread add weight, complexity and interest to the finish.

Previously tasted the 2017 vintage. Served double blind and correctly identified as a California Chardonnay. Though, technically, my guess was St. Rita Hills instead of RRV.

Pale lemon with a youthful, medium intense nose of butter, pastry, cloves, peach, apricot and nectarine. Medium+ intense flavors of vanilla, toast, cream, peach, apricot, chamomile and lime zest on the long finish. Very good.

Previously tasted the 2015 bottle. Served double blind. No real guess was taken... but our group was thinking Barbera (after eliminating Pinot Noir and Grenache).

Light in the glass. Tart cranberry and cherry are quite prevalent on all aspects of the wine. A marked med+ acidity, low tannin, light body and med- flavors of clove, vanilla, wet stones, and floral [rose, violets]. Relatively simple and straightforward.

Second time having this wine and notes consistent as before. Served double blind. Guessed as a 2011/12 Chianti Classico Riserva (a reasonable guess in my opinion).

Fully developed nose of cherries, plums, stewed fruit, tomato leaf, liquorice, cloves, leather and tobacco. Medium+ acidity, smooth tannins, and medium weight body provide good balance to the flavors dried cherry and plums, meat, white pepper, smoke, cloves and black currant leaf. Very good.

Second time having this wine and my palate must have been off the first time or there was some bottle variance. Certainly this is still pale lemon in color, perfumed with apple and pear fruit, floral, mineral and some brioche and cheese from lees contact. The palate is quite similar. But the finish comes across as bitter due to a medium- body and 13.5% alcohol. It's a good wine just not quite as interesting as a few months ago.

Delightfully intense aromas of nuts, almond and bread dough take precedence over the peach and apricot stone fruit and white flower blossoms. A medium+ to high acidity support the fresh bread flavors, petrol, ginger, fresh stone fruit and even a hint of tropical fruit. Grippy phenols support the long finish.

Outstanding and pronounced tertiary aromas of dried apricots, marmalade, dried apples, petrol, honey, mushrooms and ginger. Nutmeg and baking spices on the palate before the fruit turns sour. Lovely nose but best days behind it.

Second time having this wine and my notes were 100% consistent as before. A good, simple and inexpensive introduction to Kabinett.

Bottle was tasted during WSET3 Class. Wine must have been oxidized during barrel aging and has now developed unwanted funky earth, sour fruit, nutty caramel aromas and flavors. Not sure if that was the winemaking intent (with a Sauv Blanc???) or mistakenly not topping of barrels during the maturation process.

Pale lemon-green, med+ intensity, youthful aromas of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime), tropical (guava), minerals (smoky flint, chalk) and herbal (grassy, green pepper). Dry, high acid, med body, med alcohol, med+ intensity, med+ finish. Palate reflects the nose with additional flavors or mandarin oranges and lemon zest. Very good. Drink now.

Pale lemon-green; Med intensity, youthful aromas of green fruit (apple, pear), stone fruit (apricot), citrus (lime zest), mineral (limestone, flint), floral (white blossoms) and secondary aromas from lees contact (bread dough, brioche). Dry, med alcohol, med+ acid, med body, med+ finish, med+ intensity. Palate reflects the nose with a noticeable crushed stone, mineral finish. Very good. Drink now, suitable for short term aging.

Served double blind. Incorrectly identified that it was Loire Valley Chenin Blanc (Vouvray). Considered GV but rejected because of the lesser acidity. In hindsight, the herbaceous note should have led me to GV.

Pale lemon; Med intensity, youthful aromas of green fruit (red apple, pear), floral (chamomile, white blossoms), minerals (earth, stone), pungent spice (white pepper, liquorice) and herbaceous (pea, arugula). Dry, med acidity, med body, high alcohol, med intensity, med+ finish. Palate reflects nose with an additional bitter almond note and slight lees contact flavor (biscuit, toast). Outstanding. Drink now, suitable for short term aging.

Pale lemon; Med+ intensity, youthful aromas of green fruit (apple, pear), stone fruit (apricot, white peach), dried fruit (apricot, apple), floral (white blossoms), and minerals (wet stones, chalk). Dry, high alcohol, high acid, med body, med+ intensity and a long finish. Palate picks up some spicy ginger, petrol, phenolics and a hint of lees contact (cheese, yogurt, brioche). Outstanding. Drink now, suitable for aging

Second time having this wine, served double blind. Correctly identified.

Pale lemon; Med+ intensity, developing secondary aromas of oak (smoke, light toast) and yeast (bread, brioche), green fruit (apple, pear), citrus (lemon, lemon peel) and minerals (flint, chalk). Dry, med+ acidity, med body, med alcohol, med+ intensity and long finish. Palate is dominated by sour green fruit (apple, quince) and sour citrus fruit (lemon, lemon zest). But there is also secondary yeast notes (sourdough, brioche, curd) and oak notes (smoke, resinous, cloves), herbs (tarragon, lemongrass, ginger) and stone fruit hints (peach, apricots). Very good, possibly outstanding if it wasn't so sour at the moment. Drink now, suitable for aging.

Second time having this wine. Served double blind. Correctly identified.

Medium lemon-green; Med+ intensity, youthful aromas of stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical fruit (lychee, pineapple), citrus fruit (lemon, lemon zest), floral (chamomile, blossoms, soapy) and minerals (flint, crushed stones). Dry, Med- acid, high alcohol, med+ intensity, med+ finish, full body. Pungent spice (white pepper, ginger, bitter green almond), stone fruit dominant (peach, apricot) with citrus (lemon) and distinct tropical tones (lychee, pineapple), floral (honeysuckle, blossoms, soap) and minerals (stones, salt). Good. Drink now, not suitable for aging.

Tasted blind. Incorrectly identified as 2010-2012 Crozes-Hermitage.

Med ruby, with deposits and signs of bricking near rim. Med+ intensity, fully developed aromas of tertiary bottle age (black tea, game, dried herbs), tertiary fruit (dried cherries, dried raspberry, dried blackberries), secondary oak signs (vanilla, toast, coffee), and primary aromas of herbal (mint, fennel, liquorice), floral (violets, roses) and dried fruit (baked fruit, kirsch). The palate is dry, med acid, full body, med+ intensity, med tannins, high alcohol, and a long finish. Palate reflects the nose while leaning heavily towards the oak, primary black fruits, stony minerals, and distinct leathery, roast game flavor. Very good, drink now, not suitable for further aging.

Deep ruby; Med intensity, youthful aromas of red fruit (red plum, red currant, raspberry), herbaceous (cigar box, currant leaf, tobacco) and secondary oak (chocolate, coffee, vanilla, allspice). Dry, med+ acid, high tannins, med+ body, med alc, med+ intensity, long finish. Palate reflects the nose by his mostly masked by rustic, dry, dusty tannins. Very good, almost outstanding. Drink now, will benefit from additional aging.

Pale lemon-green; med+ intensity, youthful aromas of green fruit (apple, pear), minerals (chalky limestone), honey, and secondary lees contact (cheese, toast). Dry, high acid, med alcohol, med body, med+ intensity, and med finish. Lots of bruised yellow apple and cheesy lees on the palate. Good, drink now, not suitable for aging.

Wanted to like this more than I did. Palate was just kinda dull.

Second time having this. Good wine, loads of apricot, vanilla, iodine in the nose and palate, with additional distinct orange marmalade, honey, citrus and lavender on the palate. Unfairly juxtaposed against a 5 putt Tokaji during class.

Outstanding. Knockout, pronounced nose of baked apples, dried apricot, almonds, rye toast. Extended, high intense finish.

I never take good notes for wines I absolutely love. Wish I did! But I just simply soak in the experience.

Did not care for this wine. Med+ aromatic, youtful. Cat pee, guava, and sharp green fruit on the palate. Kinda watery and just not the style of SB that I personally enjoy.

Funky guava and obvious signs of barrel fermentation and lees contact - Green fruits, grass, vanilla, baking spices. Very good and much different than many SBs. Admittedly, not for everyone.

Medium ruby; Med+ aromatics, youthful. Olives, jalapeno, leafy currant, graphite, medicinal, raspberries. Hints of smokey chocolate aromas. Dry, med body, med alc, med tannins, med+ acid, med intensity, med- finish. Iron, raspberry, tomato leaf, mineral/graphite, maybe some old/neutral oak that throws a touch of toasty wood and vanilla. Lively mouthfeel but falls short on the finish. Good. Drink now, not suitable for aging.

Deep garnet; med+ aromatic, youthful aromas of red fruit (raspberry, red currant), black fruit (black currant, black cherry, black plum), minerals (wet stones, graphite), herbaceous (bell pepper, olives, tobacco leaf), floral (violets, roses) and secondary oak (smoke, coffee grinds, mint). Dry, med+ acid, high tannins, full body, med+ intensity, high alcohol, long finish that while reflects the nose, it is currently dominated by chewy, charred wood, chocolatey tannins. Outstanding. Drink now, suitable for aging.

Pale garnet; Med- aromatics, youthful aromas of primarily red fruit (cherry, red plum, cranberry) and secondary oak (vanilla, cloves, toast). Dry, med- acid, med- tannins, med body, med alcohol, med- intensity and med- finish of light red fruit (plums, cherries, raspberries), minerals (gravel, wet stones) and secondary oak (vanilla, cloves, toast, cream). Good. Drink now, not suitable for aging.

Second time having this wine with consistent notes as before. Medium purple; pronounced, youthful aromas that remind me of burned rubber - but could easily be some degree of carbonic maceration - black fruits and spice. Nearly full bodied with ripe tannins, thick black fruit, black pepper and toasted oak. High alcohol.

Third time having this wine in a WSET class (someone must love it) and third time with consistent notes.

Second time having this wine with consistent notes as before. Aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, jasmine, salt, sea shells, citrus and peach. High acid and medium finish. Nice and refreshing.

Oxidized and Corked.

Very enjoyable for a bone dry Provencial rose. Lots of strawberry, grapefruit and herb aromas backed by a slightly creamy, elegant, higher acid palate full of minerals, grapefruit, flowers, lime pith, grapefruit and fresh herbs. Very good; drink now.

Shared by Rafael. He said it had been opened nearly a week. Lots of ripe pear, apricot, apples, minerals, roasted nuts, almonds and toasty oak. Round, not fat palate that has shed the intense acidity that was present upon opening. Barrel aged for two years imparts rich hazelnut, buttery toast and cream cheese flavors without overwhelming the palate. Sophisticated and rich. He said it reminded him of a Chassagne-Montrachet. Quite tasty, would love to taste upon opening to see where it started.

Second time having this wine with consistent notes as before. Pronounced aromas, med+ tannins with dark fruits, red fruits, bake fruits, tar, clove, spice, violets, pepper, liquorice and some meaty/gamey notes. Substantial lingering finish. Though... this lacks garrigue that is commonly found in CdP.

Second time having this wine. While the tastes were quite similar (black fruits, pepper, char, vanilla, clove, bacon, game, savory, minerals), the main deterrent to this wine is the nearly lack of a finish. Robust aromas and flavors and then, just, nothing.

Second time tasted with consistent notes as before. Some pronounced bubblegum/banana aromas to go with the aged gamey, mushroom, earthy and strawberry, cherry, watermelon, grapey fruit and floral, mineral aromas and flavors. This probably sees a bit of carbonic maceration.

Not sure if this is the exact bottle I had, but looks like it is. This was a little understated displaying a shy nose of bright cherry and raspberry fruit, floral aspects of potpourri and roses, herbal (lavender and green stems) and light oak (spice, nutmeg, cinnamon). The palate is even shier and lots of rustic, young, oakey tannin. Well built wine with a lingering finish. Just a bit on the lighter side.

Tasted double blind. Incorrectly identified as a malbec.

Medium purple; Medium intensity, developing aromas of secondary oak (cocoa, smoke, charred wood), pungent spice (peppercorn, liquorice), black fruit (blackberry, black cherry), herbaceous (green pepper, tomato leaf) and what WSET considers tertiary bottle age (beef, game, meat, tobacco leaf) but many others consider a varietal aspect. In my case, the youthful fruitiness of the aroma masked the game/meat aromas and I didn't pick them up or mistook them. Dry, medium acidity, med+ tannin, high alcohol, med+ body, med+ intensity, medium finish. Palate reflects the nose. Considered Good (I say very good); Drink now, not suitable for aging.

Super ripe, jammy, red fruit nose; Refreshing, neutral oak or concrete aged that exhibits fresh maraschino cherries, strawberry and cocoa. Easy to drink and a crowd pleaser.

Deep garnet; Med+ intensity, developing aromas of baking spices, dark fruit, earth. High acid, high tannins, intense flavors of dark fruit, charred oak, chewy tannins, ash tray, tobacco, roasted game... deliciously intense.

Medium garnet; Medium+ intense, developing aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries, licorice, anise, fennel, pungent spices, vanilla and cloves. High acid, med+ tannins and long finish of clove, oak, tea, herbal, anise, cinnamon on the round palate. Nicely balanced.

Med garnet; Med intensity (slightly shy), developing aromas of dried cherries, candied fruit, minerals, leather, vanilla, tomato leaf and lavender. Dry, high acid, med+ tannins, med body, high alcohol, medium intensity, med+ finish of tart red fruit (cherries and plums), oak (vanilla, tar, toast), herbal, tea, leather, earth, smoked meat and gamey notes. Very good. Drink now, suitable for aging.

Medium garnet; Smokey, meat/game, herbal, red and black plums, tomato leaf in the nose. Medium acid, med- tannin, short finish of pungent herbs, black fruit, herbs... not really much on the palate. Just shows enough to not be considered simple. Good. Drink now, not suitable for aging.

Wanted to love this more than I did. Deep ruby. Cherry, raisen, kirsch, pepper, pungent, herbal, leather, earthy with some floral aspects and bitter tannins. Smoother than expected and not quite as intense as I have had. Very good, nearly outstanding.

Second time having this wine with consistent notes as before. Picked out a bit more melon and some leesy character from the lees contact. A touch simple. Good.

Medium ruby; Med+ intensity, youthful aromas of black cherries, kirsch, blueberry, black plums and black pepper. Dry, med+ acid, med tannins, med alcohol med+ intensity, med+ body and a medium finish of those mix or red, black and blue fruits, herbal, pungent spice and a touch of spicy oak. Cheerful with chalky, coarse tannins that could have used a bit more oak. Very good. Drink now.

Second time having this wine. Pale garnet; medium intensity, developing aromas of perfume rose and violets, potpourri, leather, mushroom, fennel, anise, pepper, oak spice, cinnamon, cherry and berries. Dry, high acid, med+ tannins, full body, medium alcohol, med+ intensity, med+ finish. Outstanding. Drink now, will benefit from aging. Modern and quite drinkable.

Deep purple; Medium+ intensity, youthful aromas of primary red-black-blue fruits, violets, liquorice, black pepper, cassis, candied cherries, spice, vanilla and toast. Dry, med+ acid, med tannin, med body, high alcohol, med intensity and med finish. Earthy, tobacco, chocolate, minerals and smashed berries on the palate. Good, nearly very good. Drink now, not suitable for additional aging.

Totally new to this grape and... didn't really love it much. Medium garnet/Ruby with garnet highlights; Med intensity, developing aromas of berries, floral, herbal, earth, cinnamon, spice and tar. Dry, med+ tannins, med+ acid, med body, med intensity, medium finish, ??? alcohol with distinct and distracting mint and cigarette ash taking away from the chocolate and berry flavors. Good, interesting, didn't quite live up to the hype.

Tasted double blind; Incorrectly identified as a Torrontes but also considered Assyrtiko.

Pale lemon; Medium intensity, youthful with primary aromas of green fruit (apple, pear, pear drop), citrus (orange, lemon peel, lemon curd), floral (jasmin, blossoms) and salt, wet stones, and flint. Secondary aromas from lees (cheese, yogurt, toast, bread, brioche) and a little bit of tertiary bottle age (mushroom, hay, earth). Dry, high acid, med body, med+ intensity, high alcohol and long finish. Primary flavors of green fruit (apple, pear, pear drop), tropical fruit (mango, pineapple), citrus fruit (orange, lemon, lemon zest), and salt, wet stones and flint. Secondary flavors from lees (spice, toast, cheese, yogurt, bread) and a touch of tertiary bottle age (mushroom, hay, funky earth). Very good (outstanding for me). Drink now, has potential to age.

First Santorini Assyrtiko I have had and I really enjoyed it.

Tasted double blind, correctly identified as a Torrontes. The following tasting note is identical to what Master of Wine, Lindsay Pomeroy, described to class.

Medium lemon; pronounced intensity, youthful aromas of primary floral (honeysuckle, lilac, acacia, white blossoms), stone fruit (apricot, nectarine, peach), citrus (lemon, lemon zest, tangerine), spice (white pepper) and soap, sardines, iodine. Secondary aromas from lees (biscuit, cheese). Dry, med acid, med body, med+ intensity, med finish, high alcohol. Primary flavors of citrus (lemon, tangerine), stone fruit (apricot, peach), herbal (lemongrass), spice (white pepper, liquorice), floral (jasmine, honeysuckle, blossoms) and salt, soapy, minerals. Secondary flavors from lees contact (yeast, bread dough, biscuit). This is a good wine. Drink now, not suitable for aging.

Pale lemon, med+ intensity, youthful. Citrus (lemon lime, lemon peel), Stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical (papaya, melon), floral (blossoms, jasmine, honeysuckle), petrol, stones.
Dry, high acidity acidity, med+ intensity, med body, med+ finish, med alcohol. Stone fruit (peach, apricot, nectarine), citrus (lemon peel, lemon-lime, tangerine), floral (honeysuckle, jasmine), tropical (melon, papaya), petrol, soapy, chalky, and stones. Feels creamy in mouth. Maybe touch of lees? (Yogurt, bread, cream).
Outstanding. Drink now, but has potential for aging.

Well balanced by its marked acidity, slightly austere.

Deep purple; med intensity, youthful. Dry, medium acidity, full bodied, high alcohol, med+ intensity, med+ tannin, med+ finish. Aromas and flavors of primary red fruit (raspberry), black fruit (blackberry, black plum, black cherry), floral (violets, roses), spice (pepper, liquorice), herbal (mint, lavendar). Secondary flavors and aromas from oak aging (spice, vanilla, baking spices, chocolate, coffee, espresso). Tertiary flavors of bottle age (earth, savory, dried herbs, tobacco leaf). Very good. Drink now, may benefit from aging.

Medium garnet; med+ intensity, developing aromas from secondary oak aging (vanilla, chocolate, baking spices, cedar, cocoa), primary aromas from red fruit (raspberry), black fruit (blueberry, blackberry, black currant), and herbal (mint, lavender, eucalyptus). Tertiary aromas from bottle age (earthy, meat, gamey, tobacco). Dry, full bodied, high alcohol, med acid, med tannins, med intensity, long finish. Palate reflects the nose. Outstanding. Drink now, suitable for additional aging.

Medium garnet; med+ intensity, youthful aromas and flavors from primary red fruit (red currant, plum), black fruit (black currant, cassis, black plum), herbaceous (green bell pepper, tomato leaf, black currant leaf), pepper (green peppercorns) and herbal (mint, eucalyptus). Secondary flavors and aromas from oak aging (smoke, charred wood, toast, tar). Dry, full body, med+ tannins, med+ intensity, med acid, med finish, high alcohol. Very good. Drink now, may benefit from aging.

Brought into class by Rafael. A little softer and approachable than expected for a young Right Bank. But it had also been open for a few days. Currants, kirsch, cherry, tobacco, herbal and rich loamy soil flavors. Tannins quite dusty.

Tasted blind, incorrectly identified as Crozes-Hermitage or Syrah dominant Cotes-du-Rhone.

Sound wine with medium tannins. Slightly difficult to get much off the nose or palate other than ripe black cherry fruit. Worked to find some white pepper, clove, lavender, liquorice, mineral and floral notes.

Currently, this is quite tart. Some apple, citrus, gooseberry, grassy/herbaceous, and mineral notes. But that high acid has quite a stranglehold on it. Missing the smokiness that should be more prevalent. Tasted blind with MW Pomeroy and she felt the same - even going so far to identify it as a young Semillon or Muscadet.

Pale lemon in color; Med+ intensity, youthful nose showing primary aromas of green fruit (apple, pear, quince, grape), stone fruit (peaches, apricot, nectarine) and floral aromas (blossoms, honeysuckle). Sweet, med- acidity, med body, med+ intensity, low alcohol for a fortified wine, and medium finish. Palate reflects the nose with a focus on fresh, youthful tasting peach flavor. Good. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

liked it much better than previous encounter. Tasted of bitter almonds, peanut and yeast.

Medium ruby with garnet; Pronounced intensity, developing aromas of secondary oak aging (cedar, smoke, toast, chocolate, spice) and tertiary aromas of bottle age (leather, savory, earth). Primary aromas of dried fruit (baked cherry, jamminess, prune, raisen, baked raspberry, baked plums), herbaceous (currant leaf), pungent spice (pepper, liquorice), stones and graphite. Dry, Medium acid, Med tannins, full body, med+ intensity, high alcohol, long finish. Palate reflects the nose. Very good, borderline outstanding wine. Drink now, but has potential for ageing.

Why not have this a third time? And why not blind? Incorrectly identified as a Petis Chablis.

Pale lemon-green in color; Med intensity, youthful aromas. Primary aromas of citrus (lemon, lemon zest), green fruit (apple, pear, quince), floral (blossoms, jasmine) and stones, minerals. Secondary aromas from lees contact (yeast, brioche, toast). Dry, med+ acidity, med- body, med alcohol, med intensity, med finish. Primary flavors of citrus (lemon, tangerine), green fruit (apple, pear, quince), floral (blossoms, jasmine), stones, minerals, ginger. Secondary flavors from lees contact (yeast, brioche, toast, bread dough). Good. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

Tasted blind as part of my WSET Level 3 tasting exam. Incorrectly identified as a 2015/16 Vouvray.

This is a medium lemon color; moderately perfumed aromatics of floral, bruised apple, apricots, bread, yeast, honey, hay and petrol. Off-dry, decidedly effervescent, light bodied with tone down acidity and a medium finish. Age has striped away a bit of the palate flavor and intensity. Still, lots of the same aromatic notes shine on the well balanced, delicate palate.

Blind tasted as part of my WSET Level 3 tasting exam. Incorrectly identified as an inexpensive, mass produced Argentinean Malbec or International Syrah.

Med to Deep Purple; Pronounced, youthful aromas of black fruit, bramble, herbal, pepper with rich oak notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and spice. The palate is just bland, generic tasting, grapey black fruit, pepper and oak notes with a moderate level of acidity, tannin and finish. To be honest, quite boring. Just a Good level of wine.