10/25/2014 - rentmp3 wrote:

Another spectacular offering of the West Slope cuvee and happy to see this back as a West Slope was not made in 2011. Of all the 2012 Donums tasted thus far, this was the star. A real beauty that is going to need a few years before drinking.

8/20/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Typically an off-dry cuvee and this vintage is no exception. The expression of honeyed fruit, gentle minerality finished off with bitter citrus peel is quite nice. This vintage is less round, less rich than the '09 and there is adequate acidity to balance the residual sugar; the '09 came across as flabby to me. On Day 2 however, this wine was singing. The acid was front and center which pushed any hint of sweetness away. Crisp, clean and focused, this wine will last decades.

7/23/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Another standout from Donum. A big, fruity pinot, this is all black cherry and spice with a subtle candied element to it. This will definitely benefit from some more time and I won't touch my other bottle for at least a couple more years. There was a little too much heat on this at the moment; give it a good decant if opening now. 92 now; possibly higher score with more time.

4/22/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Day 1: Rather bit restrained on the nose but gorgeous entry on the palate. The purity of the fruit is astounding; very focused. The wine hits with quince, honey, and burnt caramel notes. There is a fine botrytis streak throughout. There is a glycerin feel to this wine that coats your mouth completely and doesn't let up, especially with the phenomenal finish that goes on for ages. A real treat to taste at this stage but still a baby.

Day 2: The fruit is not so front-and-center and secondary characteristics move to the forefront. The burnt caramel notes are more prominent and interestingly, the rich, mouth-coating oiliness of the wine dominates. Seemed almost a bit closed down.

Day 3: Now the wine is singing. Open, expressive, the nose is leaps and bounds more expressive than Day 1. Everything melds together today to create a harmonious wine that is nothing short of breathtaking. Acid levels are much more pronounced which really offsets the sweetness of the wine. Finish is still incredible.

Overall: A marvelous effort. Truly a beautiful wine that will keep for another 15-20 years at least. A touch more acidity would take this a step higher.

3/7/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

A slightly less rich style of Vouvray which seems typical for this vintage. Showing somewhat reticent on the nose at this point but what is there is quite lovely. There are notes of quince and white fruit on the palate as well as subtle but definitely noticeable notes of dirt/earth and finishing with bitter citrus peel. Good flesh and backbone to this wine although the fruit isn't as pure as I would like. The acid levels seem appropriate for the vintage, much lower than the brilliant 2010s, which makes this a great wine for consuming in the short-term. Great effort and one of the better 2011s I've consumed.

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Loved this! A prodigious wine, tons of black pepper spice, a candied element, smoke, hints of flowers, a little hot on the backend. Sad they aren't making more of this cuvee but so glad I have a bottle of this.

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

50% cab, 50% cab franc. Black fruit profile, little green, very grippy tannins, chewy, rich, tightly wound and needs much more time. 92-94

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

50% cab franc, 50% merlot. Red fruit, mocha, candied, slightly floral & feminine notes, grippy tannins, chalky minerality. Really lovely effort.

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Cabernet, cab franc, merlot, petite verdot sourced from Oakville & Rutherford. Black fruit profile, little greenness, lush, creamy, mellow tannins, and a little oak on the backend. Label was explained to me and I still don't get it. It honestly made me expect a lousy wine so I was pleasently surprised by how good this was and reasonably priced.

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Tasted from barrel. Wow! Another stunning syrah from Kongsgaard and unfinished to boot! Made a comment about how I might not be able to enjoy another Bedrock syrah after this and Alex quipped, "Well...we have Q Block and Morgan only has S Block." Made for a good laugh, but all joking aside, I marvel at the power and concentration of Kongsgaard wines and yet the restraint is remarkable. Really some of the most balanced wines I've ever tasted. This syrah from Hudson Vineyard Q Block has deep black fruit, loads of black pepper spice, the very typical sulphury characteristic of Kongsgaard's syrahs. Such restraint, gorgeous, and super long finish. Another winner. Will have to get some of this once finished. 94-96

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Tasted from barrel. Very intense, deep black fruit, good acid and nice restraint. Slight hint of green notes perhaps as a result of the difficult vintage. Obviously an unfinished wine and will undoubtedly be much better in bottle.

1/26/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Tasted from barrel. Lush, velvety, smooth, very rich, dark red/black fruit profile, slightly floral, less hard edges than the cabernet. The merlot does wonders in this blend. Will be fantastic! '10 Fima has the edge for me. 93-95

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

A very different style of pinot noir coming off the '09 RRV and '09 West Slope. To me, a more typical pinot noir with delicate red fruit, spice rack, and an interesting burnt quality on the finish (not at all unpleasant). Finished with great acid; very fresh & vibrant. Nice to try a more restrained pinot noir from this producer.

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

The big boy in the Donum profile. Much more masculine than the '09 RRV, deep, dark black fruit, creamy round mouthfeel, the tannins are silky smooth. Really an astounding pinot noir and glad to have a couple bottles in my cellar. I still think the '08 West Slope has the edge here but can't complain with this. 93+

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Not as dark as the 2008 RRV. The fruit lies more on the red spectrum, raspberries, red cherries, and candied flower petal. Good acid to round this out. Love it!

1/25/2013 - rentmp3 wrote:

Consumed for my 30th Birthday Weekend. Very gently bubbly, more mineral-driven with the fruit in the background. A decent bottle of petillant but not my favorite from Huet.

2/17/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Wasn't sure what I would get when I opened this based on previous reviews but I fortunately got a great bottle. Very typical quince, honey, and ginger spice; moderately rich mouthfeel and a decent amount of acid although not at the levels I enjoy. I started this a little warmer than usual but as it chilled more in the fridge, I started to sense the "earthy" notes that have been described below but for me, it only added to rather than detracted from the wine; I would describe it as more of a white truffle note. There was ample fruit in this bottling but I do agree that it wasn't as pure as I like from Huet, but overall, a very solid wine from a difficult vintage.

2/17/2013 - rentmp3 Likes this wine:

Deep, dark pinot noir; quite a bit darker than the 2009. Notes of licorice, black cherry; very masculine but with some intriguing feminine notes of candied flower petal. There was some crystallization in the neck of the bottle and quite a bit of sediment. Another stellar pinot noir from Donum.

12/17/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

What a shame! I tried this wine at a restaurant in Paris called Glou and fell in love. I bought it as soon as I got back to the States. Unfortunately, this was totally cooked. The cork was slightly elevated and there was clear seepage on the outside of the cork. The acid levels were off the charts and it was truly undrinkable. This was nothing like what I had in Paris and clearly, this wine has a track record of being flawed. Bummer.

12/9/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Light-bodied and inoffensive but mediocre for the price. The whole-cluster fermentation is front and center with that tobacco spice overwhelming the wine. Fruit is barely discernible on the palate and a short finish. Overall, very average and not worth the price point. Drink now.

11/24/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Popped and poured. Very interesting bottle of wine. Started off really enjoying it but the more I sipped, the less I liked it. Very sweet and jammy on entry, lush red berries, a little smoke and meatiness as well. The finish was intriguing because the flavor profile turned much darker, with notes of blackberries and anise, and bitter tannins. Even more interesting, the finish had two parts: the brooding beginning and the light, vibrant, ending with nice acidity that cut through the sugary midpalate. However, the longer this was in the glass, the less I enjoyed it. The parts that I really enjoyed (the finish mostly) mellowed and were quickly overtaken by the entry and midpalate which is over the top jammy in my opinion. A little restraint would have been much more appreciated. Biggest mistake was drinking this without food. This wine is begging for food and would probably have been much more enjoyable.

11/20/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Sec. A bit muted on the nose; typical chenin spice and fruit. On the palate, a nice saline core with just a hint of quince and spice. On entry, a bit muted and underwhelming, but the finish is fairly lengthy with just a touch of oak. Unfortunately, this is a bit flabby; I would prefer higher acid levels to give this a nice zippy edge to it. Seems typical of the vintage (not as rich as the '09s and not as sharp as the '10s) Overall, though, a really nice effort and a great QPR.

11/16/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Had a bottle at Delfina Restaurant, San Francisco. Stunning, bright red color. Tart, red fruit, a subtle hint of anise; light and refreshing; starts vibrant and finishes perhaps a little flat. Overall, a very solid effort.

11/10/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Second bottle of this. Enjoyed this quite a bit better than the first bottle. Seemed less primary and more interesting than last time. Very nicely balanced and not over the top jammy as the 2011s are tending to be. A great QPR.

11/9/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

First time with this wine and I really enjoyed it. The nose is vibrant with ginger, spice, & green apple. Reminded me a tad of a Loire chenin blanc. In the mouth, however, this was very surprising and different than what the nose suggested. Very clean, fresh, a tad effervescent. Was expecting rich and fruity but this was much more minerally and bright. There is a waxy/oilyness to this wine which provides really nice texture. Went really nicely with the butternut squash risotto. Great QPR. Highly recommended.

10/26/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Popped and poured. Beautiful nose; very perfumey with floral notes, a bit of oak, and white pepper. On the palate, a bit primary at this stage. Bright, red berries, the tiniest hint of oak, good acidity. The 2011s all seem to be drinking well right off the bat and showing great restraint. Definitely a more classic vintage. The acid in this zin makes this a winner, although I think this is priced a bit too high.

10/12/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Dark golden yellow. Interesting wine. Was expecting something dry and it was quite sweet; firmly demi-sec and borderline moelleux. Reminded me of an aged Vouvray. Typical chenin profile with rich honey notes, a little spice, smoke, and finished with a burnt sugar & citrus peel bitterness which was interesting. The only killer here is the lack of acidity which would have taken this to great places. Definitely hold for a few years at least before opening.

10/14/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Popped and poured. Drinking really well right out of the bottle. Soft and supple; not an over-the-top, jammy zinfandel; restrained & focused. Really started to open up after about 20 minutes in glass. Lovely red berry profile with a little hint of spice, bright and vibrant on the palate. Definitely one of the least concentrated wines I've had from Morgan and although a little simple, this is an excellent QPR.

8/18/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Followed over two days. Deep purple in color. Black/blue fruit, notes of coffee, iron and anise. Very smooth; tannins well integrated at this stage. Much more reserved than some of Morgan's other cuvees which I quite like stylewise. My biggest issue with this is that I was hoping for more concentration of flavor. Other than that, a really nice wine. This definitely opens up over time so give this a good decant.

7/23/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

This is a gorgeous wine. Typical chenin spice and stone fruit, rich mouthfeel, good acidity. Can sense a little residual sugar so this drinks more like a sec tendre than a genuine sec. There is a saline core to this that is just remarkable and something I've noticed in a moelleux from this vineyard as well. For me, the minerality is the standout for this wine. Truly a remarkable effort and should last a good decade or longer. Well done!

7/15/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Deep golden yellow color. Very honeyed, lacking in acid but still alive. A little too rich and syrupy due to the low acid. In fact, this was the much sweeter wine compared to the '89 La Peu de la Moriette Moelleux we had alongside which was surprising. Lacking in complexity. Good but nothing special. Drink up soon as this isn't going to last much longer.

7/15/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Beautiful deep golden yellow color. Very youthful given its age. Honeyed stone fruit, rich but fantastic acid for the age. This can go for another 5-10 years at least. Not quite as complex as I would like but a lovely wine nonetheless.

5/1/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Super esoteric and interesting wine. Wasn't showing much until it warmed up a bit and then it really showed its true colors (i.e. don't serve this too cold). Oily texture like a white Rhone, some herbal notes. Good acidity prevents this from being flabby. Overall, quite solid although I think Morgan's reds are much better than his whites. Curious to try subsequent vintages if this continues to be made.

6/1/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Not nearly as good as the '10. Beautiful copper color in glass. A little on the sweet style; I remember the '10 being quite dry. I love the herbal and mineral notes in this. A good summer sipper and right for the price but I wish I had bought many more of the '10.

7/4/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Another outstanding wine from Morgan. Popped and poured. A little leaner than the '08. Fruit is black and blue with an interesting note of smokey bacon fat that blew off after some time in the glass. Too bad cause it was really appealing. Drinking quite nicely right now but if I had more, I'd give them a few more years.

6/30/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Pale golden yellow color. On day one, a bit closed. Some smoke, yellow stone fruits, and ginger spice but not showing too much at this stage. This opened up considerably on day two showing typical chenin fruit, smoke, an interesting soapy quality, honey, ginger, and a thread of minerality which ties it all together quite nicely. There is laser sharp acidity which at this stage is a bit harsh for my taste. I can detect the slightest hint of residual sugar but this would definitely be considered a sec or sec tendre. I would probably mistake this for a Vouvray as this is much rounder in mouthfeel than many a Montlouis with a hint of lanolin although there is a fine core of minerality. I agree with previous posts that this starts off better than it finishes. The finish falls a bit flat for me. This definitely needs more time if anything to allow the acidity to calm down.

4/1/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Found this to be slightly flabby due to the relatively low acid levels. Haven't been terribly impressed with Chidaine's '09 demis thus far and I think this is a trend with '09 demi-secs in general. Holding on to the '08 Habert for now.

5/1/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Briceland is making some killer juice and the price is incredible. Dark and brooding black fruits, cola and anise. More restrained style of CA syrah which is definitely to my liking. Finishes slightly bitter. Drinks well now but I would give a healthy decant or leave for a few more years.

6/3/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Great bottle of wine and amazing for the price. Didn't take any formal notes but we really enjoyed this with the beef stew and mushroom risotto. Killer juice from a great winery.

6/2/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Pale straw yellow color. Love the wet stone minerality that really is the core of this wine; there is some lovely yellow stone fruit and ginger spice as well. The acid is front and center and finishes dry as is typical for this cuvee. I find this to be more precise than the '09. A nice, crisp, white wine for the summer months. Allow to open for an hour or so and it really delivers for its price point.

4/26/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Very pale straw color. Light and refreshing. Notes of citrus and pear. Slightly creamy mouthfeel with a little mustiness that blew off in the glass. Not much complexity but an easy sipper.

4/9/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Poured through the Vinturi. Not quite as good as I remember but still a very solid effort. Seemed a bit primary at this stage of development; fruit sits firmly in the red profile; baking spice; creamy mouthfeel. Really opened up in the glass. Preferred the '08 Bedrock Kick Ranch Syrah this evening.

4/9/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

I'm really sad I drank this; it was just so good and I don't have anymore. Decanted for 2 hours. Dark, brooding, black fruit; chalky; tannins are front and center . A really delightful wine and my first red from Bedrock which will keep me coming back for more. Could do with some more time to really let those tannins integrate better or give an extended decant for drinking now.

4/8/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Light copper color. This is super fresh and was slightly spritzy. Nice strawberry and citrus component. A touch of sweetness and a real easy sipper. Pretty simple but we finished the bottle pretty quickly.

4/14/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Slightly more honeyed style. This is a restrained Vouvray with a nice, soft roundness, but overall, fairly lean. There is lovely, fresh acidity and a nice mineral backbone to this. Slightly simple and a little hollow on the midpalate, but overall, a really lovely effort.

4/6/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Relatively low acidity made this a tad flabby. Lovely minerality, round, creamy mouthfeel. I think this probably needs more time

2/26/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

A really lovely Burgundian style pinot. Elegant and restrained. There is an herbal character to this wine that is really nice. We had this with some cheeses and it was delightful.

3/24/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Really a beautiful wine from Huet. Honeysuckle and saline; very creamy; round mouthfeel; the acid in this at this age is astonishing and really makes this wine specatcular; really long finish. Beatifully done.

3/24/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

Burnt sugar, oxidized nose; burnt honey, great weight on the palate; although low in acid at this point, this is not cloying or syrupy; quite refreshing; finishes a little short; overall, very nice

3/24/2012 - rentmp3 wrote:

White flowers; shy on the nose; sharp acidity and finishes bitter; creamy mouthfeel; good weight