4/25/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

The most "feminine" Estate Cuvée coming out of L'Aventure ever. Not sure why -- was not even the top 2 coldest years in the last 10. Balanced, lacks the strong tannins of the 2016 Optimus. But I actually like those chewy tannins more than this 2019.

4/25/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Very fun wine. Black more than red fruit. High tannins with a grittiness, chewiness that remind me of some Barolos and Douro reds, but the acidity is not that high as those, thankfully. Medium acid. The tannins do integrate and the fruit can stand up to it. A very "masculine" wine. Probably will be better integrated in another 5+ years, if the fruit holds. My second favorite red of the night in a mix of L'Aventure, Clos Solène and Benom wines.

4/25/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Enjoyable wine. Had a glass at a Benom, L'Aventure and Clos Solène tasting. Was overshadowed for sure by the L'Aventure Optimus 2016 and L'Aventure Estate Cuvee 2019, and their price points reflect that.

4/25/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

GSM blend with heavy Grenache flavors dominating. Great red fruit with low heat, low extract for a New world grenache. Definitely a French touch here in Paso Robles. Had a glass at a tasting of 3 Paso Robles wineries -- L'Aventure, Benom and Clos Solène. This was my favorite.

Grenache 70%, Syrah 17%, Mourvedre 13%. Aged 16 months, 90% of it in neutral oak puncheons and 10% in new oak.

4/25/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Light yellow in color. Neutral white grape varietal aromas like ripe apple. Acidity is medium to medium plus. A touch of tropical notes as well. Overall it seems like a lot more than just 20% Sauv. Chardonnay 80%, Sauvignon Blanc 20%. Fermented in stainless. Aged 5 months in neutral oak (57%), new French oak (24%) and concrete (19%). The stainless gives it a verberation of acidity. No malo. Fun wine. One of the more standout New World chardonnay blends I've had. Not sure the price point is right, but I do really like this wine.

4/25/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Pale peach color in a Provençal style. Grenache Noir 70%, Grenache Gris 20%, Mouvedre 10%. Aged 3 months in stainless, no malo. Pleasant drinker, enjoyable. Lacks all the acidity of Rhone and Provence rosés, so a bit less complex. But costs much more at $52.

4/12/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

A bit short on acidity and lower effervescence. Classic yeasty notes, pear, apple. Round, mellow, short finish. Would not have guessed in a blind tasting that this wa a 10 year old vintage wine.

2/17/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

PNP. Tight on the nose, extracted. More black fruit than red. Tasted more like a Rhone Syrah that still needs more time than a New World version. Nothing bad, but very forgettable. Disappointing.

3/8/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Medium-bodied, soft but not velvety. Tobacco, spice, earth, dried roses. Some cherries but not a lot of fruit at this point -- definitely no classic chocolate-covered ones. Past its prime. Some mildly rusted notes. Reportedly 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 18 months in 35% new oak.

3/8/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Fantastic wine, drinking beautifully right now. A mixture of black and blue fruit with a little chocolate well balanced with acid and tannin. As an Old World lover, I'll say that this wine has some earth and herbs add a lot that sometimes are lacking in New World big reds. The grapes taste like they were perfectly ripened (hence this year being designated as an 88 Keys vintage). Some new oak on the nose and palate. Long finish.

3/28/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Medium yellow. Aromas of lemon, pineapple juice from a can (not fresh), and butter are the dominants. Some stone and as it warms a bit, honeysuckle and maybe lemon. On the palate, more pineapple. The acidity is medium, not as acidic as I would have expected for a verdicchio. Full bodied, complex, rich, long finish.

3/20/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Would not have picked this blind as a Vacqueyras. Doesn’t have the heat or over-extraction that some V. have. Tastes like a Côtes du Rhône from a warm year, a little out of balance but nice fruit. Red > black. Decent and reasonable price point.

3/10/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Ortswein level (QbA) quality. Light in color and flavor, low complexity, low acid for a German weissbirgunfer. Pleasant enough but worth about $8 in Germany / grocery store level.

2/28/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Some very good descriptions in other CTers notes. Light yellow, medium plus body with oiliness and almond skins, touch of ginger and lavender. Medium minus acid -- wish it had a bit more. Nice for a glass or two. Would like to try again with better food pairings. Had with Mediterranean mezze, ceviche, and stuffed dates.

2/24/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Pleasant St. Emilion, black > red fruit, some velvet / chocolate cherries classic for Merlot with medium plus tannins and acid. Drinking pretty well, but still may improve with another 5 years in bottle.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Nice wine but was not one of my favorites from a night of First Growths from both banks. Would like to try again in 5-10 years. Not a strong vintage for red Bordeaux in general. 53% Merlot, 41% CabSauv, 6% CabFranc. Made in 70% new French oak. Not as fruit forward as many Bordeaux these days, with acids, tannins and earth flavors overshadowing fruit to some degree. Still, enjoyable and hope to try in future.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Great wine! Still a little early for this wine to show best, but still approachable and enjoyable now. Will be better in 5 years. Maybe I’d score the 98-100 points that several critics gave it? Bountiful black fruit in a New World style but some of the acidity more of classic Bordeaux, if a bit less in 2018 than some years. One of the favorites of the night of first growths from both sides of the Gironde.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

For a really warm year, Yquem knocked it out of the park. Maybe could use a touch more acid but it still is a nice balance, better than some second growth Sauternes in cooler years. Amazing complexity and variety of fruit coming out on the palate, and not subtly: orange peel, mango, candied pineapple, ginger among others. Wonderful wine.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

For a fairly weak vintage overall in Red Bordeaux land, Latour still has a really nice wine. Drinking well now, although would probably be a bit better in a few years. The tannins are quite approachable and the fruit young and fresh, with black fruit and some blue, lots of mineral, touch of violet, touch of leather, tobacco and spice.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

54% Merlot, 46% Cab Franc. More Cab Franc in the nose. A mix of red and black fruit flavors, fine tannins, minerals, and then graphite coming in on the back of the palate.

Not a very good vintage in general for red Bordeaux wines. Cool & wet early w/ dry, hot August. Short harvest window from Oct rains, leaving some grapes with a bit more rustic tannins.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Drinking well in its window, but benefits of course from a few hours decant to air out some of the tannins and alcohol. The usual nearly even blend: 35% CabSauv, 35% CabFranc, 30% Merlot. Great vintage, and the winery kept the wine in balance but definitely big and bold. Black fruit over shadows some red notes, tobacco, cedar, and spice.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine. More elegant than a Latour, Cheval Blanc, Haut Brion and Margaux we had the same night. It did not “wow” me, though, until I had it with food. Was the best pairing of the reds with braised spare ribs and truffled potatoes, which muted the tannins a bit.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

I'm conflicted. Had a glass along with multiple other first growths from left and right bank, all different vintages. This was my least favorite, but the favorite of 3 different people whose palate I respect. Lean, with more acidity than fruit. Medium red in color, more red fruit than black, medium body, medium high acidity, medium alcohol. Not a fan. Looking forward to trying a Chateau M. from another vintage.

2/21/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

maybe 94. Pale yellow color. Lemon, white flowers, a touch of passion fruit and oak. Not much grapefruit. Beautiful wine. Better than a Carbonnieux but not the complexity of Chevalier. Paired well with sea scallops sauteed in butter with mauque choux.

2/20/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Pleasant Italian red without the higher acid of most pure Sangiovese. Had a glass at the Centurion airport lounge in Atlanta.

2/20/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Had a glass at the Centurion Lounge in Atlanta. Light yellow, medium light body, simple but no faults. Pleasant. Warm lemon, passion fruit and a hint of grapefruit, with some warmth and ripeness of Southern Italy. Medium high acidity. Compares with a lower Chablis.

2/14/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Really nice red from the inland mountains of Provence. 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Not as hot and extracted as many from the Southern Rhone. More feminine. Vineyards have some elevation and lots of mistral wind, and it shows in the grapes. Kermit Lynch said the wine is like a mix of Domaine Tempier, Vieux Telegraph and Trévallon. Well balanced, fruity, very pleasant. Cherries, strawberry, garrigue, a bit of dirt and minerality, medium high acidity (high for Grenache), medium tannins. Paired with with a cheese and charcuterie platter.

2/14/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Deep amber in color. Dried honey, lemon peel, mango, and a touch of almond. Medium body, syrupy sweet, and only medium acidity which is not nearly enough for the RS. This results in a mild cloying effect. Still enjoyable but one of my least favorite Sauternes.

2/6/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

PNP. High end Napa for sure. Well outshown a 2016 Lewis Cellars that was in very large format and needed to open up more. No alcohol / heat that needs to blow off, but I'm sure it would be better with more decanting and/or more cellar time. Can't wait to try it later.

2/6/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

PNP a 750ml bottle (tasted another's house). Too hot. Alcohol is quite perceptible coming off the nose right now. This wine needs to be decanted for hours but really just probably needs another 5-10 years in aging to show best.

2/6/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Good not great. Better than their 2020, but outshown by 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte and 2015 Domaine de Chevalier for region's white wines. The 2018 has some nice acidity but just not the complexity of the other two mentioned above. Still, an enjoyable wine.

2/6/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

In the last 2 weeks, I've had the pleasure of drinking 4 top Bordeaux Blancs: Chateau Carbonnieux 2020 and 2018, Smith Haut Lafitte 2017, and this one. This was the winner. Better acidity and some green fruit along with some more ripe stone fruit and body. Beautiful Bordeaux Blanc -- not sure it can get much better. Drinks well as an aperitif and with food.

2/3/2024 - SWHighlander wrote:

Dark red in color. The fruit is a mix of red and black, in a manner too extracted for what I want in a Burgundy red. The fruit dominated in flavor and the wine was a bit simple for a Grand Cru. Could have mistaken it for a PN grown in the lower elevation parts of the Willamette or Sonoma Coast.

2/6/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

A 9L salmanzar was decanted for ~2 hours prior to drinking. Showed fine with no heat that needed to blow off. I thought it might have shown better with another 5 years in bottle or a couple of hours decant, but wasn't sure. Black fruit with smoky tobacco, leather, violets and clove. Tannins plus tannin, medium acid. Overpowered a Beef Wellington pairing. At the time, I gave it a 92 but really didn't love it that much.

Fast forward to 3 days later. The residual wine of the 9L was stored in some random 750ml bottles with no inert gas or other method to minimize oxidation. After the 3 days, we re-tasted. The wine showed ZERO oxidation. But it was showing MUCH better! Really fun now. It was smoother, and the flavors had gelled. Drank beautifully as an aperitif. It also paired well with both grilled steak and baked mushrooms in a filo pastry. Now I'd give it 96 points, maybe higher.

2/3/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Pale yellow. Didn't notice the usual green hints for this vintage that others have had, visually. Good but not as good as other Bordeaux Blancs I've had from other vintages. 2020 was hot and the acidity is just not as bracing as some other years while the alcohol is a bit more it seems (even though Carbonnieux always show the same 13% ABV on the label every year). Less aromatic than I'd expect. Flavors of lemon, white grapefruit, some subtle white flower and tomato leaf. Medium plus body. Enjoyable but I wouldn't buy more from this year. Drink now.

Paired pretty well with a baked filo cup of wild mushrooms.

2/3/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Blind tasted as part of the Introductory Sommelier panel of wines, shipped in a 187 ml screw cap. Lemon, petrol, acid made me think German / Alsatian Riesling. After being opened for 10 minutes, the fruit dissipates and the acid and body stand out with a touch of oiliness and glycerin. Medium plus acidity and body. Very enjoyable. Some residual sugar is perceivable, maybe 5 or more gm/L.

2/3/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Love this. Super fruity for an Old World with lemon, mango and some apricot or maybe peach. But also big acid -- medium plus. Medium plus body too. Steely minerality backs it up.

2/3/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

When cold and first opened, it is lemony and some touch of a tropical or stone fruit that confused me when blind tastin. As it warmed up and opened up, only the lemon was left and non-fruit flavors dominated with oyster shells, hint of petrol along with minerality and acid classic for Chablis.

1/20/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Decanted for an hour, but should have started earlier. This is a big, powerful wine. Still a bit tight when I drank it. The flavors were nice but seemed muted, especially on the nose. I suspect it would have shown better if I had opened it for closer to 4 hours early. Surprising to me for a 2010.

1/20/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully. 2017 was a better year in Graves for white than the reds. Bright acidity with moderate roundness. The usual mix of white grapefruit from the SauvB and a bit stone fruit from the Semillon.

11/21/2023 - SWHighlander wrote:

One of my favorite villages level white burgundies. Beautiful pairing for Thanksgiving too!

12/2/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Lovely wine drinking great still. No rust or significant oxidation for a 14 year old Spätburgunder! Complex, balanced, medium to medium minus fruit, medium plus acidity, low tannins. One of my favorite Spätburgunders and better than most Villages-level Burgundies. Consistently outperforms Gutzler's other Spät from their Morstein vineyard.

11/30/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Fantastic. More like a TBA than a Sauternes. One of the best dessert whites I’ve had.

11/21/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Not cloying -- better acidity than some Sauternes, has a bit of complexity. Very enjoyable.

11/24/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Agree with DRWINE2001. Not as good as some vintages. Came off sweeter than what I wanted. More than just off-dry, which may be a measure of less acidity than a change in the residual sugar compared to some prior years. It did not pair particularly well with a slightly sweetened ham with stuffing and potatoes.

11/24/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

The vintner, Luis Seabra says this is the Portuguese analogue to the idea of a “village” level Burgundy. A field blend of 4 varieties planted across 3 subzone. 60% Rabigado, 15% Gouveio, 15% Códega, 10% Viosinho. 30-45 year old vines, planted to mica schist at 500-600 m (1,640 -1,968 ft) elevation. Aged in neutral oak, 1 year on lees, no battonage.

When first opened coming out of a refrigerator, there was almost nothing on the nose. After warming to a more reasonable 65-68 degrees F, it opened up to still subtle aromas similar to a Chablis or white Burgundy -- white flowers, steel and flint and a bit of white pepper -- more than fruit: lemon and green apple, pair. On the palate, medium to almost medium + acid reminding me of a less aromatic German riesling. No appreciable wood. Overall very well done but a lot of subtlety maybe most like a northern Rhone with more acid or an Alsatian pinot blanc. This was my first Seabra white and wasn't sure what category to put it in or how to think of it. Too much acid and too subtle to pair with poultry, but probably would go well with white fish.

11/24/2023 - SWHighlander wrote:

Mostly black fruit, restrained on the nose and palate. Tried first as a PNP, with a very restrained, tight effect and too tannic. Decanted and tried again at 1, 2 and 4 hours. Definitely better at 2 and maybe better at 4. With time the acidity and tannins felt more in balance with the fruit, which opened up a bit. Still nothing very enjoyable or memorable.

11/23/2023 - SWHighlander wrote:

Dark red for a rosé, with extracted flavor halfway between a Provence rosé and a Cote du Rhône. Nice but simple, not really my favorite style. Would not buy again. I’ve had much better rosés for $4 in Rhône grocery stores.

11/22/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

Decanted a magnum for an hour. Enjoyed with a pre-Thanksgiving meal of Italian meatballs with marina sauce and pasta. Good pairing with the meatballs, a little too much tannin for the marinara. A mix of red and black fruit, medium plus to high acidity, high tannins, strong fruit with a mix between ripe and tart and some dried character. Needs food, as to be expected. Good value, would buy again.

11/23/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine:

This was a fun bottle to try. Very dry, no perceptible sweetness. Medium to light yellow. Mild yeast notes, less acidic and fewer bubbles than champagne. Not complex, but nothing off either. A nice aperitif sipper.