12/12/2021 - bortender wrote:

Not the best bottle. The nose was as previously reviewed by other but the taste was thin. Not very mouth filling. Maybe not a great bottle

10/16/2020 - bortender wrote:

Disgorged after 10 years maturation on the lees, the 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs cuvée is created using only first-press juice from Grand Cru-classified grapes sourced from Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. Five percent of the blend is aged in oak barrels, adding flavor complexity as well as textural finesse to the finished wine. Grower Champagnes have been attracting lots of attention among Champagne-savvy groups and there are certainly impressive examples from this under-the-radar set; that said, the region’s most iconic houses remain instrumental in upholding the reputation of this esteemed sparkling wine style. These maisons have access to the best grapes, largest libraries of back vintages, and have centuries of winemaking know-how—their prestige cuvées are untouchable in terms of quality and complexity. Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’ is the finest example of the Taittinger style and the 2008 release is one of the most impressive to date.

9/6/2020 - bortender wrote:

Pure gold in colour. The nose presents an enticing encounter, followed by precise yet delicate aromas of white flowers, ripe citrus and touch of rosewater and almonds. The palate is in perfect harmony with a luscious mouthfeel. Flavours of creamy stone fruit, litchi, citrus zest and a lively spice abound creating an ideal balance. It concludes with a vibrant yet complex long finish.

8/2/2020 - bortender wrote:

I have had this wine three times. One was pretty ok. The second was bad and the third was very bad. This latest was flat with a weird finish. It wasn’t exactly corked but it was not good. The owner of the bottle hated the after taste.

7/26/2020 - bortender wrote:

70% Grenache + 30% Mourvèdre. The grapes are hand harvested at separate times and whole berry de-stemmed. It is aged approximately 16 months in 2 and 3-year-old large format French and Hungarian oak puncheons. A classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape style red blend with plenty of aging potential.

1/27/2020 - bortender wrote:

Striking aromas of boysenberry, violet, and cassis. Superb concentration and intensity on the palate without any dimension of weight. Deep, powerful, and bursting with energy. A strong sense of minerality infuses the purple flavors with terrific drive and tension. Finishes very long and precise with a rising violet perfume.
This wine comes from the best blocks of the Occidental Station Vineyard, which have been the source of our Cuvée Catherine bottling for nearly fifteen years. The site was planted by Steve Kistler in 1999.

1/27/2020 - bortender wrote:

High-pitched aromas of wild strawberries, raspberry, and crushed flowers. A crystalline wine that offers a nearly perfect balance of crunchy red fruits and oyster shell minerality. Silky, perfumed, and stunningly beautiful; there is something ethereal about the nose. A wine with tremendous concentration that remains remarkably light on its feet. Finishes with great energy, definition, and floral intensity.

9/15/2019 - bortender wrote:

55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay. The nose is peat and malt, turning to wild strawberries and nectarine honey.

7/14/2019 - bortender Does not like this wine:

Past its prime

5/27/2019 - bortender Does not like this wine:

Past its peak.

11/17/2018 - bortender wrote:

Winemaker's Notes: 90% Roussanne + 10% Chardonnay. It goes through malolactic fermentation and it is bottled unfiltered. 2016 was a smooth, moderate vintage and the old vines steadily ripened the Roussanne. In the late 1930s, teenage cattle rancher Anchor Johnson and his buddies landed their rickety plane down the straight chute where Roussanne is now planted. The young men would park the plane under the oak tree at the end of the dirt strip. Roussanne rows now run lengthwise along the old runway, creating the inspiration for the lanes on the L’Avion label. Wine destined for L’Avion must go through three cuts. First, only the two older blocks of Roussanne are eligible for L’Avion. Then, only the prettiest, evenly “Rousse” - or sun tanned - clusters are selected by Cuadrilla. At last, only the favorite barrels are included for L’Avion. At the end of the day, L’Avion accounts for 25-33% of the total Roussanne production each year.

11/17/2018 - bortender wrote:

Winemaker's Notes: 100% Syrah. A gush of happy red and purple flowers – seemingly out of some utopian fairytale vision - sweep from the nose through the finish. A verdant, dense forest aspect supports the chirping whimsy while lending a sense of fertility and rotund jubilance. A citrus spray of tangerine peel illuminates the entire scene with an energetic glow. Clearly one of the prettiest Hilltops Syrah bottlings to date.

11/12/2018 - bortender wrote:

Winemaker's Notes: 100% Sangiovese. Out of the top of the glass, the 2015 Estate Sangiovese waves a cute hello of bright cherry fruit. Upon further inspection, a gateway opens into lusher depths of strawberries over rich shortcake. The brightness never fades from the top of the senses and adds a freshness to both the wine’s substantial body and its ripe fruit. Underneath and supporting the immense layers of fruit lies delicate, dried black tea leaves somehow balancing the whole show mid-air.

3/3/2018 - bortender wrote:

Extremely long finish. Mouth coating. Cherry nose with some plum and blackberries on the tongue.

2/20/2018 - bortender wrote:

Very heavy Grenache flavor. Ripe fruit and with some prune.

2/16/2018 - bortender Likes this wine:

Notes of blackberry and currant. Will be great in 10 years.

12/16/2017 - bortender Likes this wine:

Strong strawberries on the nose and taste

12/16/2017 - bortender wrote:

Mouth coating. Firm tannins. Blackberry. I also had a cold when I tried this.

11/11/2017 - bortender Likes this wine:

Nose is burnt. Some earth on the taste. Needs more time. Try again in 3 years.

11/7/2017 - bortender Likes this wine:

High acidity. Notes of big berries and mushroom on the nose. Big tannins. Could use a lot more age.

11/4/2017 - bortender Likes this wine:

Earthy with some notes of wood. Nose has some leather.

10/29/2017 - bortender Likes this wine:

Decanted for 30 minutes which was not long enough. Really nice floral notes. It was excellent after another 30 minutes in the glass. Paired great with 120 dry aged New York steak.

10/16/2017 - bortender wrote:

80% Grenache + 20% Mourvèdre. Lots of raspberry, crushed flowers, strawberry and dried spice in this medium-bodied, supple, balanced wine. Fresh and lively, yet still with a beautiful texture, it should drink well right out of the gate and keep for 4-5 years.

10/16/2017 - bortender wrote:

80% Sangiovese + 20% Merlot. Aromas of rose petal, sage and strawberries with notes of dried plum and cranberries. Cherries and fruitcake on the palate followed by smooth dusty tannins and a pleasantly clean mouthfeel, all braced with nice acidity.