3/28/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Deep golden honey hue. Excellent texture and mouthfeel. A little “thinner” than I like and one of the reasons d’yquem is always 100 when others are 96. I believe this wine was scored 100 by the pros and I can see that but tonight it was just a little flat to me. Explosive aromas of white peach, honey, apricot and caramel. It was delicious and everyone’s glasses were empty within a few minutes. Great choice by Ken Fredrickson. Highky recommended and top of the line QPR

3/28/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

What luck to have Andy Chabot select this wine tonight. It was in great condition. Maybe a cm low on the fill but great provenance. Unfiltered Pinot look, but bright cherry red color and great texture. I little crunchy but still ample fruit to go along with tertiary spice and sou bois. Some asian characteristics. Decent finish and nice improvement as it sat out. Highly recommended and a fun piece of history to share.

3/27/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Mind blown. Drank along side a coche 2000 meursault perrieres. This wine was a powerhouse. It towered over the coche with pure power. Rich with silky smooth mouth feel. Deep, green-tinged golden hue. Medium plus acid. A swirl of flowered fields and tropical fruit aromas. Then a symphony of flavor with lemon zest and ripe orchard fruit. Unreal finish which improved with an hour or two in the glass. A reductive aroma that didn’t fade was the only thing that kept it from 100 but I might change my mind and go 100….highest recommendation

3/27/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Aged white burgundy, when you avoid Premox and bottle faults (storage, corked, etc), is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. Tonight we were fortunate enough to have two great examples. This wine had everything in the right place, deep golden straw color, perfect viscosity and wonderful aromatics. Minerality with medium acid streak, lemon zest and orchard fruit. A little reductive. I could’ve given a 97-98 on this wine but it faded a touch on the back palate, and I only noticed THAT because of the other wine in a side by side. More on that later but this wine I had my highest recommendation and coche always seem to be worth it.

3/27/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

First time in my life to try the DRC-RC. Special occasion at blackberry farm with my wife Kelli, Ken Fredrickson and Andy Chabot among other esteemed guests. We popped cork and let sit for a bit. Aromatics were on point, vosne spices, rose petals and sweet cherry fruit. The best word was pulled by Andy and the word was “elegant”. Palate was ethereal with a silky mouth feel. Falvours very similar to the aromatics, coupled with a hint of cola and a minerality that percolated just below the surface of what was close to a perfect wine and for me it’s exactly what I look for in a red burgundy. A true reference for typicity. The finish was very persistent and if you set the glass down and walked away, you could smell the wine from 10 feet away. Great time and great to share this wine with a bunch of wonderful people. Highest recommendation and I am happy to have decided to “DRINK IT” !

3/23/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Leroux is generally reliable and this village volnay was pretty solid. Medium garnet colored with some bricking at 10 years old. Medium bodied with dried cherry and raspberry fruit, baking spices and dried tea leaves. More savory than fruity at this point, but great mouthfeel and medium acidity. A very nice drink and great QPR. Well recommended.

3/20/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Thanks to the generosity of my friend Dr. Michael Connoyer, we were able to go back into history today. Never had a 1958 vintage if any wine before so this is a first. Mike purchased the wine at ann auction conducted by ivy selkirk in St. Louis in the 1980s. It’s been in his cellar ever since although we are unsure of its ownership before. It did have a retail price tag from a St. Louis liquor store called 9 0 5 for 5.99 on it. That was cool. Opened with a Durand. Cork came out clean. Let it sit for an hour or so. It was funky at first, seemed like it was gone but after sitting and waking up it had some interest. All tertiary flavors favoring black olive, mushroom and cedar. Some tan oc grip and acidity still there. Not all old bottles are great but the experience was great. Thanks Mike. Well recommended.

3/18/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Paired with a middle eastern styled salmon. Nice pairing. Wine was beautiful medium straw gold.medium bodied but excellent legs in the glass. Aromas of quince, white peach and white flowers. Similar palate profile with a dose of minerality that was pleasing. Mid palate and finish were a bit lacking but a nice showing for this wine at 10 years old. Remarkably better after it came up to 62 F out of the cellar. Well recommended.

3/7/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Classical Beau Monts. Vosne baking and savory spices. Sweet cherry and berry fruit. A perfumed floral note along with the spice and fruit. Luminescent ruby red with a darker core (cold soaked maybe?) medium bodied on the palate and VERY elegant. Lengthy finish. Brought a broad smile to my face. Highest recommendation as it’s still a good value.

2/18/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Excellent young Bordeaux. Opaque purple-black core. Black currant, dark plum and black cherry very dark and brooding but very well integrated for only 8 years old. Some saddle and crushed gravel minerality. A great drink. 2016 Bordeaux are underrated. They will be long lived and GREAT. Highly recommended

2/18/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Drank twice within last two months from 1L bottlings. Both times (December 2023 and Feb 15 2024) were head snappers for the whole crowd. Outstanding combination of power and finesse. Biological Age seemed more like 5-7 years and not 16/17. Beautiful dark magenta coloring, silky texture with perfect viscosity and mouthfeel. Punch of acidity went perfect with grilled rib roast. Dark red and black raspberry, currants, and dark cherry fruit coupled with black tea leaves, mint and hint of oak. Finishing went on and on. Side by sided with 2016 pontet canet and it was the clear winner even though the pontet was no slouch at all. Highest recommendation.

2/15/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Still one of the greats. So pure, and now developing more of the baked bread aroma, yet still laser like with its lemon zest and granny smith. Unreal. Highest recommendation

2/14/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Just a perfect volnay pull. Drank half a bottle on Sunday. Corked and cellared till Wednesday..still fabulous. Great color, texture and mouthfeel. More savory than fruity but the cherry and berry fruit has a sweetness that is beautiful. I love his wines. So damn good. Highly recommended

2/2/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Ditto to my 2022 note on this wine. But the integration was better and the texture was better. Would’ve added a point to 95, but the Finish was not as lengthy as I remembered before. Aroma and flavor profile was the same. Definitely a great bottle of wine. Highly recommended

2/1/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

On opening the aroma and first taste seemed off, but alll that blew off and within 30 minutes it was what you would expect from an esteemed maker. Oozing with texture and red and black fruit it had a nice vanilla tinged oak profiler. Good QPR. Highly recommended.

1/30/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Just a solid Napa cab. Silky smooth and unctuous texture. Perfect integration of tannin and wood at 13 years old. 2011 Napa cab are great wines imo. Sweet black and blue fruit, cedar, a bit of mocha. Everyone loved this wine and what’s not to love (especially 2011 price points for Maiden!!). Highest recommendation.

1/20/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Flash note. Deeper garnet color. Lighter at the rim hut a dark core. Delicious with savory spices and beautiful mouthfeel and length. Fruit had a nice sweetness. Sweet bing cherry and ripe black raspberry. Highly recommended

1/15/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

I usually love these wines but I generally drink their Meursaults. This has a much more round and generous puligny type nose. Light golden straw color. A combination of flint, gravel and white flowers on the nose. Decent mouthfeel but not as viscous as I would like. Tender towards richer orchard and tropical fruits. Would like to know the oak usage in this cuvee. All in all, a good drink but below my expectations for Boyer martenot. Well recommended.

1/5/2024 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Inky purple black core. Explosive bouquet right out of bottle at 19 years old. Very little bricking. Blind I would’ve said 2015 based on looks. Palate was generously fruit forward with black currant, dark plum and black cherry. All ripe and sweet. Beguiling with a medium body juxtaposed against the dark core. Smooth as silk and more tertiary flavors mid palate. Mink oil and mocha tinged coffee. Really amazing I have always liked Las Combes but haven’t had it in years. Well worth the return. Only nick on the score was finish was abbreviated, but I will give it a chance to sit out and see if that that changes. Highly recommended.

12/16/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Medium garnet color with bricking at the edge showing 23 years for sure. This wine woke up a bit after the first 1( minutes of being opened. Great texture color and savory aromas. Not a ton of fruit. Lots of Chinese spices, soy, dried rose petals. Fruit flavor profile was dried (sour) cherries and also raspberry. Interesting wine for 23 year old prime real estate in burg. I’ll let it sit another hour and see which direction it goes. Well recommended.

12/16/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

IMO this wine could be the consistently top volnay. This rendition was so rich and powerful, but very much in its youth like a like lot of 2005 red burgs. Sweet cherry and black raspberry fruit, savory spices and brambly sous bois. Perfect harmony of tannin, texture and acidity. Just a well built wine. Bravo Guillaume. Highest recommendation because this is top of burgundy yet still “affordable” QPR

12/16/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Flash note. First time tasted. Deep purple black hue. Excellent texture and structure. Needed a decant but it didn’t get one. Can’t wait to try it again when it’s not the last bottle of the night. Highly recommended

12/16/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

This bottle was in great shape and drinking very well. A perfect mix of fruit and tertiary aromas and flavors. Black currant, ripe plum fruit. Mushroom, cedar and a menthol characteristic. I really liked this wine. It might’ve scored higher, but next to 1970 haut brion it came in second. Excellent wine however. Highly recommended

12/14/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

First time trying the 2008 Krug and it was impressive. Light on its feet with great acidity. Lemon zest, orange peel, brioche and a white flower element. It was a laser-like champagne, which I appreciate. This was drunk after the Cristal 08 and the Krug 1990 but it got my attention for sure. Can’t wait to try the next bottle. Highest recommendation.

12/14/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Unreal. It was a head snapper for the crowd even after Cristal 2008 en magnum. Krug was a mag too. Bright golden straw color. Aromas of caramel, zesty green apple, lemon and dried apricot. Very similar palate but the zippy acidity brought forth some lemon zest. It was just such a pleasurable wine to drink. The texture was more of a rich older montrachet. Bubbles were still there but weren’t even necessary! So good. Highest recommendation

12/14/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

A youthful 1970. I have had a great run of 1970s but this was my first HB and it delivered the goods. Color was deep garnet and belied its age. Cassis, forest, cedar and smoke. Texture was perfect and was still bright. The wine seemed “fresh” which is amazing. More of the same on the palate with a bit of mocha and dried fig showing up. Finish was long and the wine has a good life still ahead. I love Haut Brion and felt fortunate to drink my birth year. Highest recommendation

12/12/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Outstanding pomerol. Electric in terms of color and texture. The color was deep garnet core with beautiful magenta on the edge. Perfectly integrated tannins at 14 years old but drinking very youthful. Andes chocolates, forest floor, sweet plum along with black cherry and mocha. So many layers here. Lengthy finish. Highly recommended

12/3/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Had another bottle of this tonight with dinner. Grilled turkey breast and savory acorn squash. The wine is better than my flash note the other day. In fact it’s on par with medium to high end Brunellos. Less structured perhaps but excellent color/extract, texture was silky and alluring. Sweet cherry and black raspberry fruit. A green note, like cab franc almost. Then more spice box and a lingering finish. Humble montelpuciano my ass, this is a seriously good wine. Highly recommended and great QPR.

11/27/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Poor lighting in the restaurant but color seemed to be a bright green gold.. the aroma and palate verified that for me. Excellent mouthfeel and texture. Linear and zippy acidity. Lemon zest green apple and beautiful crushed shell minerality. I loved this wine and happy to see a 2015 be as it should be. No premox. Highest recommendation as the QPR for LLCC is maybe the best out there.

11/24/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Almost flawless. Opaque, deep, purple-black color at its core. Aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, cedar and cassis. Pure cassis and black cherry fruit along with ample chocolate and eucalyptus. This wine was a mind blower and reminds me why Grace Family is one of the Napa icons “that matter”. Tannins were integrated but still taut. This wine will go 50 years easily. Highest recommendation

11/23/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Two bottles consumed today. Both perfect and HQ. Greenish gold straw color. Orchard fruits tending toward green apple and pear. Oak brought a richness and a hint of tropical fruit like unripe pineapple but the wine was in perfect harmony tending toward lean rather than rich (and PYCM GC can lean toward richer/fuller). Great tension in the wine. Great texture and weight. Medium plus acid gives me a good feeling about aging another 5-10 easy. Crushed rocks and minerality come in the package and this is a standout wine and still a good value for best of the best CC. Highest recommendation.

11/23/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Thanksgiving wine treat. I’ll start off by saying it was a little bit of fallen expectations because I was so looking forward to tasting this wine, but it was still pretty strong on a few points. Color was a medium garnet showing a brick edge and I would’ve guessed more like late 1990s just by color. Highly perfumed aromas of middle eastern spices, rose bouquet, and crushed stones. The bouquet was beautiful although more savory (i opened it two hours before drinking, no decant). Silky smooth and full palate with bing cherry and sweet plum. Texture was very silky and it all kept improving in the glass. Lengthy finish. All in all a great DRC experience but less than I was hoping for a 2010 LT. Highly recommended.

11/22/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

11 year old rully. Not too shabby. Minerality and good mouthfeel. A little tired but still decent for the price with the age on it.

11/22/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Refreshing and very drinkable at 10 years. Nice fruit. Quaffing wine but all good. ! Fruit was sweet and color was beautiful

11/22/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Drank at 9 years old and surprisingly it was ok. A bit of a coconut taste which was very weird but hey it’s aged rose, all day. Why not! Although I’d rather try it with Tempier lol

11/17/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Deep golden straw color. First whiffs were green apple, caramel and pie crust. As it warmed up and evolved in first 10 minutes the aromas turned more towards baking spices, but the fruit stayed towards the riper orchard. The mouthfeel was light but the wine tasted and looked older than I would’ve thought for 2005. I have a couple more bottles so can check the “only good bottles” logic. Still very good but a little shy of my expectations of the first time I drank this wine. Well recommended as it’s an extremely expensive bubble :-). Cheers

10/29/2023 - eschaefer wrote:

The most unique thing about these Rousseau’s I have been drinking lately, mostly clos st Jacque 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, is that they have a metamorphosis in the glass over a couple of hours. 2009 tonight. First smell and taste it was a little tight, weak, and the color had a light rust tinged hue at the edge. Literally after hour the wine is pure silk; and a deeper shade of garnet with less rust edge. The chrysalis! Aromas of savory spice box coupled with succulent cherry and black raspberry fruit. Rose petals and more fruit on the palate. Medium bodied, easy tannin, , and medium acid. Lingering finish like a lover you don’t want to leave. Highly recommended.

10/22/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Deep Golden hue almost like a light Sauternes. Aromas of toffee, movie theatre popcorn and tropical fruit. Nice texture and medium acidity. Lengthy finish for being almost 10 years old. I liked it. I haven’t really drunk a ton of older Cali chard but this seems to be in a good place. Unfortunately my lack of experience in old Cali chard makes it so I can’t authoritatively consult. Drink up? Or wait a few years? I will say my inclination is to drink up. Well recommended.

10/19/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

I’ve been drinking great meursault lately (shocker!) and this coche showed it’s pedigree. But in such a different manner. Bright lip smacking acidiity from the first touch of the palate until the finish. Lemon and lime zest, crushed rock, spring flowers and grass. But not as much salinity as I would expect from a “village” wine. All that said, it was spectacular and I am happy to drink coche whenever I can. Highest recommendation.

10/6/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

I’m gonna drink my bond 2013 box this week lol. I’m going in the order of my favorites from the past. Vecina number 2 slot. It was excellent. Unfortunate it’s paired agains the 100 Pt PluribusI drank last night. Deep opaque ruby core. Black tea, grilled herbs, plum and cassis on the nose. Similar flavors on the palate but coffee and red fruits join. The tannins weren’t as silky as the Pluribus and there was an alcoholic “bite” but the wine was fabulous I’m splitting hairs here. Long finish got it an extra point to land at 95. Highky recommneded

10/6/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

I almost feel guilty rating this wine 95 given it’s pedigree, but up against a bond 2013 Pluribus it was not the star tonight. Cedar, black currant, black tea and mocha on the aromas and Similar on the palate. Texture and tannis were on point but finaih was abbreviated. I am hoping it was just flat this night; because I have had this wine before and been astounded. Good thing I have 6 more bottles! Highly recommended.

10/6/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

I try to make sure I separate the quality of a wine from the setting in terms of enjoyment. Drank this wine with two friends playing pool. No food component really, just the wine, and this wine hit all the marks for 100 pts. Beautiful deep ruby color at 10 years old. Aromas of black currant, black cherry and plum fruit. Mocha, menthol and vanilla. The interplay of all of the tastes and smells was mind boggling. The texture was perfect. The tannins were perfectly integrated. The finish was LONG. I honestly was astounded by this wine. I love when California smacks you in the face with how great it can be, and it was drunk along 2005 chateau Palmer which is no slouch, and it blew it away. Highest recommendation.

10/2/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

A solid wine. It is the first Argentinian Pinot I have ever had. Much more savory than sweet, definitely not Californian and definitely not French. Showed a little age,
Light garnet colored with some bricking. Baking spices. Soy sauce. Black tea. But the fruit reminded me more of northern rhone Syrah with a bit of richness. There was a mid palate twang that I didn’t enjoy. Finish was respectable.not sure of the price point but I would give it a “Recommended”.

10/2/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Probably a little over the top for a Monday night but wow this wine was firing on a cylinders except for maybe one…more on that later. Light green gold straw hue, perfect medium body and silky texture. Higher acidity and mouthwatering. Immediate hit on the nose of sea air, crushed shells and salt. Tropical fruits, pineapple for me, with a hint of a blooming meadow of white flowers. Such a well crafted wine. I love it and it was so young with the bracing acidity this wine will last a long time IMO. Only detractor in points from being 96/97 was that the finaih was a bit abbreviated and unfortunately for me that is something I need. Highest recommendation but hard to find no doubt.

9/30/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Trying again 2 years later. Studying evolution of white burgs as they age. Same storage conditions. Good wine. Deeper golden straw hue. Medium bodied and viscosity. Nice texture and mouthfeel. Acidic punch with lemon and citrus. Savory notes were rind of Comte cheese or tomme de savoie. Salty. Pretty darn good at 13 but needs to be open an hour at least. Well recommended

9/15/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Flash note. Exquisite wine. So laserlike.

9/15/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Still perfect 9/15/23

8/27/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

Opened and let sit for 30 minutes. Young and powerful at 29..in its athletic prime so to speak. Color was deep purple black, with very little bricking on edge. Pronounced aromoas of cedar and mint along with cassis and plum fruit. Excellent moutfeel, with ample tannic grip. This wine is going 50 years easy. Highest recommendation.

8/15/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

I wanted a red with my dinner and I was the only one drinking, so I went to my goto “affordable” wine/region and ordered a bottle since the by the glass selections weren’t that great. This wine is spectacular. Bright ruby hue, translucent, nose of bing cherry, rose petals and savory spice coupled with something I can only call “crushed lava rock”. Sounds cliche but all these etna Rossos have a unique minerality scent, like red dirt road in Ribera del Douro, gravel in medoc, and crushed shells in Chablis it’s a unique signature. Wine was Medium bodied and silky texture, bright cherry fruit with lip smacking sweetness and purity. These wines remind me of a theoretical combo on barbaresco and high quality burgundy. Like they got together and had a baby. So good. Only detractor if I had to reach is that it is so fresh, fruity and quaffable that the finish is just ok. But buy this and drink it. I predict you will like it. Terre nere watch out for Planeta. Highest recommendation and great QPR

7/29/2023 - eschaefer Likes this wine:

A nice surprise with a prime NY strip. Tinged brick on the edge but very youthful. Medium bodied with nice acid backbone. Savory with black pepper and balsamic to go with juicy blackberry fruit and a hint of strawberry. Tannins were well integrated and fine. Lengthy finish with good grip. I haven’t had much CDP in the last few years but this was a treat. Highly recommended.