3/2/2024 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Had this in cellar for 10 years and brought it to Spago BH for dinner w the wife. Slightly browned in color but absolutely delicious and perfectly balanced from the get go. A light but complex and intriguing Chambertin. The wine only improved and blossomed over our 2+ hour dinner. Excellent!

9/29/2023 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

I could easily rate this 100. I had been keeping my last bottle in my own cellar since direct purchase from Morlet probably in 2015. This was absolutely perfect, needing about 40 minutes to completely open up. Brought to San Diego for my Mom's 85th birthday celebration we had it with Sea Bass, carrot and potato purée and asparagus. Just a perfectly balanced California Pinot Noir, red berries and sweet and sour candy were the dominant flavors, which is my favorite combination. Totally integrated.

9/15/2023 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

This is an amazing wine for $34 or really any price. A 'tall' wine in its flavor profile. A Merlot and Refosco blend, layered and rich and just riding the edge of ripeness. A very accessible wine and it's still very Italian at the core. Delicious.

6/29/2023 - Rourketown wrote:

Showing excellent, very well balanced and drinkable.

6/28/2023 - Rourketown wrote:

Delicious wine showing very well now. Light berries with strong minerals.

6/21/2023 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

For a 13 year old wine this is still showing great. Perfect color, packed with minerals and light berries. Slight hint of old school savage.

8/23/2022 - Rourketown wrote:

No rating yet on this one? Hellooooo! This vintage was rated 91-94+ by Allen Meadows when purchased back likely in 2015-2016. A really beautiful french pinot. Color is saturated, mouth feel is top notch with integrated tannins. A superbly balanced wine. You'd only know it was a Burgundy and not a fine California Pinot Noir by the - slight - and i mean very slight lack of sweetness compared a California wine. This is an amazing bottle, and for the $60 ish dollars I recommend it highly.

6/18/2022 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

How can this wine be any better?? A 2013 opened in 2022 and it just tastes so fresh and bright. Excellent mouth feel, light berries, a sort of cloudy density that shows its loaded with great stuff. A perfect blend of that sweet and sour taste I always associate with great Burgs & California Pinots. I've got to get back on the Morlet list. This wine is outstanding.

3/21/2021 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

This is drinking really well at the moment. All aspects are well integrated. Light minerals, soft tannins, hint of game. Just very well balanced and refined. Almost Cali Pinot in its delivery but that mineral and game mix is all burg. Would be a lovely choice for a date night dinner.

2/2/2021 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

I agree with some of the notes that described this wine as a bit stemmy and young but wow this is really a good wine. Well balanced and integrated with a wonderful mouth feel. Flavors are dominated by minerals and a bit of that old school burgundy sauvage which bends it to the dark side of the spectrum. But this wine is very approachable and drinks well immediately after opening. Holds it's structure for hours. It's my guess this wine will age very well, at least a good decade or two.

1/15/2021 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

I really enjoyed this wine tonight. I drank it by myself over a long night while my wife drank a Cali Pinot Noir. Slightly browned but very much in tact. A exceptionally beautiful nose that reached beyond the glass, fresh strawberries and well integrated minerals. This wine was light but complex and balanced. It only got better as the night went on and it never faded over 6+ hours.

6/17/2020 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

In great shape. Very nice mouth feel, soft attack on the pallete. Delicious now.

3/20/2020 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Delicious as always. Light saline nose, amazing mouth feel. Light berries, hint of vanilla, solid minerals but smooth tannin's. It all coats your tongue in such a well balanced way. Still on the way up but drinking perfectly at the same time. Love the Baby Jesus.

1/18/2020 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

I opened the first of my three bottles after probably waiting 6+ years. My own notes say it's best opened after 2023. I'll confirm this wine could use a little more time but it is absolutely showing very well now. I suggest giving it some air first. Delicate and sophisticated nose. Very well balanced wine. Elegant Burg featuring light toned berries with strong minerals. Everything has to still integrate 100% but it's all there. This wine has that perfect 'tartness' vs. 'sweetness' balance that IMO makes burgs so unique and delicious to drink. Very nice wine.

10/1/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Absolutely exquisite. This is an 8 year old chard that’s still on it’s way up. Mouth feel is smooth as silk, deep yellow-gold color. Integrated and balanced. Delicious.

9/28/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

I opened this bottle 3 hours before pouring my first glass. At first this tasted a tad ripe and syrupy. In the glass It still exhibits good color (no browning). Great mouth feel with tannins and minerals being well balanced. As the night wore on I have to say this wine just kept opening up and getting stronger and better. A very subtle and subdued wine but a it is elegant for sure. Tight and simple but a solid Burg overall.

3/17/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Green apple, citrus and butterscotch. Complex and mineral laiden finish. Really just at a seperate level from other Chardonnay producers. Have to taste it to believe.

3/7/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

This is in absolutely excellent shape. A relatively rich Volnay. It is very well integrated and balanced. Dark cherries, solid (but not overwhelming) minerals. Plenty of information around the edges of the tongue like a good burg does. Great mouth feel with a hint of that old world ‘sauvage’ but I mean that in a good way. Classic burgundy doing everything it is supposed to do.

2/23/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Wow, what a wine. Admittedly I am a Burgundy and California Pinot Noir drinker but I opened this tonight because I need to work through my Chards. Right out of the bottle the wine is rich and opulent. Butterscotch, lemon citrus with a good mineral finish. The wine is just extremely balanced and a pleasure to drink.

2/16/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Layered, deep, balanced, complex and refined. So much information folds around the edges of your tongue while the ever present spice stubbornly squats at the front. A huge and gorgeous wine. Allow yourself the time to let it open up.

2/9/2019 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

At it’s prime and gorgeous. I would say dark cherry with a hint of licorice. Well integrated tannins and light minerals on the back end. Slightly browning but plenty of life left. A very balanced wine with a good amount of sweetness for a burg. Lovely stuff.

11/9/2018 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

What is with the hate on this one?? This is an extremely balanced effort. Soft, almost spicy minerals are in harmony with light berry accents. A solid representation of why burgundy is awesome. This will absolutely get better and integrate over 6-8 years but it is drinking very well now. David Duband may be a slightly maligned producer but don't let the snobs fool you. This is worth the effort.

7/24/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

This is the 2nd bottle I've had of this wine - the color continues to be somewhat bricked. Very, very tight and reticent at opening. I had a glass and sprayed the half full bottle with wine savor, put in cellar and opened up the following evening. So the next day this wine definitely shows it has a lot of stuffing, really starting to sing on day two. I'm not an expert so I can't explain the bricked color but the wine on second day was blossoming not declining. Old school burgundy, fine mouth feel, those strong but elegant Chambolle characteristics, delicate but powerful. Hard to reconcile color vs how long it took to open up (drink or hold?) I have a few bottles left though I assume they will hold.

6/28/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

The slightly dusty nose is a bit restrained on opening but the wine opens up quickly to the palate. I admit this is my first bottle of Leroy ever, but it has a very classy and refined mouth feel. My impression was this wine has a high toned perfume and floral essence with solid minerality that goes on and on. Classic Burgundy. (On a side note the cork was soaked with wine and they told me Leroy is know for overfilling their bottles? WTH) All in all, easily the best 'Bourgogne' I have ever had the pleasure to drink.

6/22/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Takes a little while to open up. Ripe and rich with complex and beguiling minerality. Really lovely juice.

6/21/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Agree with others sentiments. Seems like all the right things are there but they are all a bit disjointed at the moment. Great minerality, flavor and raw materials but a little rough overall. Needs time but very promising.

6/21/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Brought to a dinner out this weekend with my wife. Wine was delicious, integrated and balanced. Simply beautiful stuff that could probably go much longer but is also drinking perfectly now.

4/5/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

A wonderful Nuits Burgundy from one of my favorite producers. If you are a Burgundy lover you will appreciate the quality of this wines fresh & generous nose, lush mouth-feel (way above its class) and Classic & deep Nuits fruit. There is nothing at all 'cheap' about this wine IMO. Classy and worthy of slow thoughtful sips - For me this is an outstanding value.

2/27/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Wow. So I'm a Burgundy guy but I got on the Morlet mailing list and ordered a few of these 2012 cabs. Was a little skeptical of Robert Parker's 96-100 rating, thought maybe he was just a cheerleader for the Label, but I was apparently wrong. First the nose, imagine the best, saline, morning ocean smell mixed with fresh dark berries you basically taste with your nose. As soon as wine enters your mouth it just explodes to every corner with ultra refined tannins, that inexplicable sweet ocean essence and the delicious taste of dark, jammy berries. As I said, I'm loyal Burg guy and this is hands down one of the best wines I have tasted, ever. I am committed now to checking more of the Morlet offerings.

2/4/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Nose is slightly closed but light and fresh. In mouth this wine quickly impresses. Light, dusty berry flavors rise almost immediately to the top of the palate and blossom wide from center of tongue to far corners of the mouth. Soft but forward tannins are warm (slightly young/peppery) and penetrating followed by saline minerals, sweet-tarts like balance and a long and complex finish. A great impression remains long after sip has ended. An incredible Burgundy considering the price ($32 Wine House Santa Monica, CA). Can't imagine getting this experience from any California Pinot Noir. Stupid good for the price IMHO.

1/30/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Nose is very fresh in the glass with alcohol and light berry scent. Tart and rich pinot flavors sit at the edges and top of the tongue and give an expanding, uplifting and thought provoking finish. Let this wine really open up. In short, incredibly interesting and delicious.

1/28/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Nose of faint swimming pool and very dark berry fruit - an extremely fresh and enjoyable scent to inhale. In the mouth same dark berries (and a bit 'grapey') with strong but refined tannins that thoroughly coat the palate. On finish tannins are again very present, classy yes, but also a bit persistent and clingy. A good to potentially great cab that seems to have a few years left to go.

1/28/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Not much of a nose to speak of but wait for it to open and it is all good. Strong minerality - stones, dark berries and just a hint of cough syrup. Full flavored but not heavy. Long and proportionately sweet finish. This is a well balanced and extremely delicious Pinot Noir.

1/25/2015 - Rourketown wrote:

Nose is dominated by wood more wood, and alcohol with a hint of elmer's glue. On palate, extremely tart and then more of that wood as the dominating flavor- there is some faint spice far in the background. Short finish and not very sweet, in fact dry. Best I'll say is that it's over the top tartness is very unique in my experience and will make me remember this wine if nothing else. I know this is just a 'village' but at $80+ I expected a lot more from this producer that I was encouraged to try out. It's not outright terrible but I'm disappointed at this price point.

1/25/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Just a tad on the sour/acidic 'mouth feel' side but this wine is medium/light while retaining very rich Pinot fruit flavors that expand on the palate and provide additional information long after the sip has ended. A nice finish that remains delicate. Not a gulper wine, if you savor it you will see the light. Very enjoyable, these Sta. Rita Hills Pinots keep impressing me.

1/25/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Wow, what a great Santa Barbara, California Pinot for $20. I've always loved the single vineyard Bonaccorsi's so I bought 2 cases of this for an everyday drinker. Great nose in the glass, swirling reveals fresh red berries. Really let this wine open up or even better yet, open it for a bit then spray some preserver in it and re-cork it. Check it out in a day or two, this wine blossoms into something very special - far above its price. Very burgundian in its mouth feel and finish. Beautiful fruit with good balance. My guess is this would age very well over 5-7 years. Great value, I love this producer.

1/23/2015 - Rourketown Does not like this wine:

Too much animal and barnyard with almost zero of the long finish I associate with a great Burgundy. Lacks minerality which I feel also lends to disappointing finish. As it opened up over a few hours my wife and I noticed something special was really trying to break through but we both agreed for a $150 Grand Cru this one was DOA - kind of a dud.

1/20/2015 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Beautifully rich, fresh berry scents fill the glass - a great wine to smell. There is a special balance of sweet and tart flavors that flirt with the palate and satisfy. Liquid sweet tarts. A long and nuanced finish, spicy edges tickle the tongue and slight hints of briar haunt the after taste. Incredibly delicious.

12/6/2014 - Rourketown Likes this wine:

Opened a new bottle 7/21/2015 and was showing much much better. Still had strong barnyard nose but a very rich and old school burgundy this time. I like it. (As a side note to this review I opened up a 2009 vertical of this last night and it was one of the best Burgs I have ever had. I don't know if it was an off bottle or maybe I was having an off night but my guess is this wine is better than I reviewed. Having said that here is what I thought that night) - MY REVIEW FROM LAST YEAR 12/6/2014 - Not a fan, this wine encapsulates what I don't like about Burgs and when they go wrong for me. Sour to point of puckering, along with that hint of 'dead animal' that I find every so often with 'fine' Burgundies. Decent minerality and peppery at its best. Kind of one dimensional and not a good dimension. Okay, I think I've made my point. Bought multiple bottles, I'll sit on the rest and see if it changes for the better with time.

4/28/2014 - Rourketown Does not like this wine:

Incredibly dank with that infamous gamey 'dead animal' bad Burg smell. Yes, that is harsh but this wine represents the worst side of Burgundy in my humble opinion. Bad bottle? Maybe, but not good today. Does label say, 'crap-a-lot'?