4/20/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Drank after about 2 hours of air. Lots of red fruits, strawberries, raspberry liqueur, florals, and gravel. Vibrant, tangy, and juicy dark red fruits in the palate with savory minerality coming through on the back end. Just as nice as my first bottle; will plan to give my others a little more age before diving back in.

4/19/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Tropical fruits, flowers, oranges, and botrytis on the nose. This was really balanced on the palate with that Climens acidity coming out more over time. Candied bitter orange peels on the finish really tied up this package well. (From .375)

3/31/2024 - anthroman wrote:

This was an understated stunner that satisfied my geeky palate and pleased my non-geek family members. Sure, it's shut down and its best days are in the future, but it was impossible not to love what this kabinett had to offer. Violets, bergamot, gentle citrus fruits on the nose gave way to a delicately sweet palate with white/yellow fruits and some stoniness before a finish that grew creamier over time. This was delicious and haunting and I can't get it out of my head.

4/6/2024 - anthroman wrote:

On pop and pour the wine was quiet and muted, to the point where I questioned my palate. After about an hour of air the wine came together, opening up with a nose of black cherries, strawberries, herbs, well-judged oak, and some sweet smoked meats. On the palate there is a dense fruit core with gentle yet serious tannins reminding you that this wine is calling for age at this point. Although this is still a bit ripe for my palate I continue to enjoy this profile and will give my remaining two bottles a few years of age (i.e., 2029-2030+). Interested to see what this becomes and would recommend a decant of 90 minutes+ if opening now, but I also wouldn't blame you for holding the wine at this stage.

3/22/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Slate, smoke, yellow fruits, and some distant white flowers on the nose. Palate has electric lemon peel acidity and more slate, leading into a tart finish. Does what it does very well in a minerally package.

3/15/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Gave this a ~3 hour decant. The nose showed lots of high-quality oak alongside black fruits and ripe raspberries. Some smoked meat and sage emerged over time. The palate was plush and giving, the oak apparent here as well, with blackcurrents and strawberries leading the way into an expansive finish.

As the note below mine indicates, this seems to be in an oaky phase now, more so than I remember from the first bottle I tried about 8 months ago. I'm not sure what the aging curve of these tends to look like, but there seems to be complexity here waiting to come out once the oak is subsumed. Overall quite promising.

3/2/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Decanted about two hours. This was ripe but not as overdone as I might have expected. Nose and palate had cherries, black fruits, garrigue, and tobacco. Some animalic funk lent a welcome rusticity to the wine. This should age and develop longer, and the 15% abv wasn't too obtrusive.

2/24/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Another Saturday, another great showing for the '01 Suduiraut. Apricots, potpourri, wildflower honey, orange peels. The mouthfeel is so soft and fresh, with mangoes coming out before a persistent finish. Every time I have this, I marvel at the acidity and suspect I will continue to do so for another couple decades.

2/24/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Gave this a 5 hour decant but the wine needed at least 6 to start integrating. This showed shyly at first with herbs and some red and black fruits on the nose. Palate was muted. As we got deeper into the bottle, this wine put on serious weight and depth: the nose became a damp garden with some smoke thrown in for good measure. The palate grew much denser with red-fruited minerality and serious tannins coming to the fore.
This bottle eventually showed all the promise I expected, but at the same time it was very much a case of infanticide. All the material is there, but I can't really recommend checking in on it now. I won't be tempted to try another bottle until 2030.

2/18/2024 - anthroman wrote:

A nice showing over dinner. Gave this a 90-minute decant and enjoyed over the following 90 minutes or so. Nose had tar and iodine tones with cassis and some dried flowers. Tarry red fruits and lively acidity on the palate with some tannins still flexing their muscles on the back end.

2/17/2024 - anthroman wrote:

Really nice showing for this Servin; a bit more complete than the bottle I had 2 years ago. Oyster shell, orange rind, sea breeze, wet stones, and apple peels. Very good concentration and tension, the acidity really driving the wine into the long finish where the citrus returns.

12/31/2023 - anthroman wrote:

Floral, red fruits with some darker ones creeping in, more high-toned than the 2021 on the nose. Herbs, crushed rocks and petrichor in spades, as well. Juicy acidity on the palate with fine-grained tannins and a nice red-fruited core. The 2022 is tangy and lively where the 2021 is denser and a bit more more volcanic. This continues to be an excellent wine, and not just an excellent wine for the money.

12/29/2023 - anthroman wrote:

Red and black fruits, leather, walnuts, soil tones, some spices, and unsweetened chocolate on the nose. Palate had a balanced roundness to it with tannins starting to integrate. "Balance" was the name of the game here, as fruit, savory, and sweetness all kept each other in check. I wonder if this becomes even more expansive in the mouth and on the finish as it ages. I suspect it has a long way yet to go.

12/25/2023 - anthroman wrote:

I've been threatening to open this case all year and tonight I finally did it. This needed all of 4 hours to start showing a hint of integration, though it still needs a lot of time. The nose was all ripe red and black fruits with cedar and incense. Some scorched earth notes emerged over time alongside oak that still needs to integrate. Palate has cassis and grippy, drying tannins that led into a promising but unformed finish.
For my palate, this still needs a lot of time. It's always going to be a ripe, hedonistic wine, but on tonight's showing I can see something harmonious emerging at the end.

12/25/2023 - anthroman wrote:

On the nose, fresh pastry, flowers, and hint of unsweetened tropical fruit. The palate has nice texture and weight, with a slightly sweet, wooly feel that is reminiscent of a dry chenin blanc. Leads into a honeyed finish. I can see why William Kelley suggests that this vintage needs some time. If this puts on weight and intensity over the next several years, I will be quite pleased.

12/24/2023 - anthroman wrote:

Orange rind, red and blue fruit, herbs on the nose, with more and more of the gravelly minerality I love in Morgon coming out over time. The palate was all on tart raspberries and herbs with zingy mouthwatering acidity leading into a focused finish. Nowhere near as big a wine as the 2018, and I only felt the ripeness here as a real sense of energy and vibrancy. Great wine with a lot of depth; glad to have many more bottles.

12/14/2023 - anthroman wrote:

Generous but not overripe red fruits on the nose with nice minerality (gravel, petrichor) coming out as a counterpoint after 90 minutes or so of air. Palate was similarly red-fruited with some earthy notes. The wine put on some weight as we drank it, so I'm interested to see how it develops. Maybe not an overly complex wine, it was inviting yet restrained and fun to drink.

12/2/2023 - anthroman wrote:

Continuing to love this bottling. I've been through 8-9 so far and tonight's bottle showed just as well as the rest. Dark cherries, petrichor, with a little animal touch. Dark red fruits on the palate that is full but not weighty. This kind of mouthfeel is a trend I've seen among 2021 Beaujolais that I've liked. Still can't get enough of this and want to buy some of the Cuvée James to age.

11/23/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Just as good as my first bottle. Love the contrast between riesling on the nose and the tart red fruits on the palate that say "pinot noir" to me. Really high drinkability here.

11/23/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

A darker, meatier profile compared to the 2021 Clos de la Roilette Tardive tasted alongside; not to mention a noticeably bigger wine from a riper vintage. Black fruits, smoked meats, and grilled herbs. I've seen this vintage called Rhone-like, and I get it. Ripe on the palate with a persistent finish. My first experience with a Griffe du Marquis: I enjoyed this bottle, but I'd also be interested to see how it does in a cooler vintage.

11/23/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Cool red fruits, spices (nutmeg?), earth. A light streak of herbal, savory funk runs through the nose and palate, which has good energy and weight. This is certainly lighter compared to other warm-vintage Beaujolais I've had recently, but it's in no way thin and has the accessibility alongside ageworthiness that I've seen in several 2021s so far.

11/18/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

No decant, drank informally. Nice piney, foresty nose with red fruits and maybe something gamey in the background. Palate had a nice mouthfeel with more red fruits and just a hint of the sweetness that I associate with Oregon PN. Good QPR here and a bottle that was enjoyed by a range of palates.

11/11/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Very convincing bottle. Cassis on the nose was pushed to the background in favor of truffles, old-school green notes, earth, with some florals peeking out after 90 minutes of air. Whereas the nose was more expansive, the palate was intriguingly compact: despite well-integrated tannins, the dense savory fruit makes me think this wine is just starting to show what it can do. A real treat.

11/11/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

A very pretty wine with seemingly ages left to go. Nose started off delicately, with tart cherries, cranberries, and autumnal leafy scents. The expressive nose filled out significantly over time with full-on forest floor and darker red fruits. As some other tasters have noted, I didn't find the palate as developed: it had tart berries, some earth, and filled out a bit with a touch of sweetness over time.
NB: Gave this a 3-hour decant before tasting and the wine showed best with around 4 1/2 hours of air.

11/5/2023 - anthroman wrote:

Showing very promising but also shut down at the same time. Drank over 3 hours. Red fruits, tobacco, herbs. Some Margaux florals came out early on but receded. Palate integrated well over the course of the bottle, but the finish remained astringent and tannic. I might recommend holding at this point or else a long decant to check in early.

10/29/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

First of a case, ~4 hour decant. Big nose: violets, red and black fruits, tobacco, light garrigue. Much more elegant and high-toned on the palate than the nose suggests. The wine wears its size well and evolved into something quite pretty over the course of a bottle. If you've got a bunch and are feeling curious, no harm in checking in now.

10/29/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Lots of Rieslingy goodness on the nose with tart citrus and red fruits on the palate. Almost like two different wines in one with lots of character. As Marcus mentioned in his tasting note, this would be perfect for a hot summer's day.

10/16/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Really enjoyable bottle. Gave it ~1 hour of air. Warm stone fruits, herbal notes, and perhaps some pineapple coming out over time. Actually less overt slate on the nose than I was expecting. Minerality comes through on the palate, though, alongside a very elegant juiciness. Finish is super dry with more stone fruits. Refreshing and complex. More to come with bottle age, I'm sure.

10/16/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

First experience with this producer. Riper than expected with blue-black fruits, allspice, and a meatiness that emerged more on the palate. Tannins make themselves noticed on the back end. This is a dense wine that's asking for (a lot of?) time. Still worth it to check in if you have a few and are curious like I was.

10/16/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Citrus and other green fruits on the nose, with pleasant waxy notes emerging over time. Tangy, rocky minerality on the palate with some nice textural presence. Very enjoyable.

8/31/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Gave this a 90-minute decant before diving in. At first, the nose had ripe raspberries, plums, some sweet earth, and vanilla in the background. Palate was less open, showing some red fruits and juicy acidity. Definitely got some of the allspice that Nutty08 mentions below.

After about 2 1/2 hours open, the vanilla became toasty oak that dominated the nose and palate. By the last glass, you could tell the wine was trying to integrate but wasn't there yet. There's a nice wine here with good depth, but on tonight's showing it appears to be in an awkward phase. If I had more bottles I'd be holding them for at least the medium term.

8/18/2023 - anthroman wrote:

This wine was all potential, even at 6 years old. Herbs, plums, cherries on the nose that grew meatier with air. A bit Rhône-like, and on the palate as well—this also got meatier with integration. Palate was tight and tannic and only started integrating after 3 hours. This wine has great depth of flavor but fairly astringent tannins on the back end. A serious wine that needs lots of time. I won’t touch my 2020s until 2030 or so.

7/27/2023 - anthroman wrote:

On opening, this was all cherries and plums on the nose. After an hour of air, everything got darker: damp garden scents and petrichor all over the place. On the palate, tart cherries and tangy acidity with tannins that gently let you know they're there. Worthy of some age for sure.

5/19/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

This was a really pleasant introduction to Foillard's wines for me. Right on opening I was hit with raspberry liqueur, cherries, and just a little sweet earthy funk that in French I'd call "une touche animale." Some flowers and spices came out more with ~90 minutes of air. The red-fruited palate was plush and generous, which I assume is the 2018 vintage making itself felt. The back end of the palate was distinctly chalky, the fine tannins eventually suggesting this wine has more to give with some cellar time.

All in all, this bottle straddled "lush" and "fresh" rather well. The nose especially reminded me more of Burgundy than other Beaujolais wines I've had.

4/16/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Very expressive on the nose, more so than I was expecting for a 2017 Volnay at this stage. Sweet earth, mushrooms, damp garden smells, crushed flower petals. Some sweeter red berries emerged over time. More expansive and sweet on the palate, with red fruits leading into a bright finish. Palate and finish could use a bit more depth, but I'd bet on these coming with more age. Very enjoyable overall.

4/8/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

I expected this to be shut down and was surprised at how well it drank after a three hour decant. At first the nose was intensely floral, with sweet spring flowers, blue fruits, with just a touch of barnyard way in the background. The flowers receded after the first glass and the nose got more savory with some red fruits also joining in. Palate was rather lush, with exceptionally gentle tannins reminding you just how good 2016 was in Bordeaux. Finish had gently peppery dark fruits. This wine was surprisingly giving at this stage but clearly also holding a lot in reserve for the patient. Try one now if you’ve got a case, but this seems like it will just cruise for 25 more years.

4/9/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Fresh pineapple nose that grew into apricots, grass, and some subtle smokiness. Slightly sweeter than I expected (but still very much off-dry), the palate was a bit more savory than the nose with zesty acidity keeping everything fresh and balanced. Finish felt both focused and expansive, with more ripe fruit. Excited to see this evolve from here and may wait another year or two before my next bottle, if I can keep my hands off them.

4/8/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Really lovely bottle. Had the most intense diesel nose at first that quickly morphed into tropical candied pineapple, mango, and honeyed green apples. Rich but somehow fresh and lightweight on the palate with ripe fruit and sweet brioche. Finish was long and gently peppered with the green apples returning. Among three of us the bottle was emptied quickly.

4/2/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Showing some restraint on the nose that opened up to salty citrus notes and just a faint hint of petrol. Palate seemed more open with inviting apple and unripe peach notes. Decidedly off-dry. Very drinkable and enjoyable if not too complex.

4/2/2023 - anthroman wrote:

A bit cheesy, funky, and spritzy on the nose; clearly showing young and not yet integrated. The funk blew off after a time and showed lots of sweet, fresh apple character. Perhaps this wasn't my style and/or this bottle was too young to evaluate.

4/1/2023 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Delightful, complex bottle. Petrol and slate on the nose at first, with pineapple and candied citrus coming out with a little air. Concentrated and cool on the palate with some honey and green apples before a slightly salty and tropical finish. A lovely riesling that speaks but doesn’t shout.

11/24/2022 - anthroman Likes this wine:

This bottle was a big hit. Rich raspberries and stony minerality on the nose with weight and drive on the gently tannic, dark red-fruited palate. I’m excited to see where this one goes and I’m willing to bet it fills out even more while developing extra complexity. Really like this one.

11/24/2022 - anthroman Likes this wine:

What a thoughtfully made wine. It began with red fruits, some forest floor, and bergamot and put on weight and depth over about two hours. The nose got increasingly savory and the palate grew richer with sweet soil mixed with gently tart cherries. The balance is great and the wine is deep but light on its feet. I’m excited to see what this looks like on, say, its tenth birthday. 92++ from me.

8/28/2022 - anthroman Likes this wine:

First had this wine in 2019 and this bottle was even better. Nose was all coconut, orange blossom, and maybe less spicy botrytis than my first bottle. Palate was just as rich and weightless as I remembered it. This Suduiraut is a sumptuous, fresh stunner and I'm so glad I have 11 more bottles to enjoy in the future.

8/21/2022 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Had the bottle at a restaurant so no super-formal notes, but this was very pleasant with clearly room to age and open up. Classically flinty and seashelly nose with some citrus coming out with time (and as the wine warmed up a bit). Nice persistence on the finish, too. Really pleased with this--I suspect the fruits will come out more with age and will nicely counterbalance the minerality. 93+ for me.

8/18/2022 - anthroman Likes this wine:

What a terrific bottle of wine for the money! I was super impressed. Nose of liquorice, fresh earth, petrichor, cherries, with cedar and pencil lead coming out with time in the decanter. On the palate at first dark red fruits with gentle tannins and, with time, blacker fruits and chocolate. The finish is on tart dark cherries and red fruits. Initially we gave this 1 hour in the decanter, and by hour two this was really singing. Quite pleased with this bottle, especially for the price.

7/3/2022 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Loved this bottle. Oyster shell, sea spray, and tangerines on the nose. Palate is juicy with oranges and a saline minerality. Moves into a long, focused finish on gently tart lemons. This wine has the stuffing to age a bit but it was great to try it young. 94++

12/24/2020 - anthroman wrote:

Cork was stiff and crumbly so I didn't know what to expect. Wine was corked, sadly, and smelled/tasted oxidized and musty.

12/24/2019 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Tried this one a bit on the warm side at first, and the nose was all spicy botrytis, the palate candies orange, more botrytis, and toasted almonds. Once we let the wine cool more the nose got more tropical and the palate got nicely tense with rich sweetness balancing out tangy noble rot. All in all, a pleasant if unsophisticated Sauternes that did well for Xmas eve cheese plate. I’d recommend you serve this slightly cooler than you would other Sauternes.

1/18/2019 - anthroman Likes this wine:

Drank with friends, so no super-formal notes, but this bottle was rocking! Wonderful spicy botrytis, coconut, and rich tropical fruit all over the place. The wine was rich and weighty without at all being heavy. Just a great bottle and wish I had more!