5/23/2023 - bitdrerik wrote:

Eðalklúbburinn í Búrgundarhéraðinu.; 5/21/2023-5/27/2023 (Búrgundarhéraðið.): Veitingastaður. Auberge De La Patte D'Oie.
Bresse kjúklingur og þetta vín var alveg ágætis pörun.

5/22/2023 - bitdrerik wrote:

Eðalklúbburinn í Búrgundarhéraðinu.; 5/21/2023-5/27/2023 (Búrgundarhéraðið.): Veitingastaður í Chablis.
Sniglar voru líka það sem stóð upp úr hérna. Ásamt reyndar ostaplatta í eftirrétt.

3/20/2023 - sirpat00 wrote:

Grand Bordeaux 2003 horizontal tasting (Fribourg): Bordeaux 2003 vintage horizontal hosted by a private collector and moderated by Jean-Marc Quarin. Main observations: 1/ Average quality is acceptable, but weighted down by various low-lights, esp. on the right bank. 2/ In general a tannic vintage, lacking balance. 3/ Top 3 wines were Lafite, Mouton and Margaux (all 95). See the tasting story for a complete overview and additional vintage comments.

Tasting note:
Burned sugar and Cognac-like features, but with dominant off-notes.

10/4/2018 - Woodbridge Brad wrote:

Comparison Tasting of Sweet Vermouths; 9/26/2018-11/17/2018 (Home): Oregano is the only aromatic, sweet and innocuous in the mouth. Slight bitter and strange chemical mouthfeel. Okay for cooking but not much else. Definite last place in the flight.

12/4/2022 - Gnome Likes this wine:

Blind tasting of flagship and second wines from California and Washington. Biggest takeaway is how well the second wines stood up to their bigger siblings. #1 in the tasting. Despite being "young" for a Monte Bello this was well-aged - matching the guidance that this vintage is early maturing. Rich nose of spice and herbs. Nice, very balanced body with smooth tannins, just-right acid and layers of complexity. Long finish. While this didn't jump out ahead of the other wines immediately, it's the one I kept coming back to as being the most delicious and interesting. Full list and rankings below.

1. 2011 Ridge Monte Bello
2. 2013 Joseph Phelps Cabernet
3. 2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet
4. 2011 Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet
5. 2013 Joseph Phelps Insignia
6. 2012 Quilceda Creek CVR
7. 2011 Ridge Estate Cabernet
(Flawed) 2011 Pride Mountain Cabernet

11/12/2022 - galewskj wrote:

Group dinner with Marvin (The Kenwood): Pretty much exactly how a bottle 11 months ago tasted, maybe even more secondary/tertiary qualities. Big, dark, deep, meaty, olive tapenade, dense, crazy complex. I commented that this wine has chest hair. My 5000th note!

5/5/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine:

Scored as 'Oh my God, I am going to dump the wife, never touch porn again, pay my taxes, take up religion and elope with a case of this' on the CT Scale. I could score it a point or two higher, but I am mean and nasty, as opposed to 'hot and nasty' (that's for all you Black Oak Arkansas fans). Under the quixotic cork to keep us guessing as it ages. Not decanted, note made the day after opening.

Colour is verging on inky and as you tilt the glass there is little fading to the rim. Powerful vintage, powerful colour and that looks to equal powerful wine; but will it be too much? That's always the worry with the 'big' years and with Grenache it is a fine line between getting ripe tannins and nice perfume, or an over-ripe, very alcoholic port substitute (but without the depth).

The wine evolves enormously over the course of 24 hours. Early on it is potent, Grenache dominant. Then the other components start to well up and I am much happier. Now we get Grenache perfume of raspberry and strawberry, some earth and iron filings, blueberry and something I want to call plum, but that doesn't quite feel right. Oh for a more articulate palate! Tannins are fine, ripe and hold it all together. There is just enough acid to keep it fresh. The finish is long indeed and the wine fills the mouth without coating it and without being flabby. So, this wine escapes the power trap. It is a potent wine but not over-ripe.

This is not a cheap wine, in Oz in pure dollar terms, but it is a cheap wine in terms of what you get. It is substantially cheaper than many of our more expensive 'totem' wines and whilst the comparison is tricky (given our totem reds are Shiraz or Cabernet), I think it is valid in terms of 'value'.

A side note would be that I have seen some comments that there is oak in this wine. I have to say that would (pardon the pun) be my thought as well - the texture suggests some tasteful oak providing some creaminess and there are hints of what I would call oak spiciness on the nose. However, what I read is that the maker is quite averse to oak. perhaps what we have is ripe fruit, concentration and creaminess from the fermentation and time on lees? Maybe it doesn't matter much if the effect is good?

I encourage you to buy this, but do it by forwarding funds (crypto only I think, don't you?) and your account details to me. I promise to not just buy the wine but hold it for you. Trust me, I'm a lawyer.

2/26/2022 - Everything Ahead wrote:

This was an older bottle (2014 disgorgement) from a purchase a few years ago, and we loved it, sucking it down extremely quickly ... Pear, yeast, cream and toasted hazelnuts, with dense extract and great acidity and dryness. This is killer QPR, and if you want to make some grower bubbly snobs (you know who you are) blush, sneak an older bottle this in to a blind Champagne tasting; it could easily pass for a $100+ bottle. (I haven't had newer editions, which might not be up to this level, but will have to grab some more current releases in the name of science :)

12/25/2021 - hoservin Likes this wine:

Decanted for 1.5 hours. Nose of blackberry liquor, blueberry, chocolate, espresso, spice and bramble. Black and blue fruit, chocolate, bramble, vanilla and spice on the palate. Long, layered finish. Full bodied and dense. Gorgeous wine. Served with a Swedish buffet.

12/31/2021 - Gilles Dupont wrote:

Simply perfect champagne, nothing else to say. Am fortunate to have quite some bottles in my cellar, but will consider buying more. Wil only improve in years to come. In +10 years, will be out of this world champagne.

11/12/2021 - bitdrerik wrote:

Eðalklúbbur, haustsmakk #2 2021 (Hlíðarás 10): Frekar ljós litur. Í nefinu mátti finna: Fjós, þroskaðan ost, vanillu og jarðarber. Á tungunni voru: Ávextir í bragði. Vanilla og smá fjós. Frekar létt vín með talsverðri sýru. Í eftirbragði var bruni og banani ásamt einhvers konar málmbragði. Það var rætt um það að þetta ætti örugglega vel með lambi. Fínt vín.

11/19/2021 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine:

Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Wow. Een explosie van aroma’s. Een super-subtiele versie van boerenjongens. Vleesjus. Krachtig. Donkere chocola. Smaak / Afdronk: En weer een wijn om in plakjes te snijden. Wat een concentratie. Dik-sappig. Zoetige tannines. Super lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Heel veel van alles. Super geconcentreerd maar tegelijkertijd super-gelaagd. Op dit moment SUBLIEM. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 98/100

Colour: Deep impenetrable ruby red Aroma / bouquet: Wow. An explosion of aromas. A super-subtle version of farm boys. meat gravy. Powerful. Dark chocolate. Taste / Aftertaste: And another wine to cut into slices. What a concentration. Thick-juicy. Sweet tannins. Super long finish. General / potential: A lot of everything. Super concentrated but super-layered at the same time. SUBLIME at the moment. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 15 + Taste / Aftertaste: 19 + General / Potential: 9 = 98/100

8/27/2021 - bitdrerik wrote:

Eðalklúbbur, sumarsmakk #2 2021 (Hlíðarás 10): Hraðsmakk:
Meðaldökkt á litinn. Þægileg lykt. Leður, sólber og brennt gúmmí. Á tungunni: Þægilegt berjabragð. Svo kaffi í lokin. Fínt jafnvægi. Vantar samt fyllingu til að vera virkilega gott. Kostar líka 23,5€. Er ekki nægilega gott til að fylla upp í þann verðmiða.

8/12/2021 - Skyhouse Does not like this wine:

Flat. Tossed it down the kitchen sink

2/12/2021 - bitdrerik wrote:

Eðalklúbbur, vínsmakk #2 vor 2021 (Hlíðarás 10): Fyrsta flaskan í þriggja árganga Ygay smakki. Byrjað á yngstu flöskunni. Frekar dökkur litur. Frekar lokað þegar fyrst þefað af því. Síðan heyrðist talað um vínkjallara, ryk og sítrusbörk. Frekar þungir ilmtónar allavega í byrjun. Svo komu viðarlykt, dökkir ávextir, marsípan og lakk. Þegar var dreypt á víninu þá var fágun fyrsta orðið sem kom upp í hugann. Mjög flott jafnvægi í byrjun. Einhver minntist á að flækjustigið væri ekki nógu mikið. Vínið bragðaðist nánast eins frá byrjun til loka sopa. Eftir því sem á leið þá urðu sýra, eik og tannín meira áberandi. Þá komu einnig fram tónar eins og lakkrís og greni eða fura.
Það truflaði mig og reyndar fleiri í smakkinu hvað eikin er rosalega mikil ennþá. Ég held að það þurfi að geyma þetta vín í a.m.k. 10 ár og vona að eikin eigi eftir að samlagast víninu. Ekki samt alveg viss með það. Gef ekki einkunn að þessu sinni. Vínið er ekki tilbúið til þess.

12/24/2020 - fotomill Likes this wine:

15% alcohol, blend of 45% Garnatxa, 29% Carinyana, 16% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense, slightly purplish, garnet, almost full bodied, mixture of fresh berries, mostly blueberry, blackberry plus some raspberry. Right touch of woods, spices. Plenty of tannins but quite smooth. Excellent mid palate. With some aeration it smells like quite modern but classy Bordeaux. Best on day 1 and 2. 93.5~94/100.

9/26/2020 - robferguson1 wrote:

Needs more time but typical quality drop

6/5/2020 - GFischmann Likes this wine:

Wonderful dark berry fruit with continued fullness and balanced tannins with acidity. Great oak flavors very smooth. Tertiary notes of leather, chocolate and moist earth.

5/18/2020 - Jammy Wine wrote:

Interestingly this bottle of Chianti Classico was bottled in screwcap, a closure I personally quite support. Tasted blind – Fragrant profile of dark chocolate, rich and juicy blackberries and smokey wood. Rich and concentrated with great ripeness. Bold and structured but it doesn’t lack fruits or charm. 2013? Brunelle di Montalcino? (85/100)

5/7/2020 - Ortiz Brown Likes this wine:

What can I say about this champagne that others haven’t said. I’ll just share my champagne story. You see, I come from peasant roots, proletariat at best. I’ve enjoyed, more or less, champagne around the $20 price point. And surprise! It was unimpressive. So I’d written off champagne as something that just wasn’t worth my time. Better to imbibe with Chardonnay or even Sauvignon Blanc. Even all the somms saying, “Champagne is my favorite! Blah blah blah…” didn’t impress me. (You wouldn’t be wrong to judge me.)

But then my wife changed my life. She splurged $60 on this Bollinger, and we’ve held onto it for the last couple of years. With the Covid stay-at-home brouhaha and her birthday smack dab in the middle of it, we decided to open ‘er up last week.

And boy oh boy oh boy, were we pleased! It’s really good, as others have already said. I’m sure there’s even better champagne out there, but this one has a vibrancy and complexity that we haven’t experienced with cheaper bottles. (Duh.) I think my wife drank most of it, so I didn’t get to enjoy as much as I would’ve liked, but it was her birthday, so there’s that.

I leave this Bollinger experience disappointed and angry. Disappointed because we don’t have any more in the cellar (basement), and angry because none of you thought to tell me that I really, really needed to up my game in the champagne department. Lesson learned, though. We have much to explore.

11/29/2019 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine:

I have a rule, well, more like a guideline. Once in awhile I may open a bottle of wine and start drinking while attending to dinner. If the recipe is a more exhausted one or takes longer, it usually makes drinking a little easier but also tends to put me on the better side of a full bottle or the whole ball of wax (okay, I don’t drink wax, its only wine). Being a responsible adult (oh my, that makes me sound like my father), I don’t leave the house and since I’m a little bigger (mind you I didn’t say heavier), I can drink a bottle over a couple of hours and feel no residual effects. Usually! The rule I’m referring to is that I will generally not drink the following day. No specific reason, just a “drying out” period so to speak.

That happened just the other day as I was preparing the Risotto for my Lamb Chops that went with the SAMsARA Syrah that I wrote about the other day. Well, the following day I knew I was going to prepare my Ceviche that I love and for which I had bought some wonderful Bay Scallops for just that recipe. Now I had to prepare the Ceviche earlier in the day as it needs to “cook” the scallops for a few hours. That was a pretty quick and easy job. It did get me thinking that while I shouldn’t drink, how could I let those wonderful scallops hold up the entire meal on their own? No, not even I could put that kind of pressure on those delicate morsels of seafood. It demanded that I open something. Can you just feel the tension building?

The good news is that since the Ceviche was already made, I didn’t have the long preparation time I had with the Lamb Chops the day earlier. That meant that I could restrict my intake of wine to just mealtime. My mind a flutter with what to drink, I went to my CellarTracker App (if you need a good way to keep track of your cellar, well the title speaks for itself), and started rummaging through the wines, looking at the whites predominantly.

Then I saw it, the perfect bottle (should I be using the word perfect? I think there is a famous person that throws that term around a lot and I wouldn’t want to infringe on that). Let’s just say I saw the absolutely bestest impeccable wine for the dinner. (Too much I know, but what the hey).

Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé

What better to go with the meal but Champagne, and even better, a Rosé Champagne! It even hit me that I would be able to use what I didn’t drink that evening the next day as I was having Seared Tuna Steak. A perfect (whoops, there’s that word again), piece just big enough but not too big (oh, here’s where I can use my Goldilocks and the Bears analogy), it was “just right.” Plenty of Champagne stoppers to keep the bubbles in tack for another day as well. What a great way to enjoy and evening; a lighter entrée and that whisper of bubbles to fulfill and enhance a tasty meal.

The Champagne is blended using 40% Chardonnay sourced from the best Crus in the Champagne region, 30 % Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, and 30% Pinot Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Epernay and aged on lees for 36 months. It’s pale red nectar emanating a delicate floral and subtle red fruit aroma from my glass (note the same glassware for wine and food). A sip, and you perceive the sensation of a crisp yet almost creamy sensation followed by what I can only call a very light tart cherry note along with a hint of Strawberry.

While I have not had this Champagne long, it has been in my cellar for at least 2 years. It also could have been on the store’s shelf for a short time as well. I mention this as, like most wines, Sparkling wines are usually drunk soon after purchase, so a little age on this wine I’m sure changed its profile over what is in bottles today. I actually found the palate to be most pleasurable given the additional time in bottle, over what is usually a more pronounced bright cherry and/or strawberry flavor.

A delightful and memorable evening which will be duplicated this evening as I finish the Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé with the Seared Tuna Steak I have planned. So don’t be afraid to break another somewhat unofficial rule and drink some bubbly before during and after the Holidays. I know I will!

Cheers

8/25/2008 - Alex H wrote:

Spanish Gems from World Class Producers (Caveau): This release is a blend of the 1985, 1991 and 1996 vintages. Dark red to purple. Dark cherries and coffee oak on the nose. Good fruit of dark berries with powdery tannins.

8/16/2019 - bitdrerik wrote:

Eðalklúbbur, vínsmakk #1 haust 2019 (Bólstaðarhlíð 29): Frekar dökkt á litinn. Mjög hvöss og ágeng lykt. Græn tannín, paprika í byrjun. Síðan öskubakki, leysiefni, tjara. Á tungunni frekar mikil stemma í byrjun. Lítill ávöxtur. Tóbaksbragð, lakkrís, einiber, krækiber. Svipað að gæðum og Remelluri. Remelluri samt miklubetri kaup. Kostar rétt rúmlega helming af Casa.

6/14/2019 - pavel_p Does not like this wine:

Bought a few more bottles at auction recently, and hope this particular bottle was a storage issue. Relatively low bottom neck fill for an 07. Pnp. Clear bricking towards a fairly wide clear rim. Pleasant initially even if not particularly complex. With more air this picks up a lot of medicinal and oxidative notes. Probably not a properly stored bottle, still this showing makes me again think that one should drink these within the next five years, and not until 2047 as Galloni suggested...

6/14/2019 - honest bob wrote:

From 75cl, short, spongey cork extracted intact. Lot L05006J. TCA. Not quite as badly corked as the previous bottle, but only barely drinkable.

5/3/2019 - bitdrerik wrote:

Priorat wine fair 2019 (and related events); 5/2/2019-5/9/2019 (Tarragona and various places in Priorat): This has not officially been bottled yet. As could be seen by altered vintage on the bottle by hand. This is a trademark Priorat. Very dark fruit. Lots of minerals. Good balance in spite of young age. Will get better and is already quite good. Costs between 50 and 60€.

5/3/2019 - bitdrerik wrote:

Priorat wine fair 2019 (and related events); 5/2/2019-5/9/2019 (Tarragona and various places in Priorat): Very good wine. Very dark notes. At the same time fresh and balanced. One of the best wines if not the best wine of this event.

3/25/2019 - Zweder wrote:

Weekly tasting group RWP #325; North and the Centre of Italy (@ VD): In the bouquet vegetable soup and tertiary organic flavors. On the palate licorice, chocolate, ripe fruits, mushrooms and other tertiary impressions. The wine was stored in a proper cellar since release, so we wondered if this is an off bottle. Not sure and no score.

3/8/2019 - ADB22 wrote:

Wonderful. Buy again

10/27/2018 - bitdrerik wrote:

Matarboð hjá vínklúbbnum. Magnum flaska. Drukkið með forrétti, sem var blanda af þremur mismunandi fyllingum ofan á kexi. Foie gras, reyktur lax og grafin gæs. Drappierinn var flottur með þessu öllu saman. Í bragðinu voru jarðarber, síðan rauð epli og marsípan. Ekki mikið af brauði eða geri. Mjög flott frammistaða. Magnum kostar 13k núna í ríkinu.

4/2/2018 - bitdrerik wrote:

Coravin Kraze (Njálsgata 6): Talsvert dekkra en vínin tvö á undan. Líka farin að koma brúnka í jaðrana. Kannski ekki skrítið því vinið er 14 ára gamalt. Lokað í byrjun. Opnast við þyrlun. Mjög dökkir og þungir tónar. Paprika, leysiefni. Jafnvel ananas í nefi. Á tungunni dökkir ávextir, brómber. Karamella og brenndir tónar. Mikil sýra. Gott jafnvægi. Frábært vín.

2/16/2018 - Love Good Wine Likes this wine:

Opened two hours then enjoyed with lamb shanks in an herb-infused red wine braise—fabulous!
I am wondering what’s up with some WS ratings. This is a fine wine—not the very best example of The Dead Arm but still very very good. Years left. It was complex and interesting, evolving through the evening.

11/11/2017 - greedy wrote:

Not good. Tart sour finish. No trace of fruit at this point.

Will be marching this back to the store. But will keep one bottle for future to see if it goes anywhere. I like a cheap sparkling rose from Niagara Canada Better than this. No flavor and small nose.

6/2/2017 - The years of the grape wrote:

You can't really go wrong with this one: ripe fruit (peach, apple), nutty, savoury, bready aromas screaming "Champagne" to your nose. Well tuned acidity and creamy mousse in the mouth, softer style. Good length.
Maybe not the most personal cuvee out there, but fit to every palate.

2/19/2016 - bitdrerik Likes this wine:

Kloden rundt. Vínsmakk hjá deildinni. (Njálsgata 6): Fimmta vínið í smakkinu var Il Poggione Brunello. Víninu var umhellt tvisvar fimm tímum fyrir smakk og látið svo standa á flöskunni. Frekar ljóst á litinn, ekki samt alveg eins ljóst og fyrsta vínið. Ilmurinn var mjög flottur. Langflottasti ilmur kvöldsins. Ítölsk sveit, jarðartónar. Mjög bjartur ilmur. Í munni voru kirsuber áberandi. Einnig jarðartónar. Vínið er ungt og á því líklega eftir að taka út þroska og batna. Í mínum huga besta vín kvöldsins en langt frá því að vera bestu kaupin. Altos negldi það rækilega.

10/24/2015 - jens.thogersen wrote:

Vertical tasting

Chateau Suduiraut 1982
Deep Amber
Definitely signs of crime brule, showing age, smells like its one downward slope, smells old, almost to the point of flawed. Nose reminds me of sherry after a while.
Deep powerful dried fruit, apricot, safron, plums a hint of raisins. Loads of sherry. You feel some of the alcohol.
Medium lengt
83

Chateau Suduiraut 2002
Medium Amber
First in the flight that shows some freshness on the nose, ripe pineapple, safron, spice.
Spicy, slightly dried pineapple, apricot
Slightly on the sweet side. Lacking some acidity
88


Chateau Suduiraut 2008
Amber in color
Nice nose, fresh pineapple juice, honey, some apricot, passionfruit.
More balanced sweetness and acidity, ripe pineapple slightly dried apricot, akacia honey, slight hint of safron
90

Chateau Suduiraut 2009
Starting to change from a ver light color to light color
Slightly more oumpf on the nose, lots of fresh ripe exotic fruit, pineapple, passionfruit, apricot.
Nose is balanced.

Honey, exotic fruits, loads of sweetness but the acidity backs it all up! Very complex fantastic. Spicy some botrytis
Very powerful!
Long taste
Very balanced
Beautiful
96

Chateau Suduiraut 2010
Light Amber
Nose is slightly more honeyd than fruity, safron, spicy,

Acidity is domintating slightly, some heat, spicy, slight taste of very ripe pear. Not as complex as 2009. Quite nice but very simple compared to 2009
91

Chateau Suduiraut 2011
Light Amber
Might be the most powerful nose on the flight. Loads of power on the nose. Lots of exotic fruit with a lot of power. This is a lot fresher fruity then the others. Very big difference.

Balanced sweetness and acidity, this is good! Almost as good as 2009, way better than 2010.
Fresh exotic fruit, very pure! Pineapple, a hint of spice, apricots, honey,
Very nice wine indeed.
95

5/30/2014 - joshbryer Does not like this wine:

Obviously not to my taste, as I'm completely contrary to the notes here as well as others at the tasting....

Sweet red fruit on the nose, lots of heat. I felt this was a bit bretty as well. Total mess of a wine dominated by alcohol and muddled overripe, sweet flavors.

2/26/2013 - Krugman wrote:

This was my wife's first pick for her birthday champagne. The Billecart Salmon brut rose has always been one of her top choices. Not only is it very easy to drink, but this rose has a subtlety and finesse to it that most roses are lacking. As a result, the fruit and sweetness are never overpowering and everything stays in balance. The flavors are very strawberry cream centric with wet stone and flint being the most prominent part of its minerality. This is very easy to drink and enjoy. However, sometimes I do find that it is lacking a bit of complexity and can come across as a bit to polished. However, those are minor complaints when you just want a good rose champagne without having to analyze it to much.