3/24/2024 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Excellent, dry white that was perfect with clams this evening. More floral than fruity, this seemed good to go and not sure I’m going to lay down my remaining bottle too long.

Great white to have now while waiting for my other Kobayashi whites (MR) to come around.

3/9/2024 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

The Sandlands Grenache and Trousseau are, in my opinion, their two best wines. After laying my only bottle down for a few years, I was making lamb and decided today was the day.

Did not get a pepper I expected from a Grenache. This was slightly herbal, almost an oolong or black tea while still having deep fruit and good body. Nothing particularly spectacular but as a whole this was amazing. This was so easy to drink, and amazing with food, but at the same time there was plenty to think about for the times I paid attention.

Could go a few more years, but for me this was in a great place and I wish I had more.

2/8/2024 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Lovely already. Seemed simple at opening but after 29 minutes, developed a slight crunchy texture with a lightly spicy but gentle, smooth finish.

The right blend of interesting but not being too much of a thinker (in a good way). Type of wine any drinker could enjoy and appreciate.

So good now. Need to save my other bottle for a few years down the road but this is anything but a a mistake to drink today.

9/11/2023 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

I worry the sub-90 point score will be read as if I didn’t like this. I did! Perfect with some steaks on a school night. Bright red/cherry fruit with little to no oak and improves with 30 minutes of air. Not an ager or as impressive or interesting as the Turley zins, but glad I had this on hand tonight. Ok value for nappa but feel I can do better for the money (other regions or a comparable zin).

8/12/2023 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Brought this for corkage at a restaurant and I was as nervous as the somm when it was opened. I didn’t have a backup and my hopes were high on this one. The pour was full of bubbles, the color was a perfect golden hue. It was as if the little splash of Krug smiled at me from the glass as it hit the bottom for the initial taste that was poured. I knew from the look it would be good before even trying it.

Honey, Carmel, and fruit on the nose and the perfect bit of acidity on the palate with a finish that lingers. Perfect bottle (no good wines, just bottles as they say) and this delivered beyond my hopes and expectations. I had a rough day and the opportunity and occasion to enjoy this wine changed everything. Thoroughly enjoyed over two hours and slowly drinking from Chardonnay glasses was perfect. It opened up after 20-30 minutes and never got tired. The wine worked with every dish I threw at it; appetizers, fish, meat, desserts.

Can’t imaging this will get any better an couldn’t ask for more. Not just the best champagne I have ever had, but the best wine I have ever had.

I need to cellar a lot more Champagne.

6/27/2023 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Just hit the spot! Red fruit, spice, pomegranate, but just the right abv and acidity for our dinner (ground beef and buckwheat noodles). Have a little mor fruit with air, but I definitely preferred this at cellar temp. Could get interesting in a few years but for me this is ready to go while I wait on the Maturo.

3/25/2023 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good. As soon as I smelled it I upgraded to my nicer Bordeaux glasses (started in a stemless glass because that was around).

Floral nose, cab heavy and fruity but not polished or glossy like so many extracted wines today. Have not heard of this producer before but I am definitely a buyer of this wine at this vintage. Only negative was the overweight, oversized bottle. Yes, it feels premium but seemed overkill. I’d rather the bottle stayed small and these not stick out so they remain undiscovered and I can keep buying them.

12/24/2022 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Disgorged Aug 2019. I almost wanted to not like this, but this was excellent. Right out the gate, a sip was crisp. Sweeter than I expected, my mouth was left watering for minutes. Had to hold back to make sure I didn’t drink it too quickly. After an hour the salinity and acidity started to show.

Trying this bottle was like playing chess after years of playing checkers with other wines. This was not just a great champagne but a phenomenal wine in general and will likely get better and more integrated in time. Very, very confused by many of the mixed and negative tasting notes below.

11/25/2022 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

American Pinot for Thanksgiving. Oldest Belle Pente I have had to date, and at 10 this was in a sweet spot. Not sure this particular vintage would get better but it was ready to go. Slight heat on the finish from this big vintage in Oregon, but not bad compared to some other 2012s I have tasted. Drink now - great with Turkey!

10/27/2022 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Last of my 3 bottles and, for my tastes, its time to drink up. Smooth and solid value pomerol (is there such a thing anymore) but not quite as good as the previous bottle in 2020.

2/14/2022 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

This was ready to go after 30 minutes of air. Typical amount of sediment and did not taste hot even though the label calls it out at 14.5%.

Saved a glass for the next day and it was just as good. Don’t think this will improve, but I think it will hold for a few years.

1/7/2022 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

And now for something completely different. On the advice of many comments on CT, I let this breathe for 5 hours after pouring a glass out and drank a slowly over and after dinner for a few hours. This was already dry smooth and interesting when opened, but it became expressive and mellow after a lot of air. Earthy tones and integrated tannin have way to a brief kiss of fruit followed by a good 15-20 second finish.

This tastes like the wine equivalent of your father’s baseball mitt - slightly earthy smell, oddly comfortable, worn in just the right way, and unlike anything you can buy or find today. Label says 12.5%; why can’t winemakers today keep things like this? Can’t image anything from 2015+ will ever taste like this.

First time having this producer so I’m not sure this will get better, but this bottle felt young with only a slight bricking color for a 24 year old. No rush if you want to wait a few years.

11/25/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

2018 base.

Opened for Thanksgiving and consumed in Chardonnay glasses. This got better with air but didn’t make it to the food. Not as polished or oxidized as some other growers but the was great juice. Low dosage (2.5g) but was not too dry to drink on its own.

Definitely a geeky option, but I was more impressed with this than the entry level bereche. Don’t buy this so the price stays low!

12/3/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

06/21 disgorgement date. Great as always, especially with air. Nose of peach and limestone, slightly oxidized finish. Better with air but I wouldn’t age this; recommend drinking out of white wine glasses. Drinks dry for 7g/l.

Only complaint is this is a relatively simple/predictable baseline bottle of bubbles, perhaps as it should be. Includes purchased fruit but I don’t mind since it beats the pants out of large house champagne at this price point.

11/25/2021 - JBLevinson Does not like this wine:

Disappointing bottle since I love Benanti and think their base etna is fantastic. This was tannic with little fruit and low to no acid.

Was better with food, but I found I liked this wine less with each sip. For the cost, I’d rather pay a little more for rovitello or save and get a bottle of their base etna rosso.

11/19/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

2017 disgorge date. What a wine and showing well. Fine but great bubbles. Had the restaurant serve this in Chardonnay glasses and not chill the bottle in a champagne bucket but instead leave it on the table.

After 30 minutes of air, this baby was singing! Had the reductive petrol nose of a Riesling but a crisp and slightly sweet bite on initial sip. The finish lingered and kept changing with each sip and glass. It was too easy to finish the bottle.

Can’t think of too many other “wow, this is different” wines that really require thought and attention when you are drinking them. These are as much an experience as they are a good bottle of wine.

11/14/2021 - JBLevinson Does not like this wine:

Couldn’t quite get what I wanted from this wine. Slight tart cherry on the nose and some funk/must that blew off with a few hours of air. After about half a glass it was clear this was not for me. The finish was a little to funky (not quite Brett but something off) and there was not a lot of fruit, especially considering the big 2019 vintage in Beaujolais.

Similar finish from a 2019 Regnie from this producer from a different retailer.

10/31/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Big, thick Syrah heavy Rhône blend. Was okay and quite closed on opening - gave it an hour of air before having with an elk burger topped with mushrooms. I was worried about the 14.9 label but, with food, the fruitiness of the young Syrah delivered.

Had 1/3 bottle left in the fridge overnight, and it was more integrated and less abruptly oaky on the nose day 2.

Compared to my memory of the 16 and 17, this was not as dynamic but perhaps better made than past vintages.

I’m going to lay down my other bottle for 3-5 years.

9/6/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

One of the better village chambolles I have ever had. Young but drinking well now with enough air. Tried a sip on opening and got a lot of red cherry fruit but with a slight tannic bite.

Two hours in the decanter did wonders for the wine. The nose was slightly floral after air and I got the sous bois I look for in burgundy. There was enough fruit and acidity to lay this down for a few more years. Nice long, 20-30 second finish. Good on it’s own and sang with food.

7/20/2021 - JBLevinson wrote:

Disappointing after having some similar Oregon options in this price point (eyrie, belle pente, Cristom, evesham wood, good fellow). This was a bigger but simpler Pinot, with not much finish. Inoffensive but not something I wish I had more of.

A few hours of air helped, but I think there are better options at the same cost.

6/17/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Better than my previous bottle; meant to keep this for a year later but life is short and this wine was ready.

Seems more complex than the Turley cinsault and was gone before we knew it. Just enough fruit followed by some fun, but not overbearing, pepper in the finish.

Drink up! Wish I had more.

6/5/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Generous mailing list gift and better than I though it would be. Not a thinker, but the pepper from the grenache as well as the fruit and funk from the syrah were there. A hint of brett gave this a little je ne sais quoi that worked. Served with savory style pork chops and it was better with the food.

Drink up! This will hold but I don’t see this getting better in the next few years.

5/4/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Good as usual, but you can taste the heat on this vintage. Recommend a long decant and was better served slightly below cellar temperature.

4/25/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Basically a heavy rose, and I mean that in a good way (I’m not a big rose fan). Good fruit and white pepper on the nose, and enough bite for grilled chicken thighs. I thought this had a little more going on than a Turley Cinsault (same winemaker) that I had last year.

I try (emphasis on try) to wait a few years on most Sandlands bottles, but these seem ready to go. I plan on enjoying my other bottle in the next 1-2 years.

4/16/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

I knew it was too young, but I have been hearing good things about this producer and have had some success with some 2014s given enough air. Label says 14% but I read it was 13.7 which seemed promising.

Super disjointed when I opened it and even after 3 hours in the decanter. But after dinner, right when I was giving up, this baby mellowed and was delicious. Blackberry, tabun, and mineral bomb that is more modern than I prefer but I could appreciate the wine and effort behind it. The finish was long and drying.

in the next few years, I recommend opening this and decanting at lunch to enjoy with dinner.

4/12/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Adam. Kabinett. Decent (but perhaps not 2015/2019 level) year. What’s not to like?

Started at fridge temp and ready to go after 30 minutes in the glass. Had a glass left (rare leftovers from when I drink this producer) and it was better on day 2.

4/11/2021 - JBLevinson Does not like this wine:

Brett bomb is an understatement - this place wine completely smelled and tasted of horse manure. Two hours of air in my decanter didn’t do much for the nose or the palate. Some acidity but very little to no fruit and I can’t see this integrating since it’s already been over 5 years.

Funk fanatics might like this wine but I was disappointed - I thought you couldn’t mess up 2015 in Northern Rhone.

4/10/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Super good! This wine made me question my preconceived notion that Greek wine is not great and can’t age. Not as dynamic or as much of a thinker as a “classic grape”, but this was great after 1-2 hours in the decanter.

4/2/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

First time having the Griffe - I hated how much I like it since it is not easy to find. Nose was super floral, earthy, and slightly funky when opened. It mellowed out after an hour and really sung with food. Can these age? I’m sure. But they are so so good now. I have 2 glasses saved in Boston round bottles to track this over the next few days.

This was my only bottle and I almost don’t want to write this not until I can track down a few more. Curious how these will hold up in 10-15 years as well as how this compares to a bigger vintage like 2018.

3/5/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Don’t buy this so I can get more! Defaix does the aging for you so you don’t have to lay down a $30 bottle for 15 years. Good mineralogy, no oak, and drinking just right. Paired with salmon and it was good on its own and with food after an hour of air. I think I need to buy a bottle of two each year just to keep this on hand.

2/14/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Infanticide on a 375 because I wanted a pulse on the 2019s. Wow. Super crisp with peel the paint off the wall acidity (in a good way). Slight citrus on the tongue with loads of stone and minerals on the palate. The finish is long and lingering- you can still taste the wound up flavors 30-40 seconds after each sip.

Excellent now but obviously primal. I’m excited about the future of this wine and the 2019 vintage as a whole.

1/30/2021 - JBLevinson Does not like this wine:

Ok but nothing to write home about. Palate was short and not fruity. For the price, this was fine but I will not purchase again.

1/16/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Delicious if not sweet for a Spatlese; thinking this must have been what old auslese tasted like. Opened at fridge temp, poured out glass, and let the bottle warm up for a few hours. Wine was perfect just slightly below room temp and is drinking well if not young. Lots of fruit but enough acidity to balance. Was expecting but didn't get any petrol. I'd say it's just entering it's very long drinking window but can cellar for at least 10 more years.

1/10/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

My first Musar experience. I followed the directions on the bottle to stand it up before serving (I did this for 48 hours), use an ah-so to pull the cork, and decant (I did for 2 hours.

Before decanting this was simple, with more acidity and less tannin than expected. Two hours later it opened up, expressing raspberry fruit and a hint of something interesting that I couldn't quite put my finger on (Musariness?). I saved a glass in a refrigerated bottle for the next day. It was good on day 2, but lost the fruit that I enjoyed on day 1 but did not pick up anything new.

Overall, trying this has me intreagued to try Musar from some other vintages but I'm not ready to get more 2011s. I would drink now with a decant.

1/8/2021 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Yum! Opened and decanted for an hour before serving. Lots of raspberry but not tart. I thought it would only be for near term, but I save a glass for the next day and it held up well. Not a thinker, but great on it's own or with food

1/2/2021 - JBLevinson wrote:

It's ok for an etna rosso. Gluggable, but none of the mineralogy and crispness you typically get from an etna red. Don't get me wrong - this was clean and we'll made; but I look for something interesting when I reach for a red from etna. Drink up if you have this. I don't see enough backbone for this to improve and you loose the fruit with more time.

At retail this is a terrible value. The ~$30usd I paid it was fine but not something I want to lay down or re-buy. In my opinion, there are much better values from other producers on etna.

12/24/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

2017 base; disgorged 25/06/2020. Very interesting and young. Served from the fridge and it opened up with time and as it warmed in the glass. Surprising amount of crisp citrus, lemon peel, wet limestone. This is much different than anything I have had, and there is enough salinity to make me think these can age for a little while.

Also, although it doesn't matter for the wine, it's worth noting the labels are fantastic and very consumer friendly. Love the larmat maps and detailed info about the wine, base year, etc.

12/5/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Yum. Still young, great balance of acidity and sweetness. Traditional Kabinett. Wish I had more.

11/28/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Yum! Served chilled, not complicated but a great alternative to champagne, cremat, or prosecco at this price point.

11/20/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Disgorged January 2020. Very good, crisp, and too easy to drink. I had every intention to save a glass for the morning to see the development, but before I knew it the bottle was gone. This was a baby. Wish I had more to lay down for a few years.

Had with sushi, couldn't have asked for a better pairing. Why bother with sake?

11/17/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Very big, tight OVZ from Turley this year. Needed the 3 hour in the decanter. There's enough fruit to cover the alcohol but it was hard to sip on this without food. The wine was still tight after sitting overnight (with a cork) in the fridge. Will let my other bottles sit a few years.

11/12/2020 - JBLevinson wrote:

Okay but slightly harsh note at the finish. Thought it was alcohol or tanin, but the wine did not have. Alot of structure and the alcohol wa labelled at 13%. I have had better Trousseau at this price point.

10/1/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Big weekday Zinfandel. Needs food and a good 30+ minutes of air to show it's stuff. Not as impressive or structured as Geyserville but priced accordingly. I would drink this in the near term.

9/15/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Wow, big surprise from this one. Flavors were integrated after a hour of air and the wine was smooth, old school right bank (a rarity these days).

Day two and this was even better! Gombaude-Guillot was one of the first estates in pomerol to go organic and I think they are the only biodynamic estate in the region. Very underrated. It's going to be hard to keep my hands off my other two bottles.

9/13/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Crisp and slight mineral flavor with a good amount of acidity on the pallet. Drinking well now; it's a great summer Chablis!

9/6/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Super good! At 9 years old this was ready to go. The oak was integrated and the finish was fruity but not overpowering like most big petit syrah/zinfandel from nappa. A shame the winemakers retired and I hope the label's new owners continue to make juice like this.

Served after 2 hours of air alongside a rack of lamb. Good on it's own but singing with the food.

8/15/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Delicious light red with a lot of fresh fruit. Reminded me of a village or Cru beaujolais but with less tanin. Serve this chilled and drink up.

7/11/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Gave this almost 1.5 hours of air before trying. The nose opened up after an hour and the wine was on tonight. Dark and fruit forward with a nice integrated finish. This was very fresh despite being 8 years old.

This wine is in a sweet spot now and much more dynamic than a recent try of a younger 2015 Muerto. 92-94, being conservative with my rating since I can't tell if this has plateaued or will get better.

Based on this experience, I'm going to wait a few years on my 2012 Riserva.

7/4/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Classic and balanced Etna Rosso. Served at cellar temp, after breathing for two hours to let it open up (and it helped a lot).

I think it could be easy to miss what's going on if you're not looking for the suble complexity; there's a fine, crisp minerality and red stone fruit with a just the right amount of tannin. The finish left my mouth salivating just the right amount. Good sipper on its own with just enough bite to hold up to a New York strip with dinner. This was lower alcohol (13.5%) compared to some other Etna Rossos I have tried from 2014 which gives less of a hard edge to the finish.

It's going to be hard to wait on my next bottle to see how this ages. 5 years? 10 years? Next month? Probably won't go wrong with any of the above.

7/4/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine:

Great Pinot Gris, dry and slightly acidic, this 2015 seems to have come on its own. Perfect for summer and srafood. Great QPR compares to other Oregon Pinot Gris. Not sure if I would lay this down for the long haul, but no rush to drink up at this point.