11/28/2022 - richardkim wrote:

Lively fruits of blackcurrant and blueberry, also tobacco and leather to suggest an old world quality. Tannins are fine and there is little oak influence. My initial impression was that the acidity was overpowering. But after some time in the glass this blew off. The resulting wine is generous with its fruit, has a silky body, and a firm backbone. Give this wine an hour of air and it will reward you.

11/15/2022 - richardkim wrote:

The nose and palate are still closed, but the richness of both is evident. Cherry and dark red fruits predominate. The palate offers up a moderately rich mouthfeel with fruit and firm tannins. I think this will definitely open with age, with the elements coming together and maybe some secondary flavors appearing. I’ll taste again in 2 years. I think it will be excellent, and live up to its best previous vintages.

6/17/2022 - richardkim wrote:

Decanted 1 hour. Color is muddy brick. Muted aromas of dark fruit and earth. The palate is medium bodied, with a somewhat monolithic presentation of dark cherry and mushroom. Bright acidity keeps it fresh. Overall, a very good wine, still drinking well.

6/14/2022 - richardkim wrote:

Medium ruby color with slight bricking. After half an hour the fruit begins to open. The palate is medium-light with bright simple red fruits. Acidity and tannins are holding up well but the fruit feels faded, throwing off the balance.

5/26/2022 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Fruit forward with a full body and rich mouthfeel. Dark blackurrant with pencil and cigar. Tannins open sweet and become firm and hard. This is a big, burly adolescent that may mature into a polished grownup, but it may not. But it’s fun to drink now. As others have said, give it some air before drinking. Oh, and I’m going back to my wine shop to try to get a case more of this wine!

3/6/2022 - richardkim wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes, drank over 1 hour. amazingly full bodied and tannic for its age, with a dark color. Dark fruits reflect the Syrah, mostly fruit and little earthiness. Firm tannic backbone. Very enjoyable. Very well built wine.

2/2/2022 - richardkim Likes this wine:

This is a young, dense wine. The palate is dark fruits and smoke, with firm tannins. Very well balanced. A few years in the cellar will certainly be rewarded with more open flavors. I opened this wine after bringing it home and I’m glad I did. This is a very good Bordeaux, and at the $29 for which I got it, a great value. I’m looking forward to opening this wine in a couple of years for friends with grilled steak.

1/23/2022 - richardkim wrote:

Dark fruits and game meat, with a hint of tobacco and black tea. Well balanced acidity, and sweet tannins. Full bodied with good depth. This is in a good place now, still a big fruit bomb but more open than young Bookers, and with secondary flavors.

12/31/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Inky, opaque purple. The palate has dark berry, blackberry, tar, and leather, with fine tannins. The character is wonderfully rich yet pure. Compared to my previous tasting from 2014, it seems this wine has opened a bit and gained some complexity of fruit. This is immensely enjoyable now, and is a great expression of Nebbiolo.

12/30/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Dark berry flavors backed by firm tannins, hints of red raspberry and fine acidity. Subtle secondary notes of wood. Medium bodied, mature, and well balanced.

12/30/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Off bottle. Fruit was flat, dominated by acidity. Disappointing. I hope my next bottle is better.

12/25/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Medium ruby brick. Quite primary, with dark cherry and balanced acidity. Earthy hints of tar and balsa wood. Sweet tannins. Overall a pretty and enjoyable wine.

12/25/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Black currant and sweet tannins in a medium body. Thierry is not a lot of earthiness , with some hints of eucalyptus and oak. I’m sensing it’s a bit past it’s prime.

10/17/2021 - richardkim wrote:

The palate shows dark fruits, raisins, leather, mushroom, and earth, in a medium body. Tannins are a bit overly assertive and dominate the palate.

10/10/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

I was persuaded to try this wine by an offer from Wine Exchange. The story was informative and compelling, as I have come to appreciate from the Wine Exchange, though I was skeptical about a “natural wine.” Well this just tastes like a good wine. At first sip I was not overly impressed, but with a little time in the glass this little rocket lifted off. Brief notes of stone fruit and quince are immediately carried away by robust minerality surfing on a long finish. Each sip begs for more. I will definitely be seeking out more wines from Celine et Benoit Blet!

9/12/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Aromas of dark fruits and subtle cigar box, very restrained. The palate is balanced, fresh, and lovely, though tending on the lighter side.

8/30/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Big, bold palate of dark fruits, blackberries, fig, and vanilla. Assertive tannins. Youthful now and very enjoyable.

8/11/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

The palate leans toward darker flavors, with bitter cherry, smoke, tea, and black pepper. Firm tannins add to the wine's rich structure. If you're a fan of this style of Pinot Noir you'll enjoy this wine, as I did. I found it a pleasant surprise and a good value. I'll be looking for more. (I bought this wine for $19.98 at my local shop on sale; the wine-searcher price of $48.47 seems a bit high for this wine.)

6/25/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Red raspberry, strawberry with woody fine tannins and grippy acidity. Light body, easy drinking.

6/20/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Decanted for 1 hour. Pretty fruits with currant and blackberry. Subtle notes of tobacco. Very little acidity or tannin. The fruit lingers in a long finish. Overall this wine is very enjoyable, though a bit restrained.

4/4/2021 - richardkim wrote:

Dark fruits with blackcurrant and spicy blackberry. The body is silky and smoky. Lively acidity and smooth mild tannins add lift. Hints of oak remain. This is a nice mature, balanced Napa Cabernet.

4/4/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

There is a combination of freshness and earthiness on the palate, with Kirsch and berries married with forest floor and mushroom. Acidity keeps it lively and there is a blueberry-toned lift. The body feels fuller than the average mature Chateauneuf, for the better. I decanted this wine for 2 hours and it continues to evolve. Tremendously enjoyable, I wish I had more of this wine but I think this was my last bottle!

3/6/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

After 2 hours of decanting, the wine opened. There are expressions of dark fruits, pencil lead, and smoke. The acidity has tamed and is more balanced. Tannins are mild. Medium in body. Overall an enjoyable wine, though a tad bit disappointing.

3/6/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

I had great hopes for this Champagne, and for the most part it did not disappoint. Notes of lemon curd, yeast, and stone are subtle. On the palate, there is an assertive acidity and a slightly oxidative character.

2/14/2021 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Aromas and flavors of pencil and mushroom, with lively fruit notes of blackberry. The palate shows vibrant fruit, with medium body, balanced tannins, and assertive acidity.

11/29/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Firm body and dense fruit, with dark berry and funky tannins inflected by mushroom. Firm acidity and tannins. After a couple of hours of air this wine opened up, and is a muscular and balanced wine. For a “value wine” this is immensely enjoyable. It may be even better in a year or 2.

11/28/2020 - richardkim wrote:

Developing brick at the rim. Intense fruity nose. The palate shows a medium body of dark fruits and bitter cherry, with eucalyptus, mint, and balsa. There is assertive acidity which lifts the freshness of this mature wine. Lovely.

11/26/2020 - richardkim wrote:

Showing brick color. The fruit is sweet, with flavors of cola and red cherry. The fruit is fading and there is little earthiness or structure. I should have opened this wine 2 years ago.

11/26/2020 - richardkim wrote:

Just starting to show brick color. Decanted 3 hours, after which the wine opened only a little. The palate is dense, with black cherry and bitter cherry skins, eucalyptus, and tar. Good balance with firm tannins. This is starting to drink well, and will do so for many more years.

11/15/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Color remains opaque and dark. The palate is rich with dark fruits, mocha, and tobacco. Sweet tannins add to the impression of a wine whose edges have softened but remains fresh. I’d drink over the next 1-2 years.

11/15/2020 - richardkim wrote:

Bright flavors of plum and grapefruit. There is an undertone of spice and lanolin, adding depth to the palate. Mild acidity adds to the rich feel. I was surprised by the character of this wine, as it is not a typical tart Sauvignon blanc.

9/12/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Dark fruits on the nose. The palate is dense, with cassis, espresso and fine tannins. This took an hour in the decanter to begin to open. It’s just entering its window and is drinking extremely well now.

8/13/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

I was pleasantly surprised by this wine and decided to post a review. The fruit profile tends toward the darker side of Pinot noir fruit, and with an underlying fine tannic structure the palate gets savory notes. The body is restrained, balanced, and mature.

7/29/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Since my first tasting of this wine in 2014, I find that the flavor profile remains quite fresh, with tropical fruits and firm acidity and minerality. Oak lingers on the finish.

7/28/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

There are prominent earthy notes in the nose with the primary fruits. The palate offers ripe black cherry fruits with cola, tart raspberry, and funky undertones. Our tasters who don’t like funk did not pick this up and appreciated the fruitiness. There is a beam of fine tannin that carries through the finish. This is in the perfect window now and will drink well for another 10 years.

7/26/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Cassis, violets, as well as secondary characteristics of leather and wood, with a lively acidity and fine tannins. Medium bodied. This is entering a long drinking window, and is very nice now.

7/5/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted for 4th of July dinner with barbecued ribs. This wine is full bodied, with concentrated dark fruits and notes of tobacco and mocha. There is a rich, almost unctuous texture. A nice acidity lingers underneath to add lift.

5/3/2020 - richardkim Likes this wine:

The palate features dark fruits, with mostly earthy flavors of tobacco, eucalyptus, and forest floor. There is a medium body and lively acidity which form the backbone of a mature, balanced wine.

12/24/2019 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Remains opaque purple in color. The nose is a bit restrained and dominated by dark fruits with hints of tobacco and tinderbox. The fruit seems to have faded slightly but remains primary. Tannins are a bit intrusive and not entirely integrated. Overall the wine is enjoyable and very good.

11/19/2019 - richardkim Likes this wine:

The nose is rich with dark fruit and mocha. On the palate, fruit dominates, with dark berry and a lush texture balanced with mild tannins and acidity. But earthy notes arise as well, with subtle mushroom, cigar, and eucalyptus flavors. This wine is complex, balanced, and beautiful. It’s just entering its peak drinking window and will continue to deepen and evolve for some time.

11/2/2019 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Rich amber color. The palate has tropical fruits and lychee, a touch of oxidation, and a rich mouthfeel.

8/4/2019 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Still fresh, with assertive fruit, lively acidity, and fine tannins.

8/8/2019 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Black currant, leather and dry wood notes. This wine is beautifully balanced, integrating fruit, earthiness, fine tannins, and freshness all singing together. This was a step forward from my tasting if this wine 5 years ago. Drink over the next couple of years.

1/3/2019 - richardkim Likes this wine:

A beautiful wine, with expressive cherry and dark raspberry flavors, Dr. Pepper, and a fine freshness.

2/3/2019 - richardkim wrote:

This wine is dense and features several Barolo elements, such as dark cherry and tar, but with rustic notes of leather. The tannins are firm. I’d give this another 5 years to peak. Nebbiolo and Barbera blend.

12/25/2018 - richardkim Likes this wine:

A rich palate of berry and mocha, with leather and tobacco. Lush tannins and gentle acidity frame a balanced finish. For anyone who doesn’t believe that California wines don’t age well, this Caymus will hold its own with a classified Bordeaux.

11/23/2018 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Aromas and flavors of dark cherry, sandalwood, and dried rose petals. This is an old school, slightly austere style which only I in our party enjoyed; great, more for me!

11/23/2018 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Medium in body and restrained in fruit. Dark cherry and cola. Balanced, elegant.

11/23/2018 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Still showing some pretty notes of dark cherry and spice, but this wine was well past its prime.

8/17/2018 - richardkim Likes this wine:

Bold flavors of dark berry with undertones if espresso and bitter chocolate, on a firm backbone of acidity and tannins. A big, lush wine that seems to be just hitting its stride