4/20/2024 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

What a nice surprise! Drank over two nights with a simple salmon dish with basil butter. An assertive wine. Fruit forward Burgundy that managed to show some minerality common to French chardonnays as well as some "new world" buttery flavor.,Wish we had more!

2/26/2024 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Bad corkCooked wine. Had to discard...

12/25/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Looks so light in the glass and then you get the deep floral grape bees and lovely cherry berry flavor smooth drink wonderfully food friendly wine. Wa terrific in a pairing with smoked Christmas ham.

12/25/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Huge restaurant Chard that is commercially overrated but okay enough. Big golden round Sonoma style--a little too unctuous in its clinging to the stereotypical style to strike any unique chords. A bit oily, more so than buttery.

12/15/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Took to an invited dinner to serve with house meatloaf. Went quite well. Still shows dark fruit, smooth finish, could readily stay in bottle and be further cellared. Nice wine!

12/10/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Wonderful accompaniment to Chanukah latkes with apple sauce. Tart apple-y flavor really went well with the treat.

12/5/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Took a bottle along for a weekend retreat to P&P before dinner at a country inn. Sipped over an hour with some cheeses and mixed nuts. Perfect pairing for light snacking--very much enjoyed....

11/23/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Last of three bottles. Showing a bit of brown around the edges but one wouldn't know that by nose or on the palette. Drinking nicely in balance at present. Lovely cherry berry nose and flavor. Drink now or soon...

11/23/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Perfect p@p with Thanksgiving eve family pizza.4still drinking quite well...

11/14/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Nicely paired with baked herb salmon and, as described in earlier review, not a fruit bomb and quite austere, far from California and new world style grapefruity Sauvignon Blancs. Inherently interesting as the Saint Bris appellation is the only area where Burgundian whites are not Chardonnay driven.

11/12/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Nothing remarkable, but an easy drinking with grilled burgers while watching a football game on a cold Saturday night kind of wine...

9/28/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Here I am at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, hauling some bottles that needed to be opened. Just saw Gypsy and we came back to the room, P&P this 2013 outcast with some Kefalateri cheese and it was magnificent. Just at some mythical "peak." Beautiful wine, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, clearly lasting longer than predicted. Perfectly balanced dry red, still some tannin, beautiful color (no brown!) strong berry nose. If you still have a bottle, P&P with a steak or with cheese. It was $13 (plus shipping) from Garagiste and a steal!

9/9/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Lovely gleaming Nebbiolo, with much more body and cherry berry notes than you could divine by the color alone..Perfect over two nights with eggplant parmigiana...

9/8/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Just love Menetou Salon--every vintage, every label. It's100% Sauvignon Blanc--but totally unlike the NZ grapefruit bombs, nor is it as acidic as California and/or other versions from France. Much better than white Bordeaux or other Loire valley Sauvignon Blancs.

8/30/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Just perfect with a grilled ribeye. Mouthful of strong fruit and tannins that engulfed the steak. Beautiful deep purple color. Just a perfect wine and a perfect pairing...

6/30/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Drank over two days with grilled chicken. More Cal chard than minnerally French "Chablis-like" burgundy. Golden color, basic entry level Chard. Good value...

6/3/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

This was a lovely wine still drinking beautifully (over two days) in mid-2023. Deep golden color with a nose of ripe melon. On the palate it manages to combine creamy, crème butler notes with the mineralogy of French Chards. Sort of a hybrid presentation. Was a lovely pairing with Salmon fillets...

5/23/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Wonderful match with a prime ribeye (Costco of course...) grilled steak. What to say? Lots of jammy luscious fruit forward juice. Good tannins holding sway. Beautiful dark red/black color. It was the Bomb for a cool outdoor dining evening.9

4/6/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Interesting bottle--started out really tannic, decidedly so. Softened and opened up with about 30 minutes of air. Went from almost non-palatable to a decent Syrah for pairing with Passover brisket after a worrisome first sip,,,

4/6/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Really lovely--gifted bottle for a Passover brisket. Nice pairing. Smooth and well balanced. Light tannins worked well with the meat. Wish we had more--still has bottle time left:,;

4/6/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Gifted bottle tasted at dinner. Prototypical NZ SB. Easy drinker, lots of grapefruit. Considerable appeal to those who seek this style. At a very appealing QPR, a very good choice for a summer gathering.

4/2/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Really good "drinker" kid an SB. Low acidity, far from a NZ grapefruit bomb. Rather, a smooth, balanced minerally wine that would be a fine summer sipper...

2/26/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Much better than I remember from a small taste of the gifted bottle. Opened to drink with a bean, cheese, onion and sausa burrito. Perfect pairing. Smooth and light with strong cherry nose, strawberry/cherry cola on palette. If a wine can be characterized as "delicious," this one is it...

2/21/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Not bad at all--and at an amazing QPR. Remarkable at $10. A bit light, yet certainly recognizable as a Pinot noir....

2/17/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Very nice exemplary Cab. On the lighter side but, still, some unresolved tannins and it could stand up to a grilled NY Strip Steak. Nice QPR at $20 price point...

1/21/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Took two bottles to a large dinner party at the Heizer's. Golden and grapefruity. Classic New Zealand SB...

1/21/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Took a bottle to large dinner party at the Heiser's. Light basic pino. Cherry cola, smooth...

1/14/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Really lovely fragrant sipper. As promised, the Riesling paired wonderfully with bean soup
With ham...

1/2/2023 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Wow! Lovely, Lovely wine. Classic Napa Cabernet.Deep fruit nose. Smooth on the palette, still some tannin. Went wonderfully when paired with New Years Day grilled ribeye,,,,Wish he had more!

12/27/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good deep golden, fresh and aromatic Chardonnay that was used in cooking and for across. Great QOR from Garagiste at around $12, though it tends towards being a bit "flabby" on the palette....

12/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote:

Cork split while opening, never a good sign—bout the wine itself was well balanced, seemingly still in prime—a bit soft and light for a Syrah based wine but, nevertheless, a pleasant pairing with assorted munchies, Chili (the best combo) and smoked turkey at a holiday gathering.

12/23/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Decent basic Chianti Classico--went well with lasagna. Fine, but nothing memorable,,,,

12/20/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Really nice, smooth and drinkable. Went perfectly with "family" dinner--Mark and the kid and a Costco Lasagna....

12/10/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

This was the second bottle (party of four) shared with a homemade lasagna dinner. The Chianti Classico that preceded it was very much enjoyed by all of us--until we tasted this. It was the bomb. Perfectly balanced and silky, cherry berry on the tongue and the nose. Very silky and food friendly. We loved it!

12/10/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Brought this Chianti to a friend's house along with a barolo to compare paired with a homemade lasagna dinner. All four of us at the table liked this wine, noting that it still had some bottle aging time ahead of it with unresolved tannins. A medium+ Chianti that impressed us a good deal--until we had the Cavelli Barolo (2014) which blew us all away...

12/10/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine that we drank with homemade spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread. A perfect pairing, the wine was an easy sipper, well balanced, with cherry, raspberry tones blending perfectly with the tomato rich sauce. No need to hold. Pop and pour...

11/21/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Really nice classic cherry Oregon Pinot that went well with a very varied savory and sweet charcuterie board. Didn't overpower multiple cheeses and had enough oomph for the spicy salami.

9/30/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

This aging baby made the trip to Niagara on the Lake and was lovely on night one with five year old Canadian Cheddar. Beautiful garnet color, smooth, in nice balance. No oroblem with 12 year old cork. Night two finished up fine with some leftovers from three NOTL dinners. Didn't have need to filter but, remarkabky, empty bottle was caked in residue on length of side....

9/15/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

This is a wine that reminds you why you drink wine in the first place. It is a perfectly balanced, incredible QPR burgundy. Beautiful Burgundian color, smooth drinking sipper, predominantly merlot, about 20% Cab Franc. Wonderfully paired with delicious Chuck Roast....

8/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Nice Representative Chianti Classico at a wonderful QPR from Garagistes. Cherry berry classic flavor, lovely burgundy color. Went very well with homemade pepperoni pizza. Can hold for several years if you choose.

8/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

We have been buying succeeding vintages of Menetou Salon from Garagistes by different Vintners and have never been disappointed. If you are looking for a Sauvignon Blanc that is not like the NZ grapefruit bombs, a MS fits the bill. Citrus, yes. Lemon/lemon curd, Yes. But in a fine balance that works well as a sipper and with food--in this instance with a lemon butter chicken. From Loire Valley they compare well with the more expensive Sancerre's and White Bordeaux. Try a Menetou Salon--you'll be glad that you did!

8/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Gifted and consumed st a dinner party., Model Cal pinot noir, smooth, cherry berry, burgundy color easily drinkable. Nothing "special," it is what it is...

8/2/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Beautiful golden hued elixir. Classic French Burgundy on the lightish side but paired beautifully with homemade bean and cheese burritos. Usually go with Sauvignon Blan but didn't have one chilled and this was perfect.

8/1/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Nice basic Prosecco--Made for fine brunch mimosas!

7/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Didn't recall having a bottle about a month ago. This one drank a bit differently. Color remained pale straw and both lemon and grapefruit on the palette. But this bottle had a curious "brightness," almost a fizz to it that just seemed off. Paired well enough with pad Thai. Will finish the bottle tomorrow with pesto. Perhaps on second day it will have settled down a bit.

7/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Nicely paired with Pas Thai dinner. Not memorable, but no major flaw. Good to see a domestic winery taking a shot at Reisling and Gruner Veltliner.

7/19/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Fabulous Cabernet drinking well now. Beautiful deep garnet color, cherry/berry on the nose and in tge mouth with diminished tannins and lengthy finish.

7/6/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Lovely Bordeaux blend drinking well now. Cork broke on opening, but the wine itself was fine..Amazing QPR at circa $10!

6/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Crumbling cork but I filtered and decanted for a few hours. Dark ruby colored, deep nose of strong fruit, well
Nalanced and drinking very well right now. Super pairing with a NY Strip
Steak!

6/25/2022 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Interesting wine. Pale in color it finds a happy place in between California SB's that tend to be austere in style, and New World grapefruit noms. Here, the grapefruit is replaced by lemon and the austerity by smooth drinkability, nice wine...