4/17/2024 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Some of the tasting notes here are...something. This is a lovely, completely-in-the-wheelhouse Ridge Zin blend that shows the pedigree of the winery. There's delicious dark red & purple fruits on the nose with a touch of crushed rock and white pepper-y, smoky spice notes. The palate is surprisingly lithe and lifted by bright acids; more of that cherry coulis on the palate. The American oak comes off more herbaceous and green (in a good way) than dill or coconut, as there's plenty of fruit here to absorb it. Some pebbly tannins to bind it all together, give it structure and a bit of aging ability - this could easily go 3-5 years but is enjoyable now.

1/23/2024 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Disgorged March 2023, 73% PN, 27% Chardonnay. No dosage.

Was very interested to try this one, as I know the producer has a bit of buzz.

Upon opening a bit reticent and oxidative bruised apple-y, but after about a half-hour of air it really fanned out into a lovely, much more complete Champagne. Assertive and deep, even sensual. The fruit seems rich and more than ripe enough to handle the lack of dosage. Lightly ginger-y, with the initial yellow fruits turning more red in the glass. Some oak influence. Indeed, a very “autumnal”, sweet-spice bent. Last glass was the best, so the need for time indicates that it could use more time in bottle. I try not to open Champagne until a year after disgorgement, but was too curious to wait. Have two more bottles and will keep them for a couple of years until trying again.

12/14/2023 - blackbrownbeige Does not like this wine:

For a Vosne lieu-dit, this is a pretty embarrassing effort. Anonymous red fruit on the inexpressive nose, slightly musty, not much else. Palate is dilute and shallow, abrupt finish, zero interest. Outclassed by regional Bourgognes from other, far better producers. Stay away.

10/16/2022 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Definitely in the apéritif category; a citrus aficionado’s Champagne with lots of lemony freshness and just a hint of buttered toast. There’s some nice stoniness there, too. The palate is racy, lightly floral, has a bit of almond paste and a sharp and mineral finish. It’s an energetic and driving Champagne but mouthfilling, pleasant and refreshing. I’ve always appreciated that Vilmart is one of the grower’s houses that isn’t afraid of dosage and this is balanced and brings together classic Champagne expression with a grower’s philosophy.

7/11/2022 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Really lovely and charming; the nose greets you with lemon curd, a bit of almond skin, and a deft touch of oak. The midpalate has a nice weight to it before a compelling zesty citrus-driven & stony finish knits it all together. Boris Champy seems to be overachieving in both reds and whites across the Hautes-Côtes and I'm excited to follow the progress of this domaine over the next few vintages.

5/23/2022 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

This is, in a word, brilliant. Smokey, impossibly deep dried and roasted apricots drenched in honey greet you on the nose, and there's even a high-toned, seaspray-like quality lurking in the background. The palate has the perfect mouthcoating texture, rich without being at all syrupy or saccharine, and the finish, oh, the finish; candied ginger, baking spice, candied orange peel, and more of that bottomless sweet, dessicated stone fruit that goes for an interminable length of time.

This will last forever, if you want. You shouldn't feel bad about opening it now, though; savour it and marvel at how unambiguously pleasurable it is, and share it with people who love delicious things.

3/28/2022 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

I love this. Cabernet Franc in all its glory (or conscious lack thereof). There’s a beautiful line of dark sauvage character that runs through it; impossibly dark red fruit that stains the glass, blackberry, iron, leather, an almost Syrah-like savouriness with a bit of pepper and brine. A green streak, yes, but perfectly placed in the prism of expressive elements that this wine possesses. The palate is vibrant, lithe and energetic, with lingering mouthcoating tannins that make for a structure to match the intensity of the nose. I love it now, but it’s more than capable of unfolding in the cellar. Outrageous complexity and layering for a wine at this price point. This just feels so honest, so direct, and such a pure and clear statement of purpose that I cannot do anything except marvel at how delicious it is and be happy that I’ve got a couple more bottles.

1/2/2022 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Initially coiled and tense. Blanc de Blancs at its best always has this tightrope-walking character of power and tension and this is no exception. Nose of chalk, burnt lemon or orange zest, nut oil and a bit of baking spice. The palate's beautifully aligned with balanced acid, a deep and oily texture and a long, salty, nutty finish. Elegant and poised.

10/7/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Beautifully pitched between power and finesse, it express the variety and terroir without excess. Generous cherry fruit, leather, a bit of spice, musky florals, lovely dusty underpinning and so, so fresh and vibrant. Chalky, structuring, appealing tannin. Not much time between sips, which is the highest compliment I can give a wine - it's just plain delicious.

10/4/2021 - blackbrownbeige wrote:

What I love about this wine, like most Chassagne reds I've encountered, is its elegance; yes, it's still 2018 and thus is round and fleshy, but it's still supremely refined. Profound floral character, a touch of spice, and deep dark red fruits all come together wonderfully. Beautiful animating acidity, and an already-silky texture with just enough grippy, powdery tannin.

9/26/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Outrageous value. Roederer Brut Premier was probably my favourite widely available NV Champagne and this is an even better proposition. It's certainly richer than the Brut Premier, but sacrificing a slightly less linear approach is more than made up for in this wine's depth.

Buttery pastry, light wet stone, and plush orchard fruits greet you on the nose, already signalling what's to come. Beautiful balance on the palate between generosity and tension, with balancing acids that play against the golden apple fruit and light nuttiness. Layered and deep. Long, textural finish.

Roederer simply has no competition among the large houses for quality. This is so, so good.

9/13/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

A bit of oaky truffle powder greets you on the nose, with dark cherry coulis and a touch of dusty earth. The palate is a somewhat modern expression of Sangiovese, with dense & intense dark red fruit, mouthcoating tannins, bracing acidity, and a lick of forest floor. Pretty powerful stuff here that likely needs time, and representative of 14.5% ABV.

9/10/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Really nice - cherry cola and light forest floor on the nose and delicious pure red fruits on the plate. Silky texture, with a lightly woodspice finish. Just supremely elegant. Could age, though delicious now.

8/11/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Strangely enough, I've never had this before; I've only ever had the Grand Cellier & above. This is a really nice and incisive Champagne, especially for the price; definitely more fruity than yeasty, with appealing red apple and just a wisp of chalk & dough on the nose. It's fresh, bright, and generous, not particularly complex, with more of that lighter orchard fruit quality on the palate and a surprisingly long and mouthcoating finish.

7/27/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Beautiful, lees-y, golden apple richness on the nose accompanied by seashell minerality, though not quite as open, aromatic and generous as the '18 Quintaine. So energetic on the palate - surprisingly so given the profile of the nose - with razor-sharp acidity and perfect lightly weighty mouthfeel. A positively searing finish that is so, so long and chalky; it feels mouthcoating, like flat Champagne. This is brilliant, and is built to last.

7/18/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

This is so, so lovely!

Flint and delicious waxy lemon oil on the nose, and more than anything an overwhelming sense of freshness and vitality. Seamlessly glides over the palate into a saline, somewhat nutty/yeasty finish. Doesn't show the heat of the vintage at all; it's not razor-sharp but still so energetic and alive. This is my second wine from these folks this year, and is just beautiful winemaking from great terroir.

7/7/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

This is the most Chenin-like Chardonnay I've ever had, in the best way; golden apples and honey burst from the glass, with some high-toned oyster-shell minerality. The texture is lovely, richh and weighty but there's still a beautiful spine of acidity running right down the center, and the mid and back palate feels like it has tons - tons! - of dry extract and chewiness. There's a rush of stony citrus on the finish.

6/26/2021 - blackbrownbeige wrote:

This feels a bit too sexy; some dusty chocolate truffle powder, black cherry pie, and smoke on the nose. You can sense the quality of the fruit and even perceive the dusty, earthy quality of the Sangiovese character underneath, but it comes across as veiled in too much ripeness and oak.

The structure is actually quite good. There's a lot of chalky mouthcoating tannin and fresh acidity that demonstrates pedigree and aging potential, yet it just has the sensation of a beautiful wine wearing too much makeup. Certainly appeals to someone seeking a certain experience - especially for the price - but I prefer my Chianti purer and more transparent.

6/14/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

The word that comes to mind over and over is elegance. It's so wide-open right now; there is a beautiful and lush rose petal florality that encompasses the entire top band of the EQ spectrum. An underpinning of granite minerality begins to make itself known. Wet leaves intermingle with fresh cherries. It is one of the few restrained 2018 reds I've had thus far; the texture is already beautiful and silky, and the powdery tannins gird the structure just so.

6/8/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

This is quite fine and well made, but feels like it doesn't quite know what it wants to be. The wine comes across as rather austere and perhaps even a bit self-serious and joyless; the nose has some light gooseberry, honeyed lime, and light seashell minerality, but certainly doesn't explode out of the glass. It's well-balanced - not at all hot for its near 15% ABV - and fresh with perceptible but judicious oak usage. I just don't think there's that much interest here. I'd rather it had just committed to being an exuberant, delicious wine, and instead it occupies a middle ground that leaves me wanting.

6/2/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Boy, this is serious Beauj. Made in a "Burgundian" style, certainly; you still get the character of the Gamay grape coming through, but it's dense and layered, with lightly candied dark cherry, tilled earth, and graphite minerality on the nose. There's lots of structure here, with palate weight, chalky drying tannins, and a flourish of pepper on the finish. More than enough lift and freshness to carry the substance.

This could easily be cellared for 5-10 years. A Pinot lover's Beaujolais. Delicious and brooding.

5/30/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

EBEO #2. I'm not generally a Veuve/Grande Marque kinda guy, but this was pretty intriguing. With base wines going back to 1990 or so, this pours a beautiful gold colour and instantly gives golden orchard fruit, a light oxidative note, and almond paste. The mousse is quite fine and it feels like it isn't bottled super bubbly, which is nice; it's well-balanced on the palate with more golden apples and light brioche, with fresh acidity and a zesty finish. I don't know if it's going to develop that much more from here. Tasty and something a little different from a house not known for its reserve wines.

5/25/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Very stemmy on the nose upon opening, but the pedigree was apparent; the texture was already incredibly silky and elegant, with powdery tannins and excellent structure. After a couple of hours, the stems knit together nicely with a bit of spice and purpley-red fruits, making for an enveloping bouquet that seems to draw you in, perfumed, floral, and utterly seductive.

5/9/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Fantastic QPR; Drouhin might be the best size-to-quality proposition in all of Burgundy. Really inviting creamy lemon curd greets you on the nose, with an aura of vivacious freshness. Energetic and driven, with a nice weighty mouthfeel and a stony citrus finish. It's just exceedingly well balanced; every year I tell myself I'm going to buy a case of these for guiltless drinking and this might just be the year I do it.

5/5/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

La Chablisienne continues to be one of the best values in the region; this is textbook quality Chablis, with dried white flowers, lemon, lime, lees and seaspray on the nose. The palate is balanced and fresh with a line of beautiful zippy acidity, just a touch of creamy mouthfeel, and an unctuous finish. Delicious.

5/1/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Really pleasant, and really well priced - the nose is nice high-toned cherry and strawberry with noticeable but not overpowering oak and a touch of earthy/leathery savouriness. The palate is silky, lean and elegant with a just the faintest touch of woodspice on the finish. Not going to change your life but for a wine that's still sub-$25, it's hard to do much better in Ontario.

4/30/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Quite dark in complexion, especially compared to the 2017; black cherry and even black fruits on opening. Graphite minerality on the nose, but the deft oak is already integrating well. The texture is nice and generous, and there are quite prominent chalky dusty tannins present that will need some time to settle. A light peppery & spicy finish. Great freshness and acidity throughout.

I'll be putting my other two bottles away for a good long sleep but the clear class and pedigree of the domaine is on display here.

4/28/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

I think this is purchased fruit, but don't quote me.

Attractive aroma of lemon oil, a bit of lime, and almond skin on the nose. Perhaps a bit of sea spray, too; the wine just smells fresh as a daisy. Not deep or complex, but a nice medium body and gliding texture finishes with a heck of a citrusy zing and just a hint of flintiness. Not much more you could ask from a basic Bourgogne blanc, and it's got me excited to open my bottles of Saint-Romain Pèrriere & Sous la Velle.

4/27/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Lovely stony sea spray, lime, overripe peach and just a touch of tropical melon on the nose. The palate is definitely not electric, but it's balanced with the sugar adding more texture and lightly coating mouthfeel than sweetness. Great value, classy and elegant.

4/19/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Paul's note below basically nails it; there's nice salinity, white flowers, and very faint and soft white peach/apricot on the nose. On the palate, there's a very slight oiliness to the texture, a touch of flintiness and typical Italian white bitterness to the finish. Not a whole lot of fruit. Better on the cooler side.

4/17/2021 - blackbrownbeige wrote:

The nose is rather reticent; it's certainly Riesling but isn't particularly expressive or complex with a touch of salinity and a bit of honeyed tropical fruit. The palate is rich and unctuous with honey and apricot and attractive sweetness but I find the acid quite lacking which makes it feel a bit ponderous. Okay, but feels like a miss overall.

4/16/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Really nice, especially for the price; light breadiness, golden apple, and chalk on the nose. Balanced on the palate, medium-bodied with good but not searing acidity, more brioche, and a short but fresh and pleasant finish. I like that it doesn't veer off into any one direction but instead is just a very nice NV Champagne that would be at home anywhere. Recommended, and my first encounter with Rémi Leroy.

4/10/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Faiveley is just out here making great wine at reasonable (for Burgundy) prices. Lovely flintiness, lemon oil and white flowers on the nose; the palate has an attractive glycolic texture and the metallic minerality returns on the finish. Not super incisive, reflecting the vintage, but extremely well done. You can always feel good about taking these wines home, because you know you're going to get something really good in your glass at every level.

4/5/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Right off the bat, textbook elegant reduction, some salted lemon curd, and maybe just a touch of dry tinned pineapple juice. The texture is lovely; broad, mouthfilling and oily. Acidity is brisk and balancing but without laser-like focus, unsurprising for the year. There's a really attractive salty tang to the finish.

It seems like PYCM nailed the vintage. Delicious!

4/5/2021 - blackbrownbeige wrote:

This is quite mediocre. Upon opening, just a fecal, not particularly pleasant “earthy” bent to the nose, with a bit of thin but kirsch-y fruit. The palate isn’t much better; scooped-out, with a hollow midpalate and no finish to speak of. Disappointing.

3/25/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

My first encounter with this producer; a little sexier and riper than I usually go for in my pinots, but the alcohol is a mere 13.4% so it feels like "natural" ripeness of fruit, and there's nice animating acidity. Attractive spice and earthiness on the finish. Well made, and the last glass I had was the best, so air - and likely bottle time - is this young pup's friend. Interested to see what it's like on day two.

3/20/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Saw this and decided to pick it up because it was cheap (for Champagne, of course) and seemed well-received online. Slightly on the richer side, with nice yellow apple, light breadiness, a little breezy mineral influence. Nicely balanced by freshness and crisp acidity - not going to change your life but a perfect companion for a spring day, a balcony, and a book.

3/7/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

As others have said, really, REALLY needs an hour or more of air to get going. Was initially shocked by the orange/peachy colour it poured, and it was grumpy and reticent at first, almost muddled; but here follows my notes over the next hour and a bit:

Nose: Bruised yellow apple. Broad, broad, broad. Lightly oxidative. Mineral, but like...a sheet? Of minerals. Like aged white burg with bubbles. Acid still SO present. Again, that bruised apple. Something lightly spicy on the finish. Depth. Cloves? Non-sugary cinnamon? Just intense, forward, mouth coating. Finish so, so long. Enveloping. This wine is quietly yelling THINK ON ME AWHILE.

This is a wine that asks you to pay attention to it.

2/27/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Iodine and light crushed rocks minerality greet you on opening. There's an attractive, lightly lactic quality to the nose with almond skin and a lees-y brioche, maybe a bit of yellow to red apple for fruit (but this wine isn't about fruit). The sparks really fly on the palate: I think this wine is the definition of "dry extract" - it just feels wonderfully constructed and chewy while still maintaining excellent freshness and acidity. Surprising zest and electricity for a 2015 white with a racy, near-chalky finish. Texture, texture, texture.

This has the structure to go for the long, long haul; 5-10 years easy.

2/15/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Really interesting. It's just the right amount of aromatic on the nose, with delicate white flowers, dried peach, the barest hint of almond skin, and a nice saline slate seam that only becomes more prominent with airtime. The palate is well-balanced, with a light richness buoyed by crisp acidity into a snippet of orange peel on the finish. Northern Italian delicacy meets California sun.

2/13/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Somewhere on the road between Pinot Noir and Gamay on the nose - the fruit quality has that slightly candied signature of the variety, but there's a wonderful and harmonious savoury element that instantly gives it depth and draws you in. After some time, a light graphite minerality begins to show through. The palate's lean and fresh with crunchy red fruit, but a touch of structure as well as a hint of spice on the finish give it foundation. If you like your Gamay on the brooding side - and I do - this is for you.

1/26/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Having had this a couple of months after the 2016 is an interesting comparison; this vintage feels a bit more ponderous in that the fruit quality is slightly more extracted - it's not syrupy per se but there is a confected quality about it and more black cherry than red - while still possessing great structure and freshness. It feels like the oak integration isn't QUITE as a seamless as the previous year, too; there is that light touch of cocoa and spice, but I'm splitting hairs. Dusty, powdery tannins for grip, lifted acidity carry the day just as well. It's still a great buy for the price.

1/13/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

Already showing so, so well! Couldn't resist opening it, and I'm so glad I did; lovely pure Chenin character, lightly waxy and ever so slightly honeyed, crushed white flowers, white peach, some flintiness, and that inscrutable crystalline quality Chenin always gives me. So elegant. Beautiful balance and acid, glides over the palate.

1/11/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

I think the keyword here is "concentrated"; the fruit quality is dense, but there's a core of savouriness, olive tapenade, crushed rose petal, and soft and broad blue and purple, even plummy - but not jammy - fruits. The structure itself is elegant, with powdery, dusty tannins rather than jagged or harsh ones. Linear and fresh but, again, tightly compacted and focused but not closed per se. This obviously has tons of mileage and potential but is surprisingly open and generous now, with classic Northern Rhône character. Delicious.

1/6/2021 - blackbrownbeige wrote:

Mediocre. The nose is fairly one-dimensional, mostly oak and spice. Watery, thin palate with very little complexity or interest aside from some reasonably refreshing quite tart red fruit and yet more woodspice on the finish. For the price, this is just not up to par.

1/5/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

This is really very good. Picked up on a whim - because who can resist Cru Muscadet with a bit of age - off a shelf and decided to give it a whirl despite never having heard of this producer. Deep lees influence on the nose; lactic/cheesy (in a good way!), saline, and lemon. The palate had great texture, lemon oil, and surprisingly weighty mouthfeel but with excellent acidity. Crisp and easy-drinking without being facile.

1/3/2021 - blackbrownbeige wrote:

Received as a gift, naturally. So, The Cat Wine™. Yes, it's mediocre; lots of vaguely artificial lychee and mango-type tropical stuff on the nose. It "only" has ~25g residual sugar which is far less than I expected, so it's not wincingly saccharine. It's pretty clean and abrupt on the palate and mercifully disappeared as quickly as it arrived without much of a trace. Basically, it tastes like what it is; anonymous bulk wine from vineyards/wineries that are pumping out factory farmed beverages in large amounts. Also, only 500ml, so that's a plus!

1/1/2021 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

I didn't take any formal notes, so I'll just copy and paste my scribble here, unedited:

lightly tropical, vinous i really know what vinous means when it comes to champagne, pure lees as opposed to toast on the nose, the deepest yellow apple, just so steely, white burgundy with bubbles, caressing mousse, crushed rocks, beautiful texture and weight, mouthfeel with weightlessness, lemon curd finish, like white burgundy with a tea strainer of chalk

(can you tell I was moved?)

12/29/2020 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

This is really quite charming. Punches above its weight but with the trademark regional signature of delicacy; there's just the faintest hint of sous-bois on the nose with pure raspberry and strawberry. The palate is light and brisk, nice tart red fruits over silky tannins that just glide over the palate and disappear pleasantly into the ether. This would be the perfect "house" Bourgogne, if you had a really nice house.

12/28/2020 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine:

First chance trying this surprisingly affordable producer; lightly bready aromas and some very appealing yellow apple on the nose. It’s fresh and racy on the palate, very vertical, and a pronounced cider-y quality; there’s also a somewhat bruised apple/lightly oxidative bent, especially on the persistent finish, so I’m thinking there was some barrel-aging involved at some point along the way. Could definitely hang for a couple years in the cellar. Looking forward to trying more from these folks.