11/25/2020 - awinestory wrote:

Saving this bottle for the "right" occasion, then a friend raided my cellar and opened it! My plan was to keep it for a summer grill in 2021 to show off with meat or very charred salmon.

So before tasting it I already knew what to expect: near 15% abv, firm tannins, full body, a certain "sweet and sour" quality because of the uneven ripening of the Zin grape, lots of dense red berry fruit (boysenberry, loganberry, blackberry) and roasted black plum, roasted fig. All expected flavors and top quality. No genuine surprises ..great brand and good quality

4/5/2020 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Anticipated for many years opening the bottle. Surprised to see some mold on the outer edge of the cork but inner portion of cork fine, wine is sound.

I was expecting a bit more racy acidity from this wine. Not enough acidity to cut through the almost cloying sugar in the wine. Yes, good minerality and a very long finish. Aromas and flavors of apricot and peach.

12/24/2019 - awinestory wrote:

Tasting now after a decade in the cellar. Pleasant surprise at how fresh and vibrant the wine is. Racy acidity and minerality in the form of iron so many discussed. Tannins are corduroy more than velvet, yet with lots of texture. Moderate complexity and length on the finish.

In terms of pairing, this seems a better choice with cheese at the end of the meal. Though it could pair very well with duck or rare lamb.

8/11/2019 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Delicious with zesty acidity offsetting the sugar

7/27/2019 - awinestory wrote:

Comparing it side by side to Les Clans.

This 2016 vintage, now tasted in 2019, has more of an onion skin color, and more defined aromas of raspberry tea with a hint of vanilla. Slight tannic bite. Long length of finish and a great deal of finesse and complexity.

It is a mix of Grenache and Rolle and a blend of free run joice and a slight first pressing. Aging in both stainless stell and 600L barrels.

Compared to Les Clans ... good, yet Les Clans very pale color, more toast/vanilla/spice on the nose, and more complexity as well as a very long finish

4/21/2019 - awinestory wrote:

Medium garnet color. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity. 13.5% well integrated with concentrated ripe black fruit (blackberries and black cherries). Judicious use of a third new French oak (spice). Interesting notes of spiced black tea. Finesse and long length of finish

4/17/2019 - awinestory wrote:

Very opaque purple. Aroma of ripe plum cassis blueberry. Bright acidity and velvet tannins. Ripe fruit Balance showcased by excellent integration of ripe black fruit and oak

4/14/2019 - awinestory wrote:

Deep garnet color, rich aromas of red/black fruit and oak, full bodied wine with velvet tannins and bright acidity. Good balance and moderately long length of finish. Agree can use more bottle age, yet also fine to drink at present.

3/10/2019 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Very classic wine with high acidity offset by some residual sugar. Marzipan and ginger and a luscious texture. Long length of finish. Good tension from the acidity and what is perceived as a streak of intense minerality. The Chenin character comes through in the range of apple flavors (quince, red apple, green apple) lanolin, and acidity. In this case also the mouthfeel.

2/9/2019 - awinestory wrote:

A very rich, tropical expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Velvet texture and mango/pineapple aromas and flavors. Long length of finish. Originally tasted in a blind tasting against a NZ and French SB. Hard to place but delicious.

12/31/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Very rich and expressive wine with precise aromas of ripe juicy meyer lemon and a long length of finish. Clever lees work as there is no oak at all in this wine (stainless steel fermentation and maturation). Yet the wine has a toasty quality and suggestion of vanilla.

12/31/2018 - awinestory wrote:

I blind tasted this wine, now over 24 years old, with its young 2017 dry sibling. Because of its age and lack of definitive aroma, it does not broadly announce itself as Riesling. That said, there was a strong apple character, and the combination of its low 9% abv and off dry nature suggested Riesling and other varietals like Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc that use botrytized grapes. Wine shows the power of Riesling to age.

12/25/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Rereading my note from 2011 still stands true. Tangy acidity and curious richness for Blanc de Blancs. Complex. Long rich pointed finish

12/19/2018 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Fabulous expression of Morgon with intense minerality and expression of terroir. Intense black fruits, vibrant acidity, and velvet tannins. Long length of finish.

12/16/2018 - awinestory wrote:

13% abv balanced by tangy med+ acidity and concentrated ripe fruit. Long length of finish and finesse. Touch (25 - 30 %) new French oak gives some structure and aromas/flavors of vanilla.

12/15/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Vibrant. Still freah. 13% abv balanced by black concentrated fruit and medium acidity. Long finish.

10/10/2018 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Good balance between tart medium plus acidity and ripe balaclava and red cherry fruit. Silky tannins and restrained use of new French oak

9/14/2018 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Impressive and punching above its weight as a cote de nuits village. Succulent black fruits (boysenberry, loganberry) and velvet tannins. Lots of texture. Moderately long finish and much complexity demonstrated y nuances iflavor.

9/14/2018 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Bright translucent garnet color. Aromas of framboise, red cherry, violet and fresh turned earth. Fresh acidity. Tannins have slightly more texture than silk. Long length of finish. Very enjoyable now at four years of age and can improve.

8/15/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Floral/ripe fruit aromatics and the moderate alcohol is balanced well by ripe orchard fruit and zesty acidity. Sense of minerality. Moderate long length of finish. Relatively good quality for the price.

8/14/2018 - awinestory wrote:

First thought is the perfumed floral (violet) nose, then the structured yet velvet tannins. The acidity is medium+ and uplifting, very balanced with the ripe fruit and judicious use of old oak. Outstanding vintage. I deduced correctly there was less than 80% grenache (it is 70) but did not expect the other native varietals. Needs time to air.

7/17/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Enticing aromas of lemon verbena and cream. Very rich, moderately full body, yet stony minerality. Moderately long length of finish and finesse. Good intensity of flavor.

5/18/2018 - awinestory wrote:

At cdg airport. 12;5 abv balanced by ripe cherry and cassis fruit. Zesty acidity

3/3/2018 - awinestory wrote:

This is a fabulous wine for those who understand and appreciate the particular style. A deliberate oily/viscous texture, honeyed grilled chestnut aromas, and nuances of flavor that include buttered baked apple and pear. Long length of finish. Perfect with lobster and butter. Moderate acidity. I'm going to compare with oaked Chenin Blanc and Pinot Gris.

2/18/2018 - awinestory Likes this wine:

Very well structured with firm tannins and savory cherry liqueur fruit integrated intto the oak. 13.5 abv balanced by the lively acidity and juducious use of new french ooak. Taste of terroir here

2/15/2018 - awinestory wrote:

While the wine has a long length of finish and some elegance, it's fairly lightweight and the lightly grippy tannins, bright fruit, and light translucent garnet color make it seem more ideal for a luncheon wine. The 13% abv is nicely balanced by the primarily strawberry and cherry fruit and zesty acidity. Rounded texture and spice suggest use of only a small percentage of new French oak.

2/2/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Topaz color with gold highlights, pleasant subtle butterscotch aromas and though a perception of sweetness the palate is to a large extent "dry" despite what must be some small residual sugar. Long length of finish.

1/17/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Color is topaz, deeper than an amontillado. clear cut pecan nuts on the nose, vivid acidity, long length, and quite structured. I am tasting it against an amontillado which is a more pale topaz color and has some of the same characteristics yet not so sharply defined.

1/10/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Well structured in the sense of 13% abv balanced by ripe concentrated fruit (blackberries, black cherries) and racy med+ acidity framed by grippy tannins from what seems to be aging in American oak (spice).

1/8/2018 - awinestory wrote:

13.5 abv balanced by Great intensity of blackcurrant fruit, zesty acidity and firm structured tannins. Quite dense and drinking eell now yet youthful with long kife ahead.

1/7/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Beneath opulent ripe fruit and floral aromas is a well structured wine with a generous body, vivacious acidity, and long length of finish.

1/7/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Structured yet also approachable premium California Chardonnay built on the model from Burgundy with a surprising 13.2 % abv and very opulent ripe (tropical) fruit. Acidity is zesty and there is a sense of terroir.

1/6/2018 - awinestory wrote:

13% abv balanced by very ripe intense fruit (black cherry, cranberry, raspberry) zesty acidity, and structure and rounded fuller texture from some aging in oak. Dark purplce blackcolor, a leafy quality as well as surprising violet aromas/flavors.

1/4/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Can not beat the flavor for the price - toasted almond, green olive, green apple flavors and fuller bodied texture with 18.5% abv and moderately long length of finish. Preferable to lower end "cream" sherries blended with pale sweet grape must instead of what should be Amontillado or/and PX. Very sharp and focused, nice topaz color.

1/1/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Bright moderate+ acidity and 14% abv balanced by ripe blackberry/blackcurrant fruit with some strawberry jam and redcurrant and licorice as well. Firm tannins and subtle oak (texture, spice and vanilla notes) give the wine structure. Length is moderate+

1/1/2018 - awinestory wrote:

Premium New World Chardonnay ... yet the 13.2 % abv (on the bottle, at least) combined with the rich texture, moderate+ length of finish, 20% maturation in new French oak makes it hard to blind against the Les Champgains 1er cru Chassagne-Montrachet I happened to have on hand. Floral nose, very firm structure (like a Puligny in that way) and stony minerality.

12/22/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Very impressed! Deep color and firm tannins shows close attention to extraction methods. likely concentration from low yields, paying close attention to development of the skins, careful pressing, perhaps pre maceration and long post maceration. More of a masculine style than the floral Fleurie. perhaps due to the soil. No obvious oak on nose/palate yet possibly maturation in large oak casks.

12/19/2017 - awinestory wrote:

very black purple color, aromas of violet flowers and chocolate, fine grained tannins, refreshing acidity and long length of finish.

12/2/2017 - awinestory wrote:

This is an off-dry (78 g/L RS) medium bodied wine with racy acidity, good texture, and aromas/flavors of meyer lemon, honeysuckle, and ripe apricot. A lot of complexity, nuances of flavor, and long length of finish along with a slate-y minerality. Alcohol of 7.5 balances with ripe concentrated fruit and the ability to improve with age. Good typicity for the Mosel.

11/30/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Had in my cellar for a while -- agree this would have been better in a few years. Drinking well now in terms of its balance between vibrant acidity, a solid tannic frame, and lots of intense "compote" like black fruit (black cherries, blackberries) and welcome stony minerality. Yet a bit tight and structured at present. A great deal of dry extract. Attractive aromas of violet.

11/28/2017 - awinestory wrote:

First impression mint and dried herbs on nose and palate, along with structured tannins and vibrant acidity. Black fruit (cassis, blackberry) and a moderate length of finish/

11/27/2017 - awinestory wrote:

staw gold in color with aromas of meyer lemon, lime, quince, and grapefruit. On the palate, zesty acidity offsets what must be significant RS (65 - 75 g/L) estimated. Somewhat rounded texture suggests possible use of old oak in maturation. Drinking very well now yet can improve with bottle age.

11/26/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Welcome nervy tension between ripe exotic fruit, (kumquats, lime) and vibrant acidity. Finesse, intensity of rich aromas (white grapefruit) and flavors (grilled pineapple) and long length of finish.

11/20/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Fabulous well balanced. Young but can drink now given approachable nature.

11/18/2017 - awinestory Likes this wine:

100% percent pinot blanc from 1904 planted vines. Rich mousse snappy acidity lingering finish.

10/9/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Nearly 9 grams of RS but so high in acid it tastes like less than 2 grams. Medium body with more focused lime/lemon citrus notes, some slightly unripe apricot, lemon verbena aromas. Very crisp finish

9/28/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Restrained fruit. Black tarry fruit, blackberries and hint of vanilla though no obvious oak. Great balance between vibrant acidity, smooth but structured tannins, nuances of spice, black jam, moderate length of finish.

9/24/2017 - awinestory wrote:

A little too early to drink now - fresh raspberry and bright red cherry perfume, good core of fruit, tannin a bit astringent at present.

9/22/2017 - awinestory wrote:

Intense beam of spiced red cherry fruit, excellent fruit concentration with subtle structure (firm spine) and nuances of flavor. Great integration of fruit and oak. Moderate length yet great balance between ripe fruit, zesty acidity, firm tannins.

9/9/2017 - awinestory Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, a light gold color, and very aromatic with fresh cut red apples, honey, quince, warm straw, fresh ripe pineapple, lanolin, warm hay. On the palate rich fruit with vibrant acidity that cuts through the full body and sweetness. Long length of finish with great balance between the ripe fruit, 12.5 abv.