2/15/2024 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light, straw yellow; medium viscosity. Pleasant nose of pear, green apple, lemongrass and fresh cotton sheets finishing with a bit of wet slate and ocean spray. Clean palate showing off lemon/lime zest and green fruits. Reasonably refreshing acidity lifting a light to medium-weight wine. Would be a nice Summer quaffer, especially for the $12 sale price.

1/14/2024 - BVal wrote:

Last noted 3/13. First bottle corked; went & grabbed the last bottle.

Color/App: nearly opaque ruby core -> moderately dense ruby rim with a bit of garnet creeping in. The wine was rocking after decanting for about 30 minutes. Black-fruited bouquet showing off tar, creosote, leather, a little gaminess and wet-slate minerality. Palate showed smoke, pretty much any black fruit you can name, anisette and tobacco. Great structure to drink now: the tannins are finally approachable and the acid level seems just right. Well done and has held up nicely. I'd say this is for drinking now over the next 3-5 years.

1/14/2024 - BVal wrote:

Stunningly corked.
Lucky to have one more left as a backup... :-)

1/14/2024 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: pale straw yellow core; medium viscosity. Simple but fairly intense & pleasant nose of lemon, green apple and a little vanilla. Highly acidic palate of mostly citrus (esp. lemon) notes with a touch of honey and white flowers. Lightly structured wine that shows a short, clipped finish. Reasonably priced at $12. Might be nice with oysters or shellfish but there are too many other better choices available.

1/4/2024 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: transclucent, moderately deep ruby core -> diffuse garnet rim; high viscosity. Pleasant nose of blackberries and black cherries, plums and Christmas fruitcake. Palate is still nicely sweet with a light midpalate and long finish. Mostly black fruits with raspberries, figs and Ambenyl. Tannins soft and faded. For drinking now and over the next 5-10 years. Well done.

12/31/2023 - BVal Likes this wine:

Color/App: deep, burnished old-gold core with copper and amber tints. Soaring, deep bouquet of toffee and butterscotch, saffron, creme brulee and lime zest. Botrytis-laden palate of apricots and peaches, coconut, caramel, lime and -- as I noted for the '75 -- that ineffable Lur-Saluces aged complexity. Great, laser-focused acidity, tremendous length, tension and precision. Perhaps not at the level of Y'quem in this great year but kicking ass and taking names all the same.

12/24/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: fairly youthful appearance at eight years of age: light/medium straw yellow core with a touch of gold tinting. Bouquet of lemon zest, grapefruit, marzipan and champagne-like autolytics. Palate needed a little time to unfurl and warm towards room temp. Full bodied with notes of lemon/lime, almonds, golden raisins and golden apples. Melon de Bourgogne grapes given Chardonnay-like treatment. At peak now and probably for at least a couple/few years. Not for everyone but I just love this stuff and how well it ages.

12/23/2023 - BVal wrote:

Last noted 1/22 & not much has changed.

Color/App: a little lighter this time around -- medium-deep ruby core -> ruby/fuchsia rim. Still a wonderful bouquet of boysenberry, black cherry, spice and earth. Medium-bodied palate showing that Mourvedre dirt & earth, dark fruit, and a long, complex finish. Fine, ripe tannins are still there but fairly light. Very well made and drinking great right now and for probably 5+ more years. There aren't too many Cali Mourvedres at this level. 92-93.

12/22/2023 - BVal wrote:

Last noted 5/16 from 375ml & suggested waiting 7 years. So here we are, 7 years later and from a 750ml.

Color/App: moderately deep gold with high viscosity. Lovely spiced-peach dominant nose with notes of clove and vanilla, mandarin orange, apricots, caramel and botrytis aplenty. Fresh, appealing mouthfeel; acidity could be slightly higher but there's still a good amount and there's a long sweet finish to this. Palate shows caramel covered peaches and apricots, baking spices and a good shot of orange peel with a small hit of pithy bitters that is quite nice. This shows sweet and long and fairly well-balanced at 22 years old. GTG now and 10+ years more I'd say.

8/22/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light/medium ruby core -> light ruby/garnet rim. Crunchy, intense bouquet of game meat and horsey barnyard (yes...that's good) mixed with roasted cherries, leather and a bit of creosote. Fabulous palate showing plenty of acidity (Barbera so no suprise), cherries, minerals, forest floor, tobacco, iodine and a touch of balsamic. Shows a lovely old-vine intensity that I usually only find in Corini's La Barla, Massa's Monleale and Braida's Bricco dell'Uccellone. Reminds me of La Stoppa's '06 and '07 of which I've enjoyed many a bottle. Pure fruit, medium bodied with a good midpalate & long finish; a pleasure to drink.

8/16/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: medium-deep ruby core -> diffuse garnet rim; medium + viscosity. Quite the lovely, masculine bouquet of black cherries, sous bois, mushrooms and figs and earth. Big, sturdy palate showing off currants and cherries (again), beetroot and bramble within a structured framework. Rustic and old world for sure, showing a nice spine of acidity and minerality. While I like it, it does seem far more Gevrey than Chambolle. A mix of Les Sentiers, Les Chabiots and Les Chatelots. Perfect for drinking now and -- given the structure -- probably quite a few more years.

8/12/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light, straw yellow; medium + viscosity. Bouquet of ripe green apple, peach, a touch of honey, marzipan and peach pit. Palate shows apple and stone fruit again with lemon zest and mineral notes. Slight attractive bitterness on the long, slow mineral-laden outro. Seems to be a bit of oak there, too (?). Acid level just so for a Derthona (this my third trying). Similar overall profile to the Oddero but a step behind Walter Massa's.

8/5/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light, straw yellow core; medium viscosity. Saline bouquet on PnP of green apple and pear, peaches and green melon. Less viscous mouthfeel than the Massa Vigneti tried recently but still nicely filled-out and medium-bodied with excellent acidity. Palate showcasing stone fruit, honey and white flowers and a notable mineral streak. Still reminds me of a Viognier/Chenin mash-up with a nice mineral, acidic spine. Balanced, nicely put together, and seems as if it would age well. On sale for $32; more than I'd like to pay but about right for what Derthona seems to go for.

8/2/2023 - BVal wrote:

Last tasted 9/15.

Color/App: deep/dark, slightly translucent ruby core -> deep ruby/garnet rim. A bit dense and chunky on PnP so I decanted and waited about 90 minutes before noting. Intensely black-fruited bouquet that runs heavy on charcoal/toast and forest floor/bramble. Unfortunately I'm missing the perfume and flowery elements that seemed prevalent eight years ago. The palate is still primarily black cherries and blackberries with notes of tar and a little barnyard and smoke. Still presenting a nicely structured midpalate and excellent acidity, this has just lost a little oomph as it has aged without gaining any corresponding complexity. So in summation: I think this is it -- we're on the plateau -- I'd suggest popping the cork to those who still have any left (though it will probably hold here for at least another 3-5 years).

7/25/2023 - BVal wrote:

Had this at Tablas recently and liked it so much I bought a few bottles for home. One of a few lovely white Rhones enjoyed while visiting several Paso vineyards that day.

Color/App: medium-deep corn-yellow core/gold tints; medium viscosity. Really nice, expressive nose that gained significantly as it warmed toward room temperature: golden apples and star jasmine, honeysuckle, ginger and an attractive nuttiness. Medium-bodied with good acidity and freshness here. Palate of stone fruits -- think nectarine/peaches with a little lychee and ginger and honey again. Reasonably long finish and shows quite well for a seven year old new world Roussanne. A bit understated compared with others but I think that may be partly why it is aging so gracefully. Perfect now but will probably hold a few more years.

7/17/2023 - BVal Likes this wine:

Opened and enjoyed 2 glasses over a couple of hours then vacu-vinned and put in fridge for a night before noting.

Color/App: medium/deep yellow core with gold tinting and some haziness; medium+ viscosity. Ripe, forward bouquet of quince, mandarin orange, star jasmine and white peach. Full-bodied, creamy, in-your-face palate adding honeysuckle, golden apple and golden raisins into the mix. Lovely, lingering, mineral and saline finish that showed a nice acidic pop that kept me coming back for more. Very much in the style and intensity of top-of-the-line St. Joseph blancs with more Marilyn Monroe curves. Love this stuff and wonder if it will age as well as its French counterparts....

If only I lived nearer Washington to get the box (heavy sigh).

7/17/2023 - BVal wrote:

A recent release from Massa Vigneti, I think. Just purchased from a retailer and had no visible flaws/faults; I think this is just too old. Brown/amber core with a diffuse, orange rim and exhibiting distinct notes of maderization. I let this develop for 2+ hours, tasting it along the way, hoping that it would revive itself; down the drain when that didn't happen.
Was probably delicious 5-8 years ago but not so much now.

7/12/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: deep, burnished gold; high viscosity. Extroverted bouquet of apricots, toffee, scorched brown butter, peaches and spiced botrytis. Sweet, somewhat coarse palate attack that smooths out on the midpalate and accentuates peaches and spice elements. A little smoke comes through on the 10-15 second-long finish that still shows a good amount of uplifting acidity. Honestly, the smoke and scorched elements would have seriously downgraded the score had this not been a 56 year-old wine from what is essentially a cru Bourgeois producer. Putting those elements in play, this absolutely delivered a fun and delicious experience. Scoring this a 90 for age, a bottle that didn't look as if it was anywhere near pristine condition (see picture), a great year, an okay producer and, realistically, sheer cojones.

7/5/2023 - BVal wrote:

I used to be able to source Bodegas Naia's Naiades easily as the NH State stores regularly carried it. Unfortunately, I have not seen this in years there and this is my last bottle of any vintage.

Color/App: medium-deep straw yellow core with medium viscosity. Bouquet of grapefruit and pears, kiwi, white flowers and a touch of caramel. I've always been a fan of old vine Verdejo and this is usually one of the best, coming from ancient, low-producing, pre-phyloxera vines that is then aged in oak. Needs time to come around and this nine year old white feels (and looks) much younger than its true age. Palate mirrors the nose and shows excellent acidity and length. Great stuff and a testament to how well Verdejo can age.

7/3/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: medium-deep ruby core -> slightly diffuse fuchsia rim; medium viscosity. Bouquet of fresh-picked red cherry coulis and blueberries, a little gunflint and a touch of matchstick sulfer. High acid, cherry dominant palate that shows some noticeable but soft tannins, decent length but not a lot of character; kinda meh. And I don't really see this developing into something more profound either -- it's just a weekday quaffer. I'm a bit underwhelmed as I was hoping for something approaching Walter Massa's Monleale Barbera. Not a patch on that, unfortunately.

7/3/2023 - BVal wrote:

From magnum.

Color/App: medium-deep gold core with high viscosity. Lovely, high-toned nose of peaches, orange peel, apple pie baking spices, pineapple and honey. Well balanced palate mirroring the bouquet and adding vanilla and a touch of caramel. Juicy, full-bodied, quite sweet still and with great acidity, this just killed it with the lobster-fest. Struck me as being in a perfect place now but will easily last for 10+ more years. 2 Mags and 2 wins today! 92-93.

7/3/2023 - BVal wrote:

From magnum.

Color/App: medium-deep yellow core with gold tinting; medium + viscosity. Lovely, enticing bouquet of honeycomb, beeswax, lanolin, pear and a touch of lime. Big and lush palate of stone fruit, citrus, honey and marzipan and wet slate minerality. Creamy mouthfeel with good acidity, plump midpalate and a long, delicious finish. Drinking perfectly now and will obviously hold in this format for quite a few more years. Yum!

6/23/2023 - BVal wrote:

First time trying a Timorasso and likely won't be the last; screwcap closure, 14% etoh.

Color/App: poured a moderately deep yellow/gold; medium ++ viscosity. Really nice bouquet on PnP of honeysuckle, pears and green apples, peaches and a touch of green melon. Viscous mouthfeel but lined with a nice spine of acidity that I guess Timorasso is known for. Rich, creamy palate showcasing stone fruit, honey and white flowers and a notable mineral streak. While I get the references to Riesling mixed with Viognier, I would be more inclined to guess Chenin Blanc/Viognier if looking for a signpost as to expectations. Absolutely delicious and worth a search. And this stuff ages well, supposedly -- gonna have to try that. Thank you, Walter Massa, for saving what was obviously a forgotten (and almost lost) noble white grape. 92 - 93; in my wheelhouse for sure.

6/22/2023 - BVal wrote:

75% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah; 15% etoh.

Color/App: opaque, inky core -> dense ruby rim; medium + viscosity. Bouquet of black pepper, plums, underbrush/bramble, earth, charcoal and road tar. Medium-bodied palate that mirrors the nose and adds in some olive tapenade and provencal spices. Ends with a peppery, somewhat tannic finish; needs another year or two to tame the tannins, though it can be enjoyed now with food. Strikes me as slightly leaner than the Damas Noir Mourvedres made by Cris in '07 and '09. 92-93 with some upside as the tannins fade.

6/21/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light/medium-deep ruby core -> diffuse garnet rim; medium + viscosity. Initial whiff of maderization on PnP that unfortunately grew stronger as time passed. Below that could be found dark cherries, cola and a meaty element CT users have described from other years. High acid palate that showcased bright cherry fruit but that was about it before the maderized elements took over. Puchased at auction and hoping this is just a bad bottle as I have three more in the cellar. Ugh.

6/20/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light, straw yellow core with medium viscosity. This bottle had been open for several nights in the fridge with screwcap in place before noting. Pleasant bouquet of lemon and lime zest, fresh cut lawn and a steely, chalky minerality; very reminiscent of a nice, young Chablis. Citrus dominant palate -- particularly lemon/lime, then with a little nectarine and grapefruit on the zippy finish. Refreshing and strikes me as the best TC Vermentino I've tasted. Enjoy now and probably over the next couple of years.

6/9/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: straw yellow core with medium (-) viscosity. Bouquet of bruised yellow apples, nectarines, grapefruit and a touch of Champagne brioche. Light palate of primarily apple and pear, lemon and white peach and those autolytic notes. Currently light-to-medium-bodied with good acidity and a reasonably long finish. Not quite as complex as I thought it would (or should) be at five years of age. I'll choose to wait a couple of years before opening another of these as I think this might be just a bit too young yet. 90 for now . . . stay tuned.

6/9/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: translucent medium ruby core -> diffuse ruby/garnet rim; medium + viscosity. Bouquet of raspberries and boysenberries, red licorice and some dusty bramble. Red fruit palate (cherries, pomegranate, berries, etc.) with some savoury sage, approachable tannins and a nice acidic spine. Finishes a bit short but scores a point for exuberant juiciness. I'd drink this now if I had any more as I don't see this getting any more complex....

6/8/2023 - BVal wrote:

I don't normally do negociant Sauternes but this was in dad's cellar and needed drinking so....

Color/App: deep gold core; medium viscosity. Bouquet of apricots, peaches & nectarines sauteed in scorched butter, mixed with pineapple and brown sugar. Palate showing sweet peaches and apricots with little botrytis or complexity and a touch of bitters and black tea on the moderately-long finish. Honestly, the palate is better than the nose but falls short in a very good vintage; it's just a sweet dessert wine with not much more to exhibit than sugar. Meh (at best).

6/8/2023 - BVal wrote:

Off the list at Passionfish, complementing the fabulous main course.

Color/App: medium/deep yellow core with medium viscosity. Great, mature nose of lemon, peach, grapefruit with a touch of marzipan and as it sat, a little butterscotch. Superb balance and distinctly mature with great nervosity and palate presence; ready to enjoy now and over the next few years. Palate showing ripe, yellow apples with lemongrass, a touch of lime zest and a lovely, crushed seashell minerality. A perfect foil for the sea scallops in tomato-truffle butter.

6/6/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: deep/dark inky core -> dense ruby rim; medium viscosity. Nose not a patch on the '10 of this wine but still really nice: black fruits (all), charcoal, roasted meat and anisette. Masculine, full-bodied with a Cornas bent to it. Palate of black pepper, game meat, blackberries and black plums and savoury herbs flowing into a very, very long finish. Once again, quite delicious and well done; not quite at the heights of 2010 but very enjoyable now and for at least 5-6 more years.

6/6/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: medium/deep yellow/gold core with medium + viscosity. Luscious and lovely bouquet of golden apples, ginger, lychee and jasmine and honeysuckle. Big-boned white but balanced and lithe -- not syrupy -- and less oily than I recall the '10 being. Palate of golden raisins, tropical fruit, ginger and spice. Plump midpalate and with a moderately long finish, this checks all my boxes for quality new world Roussanne. Got to admit, I'd love to see Stolpman mix this with Marsanne to see their take on a new world Hermitage/St. Joseph blanc. I think that might make an even bigger splash than this. 93.5

6/4/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: dark, inky core -> dense fuschia/ruby rim; medium ++ viscosity. Intensely black fruited nose with charcoal, roasted meat and a hint of violets. Palate of blackberry coulis, boysenberry, iodine, black olives and wet slate. This is full bodied and reasonably well-balanced, especially considering the (well hidden) high Etoh. Good acidity, long finish, low tannin load, delicious and a nice foil for seared NY strip; there's a lot to like here. My only proviso would be that this is less concentrated than the Revas from the oughts. Then again, maybe it just needs more time to develop some amplitude ...? Enjoy over the next 5-10 years.

6/3/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: dark ruby core -> moderately deep fuschia rim; medium + viscosity. Coarse and alcoholic on PnP; decanted and let sit for 45-60 minutes and it came around a decent amount. Bouquet of blackberries, violets and olives and some nice meatiness. Palate still has some seriously grippy tannins on the front end suggesting this still needs 2-3 years sleep. Picking around, I can find some black fruit, roasted meat and charcoal before the tannins rush back in and shut down the finish. Seems like a 90-92 point wine but judgement reserved as I'd like to see what appears (or is left) after the tannins fade.

6/3/2023 - BVal wrote:

70% Roussanne, 30% Chardonnay.

Color/App: medium/deep yellow/gold core with medium + viscosity. Bouquet of Acacia flower, ginger, grapefruit, melon, honeysuckle and oak. Full bodied with spicy and savoury notes. Yellow apple, ginger and honey again, along with a distinct minerality and a touch of bitters. I find the acid level acceptable and the finish seems moderately long. A really interesting wine with the Roussanne taking the (flavour) wheel of control. I admire the spice and ginger elements & agree with others that this would pair nicely with sushi. I'd opt for drinking this within the next couple of years.

6/1/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: dark, slightly translucent ruby core -> diffuse crimson/cranberry rim; medium + viscosity. Once again, GOK does not disappoint, presenting the quintessential CDP/Burgundy mash-up. Bouquet on PnP of saline-iodine-brine-funk (that Cayuse thang -- though less here than on some of the Syrahs), pomegranate, beetroot and Southern-Rhone Grenache spice. As with the '07, a smooth, juicy palate showing beautiful acidity (almost Burgundian you say?), an elegant, well-balanced midpalate and lovely, long finish. I think this vintage skews a little more Burgundian than others I've enjoyed as the bright acidity remained dominant while the gamey, spicy elements lessened slightly over the course of 2+ hours. Palate of kirsch, cranberries, some earth, spice and overarching minerality. I've grown to enjoy this bottling of Cayuse more than even Bionic Frog due to its propensity to mesh perfectly with most food. Can certainly pull the cork now and for 5+ more years, easily.

5/31/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: lovely light/medium yellow gold core; high viscosity. Fabulous aromatics: yellow flowers, honeysuckle, coconut, pineapple and peaches and a drizzle of caramel running through it all. Still a bit of puppy fat on the palate that dazzles with citrus, nectarine and spicy botrytis. Fairly concentrated and very well put together; the best regular Coutet I can remember since the '75. Super long finish and while it could use a touch more acidity, this is fine and aging well. I'll give it another 5+ years to peak. 92 with upside still.

5/30/2023 - BVal wrote:

Last noted 4/15 and have enjoyed probably a half case between then and now. Those who know me know I like this aged; this is the last bottle in the cellar.

Color/App: young appearance -- medium-deep yellow core with gold tints; medium viscosity. Aged bouquet of citrus -- especially lemon, grapefruit, strong notes of marzipan and (JVPhoto nailed this) some autolytic Champagne notes of brioche/bread dough. Full bodied palate resembling a mature white Burgundy (Meursault? Puligny?) with marzipan again, lemon/lime zest, golden apples, pears and golden raisins. Acidity is pretty much where it should be and provides a nice punctuation to the fairly long finish. For those who like their Melon de Bourgogne (what ampelography has determined the grape actually is -- not Pinot Blanc) aged and fuller-bodied than the French version. 91-92 with an extra point given for age....

5/29/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light straw yellow with medium viscosity. Forward, attractive bouquet of peach coulis, honeysuckle, lemon peel, star jasmine and fresh linen. Medium-bodied palate of citrus, honey, grapefruit and wet rocks. Really delicious in '21 and a step up from the 2020 with just more depth, roundness and poise. Good acidity, midpalate, lengthy finish and ridiculously quaffable.

5/29/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: dark, slightly translucent ruby core -> medium-deep garnet rim; medium + viscosity. Can't believe I haven't noted this yet as I've enjoyed several bottles over the past few years; I think this is my last bottle. Bouquet on PnP was immediate and intense: black currants and black plums, coffee, leather, road tar and lead pencil. With a black fruit palate and some cigar box notes, this presents a juicy, solid midpalate and moderately long finish. Medium to full-bodied, this has resolved almost all the tannins and is delicious now and certainly for a few more years.

5/29/2023 - BVal Likes this wine:

Last noted 12/16 though I've enjoyed several bottles between then and now with consistently excellent notes. 750ml bottle this time.

Color/App: lovely, seemingly glowing medium gold with high viscosity. Once again, tremendously youthful appearance for an '86 and for 37 year-old Sauternes, in general. Faboulous bouquet of coconut, spiced peach jam, vanilla bean, honeysuckle, mandarin orange and brown-sugar butter. Youthful palate of caramel, creme brulee, orange, peach and plenty of botrytis. Great midpalate and balance and concentration. Finishes long with perfect acidity. I'd say the only real change I've noticed over the last decade or so is a slight lightening of the liquorous texture from what it used to have. Still young and lovely and plenty of life; enjoy over the next decade +. Top tier among '86 Sauternes.

5/29/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light, straw yellow with a touch of green tint; medium viscosity. Pleasant bouquet of orange pith, stone fruit, citrus and white flowers. Medium-bodied palate showing off grapefruit and other citrus, honey, green apple and some nice minerality. Well made with nice acid/fruit balance and a reasonably long finish. Excellent QPR at the NH state stores for $10 on sale.

Downgraded just a bit after having another bottle 7/24 and noticing an unpleasant, slightly pithy/bitter spine running through it. Bottle variation?

5/27/2023 - BVal wrote:

Last noted 7/16; surprised to find one still hiding in the cellar. Opened after a slightly disappointing '15 K Vintners Charlotte; this is much more in my wheelhouse.

Color/App: still dark/nearly opaque inky core -> dense ruby rim; medium + viscosity. Very nice nose of blackberries and black cherries, tar, charcoal, bacon fat and leather, lead pencil and licorice. Black fruit palate with tobacco, a little smoke, olives and meat. A lot to like here, though the midpalate is slightly thinner than I'd like (blame the vintage).
There is still a bit of tannin on the long, dark finish that suggests this will last a few more years but why wait? 92.5

5/27/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: just barely translucent ruby core -> moderately dense ruby rim; medium viscosity. I found this to be too fruit forward on night#1 so I double decanted it, vacu-vinned it and tried it again after 24 hours. While still super fruity, that toned it down a bit. Aggresively red-fruited nose of strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries (if it's red and a berry, you'll find it here), a little earth and some savoury sage and rosemary. Reminds me of some Saxum wines in the extraction and level of fruit intensity. Better on the palate, though still very red fruit dominant. Some grippy tannins on the fairly long finish suggesting this probably still needs 2-4 more years. Acceptable -- I get why others appreciate it -- but not my style of wine anymore.

5/26/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: light straw yellow core; medium viscosity. Bright bouquet of lemon zest, grapefruit, starched linen and wet stones. Light and racy palate showing citrus and stone fruit, especially lemon notes. Barest trace of bitters at the end of a short-to-moderately-long finish. Light, pleasantly quaffable and zippy; I could see this going nicely with shrimp scampi. Reasonably good QPR at the NH State store for $12.

5/25/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: medium-deep yellow with gold tinting; medium + viscosity. Not thrilled with the nose on PnP so I poured off a glass, stoppered it and put it back into the fridge for a day. Bouquet much better night number two showing butter and cream, meyer lemon, wet rocks and tropical citrus. Apple, butter, peaches and oak come through vividly on the full-bodied, round palate. I do think this shows some oxidation -- it could be a bit fresher and I would say it's hitting the back end of the drinking plateau. While it is big-boned and unappologetic, I would opt for enjoying these over the next couple of years as I don't think it will be getting any better than it is now.

5/22/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: medium deep yellow core with gold tints; medium viscosity. Pleasant nose of green apple, lime and lemon zest, some grapefruit and minerality. Fairly round and full-bodied mouthfeel pushing citrus elements, stonefruit and a touch of salinity. Quite nice and a delicious accompaniment to fetuccini di mare with the fresh acidity keeping things lively. My only quibble would be the fairly short finish, but this pretty much goes away when enjoying with food. A pleasant surprise.

5/21/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: opaque/inky core -> dense ruby rim with the barest touch of garnet at the edge; medium + viscosity. Initially had a green/weedy note on the nose at PnP that was off-putting but decanted and waited 20-30 minutes and that blew off. Bouquet of road tar, earth, creosote and black, black fruits; black plums, blackberries, black cherries -- you name it; it's there. This tasted younger than expected; still some grippy tannins to resolve but showing promise. Palate exhibiting that plethora of black fruit, dirt, ash, a touch of pepper and some roasted meat. I find this to be fairly primary still and demonstrating an austere, northern Rhone framework. I'm inclined to give this a bit more time given the tannins and youthful appearance; I think patience will be rewarded. 92-94.

5/17/2023 - BVal wrote:

Color/App: medium-deep straw yellow; medium viscosity. Bouquet of pear, red apple, lemon and lime zest and wet slate/minerality. Very well balanced wine with a nice, reasonably full, spicy midpalate showing off citrus/tropical notes with golden raisins; seems a bit more plumped up than other vintages of Nisia I've tried when young. Even though this has a bit more body than other years, it still has a bright, lemony acidity to keep the reasonably long finish fresh. Still my go-to house white for top notch quality married to a great price. 90+

5/13/2023 - BVal wrote:

Been sitting on 3 bottles of this for a few years and finally decided to pull the cork on a beautiful, temperate, New England evening with marinated steak tips.

Color/App: translucent, medium-deep ruby core -> diffuse ruby rim; medium + viscosity. Classic Rocks nose on PnP of kalamata olives in brine, bacon, roasted meat, creosote, iodine and earth. As great as the bouquet is, the palate is where this wine really shines. Creamy, silky mouthfeel showing off savory/herbal notes, cherries and plums, bittersweet chocolate and yep, some (not over-the-top but just right) barnyard. To my mind, very much in the vein of Cayuse but with that added creamy element. Fabulous balance and a long, lovely finish. Quite impressive and certainly deserves to be in the top rank of WA Syrahs. It's drinking great now and will easily do so for 5-10+ more years.