4/16/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This hits at a strong point. Great acid and mineral, generous and giving. Substantial brioche and toast on nose, along with lemon curd and pear. Classic rich take on B de B. Palate has extract and toast and fruit and dosage of a meal-worthy, big wine, but maintains acidic cut and mineral structure to keep it fresh and refreshing. Not precisely my favorite style, but very well made for what it is, and a downright bargain at $34. Paired with mushroom risotto, it was just spot on.

4/15/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This has improved since last bottle. Great it is not, but it has actually balanced out a bit in four years. Still relatively big and ripe but structure shows well. Still fresh and drinking well. A tad on the harsh side and still tannic.

4/14/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

I think they took this malolactic - which is a bit unusual for SB, but it works here. Nose is grapefruit and lemon dominant, with some herbal chive notes also floral - rose. Mineral, too, and a bit leesy. It's remarkably rounded, given latitude, but it's very burgundian. Palate has ample acid, presenting as citrus, and chalky mineral, but rounded toward finish with what seems a mix of lees and partial ML. This is a remarkably compelling take on sauvignon blanc that is very distinct from Loire - it is varietal, but also very regional - in a most pleasing way. Has a lot going on. And, at $, it's amazing.

4/13/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This has benefitted from time in cellar. Or maybe it’s bottle variation. This, my last of three, is singing. Mineral and melon fruit more pronounced. Acid showing. Strawberry. Palate more complex and with acid more obvious. Still not a long finish but much more pleasurable and showing its nature. Mineral is deep.

4/11/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose slightly floral, cherry, and lightly herbal. Palate has ample acid, good mineral, and structured fruit. Lavender and cherry. A lighter take than some chinon rose, but still has the characteristics of the c.f. grape.

4/10/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

A well made wine with incredible freshness and adequate complexity. Nose a mix of floral and stone fruit notes. Quite aromatic, almost in a muscat or viognier sense. But incredible acidity and minerals on palate walk back from that and introduces a mix of herbal and citrus tones. White pepper.

4/6/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This has matured into exactly what is should be. It’s a Pommard Junior. Nose is dark plummy fruit, some cherry. A bit herbal and a bit feral. Currant palate fairly balanced if a bit on the weighty side. Still has the acid to keep it fresh. Long finish. Mineral and tannins give structure. Lacks the elegance of nuits but has many of its flavors.

4/6/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Wow is this a serious rose. Rose cherry even a hint of that barolo tar. Fennel. Cigar ash. Palate balanced. Plenty of acid still and great fruit. Hints of tannin. Herbal. Mineral. Complex.

4/3/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Wow that is an acid and mineral bomb. Mineral, lime underripe apricot. Palate oozes acid, but is more giving in fruit. Long mineral finish

4/2/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This is so delicious and food friendly. Few wines manage to be so fresh, light, and yet weighty at the same time - which, yes, seems a contradiction, but taste it, and you'll see. Nose a floral (honeysuckle) mix with stones, herbs, citrus rind, peaches, almonds, even a bit of wax. Palate is so bright and fresh and acidic - yet also carries considerable weight of mineral extract and stone fruit. And there's a certain rustic wildness to it. It's not exactly polished, it's not particularly refined, but dang, it's fascinating, quite complex, it's refreshing, and I keep going back for more. I don't think is one for lengthy cellaring, but as great as it is now, why would you?

3/31/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This is a strong example of Crozes at its best. And for me, it is pretty close to peak drinking. Nose blackberry, olives, a bit of animale, a bit of lavender floral notes, heavy black pepper. Palate incredibly balanced - still showing fruit, but lots of secondary development of cacao, pepper, herbal and olive notes. Plenty of acid, plenty of fruit, great mineral, tannins largely resolved and integrated, though still very present. Hits way above appelation and price point. Paired wonderfully with gigot de sept heures for the holiday.

3/28/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose floral violet, funky earth, blueberry; palate blueberry again, sour apple, immense acid and mineral galore. Frizzante a nice touch. Definitely a stretch if you're looking for more "traditional" wines - except, of course, this is likely traditional in a very old school way.

3/25/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Very well made mercury. Nose cherry and brambles. Rustic. Cigar. Cocoa. Palate has impeccable acidity even in a hot vintage. Mineral and a few tannins there along with a sauvage that you only find in this region of burgundy.

3/24/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Very nice wine - an a classic Loire take on Pinot Noir. This, like so many wines of the Loire, is built for the table, not for high points in a tasting line up. Red cherry, raspberry, herbal, and a bit floral. You would not likely think burgundy, but surely old world. Richness to the fruit. Palate shows the influence of wood, but more in the rounding that happens with larger, mostly neutral vessels. Good acid, red fruit dominate. Good minerals, hints of tannins, but only in the background. Moderately long finish, well rounded. Herbal and a bit earthy toward finish. A wonderful accompaniment to a roast chicken with root veg. Exactly what the region does so well. No one tried to make this into a chambertin, and I'm thankful for that.

3/19/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This really is rose at a different level. Way different. Nose mineral, floral, but also has stone fruit of provence, and some strawberry. Palate shows mix of intense fruit and floral notes, with great acid, big mineral, and a herbal astringency on the finish. This is big, complex, beautiful, and truly rose at a different level. Not a porch sipper.

3/18/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This is a really solid well made burgundy drinking near peak for this palate. Red cherries, black chrrry. and mushrooms galore. Very bright. Herbal. Palate has intense acid and mineral support. An almost frizzante note on finish which I have to interpret as acid etc. a bit of tannin. The fruit is big. Long finish.

3/17/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose shows oak, malolactic notes - in style, more true Bourgogne than Maconnais. Indeed, blind, it's nearly a village level meursault. Now, that ambition is rather fitting to the fruit in this - it held up nicely to the treatment. But then, labeled Macon? Hmm. Graininess, buttery, vanilla, lemon curd. Long finish. Nice acid, balance.

3/11/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

A very good if somewhat simple haut medoc. Better balanced than many from 2015. Currant and fruit still dominate nose though secondary tobacco notes are developing. Nice acid and fruit. Palate showing more maturity. Not deep, not great, but very nice Monday night bottle.

3/9/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Very right for Cotes du bourg. Rustic, a bit brambly and rough and tumble, it is nonetheless not overdone at all. Blueberry, hints of oak remain, now as cigar box and cedar. Peppery. Palate has dusty tannins, great acid, mineral. Balance and maturity are real here - it is just at that lovely spot now. Sure, it doesn't have the length, the complexity, or the overall regal nature of a Pauillac or Margaux classed growth - but nor does it have the price tag. Great with a simple pot roast.

3/8/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Serious, correct, and appropriately subtle. Strawberry, floral, cream, and hints of mineral/earth - I'm thinking chalky. Great acid and mineral, earthy tones on palate. This is serious, complex, and not the insipid plonk some roses tend to be. Not tired at all, and has a couple years ahead of it, I think.

3/7/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Dang this is good. It is so subtle for the region, even more so for the vintage. Nose bramble, raspberry, a bit of tea. Palate is full of acid driven fresh fruit tea and mineral depth. No signs of jam or oak. This reminds of old time gigondas. So good.

3/6/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Relatively simple burgundy but classic. Lemon curd, green apple, somewhat creamy/buttery but balanced by a nice acidity and mineral underpinnings. My sense is the producer we’ll understand the fruit they had and built a gorgeous if simple wine for the table. Nothing forced or overdone at all. Just glorious inexpensive old world Chardonnay.

3/4/2024 - lake.vino wrote:

On the downslope now. Showing maturity. Nose still shows rustic red cherry and brambly raspberry. Oak still there. Earthy and leafy notes. Some notes of oxidation. Palate big and burly. Cocoa and cigar. Oxidation more obvious here. I think this wine is an example of trying too hard with fruit provided. And I held too long given what was there hoping for resolution of other issues.

3/2/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Another awesome bottle of this wine. It screams both varietal and region. Nose has the sb notes of chives and gooseberry, herbal, lime, along with a flint and almost smoky note. Palate has incredible acid and mineral. Sappy too. Long finish. At over 5 years of age this is still doing well. Bit if passion fruit. This hits well above $ and appellation expectations.

2/29/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose floral, slate, petrol mineral and a bit of stone fruit. Some warm spices. Palate has intense acid and mineral Extract. Seems to show some oak, but it’s subtle. A lot going on here. Long finish.

2/27/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Held up well largelybthanks to immense acid. Apricot, stone, petrol, hints of coconut. Almond. Palate similar. Great balance of acid and fruity sweetness, minerals.

2/25/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

A simple, but typical, and correct Bourgogne. A bargain at the $, and still youthful. Nose red cherry, some earth and mushroom - almost a morel sort of note. Palate balanced, ample acid, good fruit, and the mushrooms return here. a bit herbal, too. mineral, moderate finish. The complexity is not at PC level, but you could sell me that this was a good village level Beaune.

2/24/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Sappy, brambly cherry. Rustic for sure. Raspberry. Some forest floor. Palate is quite deep and long. Decent complexity if not refined. Has balance, plenty of fruit and acid. Mineral and tannin.

2/23/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Big, rich and ripe. Burly and rustic. But at the same time, very honest to region grape and vintage. No obvious oak. Nose brambly, raspberry, ripe even almost stewed. Palate a bit tannic and big and rudtic. But has supporting acid. This really has a lot going on.

2/22/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

At the close out pricing this is an amazing bottle. But even so, this shows considerable complexity. Nose floral mineral, and some pear. Herbal too. Great acid and extract. Remains fresh.

2/18/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose cherry and mineral, herbal. Speaks old world, cab franc. Great acid. Big mineral. Fruit is there, but not dominant If you’re looking for a sweetish fruit bomb you will be very sad with this.

2/16/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Pretty wine. Not improving at this stage; drink it. Cranberry , cherry rose tar. Good mineral. Solid fresh acid still tannic. Built for the table and not for long aging. But still has nice complexity and depth. Finish remarkably long. Nebbiolo really shows here. But has brambles and fruit of primitivo. I’m happy this seems to have seen no oak.

2/14/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose toasty, red fruit, creamy. Some apple too and lemon. Complex. Palate has great acid and mineral structure. Lees richness. Very long finish.

2/12/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Wow. Both a fun and quite serious rose. Nose floral, red cherry, melon, and mineral. Palate balanced, fruit dense, floral, mineral plenty of acid.

2/11/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose classic marsannay rose. Strawberry, creamy mineral. Palate balanced, nice acid, mineral finish, a bit of herbal note on midpalate.

2/8/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Fresh, mineral. Floral, green apple, grassy-herbal. Palate acid doc and mineral first. Creamy texture. Very crisp and beautiful. Screams cool climate, steel, and montane origins.

2/5/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Absolute classic northern Syrah. Nose bacon, blueberries, hot stones, some roast meat, lavender, menthol. Not showing tiredness at all. Indeed may well still be on upslope for this palate. Intense, great acid and mineral. No oak obvious. Long finish. Tannins still there. This is truly brilliant wine.

2/3/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This is, in no way, an "easy-drinking" rose. It is not intended to be. It's made from vines over 100 years old, grown on volcanic soil - and this all shows. It badly needed cellar time, and is still on the young side. However, it has lost its "stench" of youth. Crunchy red cranberry, apple. Very rocky, and earthy, almost sulfury note. Palate brightly acidic, with red fruit dominating. White pepper, a bit herbal. Strong mineral structure underlies the fruit, and continues to dominate on long finish. This wine needs food - really, for a meal. It would be a disaster as a patio/poolside summer quaffer. But, with a few years of age, a nice hearty plate of food - wow. And best served at cool cellar temperate - it's just dead at 40F.

1/31/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

A solid "field blend" wine of the Alto Piemonte. Nose a mix of ripe dark and crunchy fruit, mineral, and herbal undertones Also, floral - rose?. Raspberry, blackberry, cranberry. Brambly underbrush, garrigue, anise. Palate well balanced, ripe fruit, some tea-like tannins, herbal. If I tasted this blind, I'd think 1990s southern Rhone perhaps - and be pleased - and slightly confused by the more floral notes. A really good "vin di tavola" that aged far better than I expeced it to.

1/30/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

The complexity this has developed with age is downright amazing. White pepper, petrol, flinty mineral, slightly smoky, floral. Palate brilliantly acidic, mineral driven, peppery. This is some serious juice at a great price. This hits WAY above price point, and expectations.

1/29/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Pretty typical Loire Chenin. On soft side for younger drinking. Apple and quince. Some mineral. Palate soft with similar notes. Short finish. Solid qpr.

1/28/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

A very good, if not great, Jura. A tad "rough", and unrefined, but classic in approach. Nose apple, floral, mineral, cider, nutty, somewhat oxidative. Ample acid, intense mineral, salty. Apple here too. A bit coarse, but all there. A lot going on here. Good complexity, long finish. Immensely good value.

1/27/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

This is quite a serious and unique bottle. Apple and pear, mineral, herbal notes, a bit oily. Palate has strong acid and mineral structure. Long slightly Astringent finish with substantial mineral. This is Chablis meets Marsanne/roussane with some herbal Sauvignon notes.

1/27/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

An orange wine/skin contact critter. This is clear when poured. Nose a mix of peach, mineral, cider like notes. Some va. Palate acidic, mineral a tad tannic. Built for food. Ling finish.

1/22/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Pleasant, easy drinking wine. Not the most complex but true to appellation and varietals. Restrained and la is the gloppy overripe fruit and excess oak that so many show. Nose earthy, brambly fruit. Raspberry, blueberry cherry. Palate fruit driven, brambly, a hint of cigar. Good tannins, but already integrated. Good acid.

1/21/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Wow, does this wine overperform its price point. And still youthful. Remarkably dark red. Nose raspberry, red cherry, herbs, tobacco. Remarkably complex. SOmewhat like old school southern Rhone meets a good burgundy, with some Cornas wildness thrown in. Beguiling. Roast meat, cocoa. Palate beautifully balanced, great fruit with big acid support. Herbal and mineral. Oak there, but so wonderfully integrated. Long finish. And evolves over time in glass. Wow.

1/20/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose is deep in dark cherry, mushrooms. About as "masculine" as Burgundy gets. Some cocoa, earth, black raspberry. Palate balanced, shows maturity, but not "old" per se. Strong fruit, tannins, structured. but not any obvious oak. Earthy, mineral.

1/20/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

A nice, correct, northern Rhone syrah. Not long on complexity or charm, but has all the elements, if not beautifully integrated. Bacon fat, black fruit, lavender, cherry, black pepper. Palate a bit on heavy side, would not mind more acid and a lighter extract. But it's "right" for region. Finish on short side.

1/17/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose shows nice, ripe cherry fruit, cab franc herbal, rose, mineral. Palate well balanced. Good acid, nice fruit, an herbal astringency and intense minerals keep it grounded. Quite a bit happening here, takes it to pretty serious place. Long finish

1/16/2024 - lake.vino Likes this wine:

Nose remarkably chiseled and intense for a mediocre vintage. Lemon, mineral, seashell, herbal. A bit lactic/buttery, or is it just lees.. floral hints, too. Palate balanced, great acid. Mineral depth there. Finish extensive. The PC power is clear here, but it's simultaneously restrained by the extensive structure. This hits remarkably close to GC - which is unusual for this cru. A great bargain.