Unique musky fruit on the nose, with hints of honey and black lime. The palate is unctous, with tons of honey and charred lime. Phenomenal. Best white wine I’ve ever had.
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PNP. First from this vintage. Wonderful crisp fruit with great freshness but the aromatics are wonderful. We came back to this after diner and even more enjoyable with the Semillon showing off. Really nice wine that I suspect will hold for sone time. A-/A?
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What a gorgeous wine- I’m in love! This is my second time tasting Ygrec. My other was a 2015 two years ago; so that was a 6 year old wine and this is a 10 year old wine.
The color is a touch more advanced, but this wine didn’t skip a beat despite the extra years. The nose is super fresh; Pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, and honeydew, along with freshly cut white flowers and honeysuckle. A touch of grapefruit and lemon smells as well. It smells sweet, unsurprisingly a bit like a sweet Sauternes. There is definitely a tropical character here, but less so than the 2015 and overall it’s a bit more restrained, I’m guessing because of the cooler vintage.
The palate is a fascinating interplay of textures- is it full bodied? Light bodied? Somehow kind of both. It doesn’t coat the mouth like a big full bodied dessert wine or oaky Cali Chardonnay, but there is an undeniable weight that takes it above a typical light Sauv Blanc. Acidity is high and there is a very pleasant slight sweetness on the long finish. Flavors are just like the nose- tropical fruits, citrus, a little honey. Still 100% primary. I bet this thing will age nicely for a very very long time. Just as delicious on day 3.
I really love dry white Bordeaux and wish there were more high quality examples out there that didn’t cost and arm and a leg. At around $200, this wine is very expensive. Nonetheless, with Haut Brion and La Mission costing in the neighborhood of $1000+, this feels like a bargain.
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Drank with D at champetre last nite. Tropical fruit and some grapefruit aromas. Somewhat oily texture, round mouthfeel, some honeysuckle & tropical fruit and lime flavors. Solid acidity (which worked well with my bouillabaise entre), and a gravelly texture. Focused flavors, perfect balance and well-integrated elements result in a superb, impressive wine. Weird, but this wine seems so light and elegant, yet is on the oily, unctuous side of the mouthfeel spectrum. Really nice wine.
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I had the opportunity to drink the 2013 (from 750) and the 2016 (en magnum) side by side. In full disclosure, I am not 100% sure which glass was which, although both were excellent and I would score the same.
One (I think the ‘16) was more intense, with passion fruit and tropical notes that jump out of the glass. The fruit was so pure and the wine so balanced and the finish so long.
The other (likely ‘13) was slightly more restrained, although this is not a negative in any way. Slightly more grapefruit and lemon in addition to the tropical fruits, more oiliness to the texture and a faint petrol note on the finish.
I chilled it too much so it was closed and disjointed when I opened it, but after warming up it was back to its usual explosion of tropical fruit and herbal green pepper, like a Marlborough Sauvignon blanc on steroids, plus of course the syrupy semillon backbone. But you knew all that already — in short, it tastes exactly like you expect it to taste, and that’s pretty damn good.
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Another wonderful bottle. Almond/marzipan aromas with citrus overtones. Waxy feel, über focussed exotic fruits with floral (honeysuckle esp) and vanilla notes. (After 30 minutes) the core acidity emerges and creates a perfect and perfectly-balanced wine. Superb. In my view for drinking over the next couple of years.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. A year on but still as per my earlier notes. Fabulous concentration. I suspect as good as it will get but nonetheless no great rush to drink up either.
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Excellent showing. Grapefruit, melon, baked apples, some vanilla and some spice. I get a hint of cinnamon from the oak. The palate is dense and smooth. Finish shows some nice crisp Acidity with a long finish. This wine scream purity.
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Ripe fruit, sweet (from the fruit), exotic, quite opulent, dry but missing acidity, gives the impression of a very ripe white southern rhone wine - and not a good one. The wine misses structure and acidity to carry the boatload of almost overripe sweet fruit. Absolutely disgusting QPR.
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Served blind to me, fresh nose with exotic fruits such as mango. In the mouth rather sweet and slightly overripe fruit. Missing the acidity to counter the rather sweet fruit. A bitter touch is found at the end of the middle part. I was quite shocked when hearing the price.
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Pre-Christmas family get-together for dinner. As before all the basic characteristics (bar the botrytis) associated with the Sauternes but balanced by citrus notes and firm core acidity giving a dry feel. Immense concentration and considerable complexity. Full bodied, long and excellent. Till 2023 - possibly longer.
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Grange Park Opera (Don Carlo). Walnut Tree Restaurant - BYO. Aromas of vanilla/almond, honey nuances and meadow herb mostly following through to palate. As per my earlier note focussed pineapple core and spiced citrus zest. Immense concentration with good acidity to prevent any semblance of sweetness on the finish. Full, complex and superb. Well suited to our lobster! Up to ten years from vintage.
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With our family Xmas dinner smoked fish-based starter. Has blossomed since my earlier note of 2016, packed with vanilla, citrus zest and clover honey aromas and with very pure pineapple and gently spiced juicy orange on the palate. A subtle veneer of oak. Perfect balancing acidity - very focussed and pure. Superb and the wine of the holiday season (so far). Drinking beautifully. Has the structure to evolve but I doubt can get any better than it now is. I will be drinking this up to ten years from vintage.
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Another Dinner with José (Biaggi's Naperville): Very floral, with great underlying complexity, showing cinnamon, ginger, vanilla oak, and an overall sweet/savory quality. Touch of alcohol on the nose and finish, big acidity, hot and mouthcoating.
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WineBid Tasting Event (Mandarin Oriental): Lots of white fleshy fruits to this, melon, some white floral. Very pretty wine. Honey without the sweetness. It's pretty and fun. Second time with this wine and I must say I remain impressed.
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Had at a spectacular WINEBID.com tasting event. Total of 39 wines tasted with an unbelievable lineup ! Bravo to Sterling Roig.
An exceptional take of a wine on the classic Chateau d'Yquem sauterne. I was blown away. This was dry and rich and oh so filled with dried peach, tangerine, vanilla and then more orange peel. Where have I been not to have had or seen this wine. Bravo ! One of the near dozen WOTN for me.
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CellaRaid 2017 (Rancho de Los Olivos): From a magnum. A bit dense and tight-knit, which more time will remedy. Intense grass, tangerine and candied tropical fruit notes, along with some ginger and other elusive spices I couldn't pin down. Nowhere near peak.
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Medium/light gold color. Nose showed citrus, tropical fruits, honey, white flowers. Palate crisp and expressive, showing pineapple, lime zest, poached pears, vanilla. Medium body and finish. Secondary flavors through the mid palate
Always a treat to have this wine, really special stuff. One of the great white wines of the world, complex, layered and expressive. This is drinking really well right now, should evolve for some time if wanting to cellar
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The singular greatest white wine I have ever had. The bouquet is more kabinet riesling than sauvignon blanc, and the palette is gentle pineapple, honey, and citrus fruit with a wonderful citrus oil that cuts and provides the acidity a perfect sauvignon blanc deserves. This is wonderful. I bought another case as soon as we opened the first bottle.
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Pale yellow. Intense flavors of Charentais melon, starfruit, papaya, grilled pineapple and toasted coconut complimented by crushed stone minerality and effusive white flowers. Medium+ body, medium+ acid, juicy, ripe and hedonistic.
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A long time since last drunk. The lemony vanilla-laden Semillon element is dominant with decent core acidity giving balance. Unexpectedly light to medium bodied but seemingly fully drinkable now. As stands merely at the lower excellent range, didn't seem particularly closed up - but then (hopefully) going though a youthful phase. Will leave till 2018 to try next to see what happens.
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Pale straw, good lustre. A little creamy French oak, lemon and lanolin with just a hint of gooseberry. Quite a rich deeply flavoured palate. Vanilla is quite evident in a nice way but not integrated as yet. Fruits are more to the lemony end of the sem-sav spectrum, with some nice mineral spice. A full-flavoured and long palate finishing cleanly with fruit dominant. Not the richness of the 2012, perhaps more classical Bordeaux blend in style.
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The nose was rich yet wonderfully perfumed with notes of ripe pear, mango, spiced apple, tart citrus, exotic floral tones, and hints of cut grass. On the palate, I found an intense display of ripe stone fruits, ginger and sweet herbs with a soft and luxurious mouthfeel and underpinning of brisk acidity. The finish lasted remarkably long with notes of lemon curd and tropical fruits. This is a stunning Bordeaux Blanc.
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Pale yellow. Very Sauvignon blanc in nature, only with aging/airing does the Semillon come out. Nose of vanilla, orange peel, cream, citrus. Mouth was smooth, medium weight, lip smacking.
American Heart Association - Dinner presented by Cheval Blanc (Washington DC - Mellon Auditorium): I am not a white wine drinker (except for the dessert wines) and had never had Y before. Drank this blind only to find out later what it was. This was outstanding. Luscious with a light delicate nose - mellon and pineapple. This was very smooth with light acidity and not even a hint of sweetness just nicely balanced. Almost a touch too drinkable.
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Fresh squeezed pomello, vanilla, lemon rind, flowers and the perfect honey accent kick things off. Vibrant citrus, stone and clean, fresh lemon carry this the rest of the way through.
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1/5/2024 - kkleg Likes this wine: 96 Points
Unique musky fruit on the nose, with hints of honey and black lime. The palate is unctous, with tons of honey and charred lime. Phenomenal. Best white wine I’ve ever had.
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10/27/2023 - MC wrote:
PNP. First from this vintage. Wonderful crisp fruit with great freshness but the aromatics are wonderful. We came back to this after diner and even more enjoyable with the Semillon showing off. Really nice wine that I suspect will hold for sone time. A-/A?
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7/10/2023 - NoahCap wrote:
What a gorgeous wine- I’m in love! This is my second time tasting Ygrec. My other was a 2015 two years ago; so that was a 6 year old wine and this is a 10 year old wine.
The color is a touch more advanced, but this wine didn’t skip a beat despite the extra years. The nose is super fresh; Pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, and honeydew, along with freshly cut white flowers and honeysuckle. A touch of grapefruit and lemon smells as well. It smells sweet, unsurprisingly a bit like a sweet Sauternes. There is definitely a tropical character here, but less so than the 2015 and overall it’s a bit more restrained, I’m guessing because of the cooler vintage.
The palate is a fascinating interplay of textures- is it full bodied? Light bodied? Somehow kind of both. It doesn’t coat the mouth like a big full bodied dessert wine or oaky Cali Chardonnay, but there is an undeniable weight that takes it above a typical light Sauv Blanc. Acidity is high and there is a very pleasant slight sweetness on the long finish. Flavors are just like the nose- tropical fruits, citrus, a little honey. Still 100% primary. I bet this thing will age nicely for a very very long time. Just as delicious on day 3.
I really love dry white Bordeaux and wish there were more high quality examples out there that didn’t cost and arm and a leg. At around $200, this wine is very expensive. Nonetheless, with Haut Brion and La Mission costing in the neighborhood of $1000+, this feels like a bargain.
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2/20/2023 - cephomer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank with D at champetre last nite. Tropical fruit and some grapefruit aromas. Somewhat oily texture, round mouthfeel, some honeysuckle & tropical fruit and lime flavors. Solid acidity (which worked well with my bouillabaise entre), and a gravelly texture. Focused flavors, perfect balance and well-integrated elements result in a superb, impressive wine. Weird, but this wine seems so light and elegant, yet is on the oily, unctuous side of the mouthfeel spectrum. Really nice wine.
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2/11/2023 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
My '21 note still applies so have extended drinking window to 2028.
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1/14/2023 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 95 Points
I had the opportunity to drink the 2013 (from 750) and the 2016 (en magnum) side by side. In full disclosure, I am not 100% sure which glass was which, although both were excellent and I would score the same.
One (I think the ‘16) was more intense, with passion fruit and tropical notes that jump out of the glass. The fruit was so pure and the wine so balanced and the finish so long.
The other (likely ‘13) was slightly more restrained, although this is not a negative in any way. Slightly more grapefruit and lemon in addition to the tropical fruits, more oiliness to the texture and a faint petrol note on the finish.
Best dry Bdx Blanc that I have ever tasted
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3/31/2022 - sh6k Likes this wine: 96 Points
I chilled it too much so it was closed and disjointed when I opened it, but after warming up it was back to its usual explosion of tropical fruit and herbal green pepper, like a Marlborough Sauvignon blanc on steroids, plus of course the syrupy semillon backbone. But you knew all that already — in short, it tastes exactly like you expect it to taste, and that’s pretty damn good.
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6/18/2021 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another wonderful bottle.
Almond/marzipan aromas with citrus overtones. Waxy feel, über focussed exotic fruits with floral (honeysuckle esp) and vanilla notes. (After 30 minutes) the core acidity emerges and creates a perfect and perfectly-balanced wine. Superb.
In my view for drinking over the next couple of years.
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12/21/2020 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. A year on but still as per my earlier notes. Fabulous concentration.
I suspect as good as it will get but nonetheless no great rush to drink up either.
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5/22/2020 - jordanj Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent showing. Grapefruit, melon, baked apples, some vanilla and some spice. I get a hint of cinnamon from the oak. The palate is dense and smooth. Finish shows some nice crisp Acidity with a long finish. This wine scream purity.
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3/23/2020 - Vinogan(s) wrote: 88 Points
Ripe fruit, sweet (from the fruit), exotic, quite opulent, dry but missing acidity, gives the impression of a very ripe white southern rhone wine - and not a good one. The wine misses structure and acidity to carry the boatload of almost overripe sweet fruit. Absolutely disgusting QPR.
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3/17/2020 - Kris G wrote: 88 Points
Served blind to me, fresh nose with exotic fruits such as mango. In the mouth rather sweet and slightly overripe fruit. Missing the acidity to counter the rather sweet fruit. A bitter touch is found at the end of the middle part. I was quite shocked when hearing the price.
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12/23/2019 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pre-Christmas family get-together for dinner.
As before all the basic characteristics (bar the botrytis) associated with the Sauternes but balanced by citrus notes and firm core acidity giving a dry feel. Immense concentration and considerable complexity. Full bodied, long and excellent.
Till 2023 - possibly longer.
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7/31/2019 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bought this on recommendation of the sommelier. Glad I did, because it lives up to the (pricey) hype! Fresh, citrusy flavors.
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7/30/2019 - SonnyChiba wrote: 94 Points
First time to try this and loved it. Very bright and lively citrus fruit, with great acidity and balance all the way to the finish. Excellent!
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7/4/2019 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Grange Park Opera (Don Carlo). Walnut Tree Restaurant - BYO.
Aromas of vanilla/almond, honey nuances and meadow herb mostly following through to palate. As per my earlier note focussed pineapple core and spiced citrus zest. Immense concentration with good acidity to prevent any semblance of sweetness on the finish. Full, complex and superb. Well suited to our lobster!
Up to ten years from vintage.
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12/25/2018 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
With our family Xmas dinner smoked fish-based starter.
Has blossomed since my earlier note of 2016, packed with vanilla, citrus zest and clover honey aromas and with very pure pineapple and gently spiced juicy orange on the palate. A subtle veneer of oak. Perfect balancing acidity - very focussed and pure. Superb and the wine of the holiday season (so far).
Drinking beautifully. Has the structure to evolve but I doubt can get any better than it now is. I will be drinking this up to ten years from vintage.
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9/12/2018 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
Another Dinner with José (Biaggi's Naperville): Very floral, with great underlying complexity, showing cinnamon, ginger, vanilla oak, and an overall sweet/savory quality. Touch of alcohol on the nose and finish, big acidity, hot and mouthcoating.
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1/18/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
WineBid Tasting Event (Mandarin Oriental): Lots of white fleshy fruits to this, melon, some white floral. Very pretty wine. Honey without the sweetness. It's pretty and fun. Second time with this wine and I must say I remain impressed.
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1/18/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had at a spectacular WINEBID.com tasting event. Total of 39 wines tasted with an unbelievable lineup ! Bravo to Sterling Roig.
An exceptional take of a wine on the classic Chateau d'Yquem sauterne. I was blown away. This was dry and rich and oh so filled with dried peach, tangerine, vanilla and then more orange peel. Where have I been not to have had or seen this wine. Bravo ! One of the near dozen WOTN for me.
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1/18/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 97 Points
A WineBid tasting you won't forget - NYC (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, NYC): I was in love with this wine. The nose was intoxicating and drew me in.. Taste of Mandarin orange, tangerine, lots of honeysuckle, pomello, vanilla, ginger and spice. Lengthy finish that goes on and on.
Worth the tariff. Will be interesting to age, too.
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12/10/2017 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
CellaRaid 2017 (Rancho de Los Olivos): From a magnum. A bit dense and tight-knit, which more time will remedy. Intense grass, tangerine and candied tropical fruit notes, along with some ginger and other elusive spices I couldn't pin down. Nowhere near peak.
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6/1/2017 - walkerjfw wrote:
Alfresco dinner w old wines and young - Princeton Wine Crew and special guest Jamie Leahy of Marston Vineyards (Chez Walker - Princeton, NJ): Generous contribution from Jamie. Followed the Marston Sauv Blancs with this, slightly chilled and open about 30 minutes prior.
Medium/light gold color. Nose showed citrus, tropical fruits, honey, white flowers. Palate crisp and expressive, showing pineapple, lime zest, poached pears, vanilla. Medium body and finish. Secondary flavors through the mid palate
Always a treat to have this wine, really special stuff. One of the great white wines of the world, complex, layered and expressive. This is drinking really well right now, should evolve for some time if wanting to cellar
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5/28/2017 - nchexal wrote: 100 Points
The singular greatest white wine I have ever had. The bouquet is more kabinet riesling than sauvignon blanc, and the palette is gentle pineapple, honey, and citrus fruit with a wonderful citrus oil that cuts and provides the acidity a perfect sauvignon blanc deserves. This is wonderful. I bought another case as soon as we opened the first bottle.
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3/23/2017 - wino_tim wrote: 92 Points
Pale yellow. Intense flavors of Charentais melon, starfruit, papaya, grilled pineapple and toasted coconut complimented by crushed stone minerality and effusive white flowers. Medium+ body, medium+ acid, juicy, ripe and hedonistic.
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4/21/2016 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 91 Points
A long time since last drunk.
The lemony vanilla-laden Semillon element is dominant with decent core acidity giving balance. Unexpectedly light to medium bodied but seemingly fully drinkable now. As stands merely at the lower excellent range, didn't seem particularly closed up - but then (hopefully) going though a youthful phase.
Will leave till 2018 to try next to see what happens.
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2/10/2016 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pale straw, good lustre.
A little creamy French oak, lemon and lanolin with just a hint of gooseberry.
Quite a rich deeply flavoured palate. Vanilla is quite evident in a nice way but not integrated as yet. Fruits are more to the lemony end of the sem-sav spectrum, with some nice mineral spice. A full-flavoured and long palate finishing cleanly with fruit dominant. Not the richness of the 2012, perhaps more classical Bordeaux blend in style.
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2/6/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 95 Points
The nose was rich yet wonderfully perfumed with notes of ripe pear, mango, spiced apple, tart citrus, exotic floral tones, and hints of cut grass. On the palate, I found an intense display of ripe stone fruits, ginger and sweet herbs with a soft and luxurious mouthfeel and underpinning of brisk acidity. The finish lasted remarkably long with notes of lemon curd and tropical fruits. This is a stunning Bordeaux Blanc.
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11/17/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 93 Points
let it air and warm slightly
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11/17/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pale yellow. Very Sauvignon blanc in nature, only with aging/airing does the Semillon come out. Nose of vanilla, orange peel, cream, citrus. Mouth was smooth, medium weight, lip smacking.
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6/25/2015 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Ficofi
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4/24/2015 - cab blends Likes this wine: 97 Points
American Heart Association - Dinner presented by Cheval Blanc (Washington DC - Mellon Auditorium): I am not a white wine drinker (except for the dessert wines) and had never had Y before. Drank this blind only to find out later what it was. This was outstanding. Luscious with a light delicate nose - mellon and pineapple. This was very smooth with light acidity and not even a hint of sweetness just nicely balanced. Almost a touch too drinkable.
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10/5/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Fresh squeezed pomello, vanilla, lemon rind, flowers and the perfect honey accent kick things off. Vibrant citrus, stone and clean, fresh lemon carry this the rest of the way through.
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