Rick Phillips

9.8

One of the Greatest Latour s of all time. Could easily go another 60 years. Opened to earthy musky dark fruit but as the evening progressed the flavor became so bold with cherry plum blackberry leather and tobacco. One of my favorites! — a month ago

with Letha

Tegan Marriott

9.2

Lithe & supple, with agility and resonance. This is the Leonard Cohen of Gamay! Hallelujah!🙏 — 5 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.5

A superb Chardonnay! Aromas of Anise and Honeysuckle. Apple and Honey on the bud. Crisp and smooth with a long finish. Great with our Salmon tonight. Need to order more from Evening Springs as we were extremely impressed with their wines when we visited earlier this year. — 6 months ago

David Koenen

9.5

Birth year tastings, evening 4.
Polished leather, nuts, ecoline, grilled red pepper, tomato leaf, gingerbread, pepper, salty savoriness, tannins still present, still youthful, lots of future. Muscular! Beautiful. — 9 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Always a nice way to finish the evening — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 5 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.2

Good Oregon Pinot. Bright fruit, earth, and herbal tea. — 3 months ago

Donald Williams

9.2

Doing very well, but I won’t hold the other bottle much longer. — 5 months ago

with Bonnie

Robert Torretti

9.3

1990 Chateau Lynch Bages in Nebuchadnezzar. At a Lynch Bages dinner for the Commanderie de Bordeaux NY Chapter. Paired over the course of three courses vs the 1995, 1996 and 2000. The 1998 was also served earlier in the evening. So youthful, given the large format. Still got to experience different stages of evolution of the wine as it was poured throughout the night. Well balanced and beat out the other wines that night, with rhe 1996 showing more pepper and spice but also green bell pepper from the Cab Franc. The 2000 also showed strongly, but could not outshine the 1990. — 6 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Dark gold, high pitched. Noptes of apricot, tan spice, sauteed pears. RIch and long in the mouth. Outstanding finish to the evening. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Tasted blind. Tawny color with light rims. Old wine nose. Notes of raspberry, cola, old cedar desk, some tobacco and a little menthol. Rich and long in the mouth. Lighter than the 59 next to it. Also tighter, but opens up over the evening. Really good but not as good as the 59. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.3

Masking up and scanning your menu sucks but washing it down with a nice Pinot makes it better. — 6 years ago

Zach Reeves

9.2

One of my favorite Pinots — 6 years ago

Harvey Raben

9.2

This version includes Cabernet, Petit Verdot , cab franc and Shiraz and it was delightful. Warm plum and prune flavors rounded and begging another sip. Nice finish. — 3 months ago

Elmars

9.2

The Mark of the Land eas great wine, fullbodied and intense. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Dairyman Vineyard sits in the southern alluvial plains of the Russian River Valley near the ocean, a region where cooling fog comes in through the Petaluma Gap in the morning and once again in the evening. Medium Ruby color, with aromas of berries, tea and spices. On the palate flavors of raspberry and tart black cherry with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Fine tannins, medium+ finish with lively acidity, good structure, ending with fruit and cedar spice. — 6 months ago

Jerry Raphael

9.5

I purchased this wine for $60 as a Bordeaux future offering from MacArthur’s in DC, with the hope of opening it when my younger son—born in 1982—was old enough to share it. We finally did just that this Thanksgiving, celebrating both him and the bottle.
The fill was mid-shoulder, but the family was together and it felt like the right moment. I gave it about an hour in the decanter before dinner. Early on it showed blackberries, a touch of veg, lead pencil, cedar notes and a smooth elegant finish. As the evening went on it opened a bit more, gaining some depth.
A few hours later I revisited the small amount I’d saved and found it had dried out some—but that was expected for a 43-year-old First Growth. Ultimately, it was a wonderful experience and a memorable way to share both the wine and the moment with family.
— 7 months ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.1

Dark and rich. Red berry and cherry pop with some dried herd nots in the back ground. — 5 years ago

with Marilea

Carter Pelham

9.5

Insane.

Muted fruits throughout but it didn't really matter...incredibly expressive wine throughout the evening.
Earthiness from the nose throughout to the unending finish with that hint of copper, intricate spice, soft tannins and bright balancing acidity.

Initially this showed so much tension and energy I was worried we had opened too early but after 45 minutes it was completely relaxed...beautiful throughout. — 6 years ago

with Linh

John Ferguson

9.7

Special night this evening. Excelsior! “Ever Upward!” One of the best collaborations in wine history. Baron Philippe De Rothschild and the great Robert Mondavi. Beautiful wine!!! — 6 years ago