Fabrice & Rolland

Fabrice Agrapart

Atoma Avize Grand Cru Chardonnay 2022

Jan A
9.2

This bottle had a bit of a dishwasher detergent taste to it, even on day two in a different, clean glass. The rose color is from the previous glass of red wine. P22, which is a blend of 2020/2021/2022. — a day ago

Alpha Omega

Michel Rolland Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous one from Napa.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, cooked cherries, chocolates, black currants, tobacco, vanilla, licorice, cedar, spices, light alcohol, eucalyptus and peppercorn.

Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, spices, tobacco, chocolates, dark coffee, graphite and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

A delicious Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux blend from the great 2014 vintage. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Fruit forward, elegant and rich. Opulent and tasty. Shows great complexity already, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

I've had many wines from Michel Rolland, from all over the world, and I always enjoyed them. Never disappoints and always a pleasure.

Thank you Scott for sharing this beautiful wine with me.

Wine Enthusiasts 95 points. Robert Parker 96 points.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime, and good by itself as a sipping wine. No need for food at all, but will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (80% New). Only 370 cases produced. Some of the fruit come from To Kalon and Stagecoach Vineyards.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$175.
— 5 years ago

Scott McNamara
with Scott
Jason, Trixie and 23 others liked this
ESF

ESF

Rolland sure gets around!
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

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Those Rolland finishes hit the spot. Distinctively and deliciously different.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

👍🏻👍🏻

Fabrice Larochette

Les Robées Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay 2017

Reasonably priced P-F with decent balance. 13.5% abv — 6 years ago

Neil, P and 20 others liked this

Domaine Fabrice Gasnier

Le coteau de Sonnay Chinon Chenin Blanc 2017

Not a fan of most Chinons Blanc, as they often start life lean and mean, then go absolutely nowhere. This, however, is that rare exception: already tender and alluring, showing acacia, melon, honeysuckle and wet gravel, with an unctuous texture and a fair dash of residual sugar (albeit perfectly balanced by massive acids). Fabulous. — 7 years ago

Ira, Chris and 4 others liked this
Chris Shultz

Chris Shultz

Have you had any of the domaine's other wines? I see them at Moore Bros, where I get a discount. They're already very underpriced.
Chip Hughes

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Have followed all of Gasnier’s wines for a few years. They are- after a couple of difficult vintages in the early teens- uniformly superb.
Chris Shultz

Chris Shultz

Great to hear. I will start to do so as well

Long Shadows Vintners

Poet's Leap Columbia Valley Riesling 2016

Shay A
9.1

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

Supposedly this is the number one Riesling in WA state. Dry style. Petrol on the nose. Honey, apricot, bright acidity with a slate finish.
— 8 years ago

Mark Flesher
with Mark
Somm, "Odedi" and 33 others liked this
Bryan Kesting

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@Shay A: I have not had this particular Wash state Riesling however I will say the last one I had was bone dry and had a nose of petrol. I wonder if it’s a characteristic of these wines?
Shay A

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@Bryan Kesting : Seems to be. On day 2, it was very similar to day 1 with a slight decrease in the petrol but it is unmistakable. I wouldn’t say this is bone dry, but it’s definitely an off dry style. Very nice.
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

I consumed the leftovers. So, Shay had a bit of a different experience. There is a bit of green apple here, but quite a bit more petrol. I can imagine there was more acidity, more green apple and less petrol than yesterday but this wine is still quite enjoyable and RATHER easy to drink. For the sub $20 price point, it is a solid wine, but if you pop the cork, drink the entire bottle. At $18/bottle, you shouldn't have any left over.
9.1

Michel Rolland

Clos de los Siete Valle de Uco Malbec Blend 2020

Black cherry, chocolate, tannins are light, semi dry, would buy again. We both enjoyed it. — 2 months ago

Michel Rolland

Yacochuya Vinho Tinto Malbec 2016

Yacochuya M. Rolland.
Strong, woody malbec. Expresive in the nose. Rich
— 5 years ago

Château Le Bon Pasteur

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

James Parker Huston, CWE
9.3

The family Estate of Michel Rolland, aka The Good Shepherd. This wine was in an amazing place with dried black plum, black berry, raspberry with secondary notes of bakers chocolate, fine herbs and toast. $85 at Auction was a steal. — 5 years ago

Matt, David and 9 others liked this

Château Faugères

Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Ron R
9.4

Home alone, and as a result, I can return to some French faves. Regretfully, wifey tastes vomit if it’s anything other than a Napa fruit-bomb. Yes, I’m exaggerating, but you get my point...
This is on another level. 2009 was in my opinion a breakout year for this winery. With the winery renovations complete in 09, and Michel Rolland consulting on the winemaking, it’s easy to see the future state. This is a Merlot blend with double digit cab franc, and a dollop of cab sauv. I poured this pretty much at cellar temp (unusual for a typical Bdx), and it’s simply wonderful at this point.
Nose displays kirsch, nutmeg and a hint of sweet tobacco. The palate explodes with fresh black fruits, brown sugar, bold tannins, and a touch of white pepper. Judicious oak treatment allows the components and winemaking to take center-stage. A very contemporary example, which will sail on for another 15 years, minimum.
@Deborah M, your gentle nudge moved me. While I didn’t decant, I did open it 2hrs prior to tasting 🙂
— 6 years ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
Tom, P and 52 others liked this
Ron R

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@Bryan Kesting, like I, just suck it up, and know your role.
P A

P A

@Ron R Gentlemen a man has to do what a man has to do, drink the wine Cheers 🍷
Somm David T

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Brilliant vintage.

Realm Cellars

The Tempest Napa Valley Red Blend 2014

Fully opaque ruby violet offering aromas of black cherry, cassis, cocoa powder, coffee, and cedar. Full bodied, soft, and fruit forward with incredible mid-palate density. The tannins are fine grained and alcohol is 14.6%. Made from a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot sourced from vineyards like Beckstoffer’s Orchard Lane and Dr. Crane and aged in 65% new French oak. Along with Duckhorn, this is one of my favorite California Merlots and is crafted by winemaker Benoit Touquette and consultant Michel Rolland to drink young. I favor a pop and pour approach. $95. — 8 years ago

Shay and Tim liked this

Fabrice Roland Masse

M Selection de Crus Les Terroirs Montagny 1er Cru Chardonnay 2024

Montagny 1er Cru “Les Terroirs” — Famille Masse (Fabrice Masse), 2024, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A refined Premier Cru Chardonnay from Montagny in the Côte Chalonnaise. Crafted in a clean, restrained Burgundian style, focused on precision, freshness, and terroir expression rather than oak weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Green apple, lemon zest, pear skin, white peach, crushed limestone, subtle almond and faint white blossom notes.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium body, dry, crisp and linear. Bright acidity keeps everything lifted and sharp. Clean finish with minimal oak influence and no buttery heaviness.

Food Pairings
Oysters, shrimp cocktail, ceviche, grilled white fish, scallops, goat cheese crostini, light seafood tapas.

Verdict
Elegant, delicate, and beautifully composed. A Chardonnay that prioritizes clarity and minerality over richness. Impressive restraint, classic, polished, and very much in the “clean Burgundy” lane.

Did You Know?
Montagny is the southernmost village of the Côte Chalonnaise dedicated exclusively to white wines. Premier Cru sites often deliver excellent value compared to Côte de Beaune counterparts.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of Chardonnay, crisp, mineral, and oak-disciplined (just a kiss of it). An easy opener that stays precise and delicious from first sip to last.
— 5 months ago

Bob, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Domaine Fabrice Gasnier

Le Rosé Chinon Cabernet Franc 2020

Wonderful fruity but dry and a taste of summer — 4 years ago

Claudia
with Claudia

Michel Rolland

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Had on Easter Pete Carol Tom’s wine — 5 years ago

Fabrice Larochette

La Grande Bruyère Mâcon-Fuissé Chardonnay 2018

An outstanding Macon. Very well-balanced with pear and apple notes and just enough acidity to drink it with fish and chicken. — 6 years ago

Alexandre Filaine

Cuvée Spéciale Brut Damery Champagne Blend

Every champagne lover should get to know Fabrice Gass! His tiny estate in Damery, Alexandre Filaine, was a great discovery for me this year. Age-old story of minuscule production, biodynamic farming, and upholding tradition. This older bottling of his NV was stunning and perhaps one of the best I've had recently.

2012 base, with some 2011 blended in as reserve. 2/3 Pino, the rest Chard, and a touch of Meunier. No dosage, no malo, and fermented in old Bollinger barrels - Fabrice's keepsake from his last gig.

Elegant, with laser focus but impressive body. On the nose, super chalky, floral, green apples, pears, and brioche. The palate's incredibly vinous. A complexity that ebbs and flows, with a length that matches. Quite rich and showing some oddly fresh grassy tones. Citrus pith and really mineral on the back notes. What a joy to sip on!
— 8 years ago

Scott, Casey and 8 others liked this
Severn G

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Nice notes, thanks.