Sagee Aran

9.5

Wow!!. A delicate and complex wine. Medium to full body, not overwhelming, perfection of balance. Nose - attributes of cacao, aged prune. Tanins are still powerful and give the structure. A beautiful wine. — a month ago

Ericsson

9.5

This is great value and ‘18 is one of my favorite vintages to drink now or savor later. Tasting great now. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2023 – Pessac-Léognan, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Elegant and highly energized dry white showing vivid tension and polish, driven by Sauvignon Blanc 90%, Sémillon 5% and Sauvignon Gris 5%. Bright citrus and stone fruit lead into subtle floral lift and gentle oak framing, delivering full flavor intensity without heaviness. The acidity is fully active yet beautifully controlled, giving precision, length, and clarity rather than sharpness.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon zest, grapefruit pith, white peach, green apple, crushed stone, acacia blossom, subtle almond and light toast.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, taut and linear with a silky mid-palate, vibrant acid spine, and a clean, saline-tinged finish that keeps everything lifted and fresh.

Food Pairings
Seared scallops, citrus-driven crudo, grilled branzino, goat cheese, herb-roasted chicken, light truffle pasta.

Verdict
A polished, terroir-driven white that balances energy and refinement effortlessly. Serious freshness without aggression, a textbook modern Pessac Blanc showing both drinkability and aging promise.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of white Bordeaux, fully alive on the palate, laser-focused acidity without fatigue, and quietly layered. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Arras — Blanc de Blancs 2013
Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A 100% Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling wine sourced broadly across Tasmania, aged extensively on lees for over five years prior to release, delivering depth, autolytic complexity, and finely tuned balance. Cool-climate fruit precision meets long cellar maturation for serious Champagne-caliber structure and finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of toasted brioche, lemon curd, baked apple, almond pastry, and subtle chalky minerality lead the nose. Layers of fresh citrus peel, pear skin, and gentle hazelnut evolve with air, framed by savory yeast complexity and restrained creaminess. The palate delivers precision rather than sweetness, with purity and tension driving the finish.

Mouthfeel
Creamy yet lifted, with fine, persistent mousse and beautifully integrated autolytic weight. The texture feels polished and expansive without heaviness, supported by vibrant acidity that keeps the wine energetic, linear, and refreshingly dry through the finish.

Food Pairings
Oysters and shellfish. Butter-poached lobster or scallops. Parmesan risotto. Roast chicken with herbs. Triple-cream cheeses or aged Comté.

Verdict
A compelling expression of New World traditional-method excellence, delivering maturity, balance, and serious structural integrity. Rich without excess, nostalgic in its yeast-driven complexity, and confidently positioned alongside high-quality grower Champagne.

Did You Know?
Tasmania’s cool maritime climate and long growing season allow Chardonnay to retain high natural acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness, making the region one of Australia’s strongest candidates for world-class traditional-method sparkling wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
Blanc de Blancs is my home base, and this bottle absolutely delivers. The autolytic depth, precision, and balance hit exactly the profile I love, serious, expressive, and quietly luxurious. A sparkling wine that rewards attention, not just celebration. — 2 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.0

We had the battle of the Shiraz at our family gathering over Christmas. A Shiraz from South Australia and South Africa. Both 2016. This Shiraz, despite from the Adelaide Hills where I think it is a little cooler, was very rich, very bold and broad and a slight jammy note on the edge perhaps. People liked it, but all the votes when for the Shiraz of Cederberg from South Africa. Fun!!! — 3 months ago

with Tammy

KP

9.8

Vibrant color. Wow, it’s like the Little Red Riding-hood porridge of wine. Not too dry, bold, acidic, long, short or tannic. Just right! Absolutely delicious. Would absolutely buy again and one of the best wines I’ve had in a long time. — 4 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Beast! Big, burly, brooding, and bawesome.
Rich and gamey with smoky olive brine and savory layers of earth. Tucking a couple away. — 2 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

Brilliant and complex wine. Personally i couldnt find any hint of sauvignon blanc on the nose and it reminds me more of a chardonnay. Great use of wood and acidity. Will improve in the coming years. Highly recommmend! Served with roasted cauliflower soup — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Not the champagne I had in mind for tonight, but sometimes circumstances play their part.

This is pleasant enough. It will go well with my almond tart later.

The mouthfeel shows nice mousse, somewhat lively acidity, bruised golden/red/green apple to apple sauce, bruised pear, white citrus blend-grapefruit w/ pith leading, quince, touch of brown sugar, some yeastiness, baguette crust, graham cracker, volcanic minerals w/ clay, white spice, caramel notes, vanillin, sea spray, grippy, grainy chalk, sea fossils-oysters, limestone marl, withering lilies, spring flowers, nice acidity and a well balanced, good length, elegant finish that lasts nearly 90 second and lands on mid intensity minerals and spice.

Photos of; the champagne house of Veuve Clicqoit and the widow herself. You see her under the metal gage and plated over the cork.

#DSLounge — 2 months ago

Ming L

9.4

The petrol note is pronounced, yet beautifully integrated. Citrus and tropical tones emerge on the nose, joined by a faint wisp of smoke. The palate has Viognier-like texture, lending weight and shape, while bright, clean-cut acidity is balanced by just a touch of residual sweetness.

It’s puzzling that Napa Valley can produce Riesling of this caliber! — 3 months ago