Tom Casagrande

9.2

Bought this at the winery 2 years ago in Amador County, where it had been a surprise for us. We’d gone out there excited to try Zin and Rhone varietals, and so were surprised that we liked this Cab blend so much. Intense and open and with a bit of complexity and elegance. So good.

PS- If you’re on CellarTracker, please leave your handle in a comment so I can follow you there, as I’ve started an account because of this app’s constant issues. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.8

Royal Tokaji – 5 Puttonyos Aszú 2016
Tokaj – Hungary 🇭🇺

Overview
A classic Tokaji Aszú, made from grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot), then macerated with must to create Hungary’s legendary sweet wine. The 5 puttonyos designation signals a rich yet balanced level of sweetness, around 120 g/L residual sugar. (Educational note: “Puttonyos” refers to the traditional baskets of aszú berries added — the higher the number, the sweeter and more concentrated the wine.)

Aromas & Flavors
Lush apricot, honey, and candied orange peel at the forefront, layered with quince, dried fig, and lemon curd. Hints of saffron, ginger, and toasted almond bring exotic spice and complexity.

Mouthfeel
Velvety and lusciously sweet, balanced by vibrant acidity that keeps it lifted. Full-bodied yet precise, with a long, honeyed finish that leaves both richness and freshness.

Food Pairings
Perfect with blue cheese, foie gras, or fruit tarts. Also excellent with roasted nuts, crème brûlée, or simply savored on its own as a meditative dessert wine.

Verdict
A benchmark Tokaji — rich, layered, and perfectly balanced. The 2016 vintage of Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszú offers indulgence and structure, proving why Tokaji has been called “the wine of kings.” 👑🍷

Did You Know?
Tokaji Aszú is one of the world’s oldest regulated wines — protected since 1737, nearly a century before Bordeaux’s 1855 classification.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
Royal Tokaji’s Aszú wines are globally sought after, and a 5 puttonyos 2016 bottling represents both a collectible dessert wine and a piece of vinous history — 9 months ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.3

This is the neighbouring estate to Yquem and was founded by Pierre Meslier, who was manager of Yquem for many decades. The wine is beautiful and lavish with strong aromatic profile. Saffron, marmalade, exotic fruits and and a bright finish. I had this with a very well executed crème brûlée, maybe not be the most creative pairing, but the classic pairings are the best some times. I sure did enjoy the moment. — 4 years ago

J Chechik

9.4

Wonderful, elegant Pinot. What a great, clean style! Had it w/ a lightly spiced ahi tuna/slaw salad. Just terrific & opened-up tremendously by the 2nd glass. — 6 years ago

Dezel Quillen

9.3

Fields Family Wines ’14 Stampede Vineyard Zinfandel (SRP $28): Ain't no fun if the homie—The Spaceman—can’t have none (lol). This delicious Zinfandel is produced from 75-85 year old vines and made in small lots (only 100 cases made) with minimal intervention in the vineyard and cellar. A bright ruby color, this medium-bodied wine is juicy with beautiful raciness—showing a good sense of balance between richness, freshness and finesse. It offers appealing aromas and flavors of cherry and tart plum (gorgeous fruit), with notes of dill, spice, perfume, and loam adding complexity. This wine paired exceptionally well with the cherry/pecan baby-backs I smoked over the weekend. If you enjoy vibrant, food-friendly Zins that flirt with elegance, then this is your ticket. Put this producer on your wine radar if they’re not on it already. You can visit fieldsfamilywines.com to learn more. And for the record, of the four 1978 [Kiss] solo albums, Ace had the best one! — 7 years ago

William Hughes

9.4

Superb! Earthy and savory with some real stuffing to age well for another 10-12 years. John Lockwood crafted this sensation with hillside grapes growing 380 meters above the Pacific. Cool climate Syrah I want to drink a whole lot more often. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Suduiraut, 2023, Sauternes BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Premier Cru Classé Sauternes delivering pure botrytis luxury blend of 80% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Sauvignon Gris with remarkable tension and precision. Lush honeyed richness balanced by vibrant acidity and a beautifully layered texture that feels both decadent and weightless. Sensual, polished, and deeply expressive, this is a dessert wine that seduces rather than overwhelms.

Aromas & Flavors
Orange blossom, acacia honey, apricot confit, ripe peach, saffron, candied citrus peel, subtle vanilla bean, almond paste, and a whisper of ginger spice. Floral lift intertwines with botrytis-driven sweetness and fresh citrus brightness.

Mouthfeel
Silky, viscous, and coating without heaviness. Glycerol richness glides across the palate while acidity keeps the wine lifted, focused, and endlessly drinkable. Long, luxurious, and caressing finish.

Food Pairings
Foie gras torchon, blue cheese (Roquefort or Stilton), apricot tart, almond pastries, honey-drizzled chèvre, citrus-based desserts, or simply enjoyed solo as a contemplative finale.

Verdict
Sublime, sexy, and impeccably balanced. A masterclass in tension between sweetness and freshness, delivering pleasure, elegance, and emotional impact in equal measure. A benchmark nightcap wine.

Did You Know?
Château Suduiraut sits adjacent to Château d’Yquem and shares similar gravelly terroir and noble rot influence, often delivering First Growth-level finesse at a more approachable price point.

🍯 Personal Pick
This wine feels like a French kiss, seductive tension, velvet weight, and honeyed decadence wrapped in electric freshness. The viscosity caresses the palate while the acidity keeps everything irresistibly alive. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium light lemon gold , quite young looking . Aromatic apricot , white flowers , saffron , honey and citrus peel . On the palate quite rich with barley sugar , saffron , lemon peel , apricot , decent acidity , and ok length with apricot and honied lemon peel finish . Not overly complex but well balanced , with ok acidity , drinking perfectly now . Now and over the next 10 years — 9 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Saffron, yeast, flint, dried citrus peels, Ginger, green tea. Enormously complex and intriguing.
Brilliant stuff. — 4 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.0

Good Show…. — 5 years ago

with TwiLea

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde.

This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty.

The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot.

Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 7 years ago

Erik Sjolund

9.4

Wonderful nose o apricot, pineapple n possibly citrus. Can’t find the saffron, but hey. Lovit. Loved other vintages more, though. — 8 years ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.1

Nice aged pinot — 7 months ago

with Tammy, Emmett and 2 others

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Light medium caramel core , light copper rim. Quite mature , with spiced creme brûlée , saffron , burnt sugar , some crystallised orange peel , desiccated coconut . Slightly monochrome . On the palate this is quite light , with quite high acidity and a burnt caramel bitterness . Medium sweetness only , quite refreshing acidity . Slightly bitter orange caramel finish . Drink now qnd over the next few years , won’t improve . — 8 months ago

Shengli Hu

9.5

Botrytis kinda nose: honey+funk, saffron, ginger. Medicinal aspirin. Mineral forestry stream. Coconut, cream vanilla, Brioche, tangerine blossom, baking spices - nutmeg, allspice. Beautiful golden color. — 3 years ago

Lars Miller

9.0

Strong raspberry on this one. Smooth and silky with medium tannins. Nicely balanced — 5 years ago

Willie Carter

9.5

This superstar 2012 vintage just doesn’t seem to miss. Especially not when paired with the elegance of Bollinger.

A gorgeous rose copper color in the glass. Plenty of fine bubbles that seem to just go on and on. The approachability of these outstanding 12’s is immediate. Wild strawberries and herbs shine on the nose. Red currant, raspberries, and stewed plums. Some exquisite spice notes along with white flowers. Tangerines and watermelons play a part.

The vitality and sheer energy of this is amazing. 67% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Verzenay. 33% Chardonnay from Oiry and Le Mesnil sur Oger with 5% still red wine from Bollinger’s legendary Côte aux Enfants vineyard. Terrific youthful tension and balance. Zippy acidity with 8 g/l of sugar. Disgorged in August of 2019 and already showing some maturity.

Pure romance on the tongue. Silky smooth and elegant with fresh red berries and more spice on the palate. Saffron and honey with oak complimenting. The Lehmann Jamesse Grand Blanc provided more floral notes, while the Riedel Dom Perignon showed more ripe fruit and minerality. Both wonderful. Yes this will obviously develop over time and become so much more special but you deserve this now. So do I. Enjoy.
— 5 years ago

Kara Stockman

9.5

Amazing! Very smooth, subtle Carmel flavors. worked well with appetizers and soups. — 7 years ago

Gaetan Ciampini

9.5

Quite lovely. Still some good acidity. Saffron, dried apricot. — 7 years ago

Michael Piaker

8.9

23 April 2018. La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, New York, NY. — 8 years ago