Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 2012 J. Lassalle Special Club is made from 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. The vines average 50 yrs old. Hails from Chigny-Les-Roses. Winemakers Chantal Decelle-Lassalle and Angéline Templier farm using the practice of Lutte Raisonnée, which means they fall just short of organic. Sustainable but use minimal chemicals. Rain during and at the end of the season when Mother Nature doesn’t dry the grape clusters, chemicals are often necessary to prevent mold. This isn’t Sauternes!

Texturally, it is quite nice. Beautiful fine mousse and micro oxygenation. Lively but not aggressive acidity.

Green & golden apples, pear, pineapple, lime/lemon with zest, orange citrus blend, green melon & kiwi. White spice, bread dough, nougat, limestone bits, thick chalky powder, graham cracker crust, melted caramel, vanillin, saline, sea fossils, understated herbaceous notes, fruit blossoms, spring flowers with an elegant, smartly polished, well balanced, nicely structured-crafted finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on volcanics & spice on the long set.

You could make case for 94 here. Perhaps fully with a few more yrs of bottle age.

Pairs well with the Jasper Hill Farms Limited Edition of their Champagne washed Harbison soft white. — 4 days ago

Sara Thomas

9.0

Nice Syrah. Acidity balances out the ripe fruit. Plum, boysenberry, dried herbs, graphite, violets. — 3 years ago

Andrea Wright

9.7

This is a great wine for sharing! Very bright and lots of citrus and some hint of white peach — 4 years ago

David Kline

9.4

Lime pith swells with shallot, lemon peel and lemon-poppy bread, seashell, chive, carnation, orchids, candied grapefruit peel bouquet. Dry and enticing entry, has a Chablis like austerity, but rounder, showing chamomile and caper with lemon juiciness. .
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#cullen #cullenwinery #wilyabrup #margaretriver #cullenkevinjohnchardonnay #margaretriverchardonnay #Australianwine #biodynamic #sustainable #aussiewine #aussiechardonnay #ozwine #ozchard — 4 years ago

with Courtney, Emily and 1 other

Vanessa

9.5

Prior notes continue to apply…

When we visited Billecart-Salmon in October of 2021, we received a tour of the stunning estate. Along the way, our guide, Jerome, paused near a traditional “Clos” (a single vineyard, enclosed by a wall) on the property. 

We could see a beautiful stone wall, surrounding a tiny 1 hectare parcel of “Clos Saint-Hilaire,” named after the Patron Saint & local church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Billecart-Salmon is located. 

Although we didn’t go into the Clos, we learned about how special this parcel is to the family; how it’s exclusively planted to Pinot Noir with vines dating back to 1964; how work in the vineyard is performed by hand and horse-drawn plows; how this parcel is farmed according to an age-old savoir-faire, adhering to principles of sustainable viticulture.

The wine is pale gold with a prominent bouquet of yellow apple, Anjou pear, raspberry, lemon curd, white peach, white blossom, desiccated white rose, wet stones, biscuit, brioche, almond paste, marzipan, crusty croissant, pie crust, toast, creamy texture and persistent, fine-beaded mousse and long elegant finish.

This is a 2005 “Blanc de Noirs” Champagne, comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, all coming from Le Clos Saint Hilaire, vinified entirely in oak casks to lend texture and body, and aged over 13 years sur lie prior to its recent release.  Due to the vineyard’s small size, production is very limited, and wine only produced in the best vintages.

Cheers to beautiful wines expressing a singularity of time and place!

Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (2005).  — 5 months ago

with Deked1

Todd Scurci

9.2

#eventide #kerner #slovenianwine — 4 years ago

with Annie

Randy Fuller

9.1

This wine looks medium-dark in the glass, a deep ruby color. The nose is rather rustic, especially for a Cab. That quality could possibly be due to a limited time in oak, for a Cabernet, only 8 months. There is currant in there, along with bramble and a strong minerality. The palate is on the rough’n’tumble side, with dark berry flavors and earthiness showing. The finish lingers and brings the savory side back for a revisit. — 4 years ago

Matt

9.7

Ah, "Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Albariño'-a veritable jewel from the spectacular landscapes of Spain's Galicia, specifically the picturesque Rías Baixas DO, where the Atlantic whispers sweet nothings to the vines. This splendid Albariño unveils a bouquet of zesty lemon, fragrant white flowers, and a hint of sea breeze, tantalising the senses like a playful flirtation. The producer, Bodegas Terras Gauda, founded by the illustrious Ramón V. de Garay, is famed for its commitment to sustainable practices. Fun fact: they pioneered the use of genetic research in their vineyards-a cleverer endeavor than my attempts at crossword puzzles! Albariño, that beguiling grape, is renowned for its bright acidity and versatility; a wonderful partner in crime for seafood, particularly oysters, as the minerality complements their briny sweetness. It also loves the spicy embrace of Asian cuisine, where its zesty notes dance playfully. This delightful nectar has garnered praise, earning a commendable 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Truly, it's one to uncap whilst contemplating life or... other intimate matters far too risqué for polite company! — a year ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

This was a gratuitous pairing favoring a more impressive wine over the right wine. Paired with grilled chicken and lemon polenta over a sliced onion pan sauce. Bordering garnet. Lots of pruney, stewed fruit pointing to a hot vintage (15.5% abv.)
Ripe and spicy tobacco, leather, and fig jam. From magnum and ready to drink. 750’s likely on the decline. Sustainable. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Artesana is a small production, low intervention, terroir-driven producer of beautiful Uruguayan wines. 🙌🙌 🇺🇾

This wine was made from grapes grown on estate vineyards, harvested by hand, with sustainable farming practices. 🍇🍇

It is a deep ruby hue, offering concentrated aromas and flavors of tart black cherry, black currant, plum, nutmeg, cedar, anise, pepper, vegetal and green notes, alongside meaty characteristics.

It is balanced with good fruit concentration, refreshing acidity, high alcohol (14%), and soft tannins.

It’s comprised of Cabernet Franc (55%) and Merlot (45%) from the region of Canelones, Uruguay.

Acclaimed female winemakers Analía Lazaneo and Valentina Gatti have left us inspired and excited to try more from Artesana.

@Delectable Wine This is the Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend. 🙏🙏 — 4 years ago

with Deked1