Triple Oak Wine Vault
Sonoma-Loeb
Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021
Sonoma-Loeb “Dutton Ranch” Pinot Noir 2021
Sonoma Coast, California – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
Crafted by Phillip Corallo-Titus, who has been the guiding hand at Sonoma-Loeb since 1990, this 100% Pinot Noir captures Burgundian elegance while showcasing Sonoma’s coastal vibrancy. The Dutton Ranch site is a prized cool-climate vineyard, where fog and breezes create the perfect conditions for balance and finesse.
Aromas & Flavors
Ripe cherry, raspberry, and red currant lead the bouquet, layered with spice notes of anise, clove, and baking spice. A gentle touch of toasty oak and vanilla rounds out the fruit, adding warmth and texture without overwhelming.
Mouthfeel
Silky, polished, and seamless on the palate. Soft tannins and graceful structure allow the fruit to shine, striking an elegant balance between restraint and vibrancy.
Winemaking Notes
The 2021 vintage reflects Corallo-Titus’s vision: careful vineyard sourcing, traditional fermentation, and judicious oak use that enhances complexity without excess.
Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roast duck, mushroom risotto, cedar-plank salmon, or simply with a cheese board of triple-cream Brie and charcuterie.
Verdict
A thoughtful and layered Pinot Noir that proves Sonoma can deliver not just power, but grace and finesse. A bottle worth cellaring or savoring at the table—✨pure craftsmanship in a glass.
— a year ago
Alexana
Revana Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.
Lots of fresh red fruits on the nose with tobacco leaf, herbs, light oak, wild flowers, vegetables, light barnyard, mushrooms, spices and light earth.
Medium bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with red plums, fresh picked cherries, strawberries, spices, light wood, herbs, green tea, black pepper, earth and light dark chocolates.
Elegant finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Pinot Noir from Williamette Valley. Nicely balanced with nice complexity, albeit still very young.
This Single Vineyard Pinot Noir is a good quality wine. Easy drinking and made in Burgundian style.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with some air time. The nose becomes more flowery after 45 minutes of airtime.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 8 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Paired very nicely with the triple cream Brie cheese with wild mushrooms.
100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged for 10 months in (35% new) French Oak barrels.
13.4% alcohol by volume.
91 points
$60. — a year ago
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc 2019 – Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Overview
A classic Pessac-Léognan white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon (Sauvignon dominant) 70% Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Sémillon, delivering tension, texture, and layered complexity. Sauvignon Blanc drives citrus energy, minerality, and aromatic lift, while Sémillon contributes mid-palate weight, subtle creaminess, and aging potential. This is a serious white Bordeaux built for balance rather than flash, expressive yet restrained, polished and quietly powerful.
Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon zest, grapefruit pith, white peach, and green apple. Subtle white flowers, crushed stone, and gentle herbal tones. Light almond, beeswax, and faint vanilla from integrated oak. Citrus oil and saline minerality linger through the finish with beautiful clarity and precision.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a vibrant, energetic entry. Crisp, linear acidity balanced by Sémillon’s rounded texture. Silky mid-palate with excellent tension and freshness. Clean, focused, long finish with mineral persistence and refined structure.
Food Pairings
Chilean sea bass, halibut, or turbot with light citrus or beurre blanc. Scallops, shrimp, or lobster. Roast chicken with herbs and lemon. Soft cheeses, triple-cream brie, or fresh chèvre. Elegant vegetable dishes, asparagus, fennel, or spring peas. A natural partner for delicate yet flavorful cuisine.
🍷 Personal Pick
This sits right in my sweet spot for Bordeaux whites, delicacy, precision, freshness, and texture in perfect harmony. Beautiful on its own, but truly shines at the table. One of those bottles that reminds you why great Sauvignon-driven Bordeaux can quietly outperform flashier styles.
Did You Know?
Pessac-Léognan whites are often fermented and aged partially in oak with lees contact, giving Sauvignon Blanc added depth and texture without masking freshness. Sémillon plays a crucial role by enhancing mouthfeel, aging potential, and savory complexity, a hallmark of top Graves and Pessac whites. — 4 months ago
Chappellet
Grower Collection Calesa Vineyard Five Blocks Petaluma Gap Chardonnay 2022
Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview:
100% Chardonnay sourced entirely from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Planted with Robert Young and Dijon clones in one of Sonoma’s coolest, wind-influenced regions, allowing slow ripening and naturally vibrant acidity. Aged with 100% malolactic fermentation and approximately 35% new French oak.
Aromas & Flavors:
Expressive aromas of lemon meringue, ripe lychee, mandarin peel, and baked guava. The palate layers citrus-driven energy with baked stone fruits, subtle spice, and savory undertones.
Mouthfeel:
Creamy and polished from full MLF, yet beautifully lifted by fresh acidity. Medium-to-full body with integrated oak influence, soft texture, and a long citrusy, savory finish.
Food Pairings:
Lobster risotto, roasted chicken, buttery seafood dishes, creamy pasta, grilled halibut, or triple cream cheeses.
Verdict:
A beautifully balanced California Chardonnay that delivers richness without losing freshness. Complex, aromatic, and polished, showing how the Petaluma Gap can bring tension and elegance to a more textural Chardonnay style.
🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap became an official AVA in 2017 and is heavily shaped by strong Pacific winds and fog intrusion, helping Chardonnay retain acidity and precision even with full flavor development. — a year ago
Kavalan
Sherry Oak Single Malt Whisky
2023 Whisky Advent Calendar, Day 7: Kavalan Single Malt Triple Sherry Cask. Didn’t save my notes correctly due to a wifi glitch. Only the rating number was saved and I just noticed three days later. But I do remember I thought this was very complex and quite interesting. — 2 years ago
Bondstone
Limited Release Triple Oak
I am not a bourbon/whiskey drinker but I thought this was very good. My husband is a bourbon/whiskey drinker and he loved it. — 8 months ago
Flowers Vineyard & Winery
Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2023
Flowers Russian River Valley Chardonnay V.2023
Sonoma, California, USA 🌊🍇
Overview
An estate-driven Chardonnay crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes, sourced from Flowers’ organically farmed Healdsburg Estate and partner vineyards across the Russian River Valley AVA. Fermented with 100% native yeast and aged in 100% French oak (30% new), including full malolactic fermentation, this bottling captures both the bright energy and the rich texture for which the winery is known.
Aromas & Flavors
Nose: lifted aromas of white orchard blossoms, stone fruit, and candied Gravenstein apple, evoking the orchards scattered across Russian River Valley.
Palate: a fresh burst of kumquat, nectarine, and citrus zest, layered with shortbread, toasted spice, and a savory edge, bringing both brightness and depth.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, mouth-coating texture, yet balanced by crisp acidity. The finish is long and mineral-driven, showcasing both precision and richness.
Winemaking & Style
100% barrel-fermented, with native malolactic fermentation for creaminess, balanced by careful oak integration. This creates a wine that is crisp at its core, yet enveloped in richness — a hallmark of Flowers’ coastal-influenced winemaking.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with grilled scallops, lobster rolls, roast chicken with herbs, or creamy pasta dishes. Also shines with triple-cream cheeses or fresh Dungeness crab.
Verdict
A dynamic, elegant Chardonnay that balances coastal freshness with Russian River opulence. Structured, textural, and expressive — a bottle that will please Burgundy lovers and California Chardonnay fans alike.
— 9 months ago
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Karia Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars — KARIA Chardonnay 2022
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview:
A multi-appellation Napa Valley Chardonnay sourced from Atlas Peak, Carneros, Coombsville, and Oak Knoll, bringing together freshness, texture, and richness from different cool-influenced sites. Aged approximately 9 months on lees in oak barrels, giving the wine added depth and creamy complexity.
Aromas & Flavors:
Expressive aromas of white peach, citrus blossom, ripe pear, and soft florals layered with vanilla, baking spice, and subtle toasted oak. The palate combines stone fruit richness with citrus lift and a touch of savory spice.
Mouthfeel:
Medium-to-full bodied with vibrant acidity and a creamy, textured profile from sur lie aging. Oak influence is noticeable early on, contributing notes of vanilla and sweet spice while maintaining freshness and structure through the finish.
Food Pairings:
Roasted chicken, lobster rolls, creamy pasta dishes, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, or triple cream cheeses.
Verdict:
A richer Napa Chardonnay style that still carries enough acidity and tension to remain balanced. Layered, expressive, and thoughtfully built, especially enjoyable for those who appreciate a more textured and oak-influenced Chardonnay profile.
🍷 Did You Know?
“KARIA” comes from the Greek word for graceful, reflecting the winery’s intention to create a Chardonnay with richness and elegance rather than overwhelming heaviness. Cheers! — a year ago
Freddy R. Troya
La Source, Seven Springs Estate Chardonnay 2022. Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Oregon. USA🇺🇸
Overview
A distinctive cool-climate Chardonnay sourced from the celebrated Seven Springs Estate in Eola-Amity Hills, delivering precision, freshness, and layered texture rather than overt richness. This is a terroir-driven expression that challenges the classic American Chardonnay stereotype, emphasizing tension, mineral lift, and elegant restraint.
Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon zest, green apple, pear skin, and subtle white peach lead the nose. Delicate floral notes and faint almond skin weave through the aromatics, supported by gentle saline minerality. On the palate, crisp citrus, orchard fruit, and chalky mineral tones unfold with clarity and finesse, finishing clean and sharply defined.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, vibrant, and tightly framed with refreshing acidity and a fine-textured mid-palate. The wine carries precision and lift without sacrificing mouthfeel, offering energy rather than weight, and maintaining excellent balance through the finish.
Food Pairings
Grilled halibut or sole with lemon butter. Roast chicken with herbs. Dungeness crab. Seared scallops. Fresh chèvre or triple-cream cheese.
Verdict
A beautifully calibrated Chardonnay that reframes expectations for Oregon and American expressions alike. Elegant, crisp, and quietly complex, it showcases how site-driven winemaking can deliver depth without excess.
Did You Know?
The Eola-Amity Hills AVA benefits from the Van Duzer Corridor winds, which cool the vineyards, thicken grape skins, and preserve natural acidity, a key reason the region excels with Burgundian varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
🍷 Personal Pick
This wine genuinely shifted my perspective on Chardonnay from this location. Crisp, expressive, and quietly layered, it delivers charm and clarity without heaviness, a Chardonnay for precision lovers rather than oak seekers. — 4 months ago