Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2015 vintage. Sampled from Coravin. Medium body. The monstrous tannins tamed somewhat...as they meet a decade+. Absolutely, top-notch nose. If you both respect the exuberance of youth and celebrate the wisdom of age, this is for you. A fascinating, case study currently. 6.24.26. — 9 days ago

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on February 1, 2026 at Tom and Kathy’s house with Tom and Kathy]

Cherry and strawberry fruit, with black tea, spice and rose petals. — 5 months ago

Kamall

9.2

Deep, dark and lovely texture. — 5 years ago

Susan Hanners

9.1

Cranberry/currant on the nose, bizzare color, 1st sip raspberrish second taste apricot yet tart — 6 years ago

Jocelyn Yard

9.9

Liquid perfection and shockingly drinkable straight out of the bottle. Didn’t need to decant — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.0

Not exactly my style but it’s done well, so it’s good. Actually ended up enjoying this more than 75’s Cab. — 7 years ago

with Krystal

Hamilton Schwartz

9.2

Passover 2019 — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
A very limited-production Chardonnay sourced from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Built from cool-climate tension and precision, this 2020 vintage elevates the profile of the wine with greater depth, layered complexity, and remarkable balance while preserving the vibrant tropical-citrus core characteristic of the site.

Aromas & Flavors:
Intense yet refined aromas of lemon curd, tropical citrus, baked guava, white peach, and subtle lychee, intertwined with delicate white spices and hints of mandarin zest. The palate unfolds in layers with vibrant citrus energy, savory mineral nuances, and beautifully integrated oak.

Mouthfeel:
Exceptionally balanced and textured. Fresh acidity drives the wine from start to finish, while a striking tension on the back palate gives the wine precision and lift. Creamy without heaviness, polished without excess, finishing long, energetic, and remarkably composed.

Food Pairings:
Butter-poached lobster, scallops, roast chicken with herbs, creamy seafood pasta, miso-glazed cod, or aged Comté.

Verdict:
A serious and highly expressive Chardonnay that showcases how powerful and refined California Chardonnay can become in the right cool-climate hands. The 2020 clearly steps above the 2022 in complexity, texture, and overall precision while still maintaining the vibrant tropical freshness that defines the vineyard.

🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap’s cold Pacific winds naturally slow ripening and thicken grape skins, helping Chardonnays develop both concentrated flavor intensity and the kind of acidity-driven tension more commonly associated with top cool-climate regions. Cheers! — 2 months ago

Gadi Karpel

9.2

Vinica 2020 Zagreus
Производитель: Zagreus Winery, регион Фракийская долина, Болгария.​
Виноградники: Собственные органические виноградники Zagreus во Фракийской низине (юг Болгарии).​
Виноград: 100% мавруд, автохтонный болгарский красный сорт.​
Виноделие: Поздний сбор, ягоды досушивают около 2-3 месяцев на воздухе, затем ферментация и 18 месяцев выдержки в болгарском дубе.​
Алкоголь: 14,8% об.​
Сахар: Сухое вино; ощущается лёгкая сладость за счёт высокой спелости и сушёного винограда, а не остаточного сахара.​
Цвет: Глубокий гранатово‑рубиновый, почти чернильный.​
Аромат: Спелая тёмная слива, ежевика, чёрная смородина, изюм, чёрный перец, шоколад, кофе, ваниль, немного дыма и сухофруктов.​
Вкус: Полнотелое, плотное, с бархатными, но насыщенными танинами, хорошей кислотностью и длинным послевкусием с нотами какао, чая и вяленых фруктов.​
Общее впечатление: Мощное, современное по стилю вино с ярким характером сорта и заметным влиянием технологии «под амароне».​
Моя оценка: 92/100
Цена/качество: В сегменте около 40–45 лев за бутылку выглядит оправданно для флагманского вина из автохтонного сорта.​


Vinica 2020 Zagreus
Производитель: Zagreus Winery, регион Фракийская долина, Болгария.​
Виноградники: Собственные органические виноградники Zagreus во Фракийской низине (юг Болгарии).​
Виноград: 100% мавруд, автохтонный болгарский красный сорт.​
Виноделие: Поздний сбор, ягоды досушивают около 2-3 месяцев на воздухе, затем ферментация и 18 месяцев выдержки в болгарском дубе.​
Алкоголь: 14,8% об.​
Сахар: Сухое вино; ощущается лёгкая сладость за счёт высокой спелости и сушёного винограда, а не остаточного сахара.​
Цвет: Глубокий гранатово‑рубиновый, почти чернильный.​
Аромат: Спелая тёмная слива, ежевика, чёрная смородина, изюм, чёрный перец, шоколад, кофе, ваниль, немного дыма и сухофруктов.​
Вкус: Полнотелое, плотное, с бархатными, но насыщенными танинами, хорошей кислотностью и длинным послевкусием с нотами какао, чая и вяленых фруктов.​
Общее впечатление: Мощное, современное по стилю вино с ярким характером сорта и заметным влиянием технологии «под амароне».​
Моя оценка: 92/100
Цена/качество: В сегменте около 40–45 лев за бутылку выглядит оправданно для флагманского вина из автохтонного сорта.​ — 7 months ago

Adam Sofair-Fisch

9.3

Energetic and structured #shawnwines — 6 years ago

Aupa Monyatsi

9.6

Absolutely amazing wine, well rounded with a vanilla finish. Lawwd!!! — 7 years ago

Leslie Bartos

9.7

Wow! It’s been several years since our last bottle and it was worth the wait. Happy to have 4 more! Delicious fruit with plenty of brightness. Wonderfully balanced. — 7 years ago

with Tony

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2006 vintage. Medium/medium-heavy body. Tannins pretty well-integrated at this point. If it is not at the top of its’ particular bell curve, darn near close. 3.20.26. — 3 months ago

Peter Montoleone

9.4

Drinking really well right now! — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Ruby with elegant red fruit aromas and gentle floral spice, aged for 10 months in French oak. On the palate flavors of cherry and cranberry with notes of tea, herb pepper with wet stone notes. Soft tannins on a long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy mineral notes. Very Nice! — 6 months ago

Cynthia Stevenson

9.4

Smooth, mod body, low acidity, light tannins. — 5 years ago

Adam Wildavsky

9.2

Full bodied, smooth. Great find. — 6 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

2014 vintage -really pretty slight underbrush dried cherry/blueberry very soft tannins -good time to drink — 6 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

Really nice blend. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago