Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Fruit is brighter, more brilliant than many other 21’s I’ve had. Texturally & fruit-wise senses more like the 23’s I’ve had. It’s gorgeous. Again, needs a decade or more in the cellar.

Round, lush, creamy blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, poached strawberries, dry, crushed rocks, limestone powder, nice balling spices, caramel, mocha, dry herbs, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry river stone, leather, melted, dark chocolate, dark spice, fresh & withering dark flowers, red roses, nice round acidity, well balanced, bigger tension & structure, excellent round, excellent finish that last minutes and lands on spice, wet clay and Christmas cake. — 5 months ago

Vanessa

9.4

Today we began with a visit to Billecart-Salmon, which has been family owned since 1818. They are 7 generations strong, producing between 2 and 2.5 million bottles per year. We received our informative tour from Jérôme Lafouge. 👏

He explained how Billecart-Salmon grows and manages many of the vines used to produce their wines; they also source grapes 🍇 from other growers, but otherwise own the production process from the pressing of the grapes on… the facilities are pristine and processes are executed meticulously.

Each wine is vinified by vineyard plot. A unique feature of Billecart-Salmon is its decision to have a slow, cool fermentation process for all of its wine - both those vinified in barrels and those in stainless steel tanks - a process that takes 6 weeks to complete.

Each winemaking decision is customized based upon the type and condition of the grapes, e.g., some undergo a malolactic fermentation (where tart malic acid is converted to soft, lactic acid) while others may not, some have a first fermentation in oak where as some are stainless steel, etc.

At the end of our tour we had the pleasure to taste a few beautiful wines (pictured here).

Our favorite was the 2002 Vintage Cuvée Nicolas François comprised of 60% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ, Aÿ, Ambonnay, and Verzenay and 40% Chardonnay from Chouilly, Cramant, and Avize.

This wine was clearly developing lovely tertiary aromas. It also had great complexity retaining its primary and secondary notes. It was disgorged January of 2016, resting over a decade on the lees.

The aromas and palate had caramel, toffee, brioche, pie crust, toast, hazelnut, cream, melted butter, honey, ginger, candied lemon peel, quince, fig, and chamomile notes.

What an enjoyable experience and we loved meeting some new friends on the tour from Savannah, Georgia and Canada.

Santé mes amis 🥂🥂🥂 — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Hanibal

9.1

Ready to go with a pop and pour. Likely to improve with another 5 years. Hard to beat price wise vs quality in this region. Very good — 6 years ago

Jason Dunn

9.1

Not tannic. Lightly fruity. An excellent red for lamb. — 7 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.3

Where the younger et Fils range is bright and alive with ripened fruits, this is certainly more wise and gentle. Dried plums, plenty of spice, still in its prime almost two generations later. Phenomenal juice. — 7 years ago

with Jessica

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

Stellar. Actually still maybe too dense and young, still tons of chewy black fruit, stand up tannins. But good balance of chocolate-spice oak and cedar-mushrooms secondaries. Old Napa doing its thing in spectacular fashion. Can definitely go higher ratings wise. For $45 bucks, unbelievable! — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.4

I’m scoring as is today, but I really think this inches upward a bit over the next 5-7yrs.

This fell victim to curiosity (as well as a ‘21 Modus Operandi UV-Laguna Pinot). I’ve had a few of Lato’s entry and mid-level offerings, but this was my first Pisoni from them. Loved it.

Profile wise, this is similar to Dumol (not as big as Aubert, but not a lean style either). A very pretty down-the-middle style. While the aromatics here were lovely (honeysuckle, faint lemon cream, citrus and sweet baking spices), the texture of this wine was a standout. Sports much more depth than initially expected (yellow fruits, peach, apricot, pink cotton candy, limestone)…not quite a lees-y style, but close, while remaining elegant and light on its feet (good acidity). Oak is there but plays a supporting role. For being so young, this was a supremely balanced wine. I need to consider buying more. — 2 years ago

Alex Kate

9.0

Easy drinking — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.1

Another hidden treasure...I know we should have popped it earlier... but this joint venture between Morgan Twain-Peterson from Bedrock and Michael Havens (first producer of New World Albariño) is still alive. Medium gold/yellow in the glass... perhaps not quite as vibrant acid-wise as at release, but very powerful and pleasant. Slightly waxy and round, sporting a bit of funk, but notes of unripe pear, green apple, and green papaya bring a smile. I don’t think this wine is currently made, but I always thought it a real QPR bargain. — 5 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.3

Smooth velvety delicious mouth symphony. Perfection in a California Cabernet. www.freerunjuicewine.com — comment and tag me if you would like a discount code! Cheers friends! — 6 years ago

Myke Morgan

9.0

Very fruit forward cab, with minimal tannins or chalkiness. A nice quality everyday wine. — 7 years ago

with Anjanette

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

Praise the Moon Mountain AVA. Hashtag old stomping ground. — 7 years ago

Jean Herndon

8.9

2015 Bronze winner @ CA State Fair comp but underrated IMO. Red fruit, spice, earth. Good stuff. — 8 years ago

Maggie Harrison

8.9

blend of communes, high elevation. boysenberry, firm and fruity juicy tannins, lighter on palate weight wise. lots of complexity. dusty tannins that open up. not grippy. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

1975 vintage. Holding up pretty well for an okay vintage. Solid color. A bit brickish flavor wise but not nearly as much as expected. Plenty of mature fruit. 25+ seconds on the finish. — 4 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Dirty earthy dark cherry and dark compact fruits. Currants and minerally prunes. Grainy texture and dense leather in the age. Bigger Pinot that I expected. Pleasant pairing fir mushroom dishes and even dark cherry pie. — 5 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.4

Awesome bottle of bourbon that I picked up while on vacation at the recommendation of a friend. Spicy/sweet oak, charred vanilla nibs, and torched Demerara sugar granules. Paired nicely with a Luke Bryan exclusive Davidoff. — 6 years ago

with Krystal

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.4

Ripe and supple berry pie. Dark dark spicy fruit in a velvety coat of midnight cacao, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. Big tannins that cling to palate all the way through the finish. Relax back in your recliner near the fireplace for this one! Perfect rainy day wine. — 6 years ago

Marc Pimentel

9.1

Cami really likes this wine. Grape dvine — 7 years ago

Matt

9.2

70 CA 30 GR old vine bottling that proves how important Carignan can be in arid, warm climate winemaking. At 15% abv this wine carries balance, life, and most importantly complex interplay of deeply hued fruit and savory layers. There’s an air of roasted meatiness, leather, wet slate, and roasted black and purple fruits that stands out. In the background purple flowers, smoke, talcum, licorice, brown sugar. Palate is expansive, rich without being too heavy, kept in check by balancing acid of the carignan. Tannin wise there’s grit, nothing overpowering but flowing nicely about, keeping the texture present with its length. — 7 years ago