6/17/2022 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Golden yellow color, nose of wet stone, a touch of petrol and some citrus. Quite full attack on the body with more minerality, it was strong but not heavy. Very nice and long finish. This tasted halfway between a bourgogne chardonnay and an alsace pinot gris, which I guess it kinda is one. Very tasty, very interesting. It was my first time tasting this wine and I was very pleasantly surprised. Drank half a bottle and put it under argon, it was very good the next day as well!

4/15/2022 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Cork in good shape, bricking almost orange color. Usual nose of dried flowers and dried fruits for these oldies. Body and tannins were soft, while the finish a tad short. After a few hours it improved a bit, especially with food, but this bottle does feel a little tired. Drink up.

2/25/2022 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Cork was a little loose with a little mold at the top, but thankfully the wine was fine and no oxidation. Lovely golden color with the usual honey and dried fruits on the nose, nice medium full body with still a touch of acidity. Oily on the finish that was medium short in length but tasty nonetheless. Who says villages can't be aged? This was fully mature but by no means over, and I'm glad I have a 2nd bottle!

9/5/2021 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Very light yellow, quite fruity with a touch of sweetness, mousse was quite fine, very good value and a wonderful easy summer wine

8/31/2021 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

My 2nd bottle out of 3. The first one drunk a few years ago, lots of fruit and practically singing in the glass. This 2nd bottle was a little more serious and grown up, less fat more grip and still lots of dark red fruits with earthy notes and a medium but very long finish. The cork was in perfect condition and the bottle seems to have been stored well. This is drinking beautifully now and a very nice wine deserving of it's vineyard. Can't wait for my last bottle and hope it's as good as the first 2!

7/9/2021 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Color was a little developed for the age of the bottle, brick red with a bit of tan already, but nose was fresh with dried flowers, mushrooms and some vegetal/herbal notes (04...) but it was very pleasant. Palate was medium full, still good grip with tannins that are still there but quite resolved. Medium long finish that had good minerality and a hint of iron. This was very nice and in a good drinking window now.

12/28/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Disgorged 2012. Golden yellow, with almost a orange hue, fine mousse. Very concentrated on the nose, with minerality and dried fruits plus umami notes. Strong Pinot notes on the attack, but it isn't heavy and remains well balanced. Oxidative style shows but the structure is able to handle it. Medium long finish, this was very impressive and quite different to other BdN I've had, though it's hard to say whether it's the ungrafted vines or the wine making...alas I haven't had the VVF to compare...! In any case, a very tasty wine!

12/25/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark red with a touch of brick, this was dark brooding and intense on the nose, with red fruits and leather. Body was tightly wound with good structure, medium long finish. Even on the 2nd night it was still quite tight, I'm not touching another bottle for a few years or at least a few hours decant...a serious wine.

12/23/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Opened in the morning to slow ox, drank for dinner. Cork was in good shape. Pale red near pink, very typical notes of dried roses and tar with a touch of dried fruits. Fully resolved but still has decent grip, this was a perfect pairing with truffles! One of my better bottles.

12/23/2020 - ricemanhk wrote:

Still dark red with only a hint of brick, fruity on the nose with some minerality, still quite some acidity and tannins on the palate. A little disjointed, not sure if more air or more aging would help. These 96s have always been a bit tough and brooding...

12/23/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Golden yellow, fine mousse. Nose of dried flowers and rich fruits, it's quite full and intense with good minerality. Medium full body, nice lengthy finish. This feels still a touch tight though, despite oxidative methods. I would leave it for a few more years, or perhaps a decant...

12/21/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Stood up for 24h to let sediment settle, but turns out there wasn't a whole lot. Opened in the morning to slow-ox, there was a little funky soy sauce and dried flowers on the nose, but it wasn't so bad. Quite sour and a touch of rough tannins on that first sip in the morning.
Drank the bottle at dinner time, brick red, near orange on the edge. Nose cleaned up and the fruit came back, soft dried fruits and dried flowers on the nose, almost smells like an old barolo. Medium body of dried red fruits, a touch of leather but not alot of graphite, I guess there isn't so much cabernet sauv in this vintage? Finish wasn't so intense or complex but very long. Still has structure and grip, this wasn't tired at all and should still last a while. Quite tasty overall and definitely tastes more like burgundy or barolo than modern bordeaux, very interesting and I am pondering to serve it in a burgundy glass next time...

12/18/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark ruby red. nose of dark red fruits was laser focused, such purity and precision. Medium body that was very clean, with reasonable tannins, nice grip and a medium long finish. I'm a big fan of these younger producers that are producing pure and focused burgundy, such a joy to have this level of quality at these prices!

12/13/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Purple red, nice pure red fruits on the nose, medium full intensity that has a purity that matches the nose. Medium finish with good minerality and enough tannins to match with food. There is an intensity and energy that punches well above it's CdN villages label and price, this is very good value and probably would be even better in a few years.

12/13/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Golden yellow, fine mousse, nose of yeasty brioche and savory notes. Medium full body, very fine attack of minerality and dried flowers, a touch of aged characteristics from the extended lees contact, medium long finish. There was a hint of bitterness on the finish initially but went away after some air. Very tasty already and definitely can age more.

12/4/2020 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Made by L@tour, supposedly same as the 3rd wine...or maybe it's the 4th wine. Cabernet dominant but seems there's a decent amount of Merlot. Purple with a slight tinge of red, cassis and pencil on the nose, medium full body of dark red fruits with a nice amount of tannins that aren't too rough. Medium long finish. I've had the 3rd wine quite a few times before but different vintage so can't compare directly, I think the 2 are roughly equal in quality. This one is 1/4 of the price though...fantastic bargain!

8/6/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Pale salmon in color, nice small beads with a fine almost creamy mousse. Dried red fruits and citrus peel on the nose, medium weight on the body that was quite dry (don't think this has much RS, perhaps different disgorgement date to others?) with good minerality and a medium finish. Very elegant style that works well with light-medium flavored foods. Perhaps I expected a touch more complexity for a 20yo wine, but this was still very tasty and a fantastic value for the price.

7/29/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark ruby red, nose of dark red fruits and spices. Medium full on the body with more dark fruit and spices, this was a serious wine with good intensity and structure, and a medium long finish. Tannins were starting to soften a little but this is still young and feels even a little brutish. A few more years should allow the flavors to meld some more. A very serious savigny.

7/22/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Pale red with a touch of brick orange on the edge. From the color I would've assumed oxidized...and yet on the nose it was a lovely bouquet of red fruits, spices and that unmistakable perfume that only stems bring. Medium light on the body but there is an alluring intensity of more red fruits and spices with a nice lengthy finish. This is the total opposite of a fruit bomb, and may not please those who look for more body and fruit, but it's my preferred style of wine and just lovely right now. Even the empty glass was amazing to smell after the wine was all gone...
2nd day (kept with argon) it showed even more fruit and intensity, which suggests still more life ahead, though I think it's drinking wonderful now already. That fragrance...bravo!

5/17/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Nice golden yellow with citrus and a touch of tropical fruits on the nose, medium full body with good minerality, acidity and ripe fruits on the body, lengthy finish. Quite a decent chardonnay that approaches burgundy style but still a little on the warm/ripe side.

4/9/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark ruby red, nose of currents and dark red fruits with a touch of leather. Smells ripe but not jammy. Full body of more fruits and a touch of austerity with good acidity and fine tannins. Medium long nice complex finish. Took this bottle in a blind tasting to show what SA can do with bdx blends, everyone guessed pauillac in a ripe year. Jaws were definitely dropped on the reveal, bravo!

4/3/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Golden yellow with a good viscosity. Rich honeyed fruits on the nose with a big dose of wet stone and minerals. Full bodied on the palate with a tight mineral finish. This is a proper chardonnay and I would've guessed a rich style white burgundy if tasted blind. Serve it at around 10C and it's perfect. A serious wine and serious value for money.

3/23/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Still a touch of fizz which a few shakes in the bottle took care of. Light yellow with a nose of minerals, flowers and lemon. Crisp acidity and minerality on the palate with more citrus, and a medium long finish. Served blind I would've probably guessed a warmer vintage burgundy...this is a serious chardonnay and definitely a good value alternative.

2/22/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark red, nose of red fruits and some savory notes, very gevrey in style. Nose and palate is quite ready even with PnP, very tasty with a nice medium long finish. Very nice wine and I'm sad this is my last bottle...

1/2/2019 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Still dark ruby red. Nose is somewhat muted at first, but dried red fruits and dried white flowers come out with air. Medium full body, somewhat rich flavor which I don't notice with LLC before, perhaps the higher cab franc? Tannins at first don't show but comes out in force after time in glass. Medium finish that improves also with time.
Bottom line this just seems still way too early to approach...

12/26/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Cork didn't seem to have seepage but a bunch of black stuff at the top of the cork, and cork itself wasn't super tight fitting, fill level a touch low as well. Wine was still dark ruby red, nose of dark red fruits and a touch savory, quite chambertin in style. Palate was medium full, but finish was a bit short and lacked complexity. Fine to drink, but definitely didn't feel GC let alone a Chambertin. Probably partly due to the cork issue, as storage shouldn't have been a problem. Still have a 96 bottle with much better fill levels, hopefully that will be better!

11/10/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Opened in the morning to slow-ox, drank at dinner. Cork was soaked through but thankfully no issues for the wine. Light red, almost a little pink. Nose of dried red fruits and a bit of flowers. Still some nice fruit on the palate, not as developed as expected, though also not as complex as expected. Medium body with a medium finish. Still, a very nice mature barolo.

10/27/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark red fruits on the nose, good medium full body with some forest notes and minerality, nice medium long finish. Tannins are soft and ripe, this is a significant step up to the pensinula bottle with significantly more complexity and aftertaste.

10/27/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Wine was only 1cm below the cork, cork was in perfect condition. Opened the night before and slow-ox in the bottle overnight before decanting at lunch time. Still a nose of red fruits and semi-dried flowers, much younger and less evolved than expected, likely due to the good storage conditions. It shut down a little at the start but more air and it started to sing! Paired with white truffles initially, this actually felt a bit too young for truffle, it was much better with the steak main course. Tannins mostly resolved and it has good structure and complexity with a medium long finish. Still plenty of life ahead if the bottle is kept well!

8/6/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Opened 24 hours in advanced, but only slow ox in the bottle. Still quite muted on first pour, decided to decant it and it blossomed out nicely after 30 minutes. Brick garnet red, before decant mainly a muted nose of graphite, somewhat tight palate and limited finish. After decant, dried red fruits came out to play with a touch of white flowers, much more intense body with a medium but complex finish. This wine needs lots of air, open it 24h in advance then decant at least 2 hours before serving if you want to see it evolve in the glass, but more if you want it ready on first pour. Fascinating wine, zero makeup bordeaux this reminds me of Biondi Santi or even a cab franc from Loire...

8/3/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Musty pommard on the nose. Once again fairly obvious terroir characteristics with a clean, almost clinical, body and texture. Decent body and finish. Quite a nice wine

8/3/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Consistently clean style of burgundy, has the NSG nose of mushrooms and vegetal character but it's not rustic. Medium body with a decent structure and finish for a 1er. Fairly transparent terroir, a little austere but I guess this is his style. Quite decent!

7/29/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Still dark red, very clear in the glass, nose of red fruits and flowers with a touch of spice. Medium body and more red fruits on the nice medium long finish. Fine tannins, superb balance with good structure, a very "clean" NSG. Lovely wine!

7/12/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark red fruits with leather and mushroom on the nose, very Gevrey. Dark ruby red in the glass, it does not feel ripe for 2009, this was fairly well balanced with a medium full body and a decent finish.

7/7/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Pure dark red fruits on the nose, it's somewhat austere despite an hour or 2 of air. Medium full body with a clean but somewhat short finish (given the quality of the vineyard). It's my 3rd bottle, tannins have softened since the last one, but the top 1er/GC type of complexity and finish just isn't quite evident here. I'll let my last bottle have a year or 2 more and see how it evolves.

6/11/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Still dark inky ruby red with a touch of purple, from the color alone I wouldn't have guessed a 20y old wine. Nose of ripe cassis and plums with a touch of herbs and forest notes. Warm rich body with a medium long finish. Tannins are nicely resolved, though I would prefer a bit more acidity. Still, a very decent wine and nice to drink now.

6/4/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark ruby red with brilliant clarity, nose of ripe red fruits with some oak notes in the background, this is still very primary. Medium rich body, some acidity though not much tannins, a simple medium finish. It's clearly a warm ripe style pinot, would prefer more tannins and acidity to balance the fruit, but this is a smooth and clean wine, very nice and easy drinking.

5/17/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Difficult to see the color in the dimly lit restaurant but it looked slightly dark yellow. Dried flowers and citrus on the nose, starting to have a bit of petrol, medium body with good acidity and medium long finish. Do not chill this too cold, it needs to be just cooler than room temp to really shine. Lovely wine

3/24/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Popped the cork in the morning, very good condition no seepage. Slow-ox for about 8 hours, pale orange at first pour but darkened to a translucent brick red by dinner time. Super fragrant dried roses and meaty on the nose, medium full body on the attack with still a touch of tannin at 30yo. Good structure, and a medium long nice finish. I could smell an empty glass from 6 feet away, this was wonderfully ethereal and intoxicating. Fantastic wine!

3/17/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark red, a little murky. Dark red fruits with notes of undergrowth. Nice medium body with good acidity, tannins resolved but still providing good structure. Finishes medium long and complex. Drinking well now but should still last for a while.

3/9/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

This bottle the nose was a little muted, and more darker red fruits than the brighter red of before. Some vegetal and spice notes as well. Still very good structure and depth, with a medium long finish.

3/2/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Took a while to blow off some funk which then emerged a nice bouquet of red fruits, dried flowers and spice. Medium full body, still some chunky tannins but nicely resolved. Decent structure and complexity on the medium long finish. A little on the lean side, would've preferred a little more fat to complement the tannins. Still, a very decent wine

2/24/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Slightly dark yellow, nose of ripe tropical fruits with some minerality, medium body with a bit of acidity and saline notes, medium short finish. I would prefer it to be a little fresher, it's decent but drink up.

2/11/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Brilliant and clear dark red, nose of classic red fruits, medium full body with good structure and soft tannins, complex and long finish. This is very tasty...

2/9/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Clear red-ish purple, nose of dark red fruits and a bit of herbal vegetal notes although by no means green. Medium full body with nice acidity and a long finish. Good structure and lots of complexity, very very tasty!

1/7/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Dark inky red, nose of spices and red fruits, medium full body with a touch of alcohol heat, moderate complexity and finish. I prefer ones with slightly less extraction and more acidity, although perhaps this was partly due to the vintage In any case it's fairly good value for daily drinking.

1/1/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Inky red, nose of red fruits and raisins with a touch of magic marker but this blew off quickly. Nice acidity and body, good structure, soft tannins and a nice medium long finish. Very nice wine, I vastly prefer valpolicella over amarone...hah

1/1/2018 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

2008 in cellar so 2007 BV, disgorged 2014. Golden yellow, somewhat big bubbles when pouring but settles to a fine mousse and delicate stream. Nose of citrus and toasted nuts, nice medium body with a decent finish. Without doubt my favorite entry level champagnes, this has lots of character and great with food. That said, I do prefer the 2008 BV (2009 in cellar) bottle quite a bit more.

12/25/2017 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Light yellow, tight nose of mineral and stone. Some citrus on the palate but still quite tight and strong acidity. Decent complexity on the finish, but I think this still needs at least a few years to integrate...or give it lots of air.

12/24/2017 - ricemanhk Likes this wine:

Deep golden yellow, candied citrus and honey on the nose, luscious on the palate. Surprisingly balanced (I've had too many unbalanced vidal icewines), went very well with cheesecake.