5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy! Dave D's btl tonight. Well, this a fun contrast with the 06 Taittinger Comtes! I'm driving my silver dream car, a '71 Porsche 911S Targa through some exhilarating S curves when along comes a red '71 Corvette with a 454 LT-1 engine and blows my doors off on a straightaway! Comtes finesse vs the utter power of Krug. What a fun flight! Thanks Dave! Tasty, tasty, tasty!

5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy! Lonny's btl. Between my local buddies and I we've drank more of these wonderful '06 Comtes than any other single vintage I'm aware of? This is my 23rd TN since May 2016. Therre's nothing left to say except I hope to write 23 more! Fantastic tonight as always and my singular all-round favorite glass of Champagne. Viva Taittinger Comtes! Thanks Lonny!

5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy! Siggy's 2nd contribution tonight. Well this offered a contrast in producer style alongside Candace's 18 Lafon Meursault CdB. Darker gold but not moxed. Still refined and elegant but much bolder than the Lafon. The concentration here was impressive and mouthcoatingly sappy. What a fun flight! I give the edge to the Lafon but this is utterly delicious & compelling too. A nice study in producer style & white Burgundy terroir. This was more Batard than Chassagne (in a good way) for me. Loved it! A very nice btl right now but wouldn't sit on these for more than a year or 2 more. Thanks Steve, so fun to taste this! Last time I had the Ramonet Chassagne Ruchottes was at least a decade ago.

5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy! Candie's btl. Beautiful gem like pale gold. Once again Lafon demonstrates no other producer delivers more refinement, finesse, fruit purity and utterly mesmerizing Chardonnay. At least not for me. Like a Brown Trout rising for a delicate #18 Bluewing Olive dry fly I'm drawn to Lafon's compelling white Burgs. Weightless and so dam pretty! Bravo, my favorite producer! Definition of ethereal finesse. Thanks Candie!

5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy! My btl tonight. Gave this an hour plus decant followed by another hour+ slow-ox after arrival at St Gennieve Minneapolis. This was magnificent tonight & my WOTN amongst several rock star btls from Champagne, Burgundy & BDX. At 12 years out from release this is drinking wonderfully already. No doubt there's room for more tertiary evolution with another 5+ years in the cellar but stellar and worth opening one now if you have these. Fabulous in my Burg glass tonight w/ suave deep raspberry, mineral, earth & meat on an ultra-balanced, intense & concentrated palate. The nose was glorious w/ vineyard fresh dark berries, rose petal & emerging forest floor. Hope every wine lover gets a chance to experience the majesty of Chambertin in the hands a Burg master like Domaine Trapet. I'm very lucky to own a few! Prices unfortunately, are on the rise here. The producer was largely under the radar when I started buying them.

5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy & brining this! In the same flight w/ my '12 J&L Trapet Chambertin. Having recently enjoyed a mesmerizing '09 Echez Siggy brought last month, expectations were through the roof for his follow up GE tonight! And while this delivered some oohs & aah moments it was bit reluctant to put all its cards on the table. But it definitely had its moments! The fruit was pristine and the legendary DRC whole cluster elements were something to behold. Really fun flight. My '12 Chambertin while youthful was eager to please w/ its wonderful classic Burgundy flavors & aromas. Advantage Trapet Chambertin tonight! Thanks Siggy!

5/15/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Gang monthly @ StG. SS,CV,KB,DD,LI & CS. Thanks for organizing Siggy! Kevin's btl. Well, I was taken by this vintage in a Jan 2017 btl, but even more so tonight. Both, Kevin's Btls, from same source. The robust nose was like sitting in small room with more than one cigar smoker. I've never smoked a cigar or cigarette in my life, but I do dig the cigar ash I often find on great LMHBs like this! For anyone who thinks; "I don't get BDX", wait till you drink one w/ 25+yrs on it. Then you will "get it". Most BDX need 20+ yrs!! This is going strong but also nicely resolved & elegant. Complex layers of; dark fruit, herbs, tobacco, cedar & other harmonics. I have to give Kevin credit for his reliable prep of everything he brings. Sometimes I read notes on CT and wonder, "did you give this the air it deserves?" Prep can make a huge difference in the experience. For me, kind of a tie between this and my '12 J&L Trapet Chambertin tonight. My wife loves salt while I love pepper. Kevin leans BDX & I lean Burgundy but both regions produce amazing wines! Thanks Kevin!

5/14/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Just copy & paste of my previous note. I love this white and want to "shout it from the mountain tops". Fabulous! So refined w/ amazing minerality complimented by citrus & stone fruit. Superb balance & purity. Paid short of $21 drinks like $60+

5/10/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Always great & deserving of the "Special Club" designation! Refreshing & lively w/ excellent balance between mineral & fruit. Not convenient to store but easy to pour. I love the cool squatty "Special Club" btls. 1st of 3 2019s.

5/8/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Opened 2hrs prior to dinner & slox-oxed in Riedel BDX & btl the rest of the way. Served in high 50s/low 60s. Dark berry aromas w/ hint of smokey vanilla. Palate is rich balanced & lifted w/ dark raspberry, dark chocolate & mineral. Said to be 75% Cab & 25%CF w/ 25% new oak. Located in Calistoga w/ winemaker originally from BDX. Label states 14.7% alc. Didn't notice the alc. Big but fresh. Enjoyed this a bit more than the first btl back in Nov '22. Ready to go & great with meat loaf tonight. Solid value for $36. Drinks more like a $60+ Ca cab. Very tasty with a weeknight meal.

5/7/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Feels & taste as serious the producer who made it. Balance, intensity, concentration, mineral & pristine fruit. it's all there at a 1/3rd of the price of the 1ers & Grands from HB. Nice stuff, should have bought more than one.

5/6/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Great little week-night white with or without food. Balanced, fresh & minerally with citrus, honey w/ clean aromas.

5/4/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

This is an excellent value champagne that punches above its price point. Balanced, precise, energetic with lovely fruit. I'll buy again if I get the chance. Paid $30, drinks like $50+ Thankfully I have left from my first trance. Hope I can get more.

5/4/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Slightly tannic on opening but placid w/ a 2hr decant. Served in Reidel Burgs. I serve all my reds in the high 50s / very low 60s. Clos des Pape is one of the few CDPs I still enjoy for it's balance, red fruit and nuance. Never feels heavy & nor heady. Think this is largely at peak. I do have one left and will finish it off next year. 14% alc. 92+/93

5/3/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Tonight w/ pan seared halibut. Nita comments, "oh you're opening the good stuff tonight". Yep, as I groan how this ramped up significantly in cost since I last paid $76 for it. Maybe the only negative to being a Burgundy lover is that eventually you have to part ways with heavily chased producers like Dauvissat. I believe I saw a Forest offer this past week for $200. And its worth it, if you can afford the tariff. I can't, but what a wonderful btl this was tonight! Dauvissat's consummate balance is beyond reproach. The first sips would easily give this away in a blind tasting. There's such harmony between the fruit and its acidity. Then the mineral, salinity and other harmonics kick in. Delighted to share this tonight w/ Nita who sometimes doesn't see my best bottles. Always that conflict between sharing w/ my wife of 45rs & my buddies who might ooh & ah a bit more :) Fantastic tonight b4, during & after dinner at our dinner table as our lovely MN spring colors kick in outside our kitchen windows. Nirvana! 13%alc 95+ One left. Playlist; Gary Louris of the Jayhawks solo Vagabonds album, Gram Nash's early demos, Cat Stevens's Tea For The Tillerman, Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill & early Neil Diamond.

5/2/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

I'm a diehard Mount Eden fan. I love the history starting with Martin Ray's vision and hitting its full potential with Jeffrey Patterson at the helm in 1981 & his singular dedication to farming & a light touch in the cellar resulting in a wonderful history of SCM terroir driven PN, Chard & Cabernet. This fruit is mostly from a site on nearby mountain top purchased in 2007 yet offering signature Mount Eden fruit purity & terroir & the vintages always shining through. This exhibits red fruit, spice, earth and forest floor notes on a weightless energetic palate. No heavy handedness here. ME gives us what the vintage and the vineyard provided in 2016. Happy to have one more. Give this at least a 2hr slow ox & drink in Burg glasses for the best experience. 13.5% alc. This is not a PNP wine.

5/1/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Need a week-night burger red that isn't Ca Cabernet? Take a swing at this! Plenty of fruit but no sense of weight. Burgers are filling enough. This wine is lifted and paired terrifically w/ Nita's cast iron seared Burgers! Outstanding value at $17.59 locally in a mixed case purchase. 13%alc. Going back for more soon!

4/29/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Old Guys Lunch @ Ciao Bella Bloomington Mn. CV,DM,JV,MA,DD & TS. David's btl. Seems like I've had this a smidge too often. Excellent value that punches above its weight, but I like to try more interesting stuff in a small setting of 6.

4/29/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Old Guys Lunch @ Ciao Bella Bloomington Mn. CV,DM,JV,MA,DD & TS. Dave D's btl. Thanks Dave! Its bright, minerally & still fairly taut. Tart crisp citrus, spice, brioche w/ hint of stone fruit. Excellent concentration, zip and intensity but fully ready to go. For me, showing a hint of ox that many love. For my palate, drink now before it goes over the edge.

4/29/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Old Guys Lunch @ Ciao Bella Bloomington Mn. CV,DM,JV,MA,DD & TS. Mark's bt Sadly this was 180 degrees diff than Jim's youthful & zingy '11 Fevre Bougros in the same flight. For a relatively recent release this seemed like it was on its last feeble leg. Creamy & lethargic. Expect early oxidation soon. Drink up or better still return any other btls if the next one shows like this. Just bad luck. Thanks for trying to bring a potential great Chablis Mark.

4/29/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Old Guys Lunch @ Ciao Bella Bloomington Mn. CV,DM,JV,MA,DD & TS. Jim's btl. I have to admit I don't buy the Bougros. By the time I ante up for the Clos, Preuses & some MdT I never get further in the lineup. Shame on me as this is an excellent Grand Cru in its own right. Perhaps the clunky vyd name causes me to pass it by too :). As the old saying goes..."its what's in the btl, that counts". Today this had excellent intensity w/ all the Chablis lovers attributes for salinity, mineral, stone & citrus fruit. As David noted ever since Fevre went to the Diam cork their wines seems to be aging at a glacial pace. This is racy and youthful. I hope I live long enough to drink one of these in its perfect window :). Impressive none the less, even in its youth at 13yrs out :). Thanks Jim, bring this again in 3-5!

4/29/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Old Guys Lunch @ Ciao Bella Bloomington Mn. CV,DM,JV,MA,DD & TS. My wine in our last flt with Tom's stellar 07 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche that did my wine one better. Both btls were excellent examples of ready to go (w/ 2-3hr decants) 14yr old Barolo & Barbaresco. As expected, the Barolo was a bit bigger but its tannins were placid with a suave velvety mouthfeel. The Barolo also delivered a bit more richness and fruit. Possibly producer style? My Produttori was more classic, leaner and more earthy w/ some leather notes. That sad, both were great examples of the beauty of Nebbiolo in the right hands. A really fun flight! 93+ my Barbaresco / 95pts Tom's Barolo.

4/29/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Old Guys Lunch @ Ciao Bella Bloomington Mn. CV,DM,JV,MA,DD & TS. My wine in our last flt with Tom's stellar 07 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche that did my wine one better. Both btls were excellent examples of ready to go (w/ 2-3hr decants) 14yr old Barolo & Barbaresco. As expected, the Barolo was a bit bigger but its tannins were placid with a suave velvety mouthfeel. The Barolo also delivered a bit more richness and fruit. Possibly producer style? My Produttori was more classic, leaner and more earthy w/ some leather notes. That sad, both were great examples of the beauty of Nebbiolo in the right hands. A really fun flight! 93+ my Barbaresco / 95pts Tom's Barolo.

4/28/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

I think, I'm in full agreement with trumpet60201's take on this wine. A nice dry version of Chenin but should deliver a bit more depth and interest. In the context of Chenin, I think I can find something semi close for about 1/2 the $40 price I paid locally.

4/27/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Grabbed one to try since I've had no experience with this producer. Catching this a bit early. Should have sat on it for 2-3 more years. Right now, a bit oaky. See some potential if I Hadn't jumped the gun.

4/26/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

World class BdM from 60-70yr old vines. Produced Organic. Aged in large cask. I gave this a 2hr decant combined w/a another 2hrs slow ox before dinner. Pristine refined fruit on a par with anything from my beloved Burgundy. But obviously Sangiovese not PN. So elegant, classy & balanced. My 2nd vintage from Le Chiuse and as I learned years ago producer often counts most. These folks are on a roll. Great site I'm sure but Bravo Le Chiuse! 95+ Delighted to own 4 more for prosperity! 14% alc went unnoticed.

4/23/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

A house fav & "go to" weeknight - weekend white loaded w/ character & zip. Excellent value for just under $30 & my all-round fav Albarino. 13.5% alc

4/21/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

My local "big group" Sunday dinner. Theme was"CA wines not from Napa". And, we got a fun range to share at BLVD Kitchen. I love Roederer Estates basic Rose and drink that often. Can't remember ever having the L'Ermitage cuvee rose but I loved it tonight. Very elegant & ethereal presentation. Like this way more than the L'Emitage Brut which always taste sort of disjointed. This rose' is more what you'd expect from Roederer. Reminds me a lot of the French version. 93+ Thanks Gary!

4/21/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

My local "big group" Sunday dinner. Theme was"CA wines not from Napa". And, we got a fun range to share at BLVD Kitchen. Interesting how palates differ. At least 2 guys from our table oohed & awed over this Sunday. While I enjoyed it more than the 2 Kistler Chards it paled in comparison to Mike Z's '14 Hanzell Chardonnay, for me. For me this was prototypical Ca Chardonnay. Well-made but a bit weighty like most Ca Chards for my palate. Its toastiness was bit more than I care for too.

4/21/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

My local "big group" Sunday dinner. Theme was"CA wines not from Napa". And, we got a fun range to share at BLVD Kitchen. This was another standout btl for me tonight. This lived up to the producer's reputation for old school Burgundy aspirations from Ca terroir. Calera's late founder Josh Jenson went on a dogged one-man mission to find a spot in Ca to replicate Burgundy's terroir and largely succeeded. To this day, I don't think anyone else has planted nearby vineyards to his one and only stony Mt Harland AVA. This btl showed; exemplary finesse, fruit purity & weightless elegance. Terrific. I need to add this to my buy list! 94+ Thank you Robert!

4/21/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

My local "big group" Sunday dinner. Theme was"CA wines not from Napa". And, we got a fun range to share at BLVD Kitchen. My btl. Gave this a 2hr decant and back in btl b4 leaving for the dinner. Well, this was a nice way to end a string of 7 btls I've drank since 2011. I usually only buy 3 of anything but went back for more of these and glad I did! Still, wish I had at least 3 more. This was really in the pocket tonight & my WOTN. Pristine dark raspberry flavors along with ample spice and forest floor notes. Kind of big guns Vosne like for me tonight. Modest 13.5% alc. I think current prices for this cuvee are knocking on the door of $80. Still worth it but I miss getting this cuvee for the mid $40s on release.

4/21/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

My local "big group" Sunday dinner. Theme was "CA wines, not from Napa". And, we got a fun range to share at BLVD Kitchen. This was the surprise wine of the night for me. I've always been a Hanzell fan but lost track due to a big price jump through the winery & lack of distribution other than the winery. One of my local buddies found this languishing on a retail shelf for $15. WTF! I'd forgotten this was coming Sunday since the blt was at our other table of 7. Fortunately, I got a late small pour as we traded btls. Well, I drank 4 of the '14 before & this might be the best one yet! Following some other well know Ca Chards this stuck out in a very positive way with its weightless elegance. Such beautiful lift. A complete absence of overbearing wood & a real sense of depth & mineral. Much closer to the likes of; Lafon, Leflaive & Roulot than most Ca Chards will ever hope to be. At 17, I visited the winery in the early 70s with my parents who owned a liquor store and sold some cool producers like; Hanzell, Inglenook, Heitz & Mayacamas back in the day. So maybe I have a special spot in my heart for Hanzell? I'm on the hunt for some newer vintages even if I have to pay a lot more than $15 :).

4/23/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

My last of 3 and stellar! Slow-oxed in blt & Burg glasses for 3hrs prior to dinner. This is one of those head-scratching wines that continues to escape much fervor by most wine drinkers. Which excepting Giacosa is also true about Barbaresco in general. I remember finding Piedmont difficult to understand 15yrs ago. Barbera, Barbaresco, Barolo? None of it made sense to me, then. That was then & this is now. I loved this tonight with its grace, excellent aromatics & wonderful red fruit. Personally, I like this better than Produttori's Barbaresco. If for no other reason, these drink earlier. But, I also find more refinement to boot. I have way more Produttori than Roccalini and surely wish it was the other way around. This is the "poor man's version" of Giacosa IMO. Love it! I need to find a few more. Paid $42, easily drinks like $75+. 14%alc.

4/22/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Bit of a disappointment. I'm usually a raving fan of this cuvee but this btl seems to be on the downslide. Never over fruited but this one was missing some fruit period. Just not usual sense of harmony and balance I've come to expect from Chevillon. Earlier btls were much better. 2 left, I'll try another later this year again.

4/20/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Ok, this is likely about as good as this gets going fwd. The fruit is still fresh but I'd get the lower acidity of the vintage is going catch up sooner than later. At 17yrs out showing decent longevity for the vintage but I'd sure love some more zip. Great producer can't quite overcome... so so vintage.

4/19/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Love this rose'! So fresh with pristine fruit. Even comes with the handy screw cap. 95% of all rose's should be screw caps IMO.

4/16/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Crew at St Geneive Minneapolis "quarterly". CV,KB,LI,SS,CS&DD. Tonight was outstanding & so much so, the group voted to meet monthly going fwd. StG's menu tonight screamed Burgundy so that didn't hurt. Candace's btl flighted with my stellar '12 Taittinger Comte. Quite a challenging flight for a new release and yet my'12 Comte BdB rose to occasion w/ its signature surreal blend of, tamed energy, complex & pristine fruit, mineral and intensity. Still Candace's Dom won out w/ its overall undeniable sense of harmony and "how do they do it" supple classiness. Elixir for the Gods & when the stars align, mere mortals like me. Lucky to be drinking a glass of both wines tonight. Especially, the '02 P2! 97+

4/16/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Crew at St Geneive Minneapolis "quarterly". CV,KB,LI,SS,CS&DD. Tonight was outstanding & so much so, the group voted to meet monthly going fwd. StG's menu tonight screamed Burgundy so that didn't hurt. My btl flighted with Candace's placid ethereal & mesmerizing '02 Dom P2. Quite a challenging flight for a new release and yet the '12 Comte rose to occasion with its signature surreal blend of, tamed energy, complex & pristine fruit, mineral and intensity. The Dom won out with its overall undeniable sense of harmony and "how do they do it" supple classiness. Elixir for the Gods & when the stars align, mere mortals like me. Lucky to be drinking a glass of both wines tonight. Especially, the '02 P2!

4/16/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Crew at St Geneive Minneapolis "quarterly". CV,KB,LI,SS,CS&DD. Tonight was outstanding & so much so, the group voted to meet monthly going fwd. StG's menu tonight screamed Burgundy so that didn't hurt. Kevin's amazing btl. first off, I'll admit I don't know much about the Clavoillon site. I've mostly bought & drank the better known ( to me anyhow) Pucelles & Perrières where coincidentally Clavoillon sits between. As is ofen the case in Burgundy a top producer can coax the best out of any site and thats certainly true here at the hands of Dom Leflaive. Takeaway, buy Leflaive if you're seeking at least one white Burg Puligny Montrachet epiphany! This has it all going tonight for me. Vibrant, fresh, amazing fruit & complexity, length & driving minerality. Superb balance & mouthfeel! Outstanding btl! Thanks Kevin!

4/16/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Crew at St Geneive Minneapolis "quarterly". CV,KB,LI,SS,CS&DD. Tonight was outstanding & so much so, the group voted to meet monthly going fwd. StG's menu tonight screamed Burgundy so that didn't hurt. How often does a Batard-Montrachet show up at a wine dinner??? Maybe once every 3yrs at the ones I frequent? This rare bird was wonderful tonight. Its best traits are its, sense of power, stunning length & fruit complexity. I loved it. Like other Pernots I've had it seems to beg for a bit more freshness & zip. If it had that, it would be a 97pter for me. Still, it outshines many a Puligny Montrachet with its complexity & power. 94-95 Thanks for sharing this Dave D!

4/16/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Crew at St Geneive Minneapolis "quarterly". CV,KB,LI,SS,CS&DD. Tonight was outstanding & so much so, the group voted to meet monthly going fwd. StG's menu tonight screamed Burgundy so that didn't hurt. Clos des Ruchottes, for me, is the sweet spot in Rousseau's lineup for maximum finesse, terroir expression, purity & value. The Chambertin & Beze are usually a bit better still but, this is my personal all-round fav cuvee. Wish, I could still afford them. So a huge thank you to Lonny for bringing this world class example of red Burgundy at its consistent best. Even more so, coming from 2010 vintage! This was a complete delight in my glass tonight. Elegance, finesse, stunning fruit, spice, mineral, hints of Sous Bois on the horizon and unmatched balance. Somewhat trumped tonight by Siggy's phenomenal 09 DRC Echezeaux. Tonight these 2 btls both showed why wine nuts like Lonny and I get hooked on Burgundy. What a night! 96+

4/16/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Heidi's Crew at St Geneive Minneapolis "quarterly". CV,KB,LI,SS,CS&DD. Tonight was outstanding & so much so, the group voted to meet monthly going fwd. StG's menu tonight screamed Burgundy so that didn't hurt. Well, this reminds a bit of James Garner's reaction, playing a former President in the movie My Fellow Americans where he boards Airforce One again to attend a funeral for some dignitary at the behest of the sitting President and quips "Hello baby, daddy's home!" as he eyes his old captain's chair reserved for the president. What a wonderful glass of wine tonight. Looking back, I compared drinking this with a long ago 96 LaTache in my head and found this every bit as magical tonight. For this mere mortal this lived up to its exalted status among the best Burgundy has to offer. Purity of fruit, finesse, silky mouthfeel. Truly sumptuous palate and an even more compelling nose with roses & spice galore along with hints of emerging forest floor notes. Yes, this will likely hit even great hights with age but man this was a major head turner tonight. Even in the same flight with a wonderful '10 Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin "Clos Ruchottes" this found a way to separate itself and inspire awe. Thankyou Siggy!! BTW, I highly recommend My Fellow Americans if you'd like to laugh about politics for a change. Garner & Jack Lemon were among the DRC of comedic actors of their time.

4/13/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

I enjoyed a buddy's btl at a Rioja dinner back in late November & agreed with James 92pt score then. Tonight this seemingly drank better still at home :) Semi opaque ruby color w/ bricking on edges. Compelling aromas of; plum, raspberry, forest floor & leather. Flavors amplify the nose w/ an elegant, velvety yet lifted, energetic palate. alc 13.5% Terrific aged Rioja drinking beautifully. Wishing I hadn't been a scaredy cat and bought my usual 3btls. Reminds me again to pic up more Rioja and that Lopez isn't he only great producer. paid $60, drank like $100+ tonight. Slow oxed in my Burg glasses & btl for 4 hours prior to dinner. Since just Nita & I, I simply did all our pours from q1direction keeping the sediment calmly in the bottom of the btl.

4/11/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Alway enjoy this excellent QPR sparkler! Always balanced and intriguing. Easy week-night decision to open and finish a few days later. For $5-7 more than basic cava this offers a lot more. Paid $16 locally.

4/10/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Said to have been aged in variety of aged oak & stainless vats. Terroir shines through here. loaded with mineral, stone fruit & touch of citrus on a driving bet of acidity. Needs a little time to uncoil and relax but no problem drinking one now if you have more than 1 btl. 3.5% alc Paid $40 so not a steal but certainly a solid value. Peter Weygandt selection.

4/8/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Nother delicious, terroir driven but elegant Frappato. One of Sicily's best reds!

4/7/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Had this before and it never disappoints. Such a killer glass of rose' champagne for $40! Balanced, elegant, nuanced & inviting. I bought 3 and should have bought at least 6 in hindsight. One glass Saturday night and the rest Sunday night as a meet & greet wine for our guest Sunday prior to kicking off Cheff Don Saunder's in home dinner at our place.

4/7/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Local Minneapolis Chef extraordinaire Don Saunders cooked for 8 Shrimpheads at my place. We highly recommend hiring Don to cook for in home events! Candace's btl in the same appetizer flt with Dave Ds take no prisoners, Krug 168me. Well as my buddies all know, Comtes de Champagne is my all-round favorite glass of champagne. And tonight was no different. My buddies and I have drank many btl of the '06 and it remains one of my favorite Comtes. I find Comtes to be one of the most balanced head turning ethereal glasses of champagne almost every time its in my glass. Want a sure thing, open a Comtes Champagne. Great flight to kick off a great night with Don Saunders "best in class" local Minneapolis St Paul food! 96+ My white of the night. Delighted to have recently acquired 2 more of these myself.

4/7/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Local Minneapolis Chef extraordinaire Don Saunders cooked for 8 Shrimpheads at my place. We highly recommend hiring Don to cook for in home events! Dave Ds marvelous btl tonight. Love Krugs in your face Gusto & power fueling its nuanced flavors. A wonderful flt w/ Candace's sublime 06 Comte! Edge goes to the Comte for my palate. 94+

4/7/2024 - chablis28 wrote:

Local Minneapolis Chef extraordinaire Don Saunders cooked for 8 Shrimpheads at my place. We highly recommend hiring Don to cook for in home events! David's btl. Paired with our halibut course & flighted w/ Siggy's '10. This was more ready out of the gates then the wonderful '10 which I give a slight edge to for overall power & intensity. But the 12 was sublime too. This too improved with time in the glass and went wonderfully with the Halibut.