NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut, France, Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes.  Deep salmon pink with orange hues.  There are a lots of tiny bubbles making a nice mousse.  On the nose, there is orange peel, slight strawberries, and apples.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and apples with a bit of minerality.  Long finish.  This is very tasty.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work well with a wide variety of foods.  Pulled pork sandwiches to grilled tuna would work.  

2016 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$360.00USD

Always a privilege to be able to drink Yquem.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with honey, slight caramel, apricots, slight pineapple and slight ginger.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet not cloying with good acidity.  On the palate, honey, slight mandarin orange, apricots and a bit of burnt sugar.  Long, long, finish.  Stunning if young.  Drink this over the next fifty years.  This will work with some desserts but really deserves to be served on its own.  It will improve a bit as it matures.  

NV Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny, Australia, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

 The wine is an iced tea color with a touch of ruby. The nose has Pay-day Candy bar, toffee and crème brulee. Not as complex on the palate with a nice nuttiness and a bit of sweetness. Just a hint of heat. Long finish. Slightly sweet but not overtly.  This is a nice take on a 20 year Tawny.  It drinks well on its own and would work with more savory desserts (especially with nuts).  This should age quite well for the next twenty years.  

2009 Maison Ilan Charmes-Chambertin Aux Charmes Hautes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$114.00USD

Crazy history on this winery but I am not going into that here.  This particular bottle was very nice.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, and slight smoke.  Maybe a hint of funk.  Medium bodied with slight tannins.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking well.  Cherries, slight rhubarb and earthy undertones.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should continue to drink well for another eight to ten years.  Lamb chops would work well.  

2011 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse, USA, California, Sonoma, Fort Ross-Seaview Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

Not the best vintage for this wine but it still showed nicely.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some complexity.  This seems to be at or maybe just past peak.  Sour cherries with an underlying spice.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next five years.  For those who like sweetbreads, this would be a nice match.  

2015 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Impressive showing for this wine.  Garnett in color, slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black cherry fruit with some underlying earthiness.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity with black cherry fruit.  The finish is a bit short but otherwise a delicious wine.  Still on the young side, this should continue to improve for the next five to eight years and drink for another ten to twelve after that.  A nice wine to serve on Thanksgiving.  

2015 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Louise, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

From the Burgundy producers now long established winery in Oregon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries with some cherries and slight earthiness underneath.  Nice finish.  This is a solid drinking Pinot that is still young and will improve.  Hold for another five years and drink for ten after that.  Brown sugar, Mustard glazed ham would be a nice match.  

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Château, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$325.00USD

Garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is quite tight.  Even with a lot of coaxing, this seemed closed for business.  On the palate, this is a bit more open, especially with some air.  Black cherry fruit, some cherries and spice.  Good mouthfeel and balance.  Long finish.  This needs another five to ten years and should drink well for ten to fifteen after that.  This would work well with a Wild Mushroom Risotto.  

2004 Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Great showing for this 17 year old Pinot from Oregon.  Tasted with a group, this was a love or hate it wine, and the issue was brett.  Garnett in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries and barnyard.  Lush texture.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  Light tannins.  This tastes young and kept opening in the glass.  Cherries and black cherries.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This will work well Beef Wellington.  

2014 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has some funk with black cherry fruit.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  It is very tight and needs more time.  Some black cherry and sour cherry fruit with underlying earthiness.  Nice finish.  Probably best to hold another five to seven years and then drink for twenty after that.  This would work well with Grilled Salmon.  Lots of upside for those who are patient.  

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