2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur Le Sentier Du Clou - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/21/2020)
Beautifully consistent with previous bottles. (91 points)
2010 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet - France, Burgundy, M“connais, Viré-Clessé (8/22/2020)
It's interesting to compare to the 2013 which seems more botrytis affected and with funkier, riper more exotic fruit notes. This is no shrinking violet (but doesn't smell of violets, more like honeyshuckle or other white flowers) in its own right but seems a little lighter on its feet and more mineral. Starting to pick up a bit of honeycomb. This could make a really interesting older wine if I can let a couple of bottles last that long. (93 points)
2014 Clos Roche Blanche Touraine Cuvée Pif - France, Loire Valley, Touraine (8/22/2020)
Man, every bottle of CRB is bitter sweet. Moreso than even the things like Verset or Gentaz back in the day. There are things that scratch that itch, but I haven't found anything that quite gets me where CRB does. I went through a rough patch with CRB in the early to mid-aughts. Maybe it was the wines maybe it was me, but the wines that Didier and Catherine made in the last years of CRB have all been just excellent. Showing similar to a previous bottle with brambly fruit with the fresh tilled dark earth with herbal and floral notes. The thing that grabs me is a deep haunting sense of soulful depth. It feels like knowing a special secret but most of all, it just makes me happy. (94 points)
2015 Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Brézé - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (8/22/2020)
The best wine I've had from Guiberteau early on in my exploration. Gives a sense of where the 2016 may be going. Shows a lot more density than Clos de Guichaux though not quite at the same level as Collier. All sorts of yellow fruits and crushed rocks. Lovely shape and structure. A wine that certainly seems likely to grow in stature and into excellence. (93 points)
2017 Mélanie Pfister Paar deux cépages - France, Alsace (8/22/2020)
The thing that has been so impressive about these wines from Mélanie Pfister (I think the Domaine Pfister is now simply Mélanie Pfister) is how they manage such a drinkable balance and avoid the heaviness of so many Alsatian wines. This wine is so deft and digestible. Everything I've had from her has been top notch. Definitely someone to follow and someone I'd like to visit. (91 points)
2014 Georges Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (8/25/2020)
Still a little closed. There are glimpses of the fruit, berries and stone, along with purple flowers and some baking spices. It has good snap to the palate, but it seems like a few different wines at once and never quite pulls everything together to a whole. I'm hopeful that a couple more years will allow it to knit together. (89 points)
2018 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Vieilles Vignes Briords - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (8/25/2020)
A good but not great vintage for this wine, but maybe we all hold it to too high a standard as they're just giving us what nature gives them, and that was a riper year. This seems to have slimmed down a bit since my last bottle and it definitely has a Briordsness about it but in broader tones. There are the usual notes but just less mineral drive than previous years but a delicious drop on a sun dappled early evening. (90 points)
2018 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken AP 19 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/25/2020)
Wow! I've always respected this wine more than loved it but for whatever reason, this just knocked my socks off. It's not heavy, but more like a solid than a liquid. It has such an intense tactile presence. With our own take on poke with gorgeous super fresh Yellowfin from the NC this was just superb. It cut through everything and showed it's fruit and floral side but on it's own, the saline minerals lead the way. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Like Briords on steroids. I'm not sure if this bottle has relaxed a bit from my last bottle or if it is just the way I approached it, but it was absolutely stunning. Since the secret is out on Falkenstein, it's time to start hoarding. (94 points)
2011 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Brézème (8/26/2020)
Still beautiful. There is a really fine grain tot he tannin which make it so excellent at the table. This one had a more pronounced black olive note to the fruit than I've noticed in the past. (93 points)
2015 Hobo Wine Company Zinfandel Branham Vineyard Rockpile - USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile (8/28/2020)
Shazaam! Looks like this is *starting* to open up a bit although it is still a tense wine for Zinfandel reminiscent of the claret style Zinfandel from the 80s. Briary and dusty with spices surrounding a strong core of fruit that tends towards the red side. The last glass is what got me so excited as it seemed to pop in that beautiful way that wines can. Thinks just released and spread out. I stopped half way during writing this note to make sure I can get a case of the most recent release. I'm not sure why Kenny and Lynn's wines aren't more famous as this is my favorite Zinfandel and I can't imagine that my palate is that weird. I think a couple more years might bring everything together. (92 points)
2016 Azienda Agricola Caparsa Chianti Classico Caparsa - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (8/28/2020)
A bit more fruit than the last bottle but more or less consistent. Chewy and soulful. (91 points)
2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/29/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. I don't think I'll try to age any of these 2015s, but the 2016s seem to have more acidity. (91 points)
2018 Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo - Italy, Abruzzi, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (8/29/2020)
Consistent with prior bottles. This wine has been a delight. (91 points)
2009 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Brézème (8/30/2020)
I'm so glad I opened this with the Faurie as it shows how special the wines are that Eric is making from this site. It's easily identifiable as Northern Rhône Syrah. There is a distinct chalkiness type thing that goes on with this wine. It makes it a bit more lifted and piercing than granite or other bedrock sites. I think that's what makes it so distinctive, unlike any other Northern Rhône Syrah I can think of while at the same time it couldn't be from anywhere else. There is dark cocoa and leather with savory herbs and a touch of smoke that envelops the dark berry fruit. The tannins are fine but building and give that chalky sense mentioned previously. I wish I had another half case at least because I think this is still not at plateau. (93 points)
2013 Bernard Faurie Hermitage Greffieux-Bessards - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (8/30/2020)
This is quite young but still approachable with food if you don't mind some structure (I don't). You see all the things that captivate me, earthy, leathery, savory dark berries and stone fruits. Purple flowers and a hint of oil cured olive peek out. Really beautifully balanced with fine tannin and wonderful shape framed b the acidity. I'm still trying to figure out the exact perceptual differences between the cuvées but this is easily my favorite Hermitage and one of the best wines being made in the Northern Rhône. I think this will be truly special in 5-8 years or so. (94 points)
2009 Eric Rodez Pinot Noir Champagne Grand Cru Les Fournettes - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (8/30/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. A broad red fruit profile that also has apricots and flowers and I slightly yeasty note to the rocky finish. It doesn't seem super structured and is really enjoyable right now but I wonder if it's just buried under all the fruit. This is quite vinous and went really well with food. (92 points)
2017 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs - Germany, Nahe (8/30/2020)
This wine was really, really good. It has that vegetal green fruit thing I'm calling aloe these days, but that's not exactly what it is. Shows real density and complexity but what really captured my attention was how it became lighter on its feet and more elegant with more air. This wine is pretty expensive and so I don't think it'll be a regular thing for me but I really think that in a few years it will be really special and compared with $100 grand vins from other places is probably at least fairly priced. Dönnhoff was one of the first German wines (along with Toni Jost and Prum) that I got in to back in the early 90s so it's nice to swing back around in a totally different market context and still find such high quality. While it seemed like this wine would be all about power, it was the elegance that really set it apart in the end. (93 points)
2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur Le Sentier Du Clou - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/31/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles with maybe a touch of minerals they didn't show as prominently. (92 points)
Beautifully consistent with previous bottles. (91 points)
2010 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet - France, Burgundy, M“connais, Viré-Clessé (8/22/2020)
It's interesting to compare to the 2013 which seems more botrytis affected and with funkier, riper more exotic fruit notes. This is no shrinking violet (but doesn't smell of violets, more like honeyshuckle or other white flowers) in its own right but seems a little lighter on its feet and more mineral. Starting to pick up a bit of honeycomb. This could make a really interesting older wine if I can let a couple of bottles last that long. (93 points)
2014 Clos Roche Blanche Touraine Cuvée Pif - France, Loire Valley, Touraine (8/22/2020)
Man, every bottle of CRB is bitter sweet. Moreso than even the things like Verset or Gentaz back in the day. There are things that scratch that itch, but I haven't found anything that quite gets me where CRB does. I went through a rough patch with CRB in the early to mid-aughts. Maybe it was the wines maybe it was me, but the wines that Didier and Catherine made in the last years of CRB have all been just excellent. Showing similar to a previous bottle with brambly fruit with the fresh tilled dark earth with herbal and floral notes. The thing that grabs me is a deep haunting sense of soulful depth. It feels like knowing a special secret but most of all, it just makes me happy. (94 points)
2015 Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Brézé - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (8/22/2020)
The best wine I've had from Guiberteau early on in my exploration. Gives a sense of where the 2016 may be going. Shows a lot more density than Clos de Guichaux though not quite at the same level as Collier. All sorts of yellow fruits and crushed rocks. Lovely shape and structure. A wine that certainly seems likely to grow in stature and into excellence. (93 points)
2017 Mélanie Pfister Paar deux cépages - France, Alsace (8/22/2020)
The thing that has been so impressive about these wines from Mélanie Pfister (I think the Domaine Pfister is now simply Mélanie Pfister) is how they manage such a drinkable balance and avoid the heaviness of so many Alsatian wines. This wine is so deft and digestible. Everything I've had from her has been top notch. Definitely someone to follow and someone I'd like to visit. (91 points)
2014 Georges Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (8/25/2020)
Still a little closed. There are glimpses of the fruit, berries and stone, along with purple flowers and some baking spices. It has good snap to the palate, but it seems like a few different wines at once and never quite pulls everything together to a whole. I'm hopeful that a couple more years will allow it to knit together. (89 points)
2018 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Vieilles Vignes Briords - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (8/25/2020)
A good but not great vintage for this wine, but maybe we all hold it to too high a standard as they're just giving us what nature gives them, and that was a riper year. This seems to have slimmed down a bit since my last bottle and it definitely has a Briordsness about it but in broader tones. There are the usual notes but just less mineral drive than previous years but a delicious drop on a sun dappled early evening. (90 points)
2018 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken AP 19 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/25/2020)
Wow! I've always respected this wine more than loved it but for whatever reason, this just knocked my socks off. It's not heavy, but more like a solid than a liquid. It has such an intense tactile presence. With our own take on poke with gorgeous super fresh Yellowfin from the NC this was just superb. It cut through everything and showed it's fruit and floral side but on it's own, the saline minerals lead the way. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Like Briords on steroids. I'm not sure if this bottle has relaxed a bit from my last bottle or if it is just the way I approached it, but it was absolutely stunning. Since the secret is out on Falkenstein, it's time to start hoarding. (94 points)
2011 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Brézème (8/26/2020)
Still beautiful. There is a really fine grain tot he tannin which make it so excellent at the table. This one had a more pronounced black olive note to the fruit than I've noticed in the past. (93 points)
2015 Hobo Wine Company Zinfandel Branham Vineyard Rockpile - USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile (8/28/2020)
Shazaam! Looks like this is *starting* to open up a bit although it is still a tense wine for Zinfandel reminiscent of the claret style Zinfandel from the 80s. Briary and dusty with spices surrounding a strong core of fruit that tends towards the red side. The last glass is what got me so excited as it seemed to pop in that beautiful way that wines can. Thinks just released and spread out. I stopped half way during writing this note to make sure I can get a case of the most recent release. I'm not sure why Kenny and Lynn's wines aren't more famous as this is my favorite Zinfandel and I can't imagine that my palate is that weird. I think a couple more years might bring everything together. (92 points)
2016 Azienda Agricola Caparsa Chianti Classico Caparsa - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (8/28/2020)
A bit more fruit than the last bottle but more or less consistent. Chewy and soulful. (91 points)
2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/29/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. I don't think I'll try to age any of these 2015s, but the 2016s seem to have more acidity. (91 points)
2018 Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo - Italy, Abruzzi, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (8/29/2020)
Consistent with prior bottles. This wine has been a delight. (91 points)
2009 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Vieille Serine Domaine de Pergaud - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Brézème (8/30/2020)
I'm so glad I opened this with the Faurie as it shows how special the wines are that Eric is making from this site. It's easily identifiable as Northern Rhône Syrah. There is a distinct chalkiness type thing that goes on with this wine. It makes it a bit more lifted and piercing than granite or other bedrock sites. I think that's what makes it so distinctive, unlike any other Northern Rhône Syrah I can think of while at the same time it couldn't be from anywhere else. There is dark cocoa and leather with savory herbs and a touch of smoke that envelops the dark berry fruit. The tannins are fine but building and give that chalky sense mentioned previously. I wish I had another half case at least because I think this is still not at plateau. (93 points)
2013 Bernard Faurie Hermitage Greffieux-Bessards - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (8/30/2020)
This is quite young but still approachable with food if you don't mind some structure (I don't). You see all the things that captivate me, earthy, leathery, savory dark berries and stone fruits. Purple flowers and a hint of oil cured olive peek out. Really beautifully balanced with fine tannin and wonderful shape framed b the acidity. I'm still trying to figure out the exact perceptual differences between the cuvées but this is easily my favorite Hermitage and one of the best wines being made in the Northern Rhône. I think this will be truly special in 5-8 years or so. (94 points)
2009 Eric Rodez Pinot Noir Champagne Grand Cru Les Fournettes - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (8/30/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. A broad red fruit profile that also has apricots and flowers and I slightly yeasty note to the rocky finish. It doesn't seem super structured and is really enjoyable right now but I wonder if it's just buried under all the fruit. This is quite vinous and went really well with food. (92 points)
2017 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs - Germany, Nahe (8/30/2020)
This wine was really, really good. It has that vegetal green fruit thing I'm calling aloe these days, but that's not exactly what it is. Shows real density and complexity but what really captured my attention was how it became lighter on its feet and more elegant with more air. This wine is pretty expensive and so I don't think it'll be a regular thing for me but I really think that in a few years it will be really special and compared with $100 grand vins from other places is probably at least fairly priced. Dönnhoff was one of the first German wines (along with Toni Jost and Prum) that I got in to back in the early 90s so it's nice to swing back around in a totally different market context and still find such high quality. While it seemed like this wine would be all about power, it was the elegance that really set it apart in the end. (93 points)
2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur Le Sentier Du Clou - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/31/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles with maybe a touch of minerals they didn't show as prominently. (92 points)