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NV HENRI GIRAUD SPRIT BRUT ROSE- 70% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay; from a bottle purchased over 6 years ago, this was as lively as its copper red color; it had an abundance of strawberry and red cherry with accents of clove and spice; the mousse was rich and creamy in this full bodied beauty which had...

Burt Williams family {and extended family} wine night: Roelanda and I joined another couple and Burt`s daughter, Katie, to enjoy a fun evening with dinner at the Williams` Santa Barbara home. Although it was not specifically intended to be, it turned out to be another special remembrance of Burt. Th...

etomasi wrote: ↑
January 25th, 2020, 5:05 pm
Great, now this is gonna make me go buy another 6-pack of the '08 Bollinger GA

It was brought by a wine shop owner and I placed an ordered on the spot.

The 08 bollinger is fab. Why put champagnes away for 20 years to be ready when you can enjoy it now. My thought exactly. I still try to get behind the "aged" champagnes, but just haven't found any consistent samplings to suggest to wait 20-30+ years or more. Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy many "you...

Our dinner group enjoyed a robust and lively outing in the private back dining room of one of our favorite restaurants, Olio e Limone. Our wine theme was the usual champagne and white Burgundy plus world class Merlot and Cabernet Franc. As it turned out, we had world class champagne and white Burgun...

AD Northup wrote: ↑
January 24th, 2020, 10:13 am

Blake Brown wrote: ↑
January 24th, 2020, 10:11 am

AD Northup wrote: ↑
January 24th, 2020, 9:04 am
PSA: FWGS just put the 2007 Cristal rose on clearance at $375.99 which looks like a good deal per WS
Please clarify who FWGS is.
PA state store (Fine Wine and Good Spirits)

Thanks. Never heard of them and don't even know if I can buy from them out of state, but will check it out.

AD Northup wrote: ↑
January 24th, 2020, 9:04 am
PSA: FWGS just put the 2007 Cristal rose on clearance at $375.99 which looks like a good deal per WS

Please clarify who FWGS is.

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
January 24th, 2020, 6:55 am
Good on pop and pour or after some air time? I had it at a champagne bar from a fresh bottle.

Both. Better with time, but great out of the gate.

1995 TAITTINGER COMTES DE CHAMPAGNE BLANC de BLANC- the champagne of the vintage IMHO and better than the 96` for many years until more recently when the latter really came around and is shining brightly now; I’ve drunk all of my stash up, but one of our members brought this and I could have kissed...

I guess I should also add the other champagnes we had at the dinner I alluded to with the 12` Cristal with complete TNs in a separate thread forthcoming: 2008 BOLLINGER LA GRANDE ANNEE BRUT- 71% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay from 18 crus, mainly Aÿ and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger an...

I thought the 04 was very tight when I had it in December. I've had 2 in the last few months and both were really good. beyond sort of. BTW, I purposely left out the 08` above as the 3 bottles I've tried were very closed and shut ungiving, but unlike the 12`, they possessed a very obvious amount of...

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
January 23rd, 2020, 5:50 pm
I have a few of these but am definitely holding for awhile. 09 is the one to drink now.

Completely agree and the 07`, 06`, 04` 02` and ..... are good and sort of ready too.

Frank Murray III wrote: ↑
January 23rd, 2020, 5:56 pm
Thanks BB. I've yet to taste the 2012 Cristal but I'm going to fix that soon, I promise you. Thanks for the note and your impressions, buddy.

You're one of the folks I thought about when I posted it Brother Frank.

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
January 23rd, 2020, 5:45 pm
Was this note for the cristal or the brut?

WOW! How did i do that? It's the Cristal- thanks for the heads up.

Although I just posted this separately, I'm placing here as well for those who might miss it: 2012 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- I just picked up 3 of 6 bottles I’ve ordered and was too curious to see what the potential was for this youngster so, here is the first trial; I guess I should have waited, but ...

In oder to give others some notice of this recent release, I pulled out my notes on this from those being prepared for a great dinner a few days ago. As stated, it's just too early to open it, but there will come a time when it shall be cherished. 2012 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- I just picked up 3 of 6...

Closed at $255 a bottle. That is crazy. I wander if this is going to be the new pricing on Burt Williams wines or if it’s just a weird one off or short time thing. Obviously, his passing has upped the ante and the wines have more prestige I guess, at least to certain buyers. I`m happy I`ve stocked ...

Last night, a beautiful 2004 Taittinger Comte BdB that didn’t quite reach the stunning performance of my last bottle. Bottle variation was less likely than palate variation, IMHO. Tonight, a gorgeous 1998 Vilmart Grand Cellier d’Or. This was my third of four bottles, all bought on auction around fi...

It's that "something mildly exotic" that really makes it "a lot bit good" Jeremy. Always love your notes. Cheers

NV POL ROGER RESERVE BRUT- made from a blend of equal parts of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from 30 different crus; 25% reserve wines are used to produce this cuvée: I'd almost forgot how special the entry level champagne from this house is as it's been awhile; it was crisp and refreshin...

The opportunity to extend the celebration of life for dear friend, Burt Williams, continues especially when his daughters visit Santa Barbara which has happened for each since he passed in mid December. As I did with Burt, I have treasured the moment of opening up some of his wines from my cellar wi...

69DFA013-33C1-400B-BEDF-613E353BDBE0.jpegPulled the wines from storage this afternoon . All look in good shape. A couple of slightly lower ullages on the 93s, but overall good fills and mostly spinning capsules. I swapped the Rochioli for 1993 so we have to 3 bottle vintage flights. Note: 1 seat st...

Blake, Bernie decanted his Richebourg before coming to the luncheon; I think that was the only one that got decanted, and some of the others did have a bit too much sediment, I felt. With respect to the Doms, I can see both points of view. I loved the '08 (second time of trying that wine in as many...

The WOTN at a recent dinner: 2007 TAITTINGER COMTES de CHAMPAGNE BRUT ROSE- I drink a lot of rose champagne and sometimes forget what it’s like to drink a ROSE and this one served to remind me of how special they can be; I bought 3 of this one with the understanding they were 06`, but the wine shop ...

Bubbly at a luncheon: 2000 MOET & CHANDON DOM PERIGNON- 100% Grand & Premier Cru, 51% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir; aged 7 years on the lees; disgorged July 2008; dosage: 6 g/l; this is the 5th bottle of a 6 pack I bought when first released and it was just a bit oxidized most noticeable in the nose a...

Thanks Blake. I didn’t realize they also got East Block. So the East Block went into the appellation wines? Russian River and Sonoma County? Correct. As an example, I had the 86` Sonoma County recently and it was comprised of a lot of Summa with some East Block and Allen. Note the Summa and Allen. ...

I just had an after thought about the 2000 and 2008 Dom Perignon. Some of my friends and some on this board have encouraged me {this is saying it nicely} to learn to appreciate "older" champagnes which as I understand it from their posts translates currently into those from the 60s and older. In the...

mark rudner wrote: ↑
January 14th, 2020, 12:28 pm
nice to see an '04 show so well
beautiful lunch

Agree on both remarks. I'm very fortunate to have not only this but 2 other wine groups that are comprised of very generous and wine passionate folks.

Clayton Wai-Poi wrote: ↑
January 14th, 2020, 11:29 am
I’m sure I’ve read it somewhere but can’t remember where... was the Williams Selyem Rochioli vineyard designate all West Block?

Yes. it was all West Block and River Block was all from River Block. The East Block was used for blending.

Michael S. Monie wrote: ↑
January 14th, 2020, 11:48 am
Blake,

No perceivable greenness with the 2004 Faiveley?

None whatsoever. It rocked! Thankfully

As I often do, I so enjoyed reading your report, Blake. Lots of joy that the 04 Faiveley performed so well. I have about 3 halves of that 01 Sud left and am trying like the dickens to hold off (one of them is slated for WineFest in July), but reading notes like this doesn't make it any easier! Any ...

David K o l i n wrote: ↑
January 14th, 2020, 9:59 am
My kind of lunch.

That's kind of my usual remark to posts like this a well David.

Menu pics: First Course Shrimp tomato gazpacho 7D87A4DE-FED6-4A18-989B-D12A91074B54_4_5005_c.jpeg Second Course Hawaiian Dungeness crab cake with tropical coleslaw and coconut curry E546E019-2AB4-4ED8-B6BA-92060BCB2D73_4_5005_c.jpeg Third Course Scallop served with butternut squash puree 5CCFBFD3-78...

Our lunch group had its first 2020 luncheon at our usual venue, The Santa Barbara Club, and enjoyed one of our best ever IMHO. 81C33B8C-F86C-402F-80E2-BBFF25E2F5D2_4_5005_c.jpeg Our wine theme was champagne and red Burgundy. Since one of Burt Williams` daughter was my guest, I took one of Burt`s bes...

“ Burt always favored his 88` and 91` Rochioli as being among his best which also included 91` Summa” I have one bottle of the 91 WS Rochioli left, having had the last one a few years ago...and man, was it beautiful then. Your post triggered me to search my inventory to see just what I have left in...

“ Burt always favored his 88` and 91` Rochioli as being among his best which also included 91` Summa” I have one bottle of the 91 WS Rochioli left, having had the last one a few years ago...and man, was it beautiful then. Your post triggered me to search my inventory to see just what I have left in...

The subject of the 97 Rochioli reminds me of another wine I see written up from time to time: 75 Clos du Val Zinfandel. Neither wine was especially raved about at the time but each has turned out to be a masterpiece. In Bordeaux there are wines of the vintage/decade/century etc that are acclaimed a...

William, I do believe he would be proud of it. Most of the ones I've had were shared with him, either from my cellar or his, but if they came from his, they were in mags. He and I would be having a conversation about how this wine has evolved and what were all of the contributing factors to its evo...

The description makes me think Burt would have appreciated this showing! William, I do believe he would be proud of it. Most of the ones I've had were shared with him, either from my cellar or his, but if they came from his, they were in mags. He and I would be having a conversation about how this ...

I pulled this out of notes currently being prepared regarding a recent spectacular champagne/ red Burgundy luncheon. The wine was so good that it merits a separate thread as well as being an additional tribute to Burt who passed last month and also in this case, to one of his daughters, Katie, who w...

Our dinner group had its first outing in 2020 as we dined at Convivo Restaurant on the beach. Our wine theme was champagne, white Burgundy and Super Tuscans/ Brunellos. As usual, we ordered a plethora of appetizers and at this place they were quite appetizing with tasty dishes and sauces galore. We ...

RyanC wrote: ↑
January 7th, 2020, 11:51 am
FYI: Grand Vin just sent an email blast offering $139.99 for purchases of at least 6 btls

Dom @ $144.97/ 6 pack @ $139.99/ mags @ $839.94

And the Lenny Kravitz edition also included @ $156.39/ 6 pack @ $149.99/ mags @ 899.94

A worthy celebration to bring in the new year, wonderfully described as always. That MDR Pinot sounds very interesting. The TN is enhanced by the nostalgic thumbnail of the wine’s history. Thanks David. I thought the MDR was worthy of a separate thread which I did the day before posting this one. T...

Has Bourbon Impacted Your Wine Spending?

Yes, if I drink too much Bourbon, I buy more wine.

A good friend who has become the party hosting animal of the last decade put on another stellar one, this time on New Years Eve. Thirteen of us shared in a coordinated pot luck dinner with our gracious host contributing a magnificent rack of lamb, fantastic appetizers and lots more to accompany the ...

ncostanzo1 wrote: ↑
January 5th, 2020, 9:50 pm
Any idea(s) what the case production were on some of the MDR wines? Have always wanted to find a bottle out there. Thanks for the notes Blake. Cheers!

Burt released about 200 cases each year for his wines.

Although this was one of many wines tasted on NYE {notes forthcoming}, it merits getting a solo post as it was stupendous: 2009 MORNING DEW RANCH JAN`S CUVEE ANDERSON VALLEY PINOT NOIR- 13.6% abv; this is the 2nd and last vintage of Burt Williams` MDR Pinots and is the only wine named after his firs...

While an unabashed Comtes fan I almost always prefer the BdeB to the Rose and since the latter is more expensive I don't buy it. The one exception was the 2004 which I liked even more than the already spectacular BdeB. Me too although I bought 3 bottles of the 07` Rose for some reason and haven't h...

A Seven Lions from his late son also Not easy to find any Seven Lions. Few made and most have been consumed. I have none but would grab any if available. Most of the ones I drank were when Burt opened one. I'm seeing both his daughters soon and will inquire if they have any. Blake I have the wines ...

Yes I might bring a Morning Dew from him and one from his daughter (Brogan "My Father's Vineyard") from 2008. you're on it George- should be a great night A Seven Lions from his late son also Not easy to find any Seven Lions. Few made and most have been consumed. I have none but would grab any if a...

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