I was a fan of Johan a half dozen years ago and visited there twice. I thought the Chard was good, the PNs better, and the Blaufränkisch was mild altering. Then they sold to a new owner who seems to be “hippy” for lack of a better discription. No idea how the wines are now.
Thanks for filling in some blanks on Johan, Chris.
I have one 2013 johan Blaufrankisch in my cellar. It’s been a few years since I’ve cracked one.
Also a fan of the Blaufrankisch from Johan, it’s a lovely wine.
The ownership changed but Morgan is still the winemaker at Johan, and to my knowledge nothing has changed in her approach. Though they have always had a “hippy” wrinkle since when Dan Rinke (co-owner of Art+Science) was making the wines. But all in all, still some excellent wines.
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Sorry no photo
2019 Jean-Marc Vincent Santenay Les Vignes Denses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay (12/14/2025)
A bit of moderate golden color, enticing crushed fruit on the nose, this is a rich, opulent wine, but beautifully balanced, with a nice touches of saline and chalky mineral. Delicious and easy to drink. (92 points)
Thanks for joining the fray with the Santenay, Alan.
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Goodfellow Durant Blanc de Blanc - yesterday was a special day. The last 16 months my dad has been dealing with health issues, in and out of the hospital, rehab, and now permanent nursing home residency. We brought him back home for a couple hours yesterday for an early Christmas celebration, first time in 16 months he’s been inside his house. We celebrated with the Goodfellow BdB, April 24 disgorging
Still golden hue, earthy profile. A bit of lemon. Continued time in bottle has continued to evolve this, better than the last bottle I had about 9 months ago. Long life ahead. @Marcus_Goodfellow - keep rocking the sparkling program!
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Been there. You’re a good man.
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We’re really honored Keith. Happy holidays to you, your dad, and your family, and thank you for posting this.
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Keith,
Thanks for posting this here. Goodfellow sparklers are a great way to welcome your Dad home for the 1st time in a long time. Hopefully his health is back on the right track and he you can bring him back home often from his new living arrangement .
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Goodfellow BdB 
noted.
Tonight was chicken noodle soup (it’s all about the stock). Chardonnay always the pick with this…
2020 de Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise “Les Clous Aime”
Medium gold color. Aromas of pear, apple, some spice, and lemon. Palate is “on the bubble” between the citrus and orchard fruit spectrum with lemon up front and a stark contrast to pear/nutmeg/apple on the finish. As is my experience with this wine over multple vintages, this is textural too with a real “bass note” that carries these flavors into a medium-long finish. Really delicious right now. Drink or hold.
Cheers,
fred
I opened this over the weekend and it was stunning.
Lemon curd, chalk, flint, amazing acidity, ultra concentrated, all of the classic Chablis notes and not even close to done aging.
I don’t think I’ve had a bad 2014 Chablis.
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Thank you , Fred. I’ve only tried their Bourgogne Rouge. Will have to seek out the Blanc. Your notes are enticing.
Phil,
Good call on the 2014 Chablis.
Thanks for participating.
I’m a long-time fanboy of the de Villaine wines. Prices have crept up and they are limited in supply. The recent acquisition of premier cru offerings (both red and white) is adding more “big boy” offerings, but I still (over) subscribe and love the fact that these are not “sacred cows” in my cellar so I pull them to enjoy with chicken noodle soup 
fred
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Great activity in this thread. Well done Berserkers!
- 2024 Turnstile Cellars Chardonnay White Dragonfly - USA, California, Sonoma County (12/15/2025)
Light straw color, plain popcorn, lemon cream and a touch of vanilla. Full texture, creamy with citrus and pineapple notes, minerality and acid comes on late and lingers through the finish. Tasty!
Posted from CellarTracker
Agree, Brian. This has been a very engaging thread. Thank you for the multiple posts.
2020 Keller Estate Chardonnay Oro de Plata Pentaluma Gap
I had pulled this for Brian’s week as it was a Vindependence Day buy and I did drink it during his run but I forgot to post it.
The wine is too good to be omitted, so I’ll include it here.
Keller Estate’s La Cruz Chardonnay has been a favorite of mine the last few years. Just so opulent and textured without coming near the oak/butter bomb territory.
The Oro de Plata is at the other end of the spectrum. No malo, clean flavors and shining bright fruit. It also has a great textured finish as I think it sits on the lees for a bit. An excellent one, two punch on the Chardonnay front by Keller.
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But that was my first! 
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I picked out a domestic BdB (with exception to Westborn Brut as a blend) lineup for tonight’s Xmas gathering with many friends coming into town. Notes are old but hope it counts towards the good cause.
Haliotide Vertical.
17LD: Lemony brioche with sprinkle sea spray on nose. Lemon curd, finger lime with oyster minerality and brioche long finish.
18: Oyster shell, sea breeze, lemon on nose. Lemon curd, candied tangerine, sea spray, oyster shell, brioche.
19: Lime, key lime, lemon, brioche, ocean spray on nose. Citrus, toast, mineral, crazy acid, long finish.
20: White flowers, citrus, ocean breeze on nose. Citrus oil, lemon curd, brioche, intense minerality, long finish.
21 Bassi: Beeswax, salty ocean air, medley of citrus and green orchard fruit. Honeyed citrus, lemon juice, intense minerality and acid driven finish.
BXT Manley 22: green apple light yeasty nose, green apple lemony mineral medium finish medium acid.
Wheeler 22: golden apple brioche oxidative nose, citrus, chalky-mineraly with hint of croissant, medium plus acid medium body, medium long finish
Convo with Former Self: lemon white floral sea spray, high acid medium body lemon mineral medium finish, too fresh right now for solera quality to kick in. Might be better in a few years.
Racines Grand Reserve Chardonnay: Bright citrus and white florals with hint of stone, brioche and toasted coconut. Quite balanced on palate, honey, chalky limestone,stone fruits, slight bitterness mid palate.
Wenzlau Vineyard 2013: One year post disgorgement, 10 years en tirage. Light straw with green tint. Gentle and delicate bubbles. Still very yellow orchard fruit and citrusy on the nose with hints of tropical, delicate white flower and sea breeze. Balanced with powerful golden apple and ripe cara cara, hint of brioche and caramelized yam on the palate. Some chalky minerality, like oyster shell baked in the sun from the diatomaceous earth and hint of salinity. Very long finish, acid has mellowed out a bit, still edgy but more rounded than last time. This can age well into the 2030s, easily blind for grower champagne.
Goodfellow Temperance Hill: Classic Goodfellow steely reduction, citrus peel and flesh, chalky and mineral. Good finish and acid. Needs time.
Whistling Ridge: Nose of chalk, wet rock, white floral and lemon. Aggressive bubbles. On palate it’s acidic with chalk, slight hint of stone fruit and citrus. Nice structure, perfect to pair with any holiday food.
Cabot 2014: Beautiful tiny bubbles and a deep straw color. It has taken on more development since the last time I had it. The autolytic notes came through withthatfreshly baked viennoiseries, yellow orchardasian pear and honeycrisp apple, ripe Amalfi lemon, somewhat grilled Meyers lemon going on here. It’s such a beautiful and ethereal nose I kept getting distracted from my reading.
First sip was wonderful. Beautiful gentle and vinous mousse coated my palette with creamy lemon curd, white flesh stone fruits and some subtle hints of beurré noisette note you get from roasted hazelnut and baked briochie. Then a wave of lemon rushed through, with grilled lemon and lemon curd evidently blessed my tastebuds. The acid is much gentler now albeit it provided nice contrast of zestiness and freshness that cut through that creaminess. There’s this saline quality of mineral water, think Acqua Panna coarsed through the long finish.
Cabot 2016: Powerfully fresh with citrus, minerality, good finish and easily approachable. Crowd pleaser.
Westborn 2018: Mix of yellow orchard fruit, Myers lemon, amalfi lemon, some good dose of brioche, sea spray. Manchester Ridge Chardonnay definitely did all the lifting on the nose here. Racy acid, melange of lemon, apple, pear, good brioche, mineraly tart finish.
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Great descriptions and yes, Oro de Plata sits on its lees to gain some depth and body. Would you like to see either one in the upcoming Berserkers?