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Ferme Blanche Cassis Blanc Excellence 2019

Ferme Blanche Cassis Blanc Excellence is made from 50% Marsanne and 50% Clairette.

On the nose, white fruits, citrus zest, hint of vanilla. Velvety well balanced mouth of ripe fruits and minerality.

Pair with trout, Scallop, or better yet lobster would complement this wine perfectly.





Larroque Bordeaux Blanc 2022

Larroque Bordeaux Blanc is made from 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Colombard.

No oak.

Color : Pale yellow with green tints.
Nose : Complex aromas of white flowers, exotic fruits, citrus and boxwood, with a touch of minerality.
Mouth : Aromatic, with a nice richness and freshness. Predominant flavors of tart, crisp fruit.

Marie-Christine, the daughter of Henri Ducourt, purchased this prestigious left-bank property in 1979, which lies on the border of the Graves appellation. 
The 60-hectare vineyard was rapidly replanted and the château building, which dates from 1348, was restored. 
Our family now produces three different-colored wines there: red, white and rosé.

Grown on loamy-clay soil.

Harvest : Machine harvesting in the cool, early morning
Maceration : Skin-contact maceration for several hours, depending on ripeness, and pressing
Fermentation : Beginning of the cold alcoholic fermentation (12°C / 53°F) then an increase in temperature to finish the fermentation at 20°C / 68°F.

Enjoy this wine as an aperitif or during the meal with fish, seafood or chicken salad.




Larroque Bordeaux Blanc 2023

Larroque Bordeaux Blanc is made from 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Colombard.

No oak.

Color : Pale yellow with green tints.
Nose : Complex aromas of white flowers, exotic fruits, citrus and boxwood, with a touch of minerality.
Mouth : Aromatic, with a nice richness and freshness. Predominant flavors of tart, crisp fruit.

Marie-Christine, the daughter of Henri Ducourt, purchased this prestigious left-bank property in 1979, which lies on the border of the Graves appellation. 
The 60-hectare vineyard was rapidly replanted and the château building, which dates from 1348, was restored. 
Our family now produces three different-colored wines there: red, white and rosé.

Grown on loamy-clay soil.

Harvest : Machine harvesting in the cool, early morning
Maceration : Skin-contact maceration for several hours, depending on ripeness, and pressing
Fermentation : Beginning of the cold alcoholic fermentation (12°C / 53°F) then an increase in temperature to finish the fermentation at 20°C / 68°F.

Enjoy this wine as an aperitif or during the meal with fish, seafood or chicken salad.




Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2014

Chateau Rauzan-Segla is made from 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.


Ségla is the second wine of the prestigious Château Rauzan Ségla and a Craft + Estate exclusive. The history of Château Rauzan-Ségla dates back to 1661 when Pierre de Rauzan acquired the estate. Rauzan-Ségla grew in reputation in a remarkable way and produced some of the most highly rated wines in Bordeaux. They delighted many well-known dignitaries, most notably Thomas Jefferson who came across this wine during his visit to Bordeaux in 1787, subsequently placing an order for several cases in 1790. Some decades later, the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification ranked Château Rauzan-Ségla as a 2nd Growth. Today, the property is owned by the Wertheimer family of the fashion house Chanel and managed by Nicolas Audebert.

About half of the 126 acres (51 hectares) of vineyard are around the château, but there are additional parcels near Château Margaux and Brane-Cantenac. The vines are comprised of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, with an average vine age of 30 years and a vine density of 2,670 to 4,050 plants per acre (6,600 to 10,000 vines/ha). Soils at Rauzan-Ségla are composed of deep, fine gravel, which makes for natural irrigation.

More accessible than the first wine, the aim for Ségla is to produce a wine of extremely good quality and value reflecting all the elements of Margaux and giving a true insight to the quality of the Grand Vin. The estate puts the same amount of effort and care into the production of Ségla as it does the first wine, making it a true and authentic introduction to the château.

Review

This is a full-bodied wine, from one of the leading estates in Margaux. It is ripe with juicy blackberry and black-currant fruits. This fruit contrasts with the dark tannins and powerful structure. It is going to develop slowly and impressively to be ready to drink from 2025.

-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points

 Wine Enthusiast: 95 93 Points
Emilio Rojo Ribeiro Blanc 2019

Emilio Rojo Ribeiro Blanc is made from 80% Trajadura, 20% others.

Emilio Rojo is produced on the hillside facing the morning sun of the Avia Valley. The vineyard has been tirelessly worked for over 30 years and through these efforts it shaped an iconic landscape that is defined by its perfect terraces and artisanal viticulture.

Emilio Rojo has been designed to transcend time. A wine made in communion with Nature and attached to the roots of the vines that faithfully express the character of the place. Emilio Rojo is the perfect fusion of the man and the vineyard.

Emilio Rojo is a blend of different local varieties (treixadura, lado, godello, caíño blanco, albariño and torrontés) that resulted in a delicate, but tense and lively wine. A complex nose that opens with time, marked by round, citrus fruit notes and floral nuances. An energetic and elegant feel with great depth that leads to a long, full finish. An honest representation of this unique plot.

Review:

Colour: bright straw;Aroma: expressive, ripe fruit, floral, fine lees;Flavour: full-bodied, complex, long, elegant, good acidity;

Guia Penin 96 Points


2019 was the first vintage under the new ownership, a very good year with mild weather and a quiet harvest when they picked the grapes with no stress. The 2019 Emilio Rojo is a blend of all the grapes in the organically and biodynamically farmed (but not certified) vineyard—Treixadura, Godello, Albariño, Torrontés, Loureira, Caíño Blanco, Lado, etc. The grapes were picked in two passes and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel followed by 14 months in tank. It's 12.5% alcohol and has a pH of 3.42 and 6.9 grams of tartaric acid per liter (acidity). This might be released in November 2022, after almost two years in bottle. It has a strong herbal strike on the nose, spicy and nuanced, elegant and harmonious. It has great balance and a brilliant texture with fine granularity and a long, tasty, almost salty finish. 2,190 bottles and 300 magnums produced. It was bottled in December 2020. They produced less as they moved to organic viticulture, and unfortunately, there will be even less wine from 2020.

-Wine Advocate 95 Points


 

 Wine Advocate: 95 96 Points
Jip Jip Rocks Chardonnay 2019

SALE!

Jip Jip Rocks Chardonnay is made from 100 percent unoaked Chardonnay.

Light yellow with a pale straw hue. A classic nose of lemon, fresh stonefruit and melon. The palate is clean and fresh with mineral characters underpinning ripe pineapple and lime flavours. This wine will age beautifully over the next 4-5 years.

 Winemaking report: Gentle pressing and free run juices create the base of this wine. Traditionally Jip Jip Rocks Chardonnay is a 2/3 blend fermented and matured in stainless steel and 1/3 fermented in stainless steel, which receives extended lees contact to add texture and complexity to the palate.

Review:


Attractively fruited and fragrant, the wine shows golden peach, baked fig, vanilla and lemon peel aromas on the nose, followed by a succulent palate that’s creamy and lingering. Beautifully styled and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2023. AU$23.00. Dec 2019.

-Wine Orbit 92 Points


 92 Points
Kershaw Chardonnay Deconstructed Lake District Cartref CY96 2017

Kershaw Chardonnay Deconstructed Lake District Cartref CY96 is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

Sourced from the western part of Elgin, known as the Lake District, this clone produces wines that are nervous, aromatic, elegant and sharp with slightly lower alcohol and finely balanced, the fruit profile being subtle with hints of citrus/orange peel and peach blossom and with time, some nutty elements. The Cartref soils, a mixture of decomposed granite, pebbles and quartz, adds delicacy and heightens the fruit intensity.

The inspiration for my Deconstructed Chardonnay stems from my belief that the Elgin region boasts credentials that make it world-class. To bolster these regional credentials, I have set out to prove that Elgin has both a signature grape, as well as specific ‘terroirs’ (meso-climates) that reflect intra-regional distinctions. To fully comprehend this, it is necessary to dig deeper into the DNA that make up our region. To elucidate this, I have decided to make these 3 Chardonnay wines, each selected from a specific vineyard and an individual clone. Importantly, this is an ongoing story that will unfold over the coming years.

Vintage notes:

Whilst 2017 experienced a cool winter to enable good vine dormancy, the rainfall was low and followed similar conditions felt in 2015 and 2016. Budbreak took place in ideal warm sunny conditions whilst flowering was a touch earlier than normal; strong blustery winds meant pollination took longer to complete. As a result, berry set was uneven leading to some smaller berries that despite a lower yield did have good concentration of flavours. Despite expecting an
early harvest an unusually cool December slowed down ripening whilst some January rain during veraison helped nourish the soils and more importantly, helped the vine focus on grape ripening rather than foliage & root growth. Harvest took place under blue skies in
mid-March. The net result of the drier year is that the grapes had decent natural acidity, achieved steady phenolic ripeness and plenty of intense fruit flavors.

Winemaking: 

Grapes were hand-picked in the early autumnal mornings, placed into small lug baskets and tipped directly into a press before being gently whole-bunch pressed up to a maximum of 0.6 bar or until a low juice recovery of 580 litres per ton was obtained. The juice gravity-flowed directly to barrel (no pumps were used at all) without settling. The unclarified juice had no enzymes or yeast added to it and therefore underwent spontaneous fermentation until dry, with malolactic discouraged. The wine rested in barrel for 4 months prior to judicious sulphuring and a further 7 months’ maturation in barrel before racking and bottling.

Review:

"A single clone (96) grown on a single parcel from a single vineyard of Cartref soils (decomposed granite and quartz). Roasted grain, wet stones, and lemon peel aromas. Precise and tightly coiled with an intense mineral character and yellow fruit and citrus zest flavors finishing with a smoky gunflint note. Matured in 50% new oak."

- International Wine Review (Richard Kershaw Lifts Elgin To New Heights, February 2019), 93 pts




 International Wine Review: 93
Kershaw GPS Series Chard Lower Dulvenhoks 2019

Kershaw Chardonnay GPS Series Lower Dulvenhoks is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
During the year, I have the opportunity to visit a number of areas outside of Elgin. Occasionally, I come across something so fascinating that it deserves a closer look.


In 2016, I discovered a small parcel of Chardonnay grapes growing on limestone soils – a rarity in the Western Cape. With limestone often touted as beneficial for Chardonnay grapes, it made sense to grasp this opportunity with both hands. The GPS Series is testament to these special places and celebrates them.


Restraint, minerality, freshness of fruit and a chiselled edge reflect limestone’s soil properties. This 2017 vintage reveals clean, bright aromas of lemon blossom, wet chalk and powdered stones. Penetrating intensity, animated acidity with a rich mid palate weight, this wine has purity of fruit (orange peel, yellow cling peaches and grapefruit peel) lemon cream biscuits and crème fraiche textures with a long finish.


Winemaking: 
Grapes were hand-picked in the early morning, placed into small lug baskets and tipped directly into a press before being gently whole-bunch pressed up to a maximum of 0.6 bar or until a low juice recovery of 590 litres per ton was
obtained. The juice gravity-flowed directly to barrel (no pumps were used at all) without settling. The unclarified juice had no enzymes or yeast added to it and therefore underwent spontaneous fermentation until dry, with malolactic discouraged. The wine rested in barrel for 4 months prior to judicious sulphuring and a further 7 months’ maturation in barrel before racking, blending and bottling.


Review:

"The 2017 GPS Chardonnay has a killer bouquet, just like the 2016, the mineral-rich aromatics soaring from the glass with fantastic delineation that actually reminds me of Domaine Leflaive. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, and a little more saline than the previous vintage, although maybe not quite as persistent. Still, this is an outstanding Chardonnay from Kershaw and it will give 12 to 15 years of drinking pleasure. - Neal Martin"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 93 pts




 Vinous Antonio Galloni: 93
Morambro Creek Chardonnay 2016
Our Vineyards
“Our family vineyard is located in the picturesque and historic Padthaway valley, 300 km south of Adelaide. Our rich, fertile terra rossa soils, environmentally friendly viticulture, low yield and exceptional fruit is how we consistently produce outstanding wines. Small parcels of the highest quality fruit are selected from our family vineyard and handcrafted to create wines with amazing depth of flavour, style and balance…” ~ David Bryson
 
Winemaking Notes
Fruit was harvested in the cool of the night and gently pressed. The juice was fermented in French oak barrels (35% new, 65% aged). Various components underwent: a wild ferment, malolactic fermentation and extended lees contact to give the wine further complexity and flavour. Individual parcels were selected and blended, then filtered to produce this Chardonnay without compromising the purity of the fruit in both flavour and aroma.
 
 
Tasting Notes
Pale straw in colour. Concentrated citrus and white peach fruit flavours are complimented by delicate yeast and subtle spice aromas. The palate is clean and fresh with vibrant fruit flavours, mineral characters and a good lingering finish.
 

Siegel Hand-picked Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Siegel Hand-picked Selection Sauvignon Blanc is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

Our handpicked Reserva wines are born out of a strong desire to offer the very best expressions of terroir from our El Crucero vineyard, located at 360 meters above sea level. These carefully handpicked grapes deliver superb varietal characteristics and exceptionally well-balanced fruit concentration.

The manual harvest behind our handpicked Reserva Wines, a stage prior to a second triage, highlights our commitment to delivering uniquely hancrafted wines from Curico Valley.

Our handpicked Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked and of a pale yellow color, delivers enticing tropical fruit and citrus aromas, a beautifully balanced palate with pleasing acidity and a soft persistent finish.

Siegel Single Vineyard Los Lingues Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Siegel Single Vineyard Los Lingues Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Viña Siegel Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is the result of our family's continuous search for quality wines with personality which faithfully reflect the best of our terroir. This wine comes from selected grapes from our "Los Lingues" vineyard in Alto Colchagua.

Located in the foothills of the Andes where the influence of the Andean winds result in an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with great concentration of ripe red fruits, cassis and chocolate, and a balanced, richly structured, and long finish.

An intense violet color. Smells of cassis and is complemented with notes of mature red fruit and chocolate. A round and elegant wine with an excellent final persistence.

After carefully determining the moment for the harvest, the grapes are harvested by hand and later de-stemmed and marinated in cold temperatures for 5-6 days. Alcoholic fermentation is between 26ºC and 29ºC during which daily reassembly is implemented according to taste.Post-fermentation infusion lasts for two or three weeks. Once the blend is made, the wine is gently clarified and stabilized in cool temperatures if necessary.

Review:


"Dark olives, cassis and some fresh herbs. A medium-to full-bodied red with fresh, bright acidity and tight tannins. Sustainable. Drink now."

- James Suckling (June 2022), 90 pts

 90 Points
Xavier Vignon Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2019

Xavier Vignon Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge is made from 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah.

A clear and very expressive nose with notes of black fruits, spices and licorice. The mouth reveals tanins that are already supple with a great balance.
The finish is long, on black fruits, licorice and a slight salinity.

Xavier Vignon Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge is made from grilled rib of beef, roasted duck with figs, boar stew.

Review:


"Starting off the 2019s, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape (75% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Clairette) was partially destemmed and brought up in a mix of foudre, demi-muids, amphora, and stainless steel. It’s a rock-solid effort and has lots of mulled black cherry and plum fruits, notes of licorice and peppery garrigue, full-bodied richness, and a rounded, beautifully textured style on the palate. I’m a fan and it’s going to evolve gracefully for over a decade."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 91-93 pts

 93 Points
Charles Thomas Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2022

Charles Thomas Cotes du Rhone Blanc 70% Grenache Blanc, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 5% Viognier

Bright yellow in color. The nose has a nice aromatic expression with white peach, apricot, candied lemon and lime notes. The palate is tasty and has a great generosity, a nice sweep on the attack and a crispy and acidulous finish.

Traditional vinification. The grapes are pressed upon their arrival in the winery. Low temperature fermentation in thermo-regulated stainless steel. Each grape variety is vinified separately and then assembled before ageing.  

Excellent wine for an aperitif. It pairs perfectly with grilled fish, platters of seafood and shellfish. It also goes well with simple dishes: pizzas, salads, tabbouleh or steamed vegetables. Cheeses: Goat cheese, Blue cheese and hard cheese such Comté.

Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Femelottes 2022

Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Femelottes is made form 100 percent Chardonnay.

This is a charming, rich, focused and delightful white. Medium-bodied with a smooth texture, the wine has a fresh backbone of acidity, clean apple and citrus flavors, and an excellent balance. A most refreshing quaff and one that is great value. A delicate, expressive wine of exceptional quality.

The grapes from this wine are grown from the Puligny-Montrachet area. (either outside of the AOC limit or with younger vines).

The grapes from this wine are grown from the Puligny-Montrachet area. (either outside of the AOC limit or with younger vines).
Aged 10 months in oak barrels (10% new, the rest in 2-3 year old barrels).


  



Le Blanc du Chateau des Landes Bordeaux Blanc 2018

Le Blanc du Chateau des Landes Bordeaux Blanc  is made from 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillion.

Le Blanc du Chateau des Landes Bordeaux Blanc is a very fruity style of Bordeaux Blanc AOC. It has great aromatic intensity with white peach and citrus aromas. 

No oak for this wine. The wine was aged on the lees for a few month in stainless steel tank.
Malolactic fermentation was completed as well in the process .


Excellent as an aperitif, it also goes very well with poultry and salads.  If you have a chance to have access to fresh oyters, it is a great match as well.

The first vintage of this wine was made in 2018 as Nicolas Lassagne wanted to create an easy drinking wine that will be perfect as an aperitif in the summer time or to compliment salads and seafood in the winter time. 


Le Blanc du Chateau des Landes Bordeaux Blanc 2022

Le Blanc du Chateau des Landes Bordeaux Blanc  is made from 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillion.

Le Blanc du Chateau des Landes Bordeaux Blanc is a very fruity style of Bordeaux Blanc AOC. It has great aromatic intensity with white peach and citrus aromas. 

No oak for this wine. The wine was aged on the lees for a few month in stainless steel tank.
Malolactic fermentation was completed as well in the process .


Excellent as an aperitif, it also goes very well with poultry and salads.  If you have a chance to have access to fresh oyters, it is a great match as well.

The first vintage of this wine was made in 2018 as Nicolas Lassagne wanted to create an easy drinking wine that will be perfect as an aperitif in the summer time or to compliment salads and seafood in the winter time. 


Priest Ranch Snake Oil Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018

TASTING NOTES
The 2018 Snake Oil has a beautiful deep and rich ruby color. On the nose, there are pleasant complex aromas of earth and spice with notes of warm chocolate mocha. Hints of blueberry, black cherries, and berry cobbler immediately scream from the glass. This wine has muscular tannins that grip at the beginning and linger to a beautiful silky long finish. Although graceful now, you can cellar for 10 to 15 years.


VINEYARD NOTES
The historic Priest Ranch is now part of the Somerston Estate, a significant property totaling 1,615 acres, with 222 acres planted to hillside vineyards. Dramatic elevations of the vineyards define and distinguish the estate, ranging from 800 ft to 2,400 ft above sea level. In 2018, the grapes for this wine were chosen from three hillside blocks - Block 56, Block 58 and Block 98.

REVIEW

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Snake Oil needs a little swirling to reveal emerging notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants, blackberry pie and mulberries plus suggestions of tilled soil, cedar chest and Indian spices with a touch of roses. The full-bodied palate completely coats the mouth with opulent black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, supported by velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

-Wine Advocate 93+ Points

The 2018 Priest Ranch Snake Oil is all Cabernet Sauvignon, from a trio of hillside vineyards on the Somerston Estate. It has beautiful blueberry and plum fruits as well as notes of sappy herbs, violets, and bouquet garni. More medium-bodied, focused, and elegant, it shines for its purity, freshness, and length. It’s a classic 2018 that will have 15+ years of longevity.

-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points


WINEMAKING 

Our 2018 Snake Oil was handpicked, sorted, and fermented naturally, then aged for 24 months in 75% new French oak barrels and 25% once-used French oak barrels.

HARVEST NOTES 

The early half of 2018 brought us moderate temperature allowing for a long growing season.   We had a majority of our rainfall in February followed by a mild Spring.  Then summer brought consistent temperatures with little heat spikes.  This weather allowed for longer hang time and for the fruit to ripen at a slower rate.  The 2018 harvest at our estate began in late August and resulted in exceptional quality.



SUGGESTED FOOD PAIRINGS

Miso Tahini Bacon

Vintage
 
2018


Varietal
 
Cabernet Sauvignon


Appellation
 
Napa Valley


Vineyard Designation
 
Somerston Estate


Harvest Date
 
10/9/18 through 10/30/18


Sugar
 
1.8


Acid
 
5.25 g/L


pH
 
3.89


Aging
 
24 months in 75% new French Oak, 25% in once used French oak barrels


Bottling Date
 
10/21/2020


Alcohol %
 
15.4


Wine Advocate
 
93


 Vinous Antonio Galloni: 93 Wine Advocate: 93 93 Points
Roland Champion Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vintage Brut Grand Eclat 2015

Roland Champion Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vintage Brut Grand Eclat is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from the chalky soils of Chouilly.

This Champagne is full of elegance and finesse. Very complex nose, with a bouquet of aromas dominated by honey, brioche and notes of dried fruits, hazelnuts and sweets. Perfectly matured.

 

 

 

Roland Champion Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vintage Brut Grand Eclat 2016 (magnum)

Roland Champion Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vintage Brut Grand Eclat is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from the chalky soils of Chouilly.

This Champagne is full of elegance and finesse. Very complex nose, with a bouquet of aromas dominated by honey, brioche and notes of dried fruits, hazelnuts and sweets. Perfectly matured.

 

 

 

Roland Champion Grand Cru Champagne Blanc de Blancs NV

Roland Champion Champagne Blanc de Blancs NV is aged for minimum 30 months (the minimum for NV is 15 months). This cuvee is made from 100% Chardonnay and is produced from the free run juice only. The current release is the result of the blend of the 2005, the 2006 and the 2007 vintage.
Fresh and delicate, its fine bubbles and wide range of aromas will be perfect as an aperitif. This Champagne will also match very well with seafood and shellfish.

dosage : 8 grams per liter
ageing : 30 months on laths
Even if it doesn't say on the label, 100% of the production is RD (Recently Disgorged)
Total Production for this Cuvée : 1,500 cases (9 liter equivalent) per year
 

Reviews:

"(L40): Light yellow-gold. Musky pear and peach pit aromas are enlivened by notes of lemon zest and chalk. Weighty but energetic, offering powerful orchard fruit flavors and hints of candied fig and lemon curd. The pear skin quality comes back strong on the clinging finish. This powerful Champagne is definitely better suited for duty at the table than for serving by itself. - Josh Raynolds" - Antonio Galloni's Vinous (Dec 2012), 91 pts


- Roger VOSS"

Wine Enthusiast (December 1st 2019), 92 pts


"Golden yellow color. Lively, fruity, toasty leesy aromas of honeyed brioche and apple tart with a satiny, tangy, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a sleek, interesting, snappy lemon curd, nougat, and chalk finish with silky, soft, fruit tannins. A classic example of blanc de blanc champagne, delicious."
- Beverage Testing institute , 93 pts

"Spiced with ground anise and ginger accents, this offers notes of poached pear, lemon meringue pie, hazelnut and stony mineral. Very elegant and well-meshed throughout, with a silky finish.  Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,500 cases made. –AN"
- Wine Spectator  92 pts

"This cuvée made from 100% Chardonnay offers a fresh aromatic nose of light toast, dried yellow fruit and nuances of yeast. On the palate it has a creamy mouth feel of toasted nuts and rich autolytic notes. This is a beautiful wine, rich and complex."
International Wine review  92+ pts



"Small grower. Autumn fruits dominate the aromas of this wine, which is blatantly more like a wine than we normally expect a champagne to be. Some may find that unexpected and even off-putting, while others will find it intriguingly delicious."
- Washington Post  - EXCELLENT

"Roland Champion is a small family-owned producer, now with the fourth generation, in the village of Chouilly (”shoo-ee”), which has only Grand Cru vineyards. Made from 100 percent chardonnay grapes, this Champagne offers ethereal grace and poise and harmony; if I were fighting a duel tonight, I would ask for this Champagne as my last beverage. The nose here is about the richness of warm biscuits and hazelnuts, dried fruit and spice, like a Platonic, ineffably light fruitcake; in the mouth, however, it’s about a structure that encompasses an incredible marriage of power and elegance, like the delicacy and strength of the finest bone china. And there’s something porcelain-like about this Champagne, in its notable crisp, lively character, its transparency and its slightly chalky, shale-like mineral elements. Forget the Champagnes that come on with heavy toasty, caramel qualities; here, instead, is a wealth of subtlety and nuance touched with a racy, dynamic edge. Exceptional."
Biggerthanyourhead.net 

 Vinous Antonio Galloni: 91 Wine Enthusiast: 92 Wine Spectator: 92 International Wine Review: 92 93 Points
Argot Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay 2019

Argot Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

Powerful aromas of key-lime, white flowers, orange blossoms and a fierce, flinty, sauvage note define a wildly complex nose. Once in the mouth, gracefully pronounced textures coat the palate delivering an exotic interpretation of cool-climate Chardonnay character — lime peel, orange blossom, ginger and clove —lingerings deep into a vibrant finish.

Planted 1978. Shallow volcanic soils on the gently-sloped, south-facing foothills of Bennett Peak on Bennett Valley’s floor. One of California’s coolest Chardonnay vineyards. In the final year of 3-year draught cycle, Simpatico Ranch saw its earliest ever harvest and smallest crop, exposing a reserve of exoticism and minerality previously untapped. A watershed vintage for both the vineyard, and appellation. Night harvested by hand on 9/16, whole-cluster pressed direct to barrel; no settling to ensure maximum lees contact. Barrel fermented on heavy lees. Malolactic fermentation. 16 months in French oak, 50% new. Finished 2 months in steel tank, low Sulphur during barrel elevage.

Review:


There are 225 cases of the 2019 Chardonnay Simpatico Ranch, which is from a cooler, higher elevation site in Sonoma. Lots of peach, tangerine, honeyed minerality, and toasted hazelnuts all emerge from the glass, and while I don't think it matches the 2018, it's a brilliant Chardonnay offering medium to full-bodied richness, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's beautifully balanced and is going to keep for at least 5-7 years."

- Jeb Dunnuck (September 2021), 94 pts

 94 Points
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