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Reviews by Butch and I with a simple Grand Cru (best), Premier (very good) or Villages (good) rating. #Fail if really bad
Il professore al lavoro...looking forward to spending the weekend with CLyman and teaming up on some reviews in person. Stay tuned.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
W.H. Smith has always struck me as a classic RRV pinot producer. Earthy, well balanced fruit, and a unique nose of fruity licorice. I really mean that in a good way. I like this juice and the '07 tops the list. They also make a couple single vineyards and this is their blend. Highly recommended as a premier cru. Try and enjoy.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
The Giro di Vino with an Italian Sauvignon Blanc, Spanish Rose, French Burgundy, Pinot from Santa Barbara, California Grenache, and Tempranillo blend from Spain. What a tour!
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Last night a friend brought a bottle of Margerum’s M5 Chateauneuf-du-Pape style blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre blend with a dash of Cinsault for good measure. A 2009, I though it might be overly tannic for a young wine but was pleasantly surprised. The wine has a light ruby color and good level of acid to balance fruit on the palate. Well done! I’d want to lay the M5 down for a couple more years as it will only get better. Premier Cru
Lynmar Estate is situated on a unique and picturesque site with rolling vineyards bordered by the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed. The vineyard,with vines over forty years old, 15 clones of Pinot Noir and 4 clones of Chardonnay has an array of canopy and rootstock combinations that yield exquisite fruit.
by WineGlass365
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Chris Lyman from youtube.com
The 2010 vintage is still juvenile as far as I'm concerned, yet a bottle of Argyle's Willamette Valley Pinot managed to find its way home. True to form, this vintage's offering demonstrates a light, delicate style with hits of fruit on the nose that don't overwhelm. With only 13% alcohol it has great finesse, although some may find the finish to be lacking. This will very likely change with a little age, earning a very solid Premier Cru recommendation. $25
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Is it cool to not like chardonnay? Don't let the bygone days of overoaked juice keep you away from the deliciousness that is present in offerings like the '07 Lynmar RRV. Mid-weight, lemon-hinted and honeysuckle, great with food but crisp enough to stand on its own. This is good chard from a classic russian river producer. Premier Cru.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
My wine reviewing compatriot's envious look at Domaine Serene's 05 Evenstad Pinot compelled me to give the 2007 a try. Hailing from hallowed Pinot terroir, fruit is subtle with great balance at sub-14% alcohol. As I've said many times, I love the Burgundian style's structure and light touch. My one reservation is the 2007 needs years to finish developing. Good now but has the potential to be great, although Wine Enthusiast's 95 seems a bit gratuitous. A very solid Premier Cru-- for now.
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Rare is the time when a bottle approaches tasting as good as the reason you are celebrating. This is one of those times. Domaine Serene Evenstad is a consistent performer and the '05 is a standout. A beautiful toasted ruby in the glass and a mushroom-cherry nose leads to the deepest of strawberries going down. Absolutely perfect right now. I recommend it for birthdays of great peeps and time with special family. You know..family types that deserve to share your last bottle. Lucky me - Grand Cru.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
Chamisal is part of Crimson Wine Group, also the owner of Pine Ridge, Archery Summit and Seghesio. The 2007 Estate Pinot was a little disappointing. Fruit was tight, especially for the moderately high alcohol content. Perhaps it will mellow with a few more years aging but for now it gets a Villages rating as a result of price
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Chris Lyman from wine.com
Tonight we paired Casanuova's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino with red wine risotto. Lots of berry on the nose and typical earthiness of Italian wines on the finish. Fruit is condensed but smooth, and it will probably benefit from a few more years of aging. Premier Cru
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Chris Lyman from wine.com
A brilliant little variety that adds some options for the warm spring and summer days upon us. If you are looking for a variation on the sauv blanc refresher, you could do worse than this readily available picpoul. Always a consistent solid buy according the lesser review publications that are mere spectators. Butch and Chris are drinkers and this has a lovely grapefruit and light pear front that finishes with some minerality that enables multiple glasses to be quaffed. Solid Villages at $10.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
This is the brut sister of my recently reviewed rose. A delicious RM bubbly that isn't as big but hits you in the mouth with classic yeast, tight bubbles, and a very subtle apple -- the good apple. You know what I mean. I absolutely love the earthy nose and it's tight and light in your mouth. I don't know why but this is a perfect sparkling for a spring evening on the porch. Check that...it's because I'm having it on a spring evening on my porch. Premier Cru.
2 likes 6 repins
Butch from Uploaded by user
Being a fan of A to Z's 2009 Pinot, I grabbed a few bottles when I saw them at Whole Foods. What I didn't notice was a 2010 mixed with the 2009s until after I'd twisted the top. The younger sibling is still a wonderful wine with the characteristics I love from Oregon selections: lower alcohol, subtle fruit, and balance. 2010 can use a couple more years to develop but today earns a solid Premier Cru rating.
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I'd sum up Pillow Rd's 2007 RRV Pinot Noir with one word: balanced. It's a very elegant wine with soft tannins and just the right amount of fruit. Very well done: Grand Cru
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Chris Lyman from pillowrd.com
The Lassalle growers champ is a delicious rose.The balance of fruit and earthy yeast expected in a top notch Growers bubbly. A lovely salmon (not well represented by my amateur photography) that is backed by faint strawberry but with a big mouthfeel. I don't really know what a big mouthfeel means, but this is really good. Grand Cru, people. Trust me.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
Havens' Bourriquot Red leans distinctly towards a Bordeaux style. The 2002 Cab Franc & Merlot blend has big, full fruit with very soft tannins. A great wine that gets a Grand Cru rating
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Lucky enough to choose this beauty saturday night at Jose Andres's America Eats in D.C. '06 Hanzell Pinot. A great balance of earthy with undertones of rich blueberry. Grand Cru!
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Butch from Uploaded by user
'09 Forey Bourgogne. Sampling out the (reportedly) brilliant '09 burgundy vintage with this bourgogne. The amazing wet wool, leather, and dark berry nose that leads to a delicious mouthfeel. A bit tannic, with some acidity, but all balanced with some deep cherry fruit. This is burgundy, people. Not your sonoma fruit (which I love, btw.) Stock up on your '09s and try this if you can. Drink now or 5 years tomorrow, no matter. Premier Cru at $40.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
Coulon NV - current favorite growers champagne. Beauty in a glass. A sun-kissed golden blonde reminding me of love lost. Fortunately, a visit to the local supplier is all that's needed to rekindle this flame. A bit yeasty with some bright fruit. You can have Grand Cru at $60, friends. Pairs especially well with a veggie burger and tater tots.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
Junior Napa lawnmowers readying vineyard for bud break
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Even thought I live in Napa, I'm a huge fan of Willamette pinots with lighter body and a Burgundian style. Argyle's 2008 Reserve Pinot has a little more body than many of its neighbors and should benefit from a couple more years of age. But still a solid Premier Cru
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'04 Bridesmaid is produced by a pair of top notch winemakers. You probably can't find this vintage, but this bordeaux-styled blend is readily available to our Cali friends and is yummy off the rack as it is after a few years. A bit of barnyard on the nose (just a touch, and maybe i'm just projecting) with a nice level of rich blueberry fruit. This specimen is just about perfect with a balance that works well. I have gulped later years and liked them well. Premier Cru at ~$40.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
It's an Italian sort of day. Le Ragnaie, located high on Montalcino's hills, produces a wonderful Brunello and little sister Rosso. The 2008 was everything you'd expect from a 'Baby Brunello' with earthy undertones layered with fruit. This one gets a Grand Cru rating
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Any warm day is an opportunity for rose, and this 2010 Gerbino rosato di nero d'avola didn't disappoint. Fruit on the nose and strong body (for a rose) makes this a great Villages selection for the price
Duckhorn Vineyards typically produces very good wines but the 2009 Goldeneye Anderson Valley is a bit of a disappointment-- especially for the price tag. Overripe fruit, very little finesse and a heavy finish. This one barely squeaks by with a Villages rating
Goner! Sad, but luckily there are others
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Great views from every seat at Lynmar
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Veggies amidst the vines at Lynmar in Russian River Valley
Quivira's 2009 Grenache is somewhere between a Rose and Pinot - light with hints of Strawberry heat will make it a great summer red
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Quivira Vineyards's 2010 Viognier-Sauv Blanc is a really nice blend of each grape's characteristics. Solid Villages rating
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Daisy, at Quivira Vineyards
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Butch Daisy, now, is it?
Chris Lyman For a little while at least
Quivira Wines The ones we name we keep :) They are too cute!
Chris Lyman She's def a keeper!
Pali is focused on making affordable sourced-grape pinot. They make several nice single vineyard and this is their '08 RRV blend ($20) "Bluffs." Beautiful color, decent fruit but not over the top. Light cherry and strawberry with a hint of alcohol. A solid Villages offering especially for the $. I like the '09 more - coming soon.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
Always on the lookout for some value pinot, picked up this $14 bottle. a lovely ruby color and some typical socks on the nose gave me reason for optimism. Sadly, an odd fruit blend followed by a gasoline finish. There's too much good stuff out there for me to recommend. #Fail
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Butch from Uploaded by user
Artesa's 2009 Carneros Estate Reserve Pinot is a little disappointing. While easy to drink, it's characteristic of the over-ripe, super fruit style that's become prevalent (and hopefully soon forgotten) of many Napa Pinot producers. Villages rating
Young by Silver Oak standards, we tried this with flank steak. The wine has a great nose and indications of finesse, but I'd let it grow up for another 10 years before opening another. Premier Cru for now
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Chris Lyman from wine.com
Artesa's 2005 Estate Reserve Pinot has aged beautifully. It's soft with good structure and subtle fruit. Wish it wasn't our last one. Grand Cru
A really pleasant Rhone white that's less than $10 a bottle. Solid Village rating
2007 Loring Durell Vineyard - Classic Cali Pinot not short on fruit, but rounding off now. WS gives it a 91 from the great '07 vintage and this one doesn't disappoint. Premier Cru.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
I'm on a growers champagne kick. This one is a lovely rose. A bit light to start but seemed to open up nicely. A bit fruity. It still goes as a premier cru. Try it.
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Butch from Uploaded by user
2006 Hall Merlot. Nice hint of vanilla on the nose but needs to finish growing up. Villages
Surprise of the month. You don't think of a 2006 Rosso di Montalcino holding up that well but it's fantastic. Grand Cru for value factor
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Chris Lyman from caparzo.it
Staying at this winery or "agriturismo" in Montalcino makes La Ragnaie's Rosso an MVP. Premier Cru
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Chris Lyman from yfrog.com
96 PTs and #2 from WS 2009 Top 100. A sip with paella's socarrat would make Julio Iglesias stand up and sing. Grand Cru
Premeir Cru. Balanced but tilting towards bigger, riper fruit. Unfortunately the last bottle of Merry in our cellar since their prices went all Housewives
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Butch One of my fav views anywhere