The wine is definitely inky in terms of color and mouth feel. The nose shows great complexity expressing a spicy linear feature as well as savory quality. Red & black fruits combine in a concentrated, elaborate mix. On the palate, a sud-den flavor of Balsamic vinegar & smoke takes over the lead. The vibrant acidity balances the tannins…
Checkmate is definitely an artisanal producer of small volume, but of great quality. The nose is surprisingly floral with mainly elderflowers. We can also smell brioche, green tea and a touch of fennels. In the mouth, there’s a very interesting touch of saffron, how original. This wine presents an incomparable complexity. Each sip reveals a new set of flavors,…
The nose is intense with primary floral aromas joined by star-fruit. However, the wine gets even more intense as we taste it. It’s definitely thick and tex-tured and a warm weight to it. It might not have the refreshing presence of acidity but, instead, the balance is supported by a phenolic presence as well as a touch of…
Block 3 is a German-inspired Riesling made form ungrafted vines. The glass is fil-led with layers of complex, generous, intense, smells. There’s an ample amount of peach and perfumed flowers, key lime pie and ginger, but also a sweet & salty character. Then comes in a strong wet rock minerality. The palate offers a backbone…
Oculus is completely and absolutely opaque in color, almost inky blue. The nose is precursory of a very robust wine. In terms of aromas, think of anything black: Black currant, dark plum, black licorice, juicy black cherries, grinded dark roast coffee and raisins. The structure is tight and robust with very coarse-grained, drying tannins. It’s…
If your heart is divided between the Chardonnays of Burgundy and those of Cali-fornia, you will be pleased here. Mission hill’s Perpetua showcases the freshness of some Burgundian appellations further north and the texture of big American chardonnays. On the nose, we find notes of ripe pears, almond butter, ginger, vanilla and a very light smokiness. On the…
Made of basic Bordeaux blend varietal with intrusive Syrah, the color is star-ting to evolve into a Bright Garnet. I’ve felt a duality between the nose and the palate. The first is losing its black cherry fruit-forwardness and is getting developed towards licorice, candied orange, black chocolate and topsoil. The latter, on the other end is still fresh…
Decently refined, this Riesling has somewhat of a savory character. Its nose is tight, with a majority of floral components as well as grapefruit and that undeniable Umami quality. The mouth feel is rich and honeyed with a fantas-tic combination of grainy and soft delicate texture. It’s definitely tasteful with a burst of bombshell, raw perk
Hypothesis is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that is made from the red Arise Bench. It’s an opulent wine overall, but with a sen-sitive touch, roundness and a feminine characteristic. It’s polished with a nice addition of empyreumatic aromas to the initial raspberries, wild strawberries and fresh cassis. The palate is densely structured, but…
Single varietal made entirely of Chardonnay, it’s made in a daring, lavish and generous style. The nose is exuberant of oak & rich butter as well as caramel & salted nuts. It has a plentiful body, and a long, fresh but weighty finish. The apparent oak ageing and MLF hides any chances of any fruit…