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Staff Favorites - Michael Benoit
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Reviews
Fallet-Dart "Clos du Mont" Brut Champagne (2006)
Review Date: 11-14-2024
An absolute stunner, the 2006 Clos du Mont from Fallet-Dart has all the deep, toasty brioche that a person could ask for. This barrel-fermented beauty spends an astounding 12 years on the lees, yielding a champagne with a complex, alluring nose full of toasted almonds, candied lemon peel, and brioche. On the palate, I love its extraordinarily velvety texture coupled with flavors of ripe citrus. The finish, rich with toast, is nearly endless. Champagne this good will have you searching for any reason to celebrate!
Price:
$69.99
Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
Review Date: 11-14-2024
The house of Laurent-Perrier shows their blending prowess again with the newest iteration of Grand Siecle. Based around the 2012 vintage with 25% of reserves from 2008 and 10% from 2007, this champagne is elegant and fresh, but with an underlying brooding complexity from 10 years of ageing. Ripe citrus, Marcona almonds, and rich brioche aromas burst from the glass and continue on the palate, where they are joined by crisp apple flavors with an undercurrent of brambly berries and toast. With a bright, fresh attack, and a clean dry finish, this champagne is easy drinking, but with so much vinous power and complexity at its core. Grab a couple bottles while you can - this is drinking great today and will have even more to offer after several years in your cellar!
2022 Paringa "Peninsula" Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula
Review Date: 10-21-2024
Juicy and fresh, the Paringa Peninsula Pinot Noir is a lot of wine for the money. With lifted aromatics of orange zest and blackberry, and racy, mouthwatering acidity, this has all the purity and freshness that you could want from a cool climate Pinot. On the palate, rich red cherry flavors are complemented by river rock minerality and a delicate dusting of toasty oak. Lovers of cool-climate Pinot Noir at reasonable prices should not overlook this fantastic find from Down Under!
2022 Bojador "Vinoho de Talha" Tinto Alentejo
Review Date: 10-21-2024
The 2022 Bojador "Vinoho de Talha" Tinto is a beautiful wine with a lot of history behind it. Fermented in talha, the amphora-like clay vessels of Portugal, this wine is the culmination of 2,000 years of history. Fermentation in clay allows for cooling the wine during fermentation, which helps preserve aromas, as well as allowing some oxygen exchange, softening the texture of the wine. In the glass this wine has a lovely, perfumed nose full of violets, strawberries, and red plums. The palate is fresh and crunchy, and the wine is medium-bodied, with subtle but defined tannins. A very tasty red wine that balances fresh acidity with plenty of fruit!
Price:
$21.99
2022 Ridge Vineyards "Geyserville" Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Review Date: 08-13-2024
Ridge Vineyards is one of California's most iconic producers, and a wine like this shows that they aren't resting on their laurels! Beautifully aromatic, with layers of baking spice, blackberry, toasted coconut, and bay laurel, this wine opens up quickly in the glass. On the palate, rich, concentrated berry flavors are balanced by sandy tannins and a perfect pop of acidity. The balance of dense fruit, structure, and acid makes for a wine that keeps you coming back for more. Obviously a great pairing with bold flavors such as barbeque, but also a nice bottle to savor on its own.
Maison Laudacius "Laudacius" Brut Nature Montlouis Methode Traditionnnelle
Review Date: 08-04-2024
With a gentle nose of honeyed cream and white flowers, and a palate of Asian pear and lime peel, this sparkling Chenin Blanc has plenty to recommend it. But what really makes this wine stand out to me is the strong, persistent minerality and racy, refreshing acid. An unusual and exciting bottle of wine for sure, and at an extremely reasonable price - a great pick for summertime!
Petiau "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-09-2024
Stunning at twice the price, the Petiau Cuvee Prestige combines the quality of old vine fruit from the Perle Blanche de la Montagne de Reims with the wonderful influence of over 6 years of aging on the lees. A blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, this champagne has deep flavors of golden apple, lemon and sourdough, and an amazingly creamy texture. The gentle acid profile makes this bottle a surefire crowd-pleaser, and I think this works perfectly as an aperitif or for a toast.
Price:
$49.99
2023 Balea Blanco Getariako Txakolina
Review Date: 06-09-2024
Spritzy and fresh, this delicious Txakolina is summer in a glass. The bouquet is loaded with lemon and lime zest, and the flavors of Meyer lemon and cantaloupe give the wine a bit of complexity to match its zippy acidity. A great bottle to cool you down on a hot summer day!
Price:
$21.99
Baron-Fuenté "Quinconce" Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (formerly Esprit)
Review Date: 05-30-2024
For years, the champagnes we carry from Baron Fuente have been staff and customer favorites, and especially the long-aged bottles under the Esprit label. These outstanding champagnes have a new name and a new label, but the high quality and incredible value of the wine inside the bottle hasn't changed a bit. This blanc de blancs continues to be sourced from a single 9.5 acre vineyard on the western edge of Champagne, and is perfectly refreshing with a generous, creamy texture. Fresh acidity and delicate toastiness combine beautifully with soft flavors of lemon curd and pastry crust, fading out into a long mineral finish. A great aperitif or a stellar bottle for brunch!
Price:
$39.99
2022 Kalinda Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 04-21-2024
This new 2022 Kalinda Napa Valley Cabernet is a lot of wine for the price! Enticing notes of cassis, kirsch, and toasty oak on the nose draw me in, and on the palate juicy flavors of plum, raspberry, and spice are in perfect balance with its crisp acidity. The tannins are subtle and fine-grained and everything is just working in harmony. A great value for a delicious Cabernet, perfect with a burger or a tri-tip sandwich!
2020 Richard Bruno "Giacone Vineyard" Estrella District Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 03-03-2024
Bombastic but balanced, the 2020 Richard Bruno Giacone Vineyard Cabernet offers forward flavors of ripe blueberries and blackberries with a lovely hint of vanilla. This is a lushly textured, densely fruited wine, but one that retains plenty of freshness as well. A great wine for weeknight dinners or enjoying on its own, and a superb value too!
Price:
$8.95
Kamonishiki Suzo, Nifudazake Tank 132 (For U.S.A. Tank) Junmai Daiginjo Sake (720ml)
Review Date: 01-11-2024
This beautiful, fruit-driven but dry sake starts out strong, with an enticing nose of fresh cut honeydew, white peach, and vanilla cream. On the palate it has a lush texture and a silky, soft feel. Flavors of pineapple, honeydew, kiwifruit, and even bubblegum leave you wondering how something made of just rice and water could have so much flavor. But despite all that lush, gorgeous fruit, the finish is clean and dry and leaves you wanting another sip. A great pairing with richer sushi, seafood, or poultry dishes, this sake is extremely delicious and overdelivers for the price!
Price:
$34.99
Petiau Brut Grande Réserve Champagne
Review Date: 12-20-2023
A new direct import stunner, the Petiau Grande Reserve is an eminently quaffable champagne for an absolute steal of a price. The nose has a delicate sourdough quality, along with a nice dose of chalk and seashore salinity. On the palate, the ripe golden apple flavor, crisp but measured acidity, and velvety texture lead nicely into a long, chalky finish with a hint of peach skin. This champagne goes down very easily indeed, and would make an outstanding aperitif. Perfect for any festive occasion!
Price:
$34.99
2022 Quintay "Clava" Reserva Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley
Review Date: 08-17-2023
Great values in Pinot Noir can be very hard to find, but this bottle from the Casablanca Valley in Chile delivers! It has an enchanting nose full of brambly fruit and hints of sandalwood, and a crisp, high-toned flavor profile. Good acidity, pure red cherry flavors, and silky tannins combine into a wine that drinks well above its price point.
Top Value!
Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne
Review Date: 07-27-2023
Refreshing and deep in equal measure, the Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" entices with its nose of cherries, strawberries, and almonds. Flavors of black cherry and fresh herbs mingle together to create a deep, complex impression. The robust carbonation of this champagne gives a lifted feeling to the long finish. This is a full-bodied, rich, tasty bottle, and such an interesting counterpoint to their blanc de blancs.
Price:
$34.99
Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes
Review Date: 07-13-2023
Wow! The Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs is everything I want in a blanc de blancs. The nose is floral and faintly bready, and the slight sourdough toast on the palate is in perfect balance with the flavors of meyer lemon, pear, and apricot. The wonderful fine bead gives this champagne a velvety texture that goes down easy, and the acidity is fairly delicate, but plenty to keep it refreshing and keep you coming back for more. A great champagne to enjoy on the first warm days of summer!
Top Value!
Price:
$39.99
2015 Alexandre Le Brun "Cuvée Fascination" Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 07-06-2023
Alex Le Brun's Fascination is always a singular blanc de blancs, and this 2015 is no exception. The nose carries intoxicating aromas of pear, passionfruit and ripe citrus. On the palate, it has a mouthwatering acidity, and rich flavors of tropical fruit and marcona almonds. Between it's refreshing, crisp bite, and its long, chalky finish, this is a champagne that will keep you coming back for more!
Price:
$69.99
2021 Desire Lines "Winds of Change" California Syrah
Review Date: 07-05-2023
What a beautifully perfumed, elegant expression of Syrah! This wine has delicious aromas of blueberries and violets, and black plum and brambly berry flavors on the palate. Not at all heavy or overwrought, this Syrah couples soft, chalky tannins with a perfect medium body, and nice crunchy fruit. The finish has elegant notes of black pepper and Bing cherry. This cool-climate Syrah combines plenty of fruit with plenty of savory character, and will pair beautifully with anything you throw on the grill this Summer!
2008 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" NFB Brut Champagne
Review Date: 04-12-2023
Another stunning 2008 from Billecart-Salmon! The Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart has a nose full of delicate yellow apples, along with lightly toasted almonds and brioche. Made almost entirely from Grand Cru fruit, this blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay is at once rich and elegant. The extremely soft and velvety texture on the palate gives away the long aging this bottle sees, but I was blown away by how much freshness and verve it still retains. On the finish there is plenty of chalky minerality and delicious marzipan nuttiness, balanced by a crisp acidity and lingering notes of fresh orchard fruits. An absolutely classic bottle of champagne, this is one for the ages!
Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne
Review Date: 11-29-2022
Damien Hugot's "Hommage 1921" is a beautiful champagne that balances a creamy texture with plenty of fresh citrus. The first sip is full of ripe mandarin and zippy lemon flavors on a background of fresh cream. The finish is delicately chalky with touches of vanilla, and goes on and on. This makes a great aperitif or toasting champagne, and a fantastic pairing with shellfish.
Price:
$39.99
Duménil Brut Rosé "Vieilles Vignes" Champagne
Review Date: 08-15-2022
Duménil's Brut Rosé "Vieilles Vignes" is a beautifully full-flavored champagne. With rich flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and fresh baked bread, I think this would be perfect with a light dinner of roast chicken and salad. Despite the more robust red fruit flavors in this bottle, it still has great freshness, and the finish is chalky and slightly saline. A delicious and interesting rosé champagne at an incredible price!
Le Brun de Neuville "Autolyse Noirs et Blancs" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 07-17-2022
The Le Brun de Neuville "Autolyse Noirs et Blancs" is an amazing champagne. After over 11 years of aging on the lees, it has a beautiful, chalky nose with aromas of sautéed chanterelles and citrus. On the palate it has a velvety soft bead and flavors of buttered sourdough toast and meyer lemon curd. This champagne strikes the perfect balance of richness and acidity, and is a great showcase of the depth that only long aging on the lees can give. Elegant and delicious!
Fukucho Namazake "Moon on the Water" Junmai Ginjo Sake (720ml)
Review Date: 04-03-2022
This lovely nama version of Moon on the Water has such a pronounced freshness, with aromas of honeydew and pineapple jumping from the glass. The first sip has the quick attack that characterizes so many namazakes - almost a slight effervescence. I love the round, creamy texture on the palate, and the beautifully juicy pineapple and melon flavors, which lead to a nutty, pistachio butter finish. This sake is wonderful to sip on its own, but would also make an excellent partner for grilled chicken or fish. Definitely give it a try!
Price:
$39.99
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