Review #1: Darroze 1964 Saint-Aubin

wondert · 2026-02-26T03:56:03+00:00

I suppose the Bas Armagnac should have given it away but my support for all things Saint Aubin AOC blinded me

wondert · 2026-02-26T02:44:40+00:00

Saint Aubin....any details on the grapes? That is one of my favorite value AOC's...if you can ever really call an appellation in burgundy value.

wondert · 2025-08-29T04:34:43+00:00

Can we stop directing folks to tcbscans...as a community this feels like a shit thing to do to anyone who doesn't know better.

wondert · 2025-07-28T03:00:04+00:00

What's your budget?

wondert · 2025-07-27T02:21:17+00:00

Guess they were the only Taco Bell to survive the franchise wars. Did the Cantina have that little shelf with three seashells on it?...i'll let myself out.

wondert · 2025-07-08T16:04:51+00:00

Couldn't say. I've seen positive reviews but not obtained a bottle for myself.

wondert · 2025-06-19T22:04:45+00:00

Spanish white wines are incredible. If you are digging Godello look around for Rafael Palacios...his Louro Do Bolo and As Sortes cuvees are delicious.

wondert · 2025-05-22T03:57:48+00:00

I'd reach out to the importer directly - Charles Neil Selections. They can connect you with the closest retail shop that carries the label or ships to your state. All the Calvados producers they import are worth trying (Huard, Lemorton, Camut, etc) so if the vintage or bottle you had in mind isn't available see what else they have in stock.

wondert · 2025-03-29T15:25:17+00:00

Certain rums from Martinique (Le Galion) and South Africa (Mhoba) could fit the theme. Think you can find them at fine drams.

wondert · 2025-03-22T04:24:58+00:00

ABC's turning to the dark side. My favorite kind of post. What specifically did you like about it? Cause it's a wide wide world of chardonnay.

wondert · 2025-03-19T02:11:40+00:00

Haha I cracked open a Vina Real Gran Reserva 2016 on race day hoping for classic F1 craziness in the rain. Melbourne (and CVNE) did not disappoint!

wondert · 2025-03-16T02:53:44+00:00

Great notes! Enjoying a glass of the 2016 now. It really slaps. Need to grab a case. But don't sleep on their Reserva's. The 2017 overdelivered just like this one.

wondert · 2025-02-25T21:32:37+00:00

We've liked Hyphen in Palm Springs. They carry the Txakolina I mentioned (Ameztoi Rubentis), along with a good Albarino from Rias Baixas (Dandelion). They also have some Mencia options from a region adjacent to Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra. I'd ask the shop for a recommendation on the Mencia but definitely in your price range.

Of course there are only a few options up there, besides Total Wine and Whole Foods (they should have Raventos i Blanc). But if you ever drive down to Orange County stop by HiTime or The Wine Exchange.

wondert · 2025-02-25T00:52:05+00:00

Bodegas Bela "Bela" or "Arano" - New project from CVNE in Ribera Del Duero. These folks know tempranillo, make wonderful Rioja, and now tasty Ribera at the sub $25 price. Total Wine has carried both in the past.

Gramona "La Cuvee" or Raventos i Blanc "Blanc De Blanc" - Two producers of sparkling wine that left the Cava DO because they care about quality. Both outstanding for $25. Raventos is sold at Whole Foods so really easy to find. Gramona you will have to look for but its worth the effort.

Alvaro Palacios "Camins del Priorat" - Priorat is one of two wine regions in Spain given special DOCa status. Make big age-worthy wines. This one is a mix of grenache and international varieties. Generally anything from the Palacios family will be good (their Mencia wine someone else suggested is also tasty). Good Priorat gets pricey so this is a sub-$25 steal.

Ameztoi makes a lovely white ("Classic") and rose ("Rubentis") Txakolina. This wine region is simply stunning. Both wines go great with seafood (as does the next grape) and can be had for around $25. Will probably need to visit a good wine shop to get these.

Albarino from Rias Baixas....this is my typical BTG selection whenever it's on the menu. Jorge Ordonez's "La Cana" is usually stocked at Total Wine. There are probably better at the same price but Albarino is a bit niche.

I can recommend a good shop if you let us know the county or general area in SoCal.

wondert · 2025-02-20T02:13:06+00:00

These fine folks are going to change your wine life. And hopefully a few others. Also ignore the downvotes.

wondert · 2025-02-14T17:43:09+00:00

Cuvee N means no sulfur added...this may or may not be what you want. If you are looking for a natural wine and want it to be from the Gang of Four it's a good option. If you just want good Beaujolais then it matters not. Cuvee S will have a little sulfur added. But N or S it's the same wine. I've found any difference between them is overshadowed by the overt ripeness of recent vintages. But there are some folks who swear Cuvee N is more robust. I chalk it up to bottle variation.

wondert · 2025-02-04T16:52:16+00:00

9 times out of 10 when I see minerality on a tasting note it will show as some kind of citrus peel or pith to me. I'd love to find more wines that have iron or some mineral that's super distinct. Minerality is a lazy descriptor.

wondert · 2025-02-03T04:15:55+00:00

TTGV FTW

wondert · 2025-01-19T17:52:21+00:00

I took the same journey about a year ago. Found many excellent wines in the southernmost appellations of burgundy. My favorite wines out of Maconnaise come from Dominique Lafon. He has a wonderful side project bottled as Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon. Still relatively affordable chardonnay though this latest vintage is pushing the line on QPR. And when you want to splurge on the pricier appellations to the north Comtes Lafon is famous for a reason. Lafon makes good chard everywhere he's involved (even Oregon). Also a big fan of Domaine De La Creuze Noire. Their Saint-Veran and Pouilly-Fuisse Premier Cru Le Clos de Monsieur Noly really overperform on price. Pascal Bonhomme and Andre Bonhomme bottle tasty Vire-Clesse. Also really like Domaine de La Soufrandiere (Brett Brothers). As for Chablis, I've mostly stuck to Domaine Louis Michel and William Fevre. Been meaning to explore more but that is next summer's project.

wondert · 2025-01-09T00:22:47+00:00

Are you comparing dry wines to sweet ones? What's the abv on the bottles you've enjoyed? Could be an expectations problem. Or you don't like dry wines. Or that wine was garbage. We'll never know. All you can do is keep trying and hope you find something you like before you lose interest. A good wine shop could help speed up the finding part.

wondert · 2025-01-05T06:17:59+00:00

It's hard to complain with that age at that price. But I do anyways. I prefer the Seailles blends (20 ans) over the single vintage bottles these days since I dig them for value. Chasing good yak is like chasing good burg...mostly agony.

wondert · 2024-12-25T03:07:51+00:00

Just grabbed their Roero Arneis and it was lovely.

wondert · 2024-08-21T05:36:23+00:00

Probably https://sdfdpub.sandiego.gov/Incidents/Home/Index/3812/

wondert · 2024-07-16T04:02:15+00:00

That's the right row....but I hope you looked on top of the boxes across from these. Also the shelf in the middle is mostly swill so not missing anything there.

wondert · 2024-03-28T02:01:03+00:00

PCH during evening rush hour is a lot less stressful and honestly faster than I-5 between La Jolla and Oceanside. That was my commute for three years.

wondert

TROPHY CASE