Surfing Delectable: What The Pros Are Drinking

DOMAINE FAIVELEY (JOSEPH FAIVELEY)
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Chardonnay 2009

“Very nice wine. Way beyond what I expected.”
Rated 9.2

CHÂTEAU D'YQUEM
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1979
“Elegan,t as in super elegant, not thin.”
Rated 9.3

DOMAINE JEAN-LOUIS CHAVE
Hermitage Syrah 2008
“JL managed some plump fruit and a healthy 14% in what is largely considered a cooler vintage.”
Rated 9.0

MICHEL CHAPOUTIER
Le Méal Ermitage Syrah 1998
“Bitter biscuits, ginseng, honey and chamomile flowers.”
Rated 9.0

CHÂTEAU D'YQUEM
Y Ygrec Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2006
“There must be 10g/l of sugar here but that makes this wine super fun to drink.”
Rated 9.5

CHÂTEAU MARGAUX
Margaux Du Chateau Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
“The sexiest '83 from the list yet.”
Rated 9.7

DOMAINE DUJAC
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2005
“The young and the restless. The bold and the beautiful.”
Rated 9.5

TENUTA DELL'ORNELLAIA
Masseto Toscana Merlot 1997
“Merlot like no other - built stone tough. Italian-ness trumps varietal character.”
Rated 9.3

 

MERRY EDWARDS
Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2014

“Always a winner.”
Rated 9.0

MELKA
La Mekerra Knights Valley Cabernet Franc Merlot 2012
“Best SB I've had in 2016.”
Rated 10

LES BRUGUERES
Priorat Grenache Blanc 2012
“So tasty.”
Rated 9.1

THE MASCOT
Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
“Tasty but tight.”
Rated 8.9

CALERA
Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
“Perfect with French Dip”
Rated 9.0

SCHOLIUM PROJECT
La Severità di Bruto Farina Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013
“Another winner from Abe.”
Rated 9.0

RYME
Vare Vineyard Ribolla Gialla 2012
“Orange, orange, orange”
Rated 9.0

KABAJ
Sivi Goriška Brda Pinot Gris 2012
“Falling in love with this style of wine. So delicious.”
Rated 9.0

 

PALARI
Faro Nerello Blend 2007

Rated 10

LOUIS ROEDERER
Cristal Brut Champagne Blend 2006
“Moving into 2016 with this decadent, elegant beauty.. Had it with Gruyere grilled cheese at a friend's and it was great. Mmmm.. Good time to drink it I thought! 10 years...still fresh but not as zippy as I remembered. Age does it to us all!”
Rated 10

ARIANNA OCCHIPINTI
Grotte Alte Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2006
“Arianna's tribute to the beautiful, traditional marriage of Nero d'Avola snd Frappato from Vittoria...black lava, pomegranate, wild strawberry, fennel, white pepper”
Rated 10

FRAZZITTA
Punta Ettare Marsala Vergine Riserva Grillo Blend
“Bought in Italy in 2004 and bringing to share with a guest having his 300th visit to A16 tonight. Tasted it and it's just ready to go.. Vibrant, walnut, briny/sea salt, dried fig, cardamom”
Rated 10

DOMAINE AUGUSTE CLAPE
Cornas Syrah 2004
“Always one of my favorites.. Great year”
Rated 10

OASI DEGLI ANGELI
Kupra Marche IGT Rosso Grenache 2009
Rated 10

LA SPINONA (PIETRO BERUTTI)
Bricco Fasêt Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2010
Rated 10

ERICH SALOMON/UNDHOF
Wieden & Berg Grüner Veltliner 2014
“2014... Razor sharp, mineral, finger limes pop quality, guava & grapefruit.. So yum.”
Rated 10

 

GIOVANNI ACCOMASSO & FIGLIO
Vigneto Rocchette Barolo Nebbiolo 1978

Rated 10

JACQUES SELOSSE
Substance Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
Rated 10

BODEGAS Y VIÑEDOS VEGA SICILIA
Tinto Valbuena Tempranillo Blend 1987
Rated 10

TRIMBACH
Clos Ste. Hune Vendanges Tardives Riesling 1989
Rated 10

DOMAINE FOURRIER
Vieille Vigne Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir 1999
Rated 10

DOMAINE HUET
Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux Vouvray Chenin Blanc 1947
Rated 10

DOMAINE ARMAND ROUSSEAU
Clos St. Jacques Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2005
Rated 10

JACQUES PUFFENEY
Cuvée Les Berangères Arbois Trousseau 2013
Rated 10

 

GAJA
Costa Russi Langhe Nebbiolo 2011

“Drank this beautiful #Gaja #barbaresco at the #wineenthusiast Gala in NY fruity perfumed and almost pinot noir-like on the palate”
Rated 9.4

DOMAINE JEAN-LOUIS CHAVE
Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin Hermitage Syrah 1998
“Fresh and grainy with a few decades left in it.”
Rated 9.5

CHÂTEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982
“Glorious wine - last time I drank it was at the Fete de la Fleur introduced by The charismatic Philippine - a perfect wine smooth delicate unforgettable”
Rated 9.9

LUCA VINEYARD
Lot G Pinot Noir 2011
“Not sure what the rules are about rating a wine one makes but this Luca 2011 was just spectacular with potstickers before Christmas eve dinner”
Rated 9.1

THE STANDISH WINE COMPANY
The Relic Shiraz Blend 2006
“Had it with Christmas eve dinner, nicely evolved but still fresh with the gritty tannins I remember - love the label.”
Rated 9.2

CHÂTEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE BARON
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
“Perfect moment for this wine - elegant and long - love it”
Rated 9.3

PETER FRANUS
Albariño 2011
“Crisp and classic, California CAN make #albariño
Rated 9.0

DESCENDIENTES DE JOSÉ PALACIOS
Pétalos Bierzo Mencía 2012
“Fruity and light - gorgeous in the way Burgundy is - light on the palate ethereal and elegant - I love these wines from Alvaro Palacios”
Rated 9.1

NOON WINERY
Eclipse Grenache Blend 2002

“Best Noon I've had in a decade.”
Rated 8.9

JACQUES PUFFENEY
Arbois Trousseau 2013
“I'm all for lithe, elegant wines but at this point this is just thin and in need of some weight or density.”
Rated 8.4

G.D. VAJRA
Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2011
“When you need a Barolo in a pinch at a restaurant with no age to the wines, go for the '11's. Delicious And drinking quite well.”
Rated 9.1

HEITZ CELLAR
Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1977
Rated 9.2

BEAULIEU VINEYARD
Private Reserve Estate Bottled Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1977
Rated 9.1

DOMAINE JEAN-LOUIS CHAVE
Hermitage Syrah 2004
“Rouge”
Rated 9.1

DOMAINE LÉON BARRAL
Jadis Faugères Carignane Blend 2001
“When a bottles this good it's worth ordering two nights in a row.”
Rated 9.3

AZIENDA AGRICOLA BRUNO GIACOSA
Santo Stefano di Neive Riserva Barbaresco Nebbiolo 1998
Rated 9.6

 

HIRSCH VINEYARDS
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2013

“Happy lemony goodness! Acid freaks unite.”
Rated 9.3

RAEN WINERY
Cuvée Royal St. Robert Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014
“Very tight in its youth. Redcurrant and green herbs and wet stony earth.”
Rated 8.9

RAEN WINERY
Home Field Fort Ross Seaview Pinot Noir 2014
“Very competent and lean wine. Smells of green herbs earth and berries. Tart sour cherry raspberry and green herbs and earth in the finish.”
Rated 9.2

DOMAINE BOIS DE BOURSAN
Cuvée des Félix Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2000
“Meaty barnyardy bacon fat and flowers give way to mulberry leather and dried cherry. Earthy oak-inflected tannic finish.”
Rated 9.1

BODEGAS Y VIÑEDOS VEGA SICILIA
Reserve Especial Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2004
“Raisined nutty butter dark chocolate and prunes. Tannins surprisingly supple for its youth. Still a baby. But honestly I don't understand the fuss.”
Rated 8.9

CAYMUS VINEYARDS
Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995
“Beautiful out of magnum - minty cherry and well integrated oak with great acidity. Yowza!”
Rated 9.6

PHILIP TOGNI VINEYARD
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
“Super juicy, even spicy cherry and plum mixed with earth and crushed herbs. Very young yet with tight and fine grained tannins.”
Rated 9.3

FONTODI
Flaccianello della Pieve Sangiovese 2006

“Dark ruby, with aromas of plum jam and black cherry. In the mouth, rich and ripe cherry, chocolate, and sweet tannins that lay velvety in the tongue. Gorgeous.”
Rated 9.3