Well I have no idea how I decided to do 3 day wine reviews but it works and the best way to evaluate younger wines. Not too many times you see transformations on 3 out of 4 wines sampled over the last few days but here you go!
- 2022 Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes – France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (6/12/2025)
Day 1: OK Burgundy is again the worst value in the world. This is one of them. Shells, lemon, light fruits and saline. What a terrible value this is even at $45 in the Twin Cities. Will return the other bottles. 82 points
Day 2: Well sometimes a wine will improve on day 2 and this did but still can’t believe the price this fetches. Very light with lemon, spice, saline, mild chalk and dust. Short finish. A boring effort for sure. 83 points
Day 2.5: Well once again the never give up on a wine works again. This will never be a great wine but for sure an improvement. Shells, minerals, dust, saline, lemon, sour apple, spice and chalk. Medium finish. 87 points
Day 3: Wow, just wow. This needed 3 days to open up. While there are some that don’t believe in this patience they are truly missing out. Shells, minerals, lemon, grannie smith apples, flint, dust, flowers and earth. Medium finish and nice acidity. Excellent on day 3. 92 points (92 points)
- 2022 Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Les Beauroys – France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (6/12/2025)
Day 1: Natural cork. $45 locally. Well not worth it on day 1 and costs much more via national retail. Light with lemon, shells, minerals and saline. Very short finish and ordinary. 86 points
Day 2: This is why I created 3 day review. This is much better on day 2. Lemon, chalk, shells, minerals, spice, orange peel, dust and saline. While descriptors are similar the intensity is more intense and nice acidity. Big improvement. 92 points
Day 3: A little more rich with orange peel, dust, spice, chalk, shells, sour apple, pear, saline and stone. A really nice transformation on this one. 92+
Recommendation: Hold for 3 to 5 years. (92 points)
- 2023 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (6/12/2025)
Day 1: Natural cork. Another stellar vintage. Under $25 great value. Grass, lemon, mild spice, orange peel, white flowers and stone. Medium finish and nice acidity. 92 points
Day 2: Well again this is why I do 3 day wine review and encourage everyone to do it on higher quality wine. Yes it works! This is the best vintage of the this wine and would have never known if didn’t try it on day 2. Super fragrant with honey suckles, minerals, dust, white flowers, lemon, grass, orange peel, stone, kiwi and tropical fruits. Super long and intense finish and recommend drinking these close to room temperature for maximum enjoyment. 95 points
Day 3: Right there with day 2 and back up the truck on this one as the best Chaleur Blanc I have tasted. Minerals, spice, white flowers, honey suckles, dust, grass, orange peel, tropical fruits, wet stone, kiwi, lemon and sour apple. Super long finish and great concentration. Nice acidity. 95 points
Recommendation: Back up the truck and buy! (95 points)
- 2020 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (6/12/2025)
Day 1: Oak, cherry, plum, pencil lead, cigar, perfume, earth and black licorice. No smoke taint here and outstanding value. 93 points
Day 2: Not as good on day 2 and I would consume these young within a few years. Cigar, strawberries, sour cherry, earth, perfume and minerals. Not nearly as good as day 1. 90 points
Day 3: A clone from Bordeaux on day 3. I have said this about many vintages of this wine but this is the closest thing to a Pauillac you will find from the US. Cigar, pencil lead, perfume, blueberries, gravel, minerals, earth and dust. What a wonderful 2020 and zero smoke taint on this one. Back up the truck. 94 points
Recommendation: For around $40 in the Twin Cities Market we are blessed with amazing prices on great wines!!! (94 points)
