Jason and Jennie

9.2

Girlfriend brought gifts from Gallo and poured a blind tasting for me.

Rankings

1) 2006 Clarendon hills blewitt springs Grenache
2) 2006 Clarendon hills Clarendon Grenache

3) 2010 Edna valley winemaker series meritage (this tasted like a mount George merlot from napa)

4) 2013 Renata ratti Nebbiolo

5) 2007 Clarendon hills hickinbotham cab
6) 2014 Renato ratti barbera — 9 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.7

This wine has been on a whole other plane the last few years compared to the vintages of the '90s/early 2000s. It feels more gently extracted and much clearer in personality. The addition of the new parcel a few years ago certainly didn't hurt. This one is a no-doubter from the very first whiff. There isn't really any fruit to it at all, as it's dominated by exotic spice scents on the deeper end of the spectrum - clove and even some carob, as opposed to the higher toned cinnamon/anise components of the 5-spice mix. Structurally, the Forey Gaudichots used to be a tough, gritty wine that seemed to ask for a lot of blind faith that a seriously long time in the cellar would pull it out of its shell. That's no longer the case. This is silky and impressively refined not just for Gaudichots but for the vintage in general, which has seemed to me to be something of a power year. The flavors are very much in line with what the exotic scents prepare you for - there is so much interesting seasoning here that the fruit is essentially invisible, just a screen for all the other stuff. — 10 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.0

A great find at Delfina, this was a classic Nebbiolo with pure deep dark cherries and roses, but then it had this savory eucalyptus and potting soil with a mineral (from volcanic soils?) edge. Beautiful aromatics and a structure that's just starting to relax (the medium amount of tannins were present and felty but balanced by plenty of refreshing acidity) make me think this has entered its drinking window and may improve for 5-10 years. The character of the earth flavors here makes me wonder how many would guess Pinot blind. — 11 years ago

Elyse Lambert

9.1

Blind tasted. Great structure, still young. Potential of 5 to 10 more year. Impressive again! — 9 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

What a nice Turkish delight this is.
Beautiful color of dark ruby/inky core with a purplish rim.

The nose is similar to a Napa Cabernet. Lots of vanilla and oak that drown all the fruits. Some chocolates, licorice, cedar, coffee, cola, smoke, blackberries, black currants, black pepper and spices.

Full bodied and bold, Smooth and elegant with medium plus acidity and gorgeous legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with oak, vanilla, blackberries, currants, sweet cherries, dark chocolates, cola, figs, raisins, tobacco, coffee, peppercorn and spices.

Long finish with full, firm tannins and black pepper.

A great Single Vineyard red wine. Big, bold and beautiful. At a Blind tasting I would call a young Napa Cabernet.
Balanced and Enjoyable by itself or with food. I Paired it with a Turkish lamb dish, and it held its own nicely.

This 5 year old needs some additional bottle time and will be even better in 3 years.
Needs 2 hours in a decanter.

Fun fact:
Okuzgozu, the grape varietal, means an ox eye for being the largest among the grape varieties grown in Turkey.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.6

Blind tasting, wine number 5, bag number 5b. Decanted for 2 hours. Dark, deep and opaque ruby red. Nose had a lot of dark berries, and a ton of cassis. Slow attack then it hits hard. High tannins (8.5/10) and full bodied. Long lingering finish. Beautiful and voluptuous wine. Second time having this and I loved it. Cannot wait to buy the 2013 next year. My WOTN! — 11 years ago

with Sean and India

Eric Egan

9.7

Hopefully the last time I will ever drink an '83 Scharzhofberger Auslese with a straw.

Unbelievable youth and acidity. Stupidly fine. I have 5 more bottles - seriously ambivalent: happy that it's one of the finest (nearly) dry whites I've ever tasted, want to kick myself for breaking it!

Incidentally, it came first in a NYT blind tasting of all eight '83 Scharzhofberger Ausleses in 1987. What a tasting to re-stage that would be! — 10 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.3

Vibrant nose of ripe strawberry, red cherry & redcurrant, though not in any way over ripe, with a (would I say this if I had it blind? I don't know) note of volcanic soil mineral shizz. Beautiful weight in the mouth with taught, expressive red fruit that's almost weightless but has a delicate grip. Like Nebbiolo this seems to be light on its feet but with a barely hidden controlled power to the tannins and succulent acidity that would suggest good age ability (what would happen to the fruit though?) infinitely drinkable but annoyingly cellar worthy. Buy 12 and forget about 6 of them for as long as you can. Call me when you remember you have more in 5 or 10 years time. — 10 years ago

Joel Hodorek

9.3

Wine 5/6 in the Bordeaux horizontal blind tasting. Sleeper hit. Very light with sweet coffee or Kalhua liquor on the nose. Lighter body showing blue berry fruit. Lightest alcohol. Intriguing. — 11 years ago

Richard Steinberg

9.3

2013 Syrah. In blind I guessed paso Syrah. Off by a mile. I never would have guessed Lato as this is a baby and I usually wait 5 years on his amazing wines. I remember the fruit as laser focused. — 11 years ago

with Jeffrey, David and 2 others