Matt Schicker

10

2010 vintage with plum, black currants, green olive, eucalyptus mint black cherry. Delicious!! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Tawse is one of Canada’s best wineries, bringing a Burgundian ethos to their site-specific wines. This Chardonnay is lean and mean - tart lime zest meets wet stones. A fascinating juxtaposition with the richness of the creamy Laliberté cheese. #i4c18 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The is from Morlet Families inaugural vintage of 2006. I must say it’s beautiful with a fair amount more of life ahead. The nose reveals dark cassis and a good presence of cinnamon stick. Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, light clove & cinnamon, dark fresh florals and violets. The nose is intoxicating! The body is round, ripe and rich. The tannins nicely resolved. The structure, balance, tension and length are in an excellent spot. Mmmmm! Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, dry cranberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, a touch of bramble, light clove & cinnamon stick, dark rich soils, dry crushed rocks, a little leather, dark fresh florals & violets. The acidity is a waterfall on the palate. The finish is; spectacular elegance, richness, balance and lasts two minutes. One of the best CA Pinot’s we’ve had in a very long time. It deserves an amen & a hallelujah! I paid $65 for this amazing wine 9 years after it’s release (the 2015 released at $115); which brings me back around to a repetitive point of mine. Look for great wines on the secondary market and pay less than producers current release pricing. That is to say, it will aid in keeping you from drinking your new releases too young that are not nearly ready to enjoy! If you are not doing this, you are doing a disservice to your palate and your wine budget. Photos of; their old historical brick building they’ve converted into their winery, interior tasting area, Luc Morlet and their Estate vines. Producer notes and history...Winemaker Luc Morlet is a fifth-generation of a French winemaking family. Growing up in Avenay-Val d’Or, he spent all his spare time working on his family’s estate. His university studies of viticulture and winemaking were put into practice during years of work in vineyards and wineries in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the south of France. Luc left France in 1996 to join his wife Jodie in her native California. Starting in 2006, Luc Morlet began handcrafting Morlet vineyard designated wines and cuvées of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley. As well as; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, a white Bordeaux-style blend and a Late Harvest Sémillon from Sonoma County. Luc is also the brother of Nicolas Morlet the Winemaker of Peter Michael fame. Luc is another producer I respect for his meticulous farming and low intervention winemaking techniques. While his roots are based out of France, he has adapted his skills well to the Napa Valley soils and climate. Morlet styles his wines in a harmonious and refined fashion. Their logo is based upon 19th century French artist Mathurin Moreau’s sculpture entitled, ‘L’Harmonie.’ In August 2010, Luc and and his wife Jodie purchased an estate, just north of the town of St. Helena. Since then, they have converted the historic stone building, built in 1880, into their family winery. The building was originally the Castner Winery that closed during Prohibition. Morlet is located St. Helena Appellation. The estate is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and is the exclusive fruit source for their ‘Morlet Estate’ label. The Morlet’s ‘Mon Chevalier’ vineyard is located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, overlooking the western slopes of Mount St. Helena. The vineyard benefits from their proximity to the mountain. Warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the red Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They recently planted the 20 acre ‘Cœur de Vallée’ vineyard. These Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines are located on the Oakville Bench, If one such exists. I read a quote from a grower who has been growing in Oakville for many years. He said, “the only bench in Oakville is the one in front of the Oakville Grocery Store.” While it may or may not be true, it’s certainly a funny quote. In addition to these family acres, they buy from farmers under long-term contracts in Fort Ross-Seaview, Russian River Valley, Bennett Valley, Dry Creek and Napa Valley. All of the Morlet’s wines are handcrafted using classical Burgundy and Bordeaux winemaking techniques and are matured in 100% French oak barrels. — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.8

At this point, while my nerve endings have left the building. THIS bad boy came to play ball.
The nose is sexy with caramel, linze torte and spice box. Palette is lithe and compact. Ultra ripe fruits that are not coying. Huge length. Sense of place shines through. The night is still young, but this one is knocking very hard on the door of brilliance. Wifey concurs. — 9 years ago

with Martin

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.5

Yummy. Defined by clean ripe fruit. Pure velvet. Dark and rich. One of the best hundred acre I’ve tried. Perfect age — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Black tar, licorice, little bit of fig on the nose and palate. This wine would have been best enjoyed alone vs in a lineup like this. Would have loved to have opened this up alongside a buffalo ribeye or saucy game dish. Better after an hour of being open but initially the notes on this one are a bit muted and very VERY dark. Given some oxidation this one shows well, but unfortunately Dan's potato chips and wasabi nuts were not the best to make this shine appropriately. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Trent

Martin Mills

9.3

The top wine from the now defunct producer of what I’d rank as the best wines yet made in Canada, making this perhaps the pinnnacle of Canadian winemaking. This one is mellowing in its dotage, but delivering superbly complex layers of Meursault-like popcorn/toast/smoke on top of a seam of minerality that traces from salinity through to lime citrus fruit. Lovely golden hue in the glass, I expect this to continue to evolve ever more finesse for at least five more years. Seemingly unavailable any more in Ontario, I found this at The Port NSLC in Halifax for $87 and a special occasion. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

One more Central Coast Syrah. PharaohMoans is from a 3 acre estate on Paso Robles Westside (the Salinas River Valley splits the area into Eastside and Westside). Guillaume Fabre is the winemaker and previously spent time at L’Aventure. The wine is 95% Syrah and 5% Grenache. As Jeb Dunnuck noted in his barrel tasting, “If you're craving lightweight aromas and flavors, look elsewhere.” This is the liqueur version of chocolate covered cherries, and a crème de cassis, kirsch, and mocha head-spinner that packs a wallop. Secondary baking spices and sandalwood add some complexity. — 8 years ago

Eric Vrtis

9.5

I have never tasted a better Cabernet Franc. So cab franc-y in it's pepper and Earth, yet so dense and fruity. More perfectly ripe blueberries and fragrant violets than one could dream up. — 8 years ago

Dana Wagner

9.5

Phenomenal. Drinking perfectly after twenty-one years. Worth the wait. — 8 years ago

Michelle Baily

9.2

Fairly expensive. Not too sweet. — 9 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.5

You can taste the similarities to Hundred Acre that Jayson Woodbridge built in here. Just like the label on the bottle, the palate is velvet, Black Forest cake, espresso, smoke, sweet oak, Cuban cigar, fresh maple syrup. Needs a decade. But still, right now it's.... Boom 💥 — 9 years ago

with Frank, Kevin and 1 other

ADAM STROMFELD

9.8

Dark nose. Cooked stewed black cherries. Soft and velvety tannins. Incredible balance elegance. Coffee and tobacco on the back end. Jayson nailed this one! — 7 years ago

with Bob and Leonard

Shay A

9.5

Shed its baby fat. At its best today...won’t get any better moving forward. No milk chocolate, faint cherry filled dark chocolate nose. Little bit of cherries jubileee and cedar. While really smooth, I think these are best with 8-10yrs on them as opposed to 18 like this one. However, for what this is and how it aged, it’s pretty impressive. Also, look at the ABV here...shocking to see on a Hundred Acre wine! — 7 years ago

with Dan and Mark

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this in a recent blind tasting. Aged for 12 months, very pleasant light berry fruit aromas with slight undertones of earthiness. On the palate cherry and currants with subtle spice. I would consider this one of the lighter bodied CA Pinot’s I have tasted. Soft tannins lingering ending with a mineral tang. Nice, from their 1500 acre Grace Benoit Ranch in Carneros. Consistent quality from recent tastings. — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.4

Scenes from last night’s dinner:
‘15 Accendo Sauvignon Blanc
‘13 Relic Ritual (not pictured)
‘12 Entre Nous Estate
‘12 Entre Nous Secret Acre
‘13 Entre Nous Secret Acre
‘12 Checkerboard Estate (Aurora)
‘12 Mithra Mt. Veeder
‘98 Chateau d’Yquem
‘16 Brilliant Mistake Sauv Blanc
‘06 Detert Cab Sauv

Thank you @David L @Shawn R @Martin G Rivard @Joe Lucca - for coming to Brooklyn on a Sunday night!

————
This wine is super refined and elegant. The amount of acid was noticeable at this point - and the tannins are strong even after a four plus hour decant. This is one for the long haul. It was cool to taste this side by side with the ‘12 vintage as well as next to the ‘12 regular Estate. All so different yet all so good. Such wonderful wines it’s sad they’re no longer making them. — 8 years ago

with Martin, David and 2 others

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

First of the two blind Zinfandel blends paired with our turkey burgers and black bean veggie burgers. Deep garnet red. A bit herbal on the nose with dark fruits that became stronger with air. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and light plus to medium bodied. Rich and plush attack, drinking its best between hour one and two. Notes of strawberry jam, boysenberries, blackcurrants, bramble berries, blue fruits, asian spices and a touch of cocoa. Finish lingers for quite a bit. Drink till 2019.

This Prisoner was the first vintage under their new ownership (no longer with Orin Swift). This vintage is made up of 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Malbec and 1% Grenache. Needed twenty minutes or so to open up but beautiful fruits after that. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Michael Walker

9.6

Still waiting on this one. Pretty acidic. I think we got snowed — 9 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Wow. Wow. Truly a stunning wine. And it's not even one of their top bottlings. Classic Riesling nose. Juicy on the palate with great aromatics. Balanced fruit. Long long juicy finish. Most producers would be thrilled to call this their top wine. Wow. Twenty five bucks or so. — 10 years ago