Sarah Pugmire

10

One of my favorite wines! Love how crisp & easy to drink it is. — 2 years ago

Michael Ochsner

9.1

Huge, coying wine. Silky, lots of fruit. WG $13.75 — 5 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

~130 year old vine, oldest Cinsault vineyard in America, if not the world. Amazing fruit, slight raisin box adds a nice weight to the -medium body, fruitiness draws you back for another sip, balanced acidity, 13.5% ABV. Drink now. — 6 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.4

World greatest Chardonnay blind tasting — 6 years ago

Connor Smith

9.2

With the Wine Blight laying waste to her vineyards, France went from 8:1 exporter in 1870 to 6:1 importer in 1887. Legions of wine farmers faced total financial ruin. With no cure - or even a proper diagnosis - in sight, many saw no option but to flee to lands not yet affected.

The influx of institutional knowledge that flooded into former backwater wine regions like Rioja catapulted them into relevance, and soon matured into a world-class standard. The farmers had found respite, but couldn't run forever. By the time Phylloxera crossed the Pyrenees, however, there would be new ways to fight back.

French botanist Jules-Emile Planchon had a theory. If the blight was caused by a microscopic American insect as he suspected, perhaps grafted European varieties on American rootstock would be resistant. This would be confirmed by Missouri entomologist Charles Riley, and with millions of rootstocks supplied by Texas horticulturalist T.V. Munson, the Wine Blight was soon in remission.

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 6 years ago

Jeff Payne

9.3

Spicy fruity and lively top notes. — 7 years ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Lots of Fruit — 4 years ago

with TwiLea

Fredrik Finn

9.2

As the summer is slipping out of our hands, its time to to pop those complex reds that we’ve been lastning for. Produttori del Barbaresco is considered one of the best cooperatives in the world and its 2016 Barbaresco is a solid proof of that statement.
Restrained at first and needs a couple of hours in the decanter to reach its climax. True to its provenance its clasically crafted, and puts up complex profile of red cherries, rose hip, strawberries, spice, bitter orange and a volatile dried floral lift over a canvas of wet soil.
An offensive approach on the palate with a high acidity and a generous portion of mouth coating tannins that is well accompanied by a pronounced fruit profile with an evolving finish. Very good indeed, but is a couple of level behind to reach the higher tiers. — 5 years ago

Kelly Phillips

9.5

Very similar to the cooper and thief red blend but at a much lower costs. Hints of vanilla on the back end add for a pleasant aftertaste — 6 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.5

World greatest Chardonnay blind tasting — 6 years ago

Mike Rindler

9.4

Take me to Monte Rio... — 7 years ago

Paul Woolls

9.3

Lovely balance, old world sense. Beautiful leather notes. Long finish. — 7 years ago

Kirk F

9.2

Wine #2 in ‘old world’ flight. Tasted blind, decanted and from magnum. The most unique and fascinating wine of the evening with crazy exotic sweet flavors. Flight winner. — 7 years ago

Clark Riley

9.5

Excellent fruit/Berry tones with a dry super finish. — 4 years ago

Michael Walker

9.8

OG store wine recco - not bad, solid fruit but not jammy, a little acidic but opened up nicely. Good value; Decent quaffing zin. Continue to be super bullish Paso Robles — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

These can be polarizing wines due to their massive and rich profile, but they are certainly decadent, delicious and approachable young. That being said, this was probably at peak 3-5yrs ago. It didn’t seem tired, but the fruit has started to show some sappy qualities, as well as baked fig and cherry liqueur. Stewed black cherries, dark chocolate dipped blueberries and ripe blackberries. It drinks with good acidity and tannin, as well as cinnamon, graham cracker and more liqueur type notes at the finish. Still hedonistic in style. — 6 years ago

Scott Clawson

9.0

Really good inexpensive zin. — 6 years ago

tim heyman

9.0

very good 2001 aged surprisingly well for new world wine — 6 years ago

Jay Gaughan

9.0

Run Lola Run and a great wine — 7 years ago

Myorei

9.0

Funky red wine. V brought to il den. — 7 years ago