Shay A

9.3

Our local Central Market does big themes throughout the year and mid-Sept is “UK Passport”, highlighting all sorts of English food, drink and more. Needless to say, there was an array of English Sparklers available at 20% off and I rolled the dice on this vintage rosé as I’ve been intrigued by the demand of English Sparklers. Wine Enthusiast 93 for those who are interested in scores.

Very pale colored in the glass. Bubbles are extremely tiny. The aromatics aren’t as “fruit filled” as I expected...more along the lines of the skins of fruit, especially red apple peel, and raspberry. Chalky notes are there on the palate but not overly so. Very little yeast, but a good amount of honey on the finish. Not complex and incredibly easy to drink and enjoy. Would put this in the same category as Chapel Down’s Brut Rosé...maybe slightly ahead. — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.6

Wow... this has to be one of the best vintages of Ontogeny in years, if not ever. Higher concentration of Tench vineyard, used in the EE Red, than in any other vintage of this wine. Incredible nose of luxardo cherries, pencil box, leather, lavender syrup, and vanilla. The pallet is brick house! Tannins perfectly integrated, full throttle, exhibiting notes of smoked blackberry reduction, dark chocolate, red delicious apple skin, licorice, and a finish that lasts forever. I feel like there's no way this wine should score less than 97 on WA. In my top 10 wines I've had all year - I will gladly take a bottle of this for Christmas! ;) — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.4

2012 wasn't the best year for left bank Bordeaux, but don't tell that to Pape Clement, because they crushed it! (All puns intended) Decanted from 11-4pm before jumping in, and it could have spent even more time breathing. The nose was divine - rose water, crushed gravel, pencil box, cloves, espresso bean, and mulled black fruits. The pallet was full of focused tannins and dark rich fruit - black plum, creme de casis, red licorice, red delicious apple skin, mineral, vanilla, green bell pepper, nutmeg, and a lingering finish of dark chocolate. Absolutely a full throttle wine, and this one will age just as long as their 100 pt 2010. Also, this vintage is average only $90, compared to about $250, so it is the best value in some of the best of Bordeaux. Buy all this up while you can, try one, and hold on to them for as long as you can! Hold, and drink from 2027-2047. — 8 years ago

with Tais

David Kline

9.1

2007 and really just a beautiful lady. Roses, but with cinnamon apple, burnt grapefruit rind bouquet. Impeccable silky tar that exhibits dried plum, Bing cherry, goji berry, tinder box and brown mushroom, salty watermelon, white pepper. A sexy sexy wine. — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Matt Duncan

9.6

Vibrant plum attack. Subtle cigar box behind candied apple. Blueberry sage resolution. Coco nib aromas. A certain sort of weathered appeal gives cause for reflection and contentment. — 10 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Needs a little nudge. Let it warm to cellar temp and open up to about 60 degrees; but not to room temp or you’ll let too much acid through and it’ll taste harsh.

Nuanced aromas of chamomile, apple, sweet lemon, tarragon, and vanilla cinnamon. A round to medium creamy body is balanced out by guided salty minerals and high acid. Finished with citrusy desserts - ice box lemon pie and sliced lemon preserve. — 7 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.9

Loads of spice box and apple pie. 60 second finish — 7 years ago

with Weston

Matt Trader

9.4

This is just a stunning wine. 2005 is still just so young and absolutely gorgeous at the same time. The nose is almost the best part.. mushroom, leather, pencil box, dark chocolate, anise, grilled meat, and tobacco - classics of St Julien. The pallet is firm and full of flavor, no where near it's plateau! Exhibiting notes of black pluma, bruised red apple skins, white pepper & clove, and a still fresh blackberry finish that lingers forever. Need some more of this! — 8 years ago

Celia Smith

9.0

Thin, pear, alcohol, honey. Green apple, chlorine. drank at home while watching Ellen. Lasting aftertaste. In a box. — 9 years ago

Erik Rupinski

9.3

Last of my stash of this delicious juice from Alpha Box & Dice in #mclarenvale. If only they exported to the US #sigh — 9 years ago

Ryan Stewart

8.9

Burnished copper color. Nose is full of fruit and spice: blackberry, dried apricots, apple tart, marmalade, and nutmeg. Palate resembles the nose, with the addition of cigar box notes, vanilla, and toasted almonds. Autumn in a bottle! Medium + finish. — 9 years ago

Jessica Waugh

9.0

So weird!!! So much going on! Bruised apple, overripe pear, dried peach, cheese rind, hazelnut, white flowers, perfume, citrus blossom, white tea, sherry-like, brine, saline, lanolin, wax, orange rind, vanilla, cigar box, oak, creamed corn, wow! — 10 years ago

Evan Bloom

9.2

Nose: sweat waft of apple, ripe banana,caramel, ripe dates

Palate: banana, dates, hunt of cigar box and earth, slightly viscous, long finish that is uber pleasant. — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.3

2010 Erba Cabernet Sauvignon is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon,7.5% Merlot,3.5% Cab Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, crafted by Denis Malbec - bless his soul - also known for Blankiet, owned by Paul Erba, all sourced from their mountain side vineyards ranging from 1100-1500 ft, on the peak next to Atlas Peak. 2010-2012 was Denis Malbec, and 2012-present is now Russell Bevan.
Beautiful wine for the value, and a bit of a sleeper! 2010 is still tight and young, and will attest time - will age like the best of mountain style wines.

Aromas of black plum skins, gravel dust, mashed blueberries and lavender, pencil box, espresso, black pepper, and leather. The pallet is dark, clean, and focused like St. Julien, but more fruit forward, exhibiting notes of casis, delicious red apple skins, dried cherries, bell pepper, clove, nutmeg, olive, smoked herbs, vanilla, and a bit of grippy tannin to the finish. For $90, this stuff is excellent. Can't wait to try the 2012 made by Russell Bevan! Paul Erba told me that he will be producing a single vineyard wine from Paul Erba's property next year as well! Glad to have this in my cellar. — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.1

A nice visit back to one of my favorites! Chateaux Lilian Ladouys is just such a great value north of Pauillac in St. Estephe. Perfume out of the glass: Sandalwood, decaying violets, wet underbrush, stewed plums, cigar box, and peppers. It still has chewy tannin structure, and luscious acid - red apple skins, black plums, mocha, tobacco leaf, and vanilla to the finish. I wish I laid more '09 down to have around for a while.. drink now through 2030.

Yumm! — 8 years ago

Matt Trader

9.3

I know this wine will be great in another 10...but I feel like I was getting a glimpse of its plateau this year. 12 wasn't the best year in Pauillac, but I am thoroughly enjoying the vintage across the board of left bank Bordeaux. It was showing that world class Pauillac nose - cigar box, gravelly/loamy soil, and mulled fruit. The pallet is nice and rich but not necessarily fruit forward, exhibiting flavors of stewed black plum, red apple skin, vanilla and espresso bean, and a lovely finish. This also made a great wine for our Cigars. — 8 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.1

White pepper nose. Light red apple attack with surprising spice box resolution. — 9 years ago

Lily Mirabelle Freedman

8.9

Better than your average apple juice box — 10 years ago

Austin Beeman

9.1

Red apple skins on the nose. Red fruits Stoney dusty tannins. Spice box. Tobacco. $50 — 11 years ago

Cat Matson

9.7

Mistress by alpha box & dice mclaren vale — 12 years ago

with Michael