Tom Watson

8.9

Surprisingly strong performance from the 2012 vintage. Leather, blackberry and the aura of authority that suggests a few more years would get more interesting still. I’ll be back. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

The Caymus of the Central Coast. Inky with massively extracted red and black fruit, and in a mode not unlike pie filling. Not to be denied, it's loaded with vanilla, baking spice, fig, and a few drops of root beer extract. The aura of charcoal and new leather weave throughout, all with an edge of tilled earth. Translating this from taste and smell to sight and sound, this is walking into a brand new casino. — 8 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.5

Great wine from a terrific produce. Volley after volley of white fruit, apple and a exotic tropical component. Solid acid backbone to offset the sweetness. @Valerie O'Shea and @Nancy dwight love this producer by missed out on this bottle.
A numerical score says nothing really given the superb nature of this wine. — 9 years ago

with Judy

Ken Schmidt

9.3

2009. Wine 2 of 3 from my first wine club shipment. Marin nicknames this "Dos Hombres". I remember that this wine is very, very, very dry. Sucks the moisture out of your mouth. I think I liked it more than Valerie. Her favorite is "Intimate", A 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon—the one with the gold label (the one with the red label is "French Kiss"). — 9 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

10

Worthy of its reputation. Truly perfect. Even @Valerie O'Shea and@Nancy Dwight might switch from burgundy. — 9 years ago

with Nancy, Valerie and 1 other

Frederic Azemard

10

45 and Valerie Beylier
Parfume, tres souple.
Excellent — 10 years ago

Stewart Alsop

9.8

I did not know about Baba au Rhum until Valerie corrupted me. They left the bottle on the table and she poured more rum into the cake. — 10 years ago

with Valerie

Cyril Rouvie

9.8

Certainement dans le top 3 des vins que j'ai bu. Peut-être le meilleur. Très jeune,il aura fallu attendre 1h de carafe avant que les parfums se révèlent totalement et évoluent jusqu'à la dernière gorgée. Fin, soyeux et pourtant d'une puissance aromatique folle ! — 11 years ago

Stephen Moore

8.9

Varietal #84 Picpoul Blanc. Easy drinking bottle of French white, citrus and melon :) #yegwine — 11 years ago

TJ Donohue

9.4

With a semi-dry comes a fruity pleasure. Though consider semi-dry this Aura Chardonnay has a pleasantly robust apple finish making for a delectable enjoyment during dinner, formal settings or relaxation. — 12 years ago

Patrick Vogel

9.3

Straight soil & soul. The waves of terroir on this cuvée will not escape you::::it is relentless in its expression: hence the note on the bottle :: Expression Originale du Terroir. Very little fruit out the gate...dry...maybe something very dark and deep...minerality then soil and deeper and deeper. It has a mystic aura, ethereal. I can honestly say I've never tasted anything remotely like it. — 8 years ago

Stewart Alsop

9.5

A splurge. This bistro has a remarkable wine cellar, which I'd like to adopt as my own! But just one bottle, and this was an excellent choice by Valerie. It took the whole meal to establish its personality, which is bold and complicated. — 9 years ago

with Valerie

Erik Nordman

9.3

Stupid good single-site Riesling from the Chehalem Mountains. Impeccable balance. Could totally see calling this as a high-quality Nahe kabinett if blinded on it but at the same time it still has a distinctly Oregonian aura about it. Nose of ripe nectarine, key lime, and honeydew, pure, slate-y wet stone minerality, cherry blossom, subtle cardamom and nutmeg spice, and just a touch of petrol starting to show. Palate echoes the nose, channeled through bracing high acid and an extra layer of flinty mineral focus. Moderate concentration, medium (-) body but with great texture from neutral oak fermentation and elevage and possibly some lees influence as well. As referenced above, sweetness is comparable to some of the less sweet German kabinett wines; delightfully off-dry. Deliciously quenching. Gonna hoard a couple bottles of this because I'd love to see how this fares with a bit more development in bottle. — 9 years ago

Ken Schmidt

9.0

2014. Valerie and I had this at The Restaurant at Convict Lake. Really liked it with out ribeye. It opened up nicely, bold; not a guest wine. Only $36 at the restaurant. — 9 years ago

Ruben Lozano

9.3

CasaGomez #cuixmala
Excelente vino Mexicano — 9 years ago

Matt Trader

9.0

Mystique - a fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power surrounding someone or something.
I'd say the label holds true. Power trapped in a bottle. Such a dark purple wine. Full of cedar-like aromas, clove, and burnt coffee bean. The pallet was gripping, and rustic, exhibiting notes of under ripe blackberries, raspberries, lavender, black tea, wet hot rocks, and a very everlasting gripping finish. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc; definitely needs some age but bravo.

Cheers!

$29.99 — 9 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Lovely. Tropical fruit, honey suckle, pear with just enough off setting minerals. Almonds and fennel. Mouth coating and high viscosity. Long finish. High geek factor, perfect for Valerie. — 10 years ago

with Valerie

Ken Schmidt

8.9

2013. Still available at BevMo!, and on sale (5¢).

2012. Valerie and I liked this our first bottle of this new vintage. Reminded Valerie of the Osprey. I thought it was a little jammy. — 11 years ago

Stewart Alsop

8.9

Valerie doesn't like it as much as I do, I think it's really interesting. Can't read the label! — 11 years ago

with Valerie

Terrance Johnson

10

1997 and full of flavor and needing decanting — 13 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Baby, it’s cold outside. Falling near 70! The stouts are out! This sleek black beauty has it all! Thick, even lacing in two tone cafe shades, a cumulus attitude. Clean almond and cacao pod with a lemon pith aura. Bee pollen, waterfall rocks and northern oyster shell, including a light brine. Medium mouthfeel and soft minerality prevailas sips reduce the lace to alphabet soup fonts and ultimately horror forests. Unexpectedly clean, with coffee-cola notes and caramelized onion minus the burn. Crispy vanilla that turns creamy with agitation. Steely, smoky, pepper crackers, and bitter violets. #boulevardbrewing #darktruth #kcbeer #stout #dankdark — 8 years ago

with Courtney

David Kline

9.2

Dusty creek basin, dried raspberries, cranberries and rainier cherry contrast with sliced red plum, crepe paper, sunflower petal. Incredible depth and texture, with stony plum, dried black cherry, fig skin, powdery raspberry, dried violets, and a baked, black olive and red saffron aura. This is a fine burgundy, and at a price that makes you smile! — 9 years ago

with Courtney

.:;2):’kicndnebxhjd

9.0

Haven't had any of their pinots in awhile but I love this. Just more earth than fruit with a spicy warm aura of tobacco, currant, and dark cherries. Really loved this — 9 years ago

Ken Schmidt

9.1

2013. Bought at Whole Foods. Valerie and I drank at Matt's birthday party at Peggy's and Matt's house. UPDATE 9/2016. Needs to breathe then gets better. Not as memorable this time. — 9 years ago

Ken Schmidt

9.0

2013. Valerie and I had this at Melba's and again at her bistro. Spicey fruity. Opens up and becomes gentler. — 9 years ago

Ken Schmidt

9.0

2013. Valerie and I had it with spicy chicken and squash. Noticeably dry. Bought two at Bevmo! probably with 5¢ sale. (2014 is no good.) — 10 years ago

Christy Canterbury MW

Master of Wine

9.3

Boisterously creamy #Barbera w/ oodles of forest berries taking on a tobacco-scented aura. Has at least another 5 yrs to go. — 10 years ago

Julie Feldhaus

9.5

Valerie got this from fresh thyme — 11 years ago

Sarah Tarkoff

10

Valerie bday — 11 years ago

Kirk C

9.7

Aura restaurant January 2014 — 12 years ago