Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This Sauvignon Blanc spends a year in some new oak but mostly used oak and a 1/3 of it in concrete eggs. They also hold it back in bottle for another 1-1 1/2 years before they release it. On nose, great tropicals; melons, passionfruit, pineapple, banana peel, green apple, underripe Bosc pear with skin, citrus, citrus blossoms, jasmine and yellow florals. The mouthfeel is creamy & oily. It's very clean, pure, has precision and high mellow acidity. Green apple, green melon, citrus candy, peach, white peach, pineapple, guava, passion fruit, subtle light spice, delicate refined soft chalkiness with amazing body, texture and finish. Photos of their owner Ron leading the tasting. The concrete eggs used to ferment this Sauvignon Blanc. Their metal frog band adorning their grounds and those beautiful Howell Mountain vines sprung back to life. — 9 years ago

Amanda Pastrana

9.1

Strawberry yogurt bubble gum banana and red liquorish on the nose. Inferior strawberry, rhubarb, and cranberries on the palate. Enjoyed this a lot - easy drinking — 10 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.7

Perfect balance between acidity, fruit and just the right amount of oak. Tropical fruit and banana aromas. Peach, pear, honeysuckle, and tropical citrus on the palate and a slightly creamy finish. — 10 years ago

Erik Helms

Sommelier/Wine & Beer Buyer Whole Foods Oakland

9.1

Muted nose, yet shows honeydew, fresh rains, (petrichor), and ripe banana. Palate opens up, and is expressive. Tart and rich, despite the complete lack of oak. 100% Carneros, from Sangiacomo, and Ricci. Pure expression of fruit. Yum! — 10 years ago

Julie Adam

9.0

Really subtle white wine. Great flavors, banana, vanilla, plums... — 10 years ago

Nicky Robinson

9.0

The banana aroma stuff is bs — 10 years ago

Mary Jane Reiter

Sommelier & Writer SpecialForkWines

8.9

Grapefruit and banana on the nose. Crisp acidity. Med. finish. Nice with fish. — 11 years ago

Ted Miller

9.5

Banana pear and butter with a smooth, long fruity refined finish — 11 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.0

Banana, marshmallow — 12 years ago

Sunil Gupta

9.3

What in blazes .. — 12 years ago

Ariel Jackson

9.3

Impressive body & viscosity. Rosemary, lemon peel, green banana, nice acidity — 9 years ago

Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen KC

9.2

Huge fruit: pineapple, peach, fruit loops, honeysuckle. Ripe banana in palate with grassy, herbaceous note and a bitter hint to cut the lushness. — 9 years ago

David L

9.2

14' Sandlands Chenin Blanc Amador County. Only 5 barrels made of this .

Palate- Lemon Zest, guavas, ripe plum, banana peel, almonds . Washes clean with a healthy splash of minerality. Highly recommend!

Great waiting list to jump on. — 9 years ago

with Greg, Jo and 1 other

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.3

The new vintage is even more mineral driven than before. More acid, more freshness, more floral, but less body, less banana, and overall a better wine. — 10 years ago

Nick Ferrall

8.9

Big flavor. Banana and buttered popcorn? Sure, why not. — 10 years ago

Adam Knoerzer

9.1

My favorite pinotage that comes through with the velvety red and dark fruits with that kiss of banana on the finish. While I appreciate the styles that lean more pinot than cinsault, this is, to me, the standard bearer for the grape. — 10 years ago

Stacy Markow

9.2

Vanilla and banana aromas with a lush mouthfeel. I'm a big fan of the kimoto style of sake. — 11 years ago

Daron Watson

9.2

in short: subtle and smooth
the long: lemon citrus>bell peppers>coriander & clove>banana, wheat & bread — 11 years ago

Eron Garcia

9.4

Medium body. Long finish. Love the Creamcicle notes!! Orange, vanilla, and cloves dominant. A touch of banana and floral notes. Will stand up to a hearty sausage-based meal, or zesty cheese and crackers hors de oeuvres. — 11 years ago

Jacob Smith

9.1

Try a Black Banana, Guinness and this beer as a Black and Tan. It will blow your mind! — 12 years ago

Kenta Hayashi

8.9

Beautiful minerality, whiff of banana which was surprising, then stone fruits. — 9 years ago

Atul Vashistha

9.0

A ripe banana nose followed by a nice taste of more. I do want more. — 9 years ago

Allison Haas

8.9

Medium body, nutmeg, red berries, banana, spicy — 9 years ago

Tim

9.3

Beaujolais all day! Nose shows candied plums, overripe banana skin, dense wet soil. Loving the juiciness and roundness of candied red fruit, boysenberry, and banana all backed by relatively modest acidity and structure in the absence of tannin. Loving the elusiveness of pinning down exactly what I'm tasting here and could see this being a versatile food wine. This time we paired with Lamb and veal meatballs with homemade rigatoni and a cramp burgogne style sauce with a. Heavy dose of thyme. — 10 years ago

Lauren Vance

Buyer Whole Foods Market Oakland

9.0

Showing great sense of place, this is soil first- fruit second. Steely & chalky, with a good bit of funk on opening. As it warms, the fruit blooms and you see banana, clove, a bouquet of flowers and a touch of lemon. It's multi layered but not interwoven, and the heat rises as the wine warms. Grab a nice chunk of red hawk & this will shine. — 10 years ago

Christina Alcide

9.6

Raspberry, violets, potting soil, banana runts. Pure gamay and a perfect expression of terroir. — 10 years ago

Eric Bigger

9.2

Not sure why this is labeled a Strong Pale Ale, abv is 5.5%. However it is very delicious! Orange peel, spice and banana on the nose. Fresh and crisp, complex and crushable. Just a touch of lemony acidity on the finish. Very refreshing. — 10 years ago

Drew Summers

Sales Northampton Wines

9.0

Subdued Aromas & Flavors of Green Banana, Honeydew, Watermelon... — 11 years ago

with Cory

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.6

Tres Beautiful nose 👃👃👃
Caramel apple-banana brûlée top notes, pear and spice underneath, still-pert lemon zest and peach custard, too. Palate delivers that Cali-leonine body -ie big! - but with enough brisk acidity to keep things more than decent. Long, with flavors that echo the nose and all around beautiful balance. Drinking super well at moment, near its peak and rewarding this bit of bottle age with plenty of secondary characteristics. PLUS:: #winebling (yes, there are some tartrate crystals, folks - all just adding to the allure - game on!) — 11 years ago

Brooke Gannon

9.2

Smells kind of nutty, tastes like sour banana but so good.... A very interesting wine. Kind of love it — 12 years ago