Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

9.0

Native Pico grapes grown on a volcanic basin, basalt soils so nutrient poor they are supplemented with soil from neighboring islands. The vineyard is surrounded by stone walls to protect against the fierce Atlantic winds, only 50 meters away from the shore. Deceptively blush in appearance, lightweight on the palette with thirst quenching summer red fruits, and cleansing saline minerality. — 7 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Great vintage but such a good wine, has a hefty mouthfeel yet balanced, strong dried tangerine & apricot notes but all kept in check. Liked better than previous bottles so wonder if benefiting from some time in bottle/decant- certainly has the stuffing. Terry Thiesse selection, who else? Oh, & at under 15$ at my wine store, that’s Crazy Eddie insane... — 7 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.3

Soil had high volcanic basalt content. Lithe. Tropical fruit mixed with mountain stones. Truly delicious. Even more giving on the nose than the Langenmorgen. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Lots of new oak use here. Dry sticky M+ tannins. Ripe blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries , blueberries , tough leather, cigar, dry red florals, crushed rocks, dry stone, a touch of saline from the Basalt this is farmed as shown in the photo. Coffee grounds, dry loamy soils, touch of olive, dry herbs. Leaner finish with good acidity. There's a potential for 9.4 with more with time in the bottle. Additional photo is the old classroom.
— 8 years ago

Christine Havens

9.3

A pinnacle Oregon Chardonnay, the 2014 Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard Summum hails from a single block at the heart of the Seven Springs vineyard where the soil is thin and a stony basalt outcropping can be seen. The vines, all Dijon clones, were planted in 1984, and are naturally low yielding. Summum is stunningly pure, precise, and texturally elegant. A silken ribbon wrapped around yellow apples and d'Anjou pear. Mandarin orange, lemon curd, pencil lead, trace minerality—it's very Burgundian. Sample — 8 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Tasting Room pour. The Syrah and Estate Cab were excellent, but the designate Cabs were eye-opening. This one from a microclimate block composed mostly of volcanic basalt. — 9 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.2

When these bottles are good, they're great. This was one of those - crunchy red fruit and hot basalt and leather and that Etna je ne sais quoi. With sugo on tajarin, lovely. — 9 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

8.9

Outstanding quality for a “second” wine. Juicy black fruit character with Asian spice and lavender aromas. Approachable, easy-going style that definitely speaks of Willamette Valley volcanic basalt terroir. Quite enjoyable. — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

Fresh raspberry, roses and sandalwood. Bright fruit aromas and flavors with juicy and viscous mouthfeel. Supple, firm tannins that build slowly and spread on the palate. I’m picking up on elements of both basalt and sedimentary soils here, great range and balance. Brilliant wine! — 7 years ago

Stanislav Lobanov

9.0

16.5/20 (90/100) Аромат яблок, желтой сливы с петрольной нотой. Высокая, немного колючая кислотность, чувствуется остаточный сахар. Насыщенное во вкусе. Отлично уже сейчас, но я бы подождал ещё год или два. — 7 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Sage, nutmeg, allspice, black currant, smoked blackberry and blackened plum with shimmering basalt, cedar and vintage tobacco. Medium mouthfeel with refined tannins, a blood-like iron taste, rich, black cherry and dried cranberry with a gritty, earthen coat. A sprinkle of graphite and nettle in a cedar box. #poderesapaio #bolgheri #italianredwine #rosso #thanksgivingwine #thanksgivingindulgence #thanksgiving — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Joshua Crisp

8.9

Fresh, sun-ripened blackcherries and freshly-picked thyme are upheld by aged leather, black peppercorn, and subtle pinecone and mesquite bark. Fresh plums and dates gush onto the palate, which give way to ripe Kalamata olives, brine and wet basalt, velvety tannins coming in on a short finish. Full yet lithe, fresh but aged, it is a great sipper wine. — 8 years ago

Adam Hawkins

9.2

Absolutely delicious.
Taste: smooth, iron-rich soil, spice-filled, strong earthiness on the back end.
— 8 years ago

with April

Chris Rush

9.1

A very perplexing and challenging white from the homeland of Haraszthy. Protestant in its austerity and basalt influence , yet rich and textured at 14% alc. Rocks and honey. — 9 years ago

with Kathryn

Jordan Wardlaw

9.1

Unique expression of pure, black volcanic basalt. Different front label created for export but still bearing the Forster Mariengarten site designation on the back. Pungent, savory, very forward nose that initially suggested flabbiness, but the attack on the palate was spot-on. Very contrapuntal and exciting wine with lots of contrast. — 7 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Big head of coffee foam crackles crisply changing to lighter tan as it drops to thinly reveal the black liquids below. Fun lacing of rings and loch monsters inform the ring. Delicious dark roasted aromas and something bordering on malted marshmallow. Chocolate truffle cross-sections follow. Arabica-dabra! Lovely mouthfeel with a mocha coating turns bitter in the best of ways. This is round two for this stout, and it only seems to get better! Cedar Sumatran tobacco, roasted pine nuts, toffee, leather, vanilla, and heavy espresso notes coax one into basalt with their black arts! Forest floor of mushroom and softening bark. #stonebrewery #americanostout #stout #imperialstout #beer #darkbeer #coffeestout #stoustoutstoutitallout #beers #isanybodystoutthere #oakaged — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.3

I remember when buying these was like Russian roulette. Half the bottles in the case would be bacterial, refermenting disasters, and the other half would be transparent, electric, mainline shots of awesomeness. Well, Frank's a better winemaker now than he was, and I haven't come across a flawed bottle in a few vintages. This sits firmly in the awesomeness camp, with red fruit and hot basalt and so much floral. A little riper than other vintages, though that's not a complaint, just an observation. — 8 years ago

Ryan Hare

9.3

Basalt dust. Cherry, pomegranate. Cocoa. Also good: Petit Syrah, Cab Franc, Syrah. Could age 10-15. — 8 years ago

Joshua Crisp

9.0

Hints of vanilla bean waft from the glass, which gives way to more powerful notes of freshly ground white peppercorn and cedar dust, deeper notes of dark cherries and grilled field mushrooms rounding out the bouquet. The darker notes carry over to the palate, the fresh cherries and black currants gliding onto the palate to unfold into juicy blueberries and blackberries, accented with ripe cranberries and smooth chocolate. Tannins are subtle and refined, and finishes a little short though on some lovely berry and wet basalt notes. Great quaffer! — 8 years ago

Chris Ursini

Brand Manager Chambers & Chambers

9.2

Somehow bursting with fruit yet restrained. High elevation, basalt and volcanic sand — 9 years ago