Stuart Pollack

9.3

Powerful Syrah that went great with my pizza. The fruit is amazing. Likely the best Washington state wine I have had. An American-style Syrah, not elegant like Hermitage, but interesting in its own right. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 6 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.2

Cracking good Adelaide Hills pinot. So different from most. Plush and broad with subtly spiced plum and cherry. Right time to drink - one more bottle left and won’t be keeping it a lot longer. — 7 years ago

with Sam

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Patz and Hall Wine Company founded in 1988 by Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz, with a mission of producing hand-crafted wines. Dark Ruby with complex aromas of black and red fruits with herb and floral scents. From Dijon clones, on the palate sweet cherry and strawberry with cacao, earthy spice and notes of smoke. Aged on French Oak, this wine was well balanced, savory, round tannins, lingering nicely ending with some earthy mineral tones. Has room to age. Excellent!! Tasting Sample! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Yup...that's Neil Patrick Harris on their Label. Sleight of Hand Cellars got involved in a charity that NPH was apart. They got to talking and found he not only had a love of Magic, but wine as well. The relationship evolved well enough, they asked him if he would be on one of their labels and Neil agreed. The "Sleight of Hand Cellars" label has been seen a few times on "How I Met Your Mother." NPH is also is a club member. The Conjurer is blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot from the Columbia Valley. Nice, fresh nose of; ripe dark currants, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, black licorice, dark chocolate, soft spice, wood shavings and fresh dark florals. The palate is M+ body & soft M+ tannins with a thick, round mouthfeel. Dark spice, eucalyptus, mint, herb notes, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, chocolate, caramel apple, black licorice, crushed rocks, soft leather, nice, round, acidity and a very well polish finish. This is very easy to drink young and will cellar 10 years. — 8 years ago

Mo Hassankhani

9.2

An absolute gem. It was great initially but just kept on getting better and better as it opened up. Definitely a wine that I need to keep on hand at home. Especially since it comes in half bottles. Tastes like it's in its prime. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Established in 1987, DD Oregon is owned by famed Burgundy producer, Maison Joseph Drouhin. Hand-crafted by fourth generation winemaker, Veronique Drouhin-Boss. Ruby with fruit and sweet floral scents, very French in style. On the palate cherry and blueberry with pepper and earthy notes. Young but integrated tannins, well defined, elegant with underlying richness, long finish.
— 6 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.0

* appearance: dark purple
* aromas: blackberry, black olive, vanilla, cracked pepper, smoke
* palate: very dense, black fruit, black olive
* structure: full bodied, medium+ acidity, medium tannins, 14.7% ABV
* finish: long, peppery
* winemaking: 100% Syrah blended from three vineyard: Les Collines Vineyard (44%)/Lewis Vineyard (41%)/Stoney Vines Vineyard (15%), aged for 17 months in 15% new oak and 85% older oak barrels
* cost: $45 — 6 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

Visited the winery in Walla Walla and this wine is a winner with full strawberry aromatics and solid acidity. Can use more time in the bottle but is hard to resist drinking now. Well made from quality fruit. — 6 years ago

Peg Hanssen

9.8

Preparing for our adventure to Portugal Surdyks’ Recommendation:
(Douro) Portugal is a prolific wine country, best known for its sweet dessert wine - Port. World famous in its many styles, Port is sweet and fortified, prized for its rich flavors and lush texture. Portugal also has fabulous dry red wine. Dow’s “Vale do Bomfim” is made with the same grapes and sourced from the same historic Douro Valley that produces Dow’s great Ports. Portugal’s indigenous grapes – Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão – are names that should pique your interest and draw you to this imported discovery. Picked by hand and manually sorted with great care, the grapes are fermented in small vats. The resulting wine has complexity and style. Portugal’s Douro Valley has consistently good climate and growing conditions almost every year. The flavors are dynamic and the tannic structure is soft and silky. This is a really good wine for all occasions, with an affordable price and value.
$8.49 Spring 2017 ($14.49) — 7 years ago

Bret Barker

9.5

Hand me down flip-flops, hand me down socks. Hand me down drug dealers hand me down rocks.. love Ludacris and I love the dirty socks of Bordeaux. 96 pichon is in a great spot. Silky, fruit, great balance, long finish.. no complaints. Get involved! — 8 years ago

with Adam

Jim Miller

9.0

Light, in Malbec terms. Long legs. Very good. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.4

If I'd known then what I know now. I find cab sav is most often a purchase based on speculation - they're frequently released far too young and are pretty much undrinkable in their youth. All overpowering tannin and intensity. This is an example of one very much worth the wait. Cool climate elegance combined with concentrated fruit and all sorts of complex notes layered throughout: menthol, cedar, blackcurrant, spice, hints of dusty chocolate and gently perfumed oak. Still has years ahead of it. Can't wait for dinner to finish cooking so I can sock it back with a rump steak. Should have bought more way back when! — 9 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.3

Holy ****! This is good. Move over Oregon! Tart raspberry, strawberry, and forest floor to the max balanced by tremendous acidity and smooth tannins. Clusters are hand selected from 65 year old vines and aged 14 months in neutral oak. The structure and character remind me of some higher end Oregon Pinots but with more concentration. Decant for 2 hours to let it open up - then enjoy. 2017 vintage on Jan 17, 2019 — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Out of the 4 wines opened at The Bird, this one edged out the Numanthia 12 by a hair. Quite similar profiles IMO. This Walla Walla Syrah was quite enjoyable with dark black fruit on the front. Consistent with the 2015 I tasted a bit ago but IMO, this one had a bit more of a smoked beef flavor in the middle that the dark sweet and still youthful fruit gave way. Chose this as the "food" wine since most chose the Bird Burger (a grass fed beef burger)....it went rather well. Popular with the crowd of novices and winos, the smoky finish was very complementary. Maybe I might acquire a few of these WA Syrahs afterall to have for these purposes....(not a word, @Shay A .... 😆) — 6 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.5

Such a good drink! Everything in its right place. Perfect Tuesday night drink with a roasted bird. Superb structure and flow. — 7 years ago

Alan Evans

9.2

Great winery. Great wine. Lovely balance. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

100% Old Vine Chardonnay sourced from the French Creek Vineyard in Yakima Valley. On the nose; lemon, lime, green apple, underripe green melon, cream, buttered popcorn, notes of herbs and yellow & white lilies. Nice mouthfeel...slightly creamy. Fresh fruits of; lemon, lime, green apple, underripe green melon, notes of buttered popcorn, grassy notes, crisp minerality, nice acidity and round, rich finish. — 8 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.1

Deep garnet red. Intense nose of fruits, leather and licorice. Rich on the palate with good tannins. Grapes: 65% Cabernet, 30% Merlot, 5%. The wine is ready to drink and should keep well for years ahead. Hand-picked grapes. Barrel aged 16-20 months (35% new oak), bâtonnage 4 months. Domaine de Chevalier classified Grand Cru Classé de Graves. Belongs to Bernard Family (#1 in in France on the spirits market) since 1983. Pessac-Leognan is important Bordeaux red and dry white wine appellation. — 8 years ago