Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founder Nicky Hahn, grew up speaking German. In his native language, the word ‘Hahn’ means rooster, which is why a depiction of this bird has always graced the label of his wines. Aromas of dark berry fruits with sweet dried spice notes. On the palate cherry and blueberry with oaky notes, cacao and sweet spice. Fine grippy tannins, savory, lingering ending with fruit and mineral tones. Nice value! — 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 .... 😆) — 7 years ago

Nathan Rogers

9.2

Can always count on this matched up with a good bird. — 8 years ago

Matt Song

9.2

Put a bird on it — 8 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Color is like liquid copper, amazing. Took about an hour to open, then nearly as good as upon release, nice acid, Loire Cab Franc, tart strawberry on the palate. One more bottle and we're clean out, loved this wine, only found it once. One of our favorite bottles, with a bird on it! — 9 years ago

Marc Pavan

9.0

Thick and rich! Dark maroon with a brown rim. Oak and leather push through the dark stone fruit aromas. All that aging has taken the edge off the tannins. Mellow for sure. Leathery and full on the palate. Used as a conversation wine at a gathering. Paired well with fruits from the tray, cheese log and Doritos. Honestly, for $18.99 cdn you can't go wrong with this. Lots of gold on the label and wire mesh give an elegance that makes the host think that it punches above it's price class. — 9 years ago

with Leslie

Martin Redmond

8.9

Very pale yellow color with plenty of active tiny bubbles. I got pie crust, green apple, lemon, chalk and a nuanced spice note on the nose. On the palate, the mousse is creamy with green apple, lemon, ginger, and a bit of apricot with a chalky minerality. Wonderful bubbly. Wish I'd left open in the fridge for a couple of hours has suggested. Will do next time!

The wine was fermented in old French old barrels with native yeasts. After 7 months of aging, the wine was put into bottle for secondary fermentation and disgorged in June 2015 with 2 grams of dosage. — 9 years ago

Scotscowgirl

10

Lucious wine full of ripe blackberries. Not overly spiced and exceptionally smooth. Perfect with a simple filler steak followed by cheese. — 10 years ago

Richie Mello

9.3

Caution: Some of these are super carbonated so watch where you point that bad boy when you twist off the wire. Consequently it's the most effervescent cider/poire I've ever experienced, nearly the same effect of putting mento's and coke in your mouth. Hazy golden color with a nice layer of lees sediment. The french farmhouse funk is as lovely as ever with alot of very obvious acetic acid on both the nose as well as palate. Semi-dry, appreciatively fresh with a nice long back end to round things out. She's a beaut :) — 11 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.5

Insanely balanced, and firing on all 12 cylinders. High-wire. Freshness with density, and heady perfumed floral aromatics matched with compelling savory, meaty notes from the variety and noble reduction. A pity I can't afford to drink more of this. You could wait more than a few years to bust into this, but crazy good now. — 11 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.4

Fathers Day in style. One of my very favorite wines from anywhere. Clos Canarelli Corse Figare Rose. It’s simply exuberant, but has a fresh, thirst quenching character to it as well. It takes a special bottle to pair with this album which I received as a Father’s Day present. The one and only recording from Michael O’Shea who played a self made 17 strong dulcimer of sorts and was encouraged by members of The The and Wire to record this in the early 80’s. Both have a soulful mystery to them which make for a wonderfully introspective time on an introspective day. I love that my family humors these little obsessions and shares them with me. — 6 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Clean and incisive, red berry fruit and a slight touch of brioche on the nose. Creamy but somewhat aggressive mousse. I think @Morgan Twain-Peterson and @Chris Cottrell are doing very cool things here and am waiting to see some late disgorgement versions of these! — 7 years ago

david hassell

10

big juicy dark berries in my nostrils~leading into a semi-heavy tannic palate balancing on a high acidity tight wire...tastes like a cold climate tannic berry beast — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

One of the hottest restaurants in town, Saturday night, the week before Cara's birthday: all the makings of a delightful date night.

Rarely is chicken king but at Le Coq Rico that's very much the case. Antoine Westermann apparently spent years trying to find the perfect chicken before he was comfortable opening the New York outpost of his famed Parisian poultry eatery. The Brune Landaise is indeed a beautiful bird, heavy on the white meat yet utterly succulent and flavorful. Anyone eating at Le Coq Rico should also try the extraordinary slow cooked eggs to start and end with I'ile Flottante, a perfectly spherical soft meringue floating in a sea of rich crème anglaise. Indulgent and divine.

I brought a 1994 L'Eglise Clinet, which I picked up a few years ago. Apparently this wine is considered a standout in an otherwise difficult vintage. Supple and right at its peak, this medium bodied Bordeaux has hints of cherry and tar that evolves beautifully on the palate. (Corkage is $50 per 750ml, max two per table.) — 8 years ago

with Cara

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.3

Tear up the vintage chart, forget about the dominance of Chardonnay in Chassagne- this is a delicious red Burgundy. This Colin has sappy fruit, seamless texture and great fresh, red Pinot fruit. This wine has generous aromatics and flavors- after an hour in the decanter it was completely open, yet never stopped offering interest. This delivers on the promise of good Burgundy- a far rarer bird than great Burgundy, at a very fair price! — 9 years ago

Marshal White

9.1

Comes into its own on night two. Black fresh fruit, aromatic (orange peel, hot rocks, and rose water) with some of that ethereal aromatic character that Etna Rosso has, but in a more grounded, less high-wire way. — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Second of the two Left Bend reds sent over to us from Gary. Love the labels on these wines and the name of this vineyard, 'Vanumanutagi' which is a Samoan word meaning "Vale of the Singing Bird". Trust us this wine sings! Bright ruby red with purplish hues. Nose started off a little tight with just red cherries and a slight perfume, but as it opened up over the next few hours it developed some cinnamon, vanilla, baking spices and some light lead. Strong acidity on the palate, makes us this it is definitely packing a punch and can last. The strong acidity hides the alcohol well. Moderate tannins (6/10) and moderate body carried by the acidity. Strong attack of red fruits and cherries. As it had some time to breathe the palate developed some baking spices, slight caramel and herbs, all very subtle. Slightly drying finish from the acidity with a little wet rock feel. A ton of potential with this wine, we drank this on day one, two, three, four and it kept opening up and its body held together. With a few extra years this will definitely score a few more points. Drink now till 2026. — 10 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.2

Dang, this 13 is a succulent wine. Young but singing like a song bird. Dense, extracted, and rich as all get out. Milk chocolate, dried flowers and black plum on the nose, fabulously rich sweet fruit on the palate.. A touch of lavender and tannins rounding out the mouth make this a dynamite wine for $30 - the best vintage of this I've had.. Get as much as you can. — 10 years ago

Ashley Paramore

9.5

This is a real winner. Fruity. Bird approved. Grown on a volcano. What's not to love? — 11 years ago

with Justin

lynda lou bouch

9.7

rocked my world in every way. put a bird on it! — 12 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Served at The Bird as well during the meal. I had luck with these wines in the past. I think Termes is a better short term drinker than Numanthia is a long term holder. Lots of roasted black fruit on the front and middle, this one just doesn't have the finish or structure. Could this be in an odd place? Surely. Not really decanted for that long before serving, but the Sequel dispatched of it rather quickly both in flavor and complexity. The more I think about it, there is a 2 point difference in the 2 wines. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Fruit comes principally from the Walla Walla Valley from Yellow Bird vineyard. Aromas of sweet berry fruit with some gentle spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry with cacao, vanilla oak & a bit of pepper spice. Soft tannins, lingering ending with sweet spice notes. Nice! Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Happy National Wine Day! 🍷🥂🎉🎊

I haven’t had this 08 in about 3-4 years. I had four bottles then and drank them faster than I imagined it was just that insanely delicious. This Hendricks 08 Santa Lucia Pinot Noir is in the top two CA Pinot’s I’ve enjoyed. I found two bottles recently on auction for a ridiculous $40. When it’s sold in futures at the Hope & Grace tasting room it’s $75 and $90 upon release.

The nose reveals slightly baked; dark cherries, blackberries, blue fruits, lots of plum, black plum, cherries, some black raspberries & strawberries. Some of the most beautiful spice on the nose mine has come across. It’s slightly sweet, dark with a touch of incense. Crushed powdery limestone, savoriness, cola/licorice, blue & red fresh florals with violets.

The body is medium and flat out gorgeous. Its flows & dances over the palate. It’s a sexy wine. Wire to wire this wine doesn’t disappoint. Ripe and slightly candied; dark cherries, blackberries, blue fruits, lots of plum, black plum, cherries, some black raspberries, pomegranate, dry cranberries & strawberries. Beautiful dark spice with heat that lifts off the palate, nicely soft baking spices, incense crushed dry rock & powdery limestone, some rich, moist, dark earth, savoy meats, dry stems, spice, cola/licorice, blue & red fresh florals with violets. The acidity is spectacular. The length, structure and balance have hit its peak. The finish is; rich, ripe, the definition of elegance, perfectly balanced and doesn’t end. It just goes on & on.

Photos of; Santa Lucia vines, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks doing the heavy lifting in the cellar l, grapes waiting to be crushed and the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville where this wine is sold. Charles is the Winemaker for Hope & Grace as well. — 8 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.0

Pale pale not quite ripe plum- with whitish fruit. Oak? So very subtle it's hardly if at all registering. Tart apple. A hint of sun on it but only just. Now that it's warming up a bit- some butter is melting. Nothing shouting movie popcorn. Everything about this gem is quiet. Haiku not a sonnet. Bird song not an orchestra. Not for something bold. Creamy cheese. Crusty bread. Shellfish — 8 years ago

alewifery

10

man on a wire. got to be kidding me. blows away 90% of mature barley based products. #armangac #charlesneal #pellehaut — 9 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.2

Blanc not Noir. Apple, ripe pear, rolling in my mouth, smooth with a touch of tartness in the finish. Lawn clippings under a shade tree. A plump bird sings on the branch. — 9 years ago

alewifery

9.0

Truly a symphony. Balanced like that fool in Man On a Wire. For those that find the cloying sweet malt of some Belgians disgusting, this is the answer. A tinge of sour a tinge of malt. #symphony — 10 years ago

Martin Redmond

9.2

Love this single vineyard vintage California bubbly. It's charismatic, layered, broad, energetic, and vinous with a yellow orchard fruit, ginger, floral, mixed citrus (lime and a hint of blood orange marmalade), gentle spice character underscored with an appealing wet stone minerality. 12% alcohol, 22 months on lees, dosed at 3g/L — 10 years ago

David Landrum

9.0

Like a baptist preacher Amen-ing a c-sharp into my cerebellum. Aggressive and bold, yet soft silky tannins that dance delicately on my tongue, a Degas stuck in mid pirouette. Drinking alone in the D often has it's advantages... Drink now if you have this rare bird! — 11 years ago

Carri-anne Hamer

10

This is one of the best double IPA's out there; whether it is a nitrous tap, bomber, or one year old bomber. The depth of this particular beer is perfect on its on its own, a burger with a bird on top, or with a good slow cooked meat. All in all, you will not be disappointed. — 11 years ago