Isaac Pirolo

9.7

It’s usually a good sign when the winemaker can articulate what the wine is about like this: “Ceras is Botanica’s counterpoint. Its color is more purple than red. It is more about minerals and herbs than fruit and flowers. It is a focused and elegant distillation of rock rather than an opulent cascade of fruit. It is an expression of the geology that lays beneath our land, the tart blue fruits of the coast range and the tender herbs that one finds amongst the trees and mushrooms of the Northwest forest.”

Her 2013 Ceras is yet another example of Maggie Harrison’s sorcery over the vines at Antica Terra. The focus and intensity of flavor is off the charts, yet it maintains an almost ethereal weightlessness, only emphasizing the layer of silk that separates you from the wine. The pungent rock is so on point and distinctive it instantly reminded me of the scent of lichen growing on rocks, which I experienced in Colorado when I was 7 or 8 years old. This sets the stage for the level of complexity exhibited. The fruit has both an extraordinarily high level of purity and yet the woven tapestry of herbs and spices and even fruit blending are impossible not to notice. The key being that nothing is forced.

The nuance of complexity only being noticed when desired is nearly an impossible feat. I can’t help but recall James Conaway quoting Andy Beckstoffer in his recently released book: Napa at Last Light: America’s Eden in an Age of Calamity. “If a wine was a model with a chipped tooth, you’d have to give her something to compensate with. If she needs better shoulders, better breasts, give her some. But her real charm is in how she carries the defect.”

After reading his book, I can tell you I’m definitely not certain whether you can accept his quotes verbatim. One thing is certain, though, Maggie Harrison’s Antica Terra wines carry the defect like no other. — 8 years ago

Adam Jacobs

10

To me always a classic cru Alsatian blend. Riesling, gris, Pinot beurrot, muscat & Pinot noir. Baked apples, sprinkled cinnamon and dry river stones make this seemless beauty text book blending. The finish seems to just keep going. Engelgarten=angels garden. Bio d farming and winemaking. It's all about this famous terroir. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Australia makes a specialty of blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz and one of the better examples is Penfolds Bin 389. This is an excellent mature wine, doing it easily at 15 years of age, and will go on. Notes of black currant and mint but at this age all the descriptors just melding into "damn good claret". Perfect with roast lamb. 60% Cab Sauv, 40% Shiraz. 2001 vintage. — 9 years ago

David L

9.0

13' Epoch Estate White. Sourced from Paderewski Vineyard...which I love! Viognier 39%, Roussanne 9%, Grenache Blanc 52%.

I'm a very big fan of Paso whites. When I read about this recently, I had to try a few bottles.

Light pale in color. Grenache Blanc & Viognier... blending quite nicely. Absolutely get that ginger spice to that wine. I'm thinking Thai food right now😉. Definitely could set down for another 3/5 years. — 10 years ago

Donny Sebastiani

Owner, Don Sebastiani & Sons

9.0

The corralejos are clean and well made. Not as sexy and layered as Patron or 1800 but an ideal premium blending tequila. — 10 years ago

Drew DiMatteo

9.1

Upfront acid blending beautifully with zesty fruit. @BodegasLaVal #Albariño — 10 years ago

Preston Davis

8.9

Recommended for nighttime study sessions. — 11 years ago

Hemant Kala

8.9

The wine is easy drinking as the name suggest but it's a great wine with complexity it has a great dark fruits tannins in the mid palate very subdued the alcohol level is great nice flavor of mocha chocolate in the end again the blending is done in such a way that wine shows all the character of the grapes — 11 years ago

Adam Reinhard

9.4

Every once in a while you taste a blend that reminds you why they started blending in the first place... — 12 years ago

E & K G

9.2

Keep the 2006 train rolling! Lively fruit and acidity blending so well. — 8 years ago

John Kanellopoulos

9.2

By far the best US wine I have ever enjoyed. Maybe due to my passion for blend d reds.i feel blending reds in the Bordeaux fashion enriches the shortcomings of single vine products. Moderate body, multiple aromas from earth, slight oak, slight berry almost like a cross of left and right bank Bordeaux. If you find this wine and do not want to try me please notify me, I want it! :) — 8 years ago

Oscar Rosales

9.1

Great red, complexity, elegance, bold!
— 9 years ago

with Celia

David L

9.2

12' Château Boswell Voyage. I've rated this one before. Love the wines. Very underrated winery. This is a blending of three different vineyards. Big full-bodied Chard. Edit- Better than six months ago. — 9 years ago

David L

9.3

09' Favia Cerro Sur Red. 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The CF is done in all new oak.

Raspberry & floral notes on the nose. The front of my palate I'm getting an earthiness to it, with hints of coffee. Towards the front, more to the middle & back of my palate ...Raspberries, blackberries, black licorice, spices & oak. It's such an expressive wine, but not over top! 09 is drinking great now. What's even scarier is that the 2010 is slightly better. I'm sooooo looking forward to trying the 12/13's🙂. What he does with blending CF 😘.

I'm a very big fan of Andy Ericksons and his collection of wines. Is it just me… has his collection of wines gotten considerably better over the years?!? Can't imagine not receiving these gems several times a year. Hoping he's coming out with a Chardonnay in the upcoming years. (It might just be rumors) I'll cross my fingers anyway.
— 10 years ago

Jaume

9.2

Wonderful complex wine with a bit of everything, blending spice, earth tones, smoke and leather with a spectrum of red fruits and dark cherries. Lovely round and silky mouth feel with great length on the finish. — 10 years ago

Mike McGlone

8.9

Good Zinfandel. Fruit, balance on target. Great job of blending from multiple vineyards. Good buy for a Ridge zin. — 11 years ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.3

A 2011 offering from the Columbia Valley Long Shadow Vintners Collection featuring a delightful blending of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. — 11 years ago

Kit H

9.4

Sessions magic, even at 14.6% — 11 years ago

Dave Loretta

9.0

Nice blending by the winemaker of various Willamette blocks. — 12 years ago

B

8.9

In situ. "A blending grape." Smells just like angel food cake. — 8 years ago

David Devan

9.7

Love it! Great job Heidi. Blending at its best. Perfect party wine. — 8 years ago

Mike Leach

8.9

Soft, creamy mouth feel. Chardonnay is evident in this blend by Prisoner (known for being experts at blending). Goes well with a salad. — 9 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.1

Strong persimmon on the nose, blending more to a rhubarb on the palate. Highly fragrant. A powerful rosé with a very long finish. Hello Cinsault! — 9 years ago

Berg

9.2

A teenager, blending primary and secondary flavors — 9 years ago

with Theresa

jeff hosford

10

Dark red that hits with cherries and plum. A very long finish. Artisan like in its blending of cab and syrah. My new favorite — 10 years ago

Rich

9.2

Well-knit and balanced, with vibrant acidity framing hints of blackberry, white cherry, biscuit, honey and candied lemon zest. Offers a lightly smoky finish.

A Champagne House is eventually judged on the quality of its Brut Non Vintage. It is in the making of such a wine that the true Art of Champagne blending reveals itself.
This is an art in which the House of Veuve Clicquot excels. Our Brut Yellow Label reflects the superb vineyards we own and the consistent nature of our House style.

The predominance of Pinot Noir provides the structure that is so typically Clicquot, while a touch of Pinot Meunier rounds out the blend. Chardonnay adds the elegance and finesse essential in a perfectly balanced wine. — 10 years ago

alewifery

9.5

a fine work. layers upon layers of flavor. squarely sour and imho enhanced with grub. need another few sessions to really describe this thing. #damngood #BFM — 10 years ago

Andrew Benn

9.5

Right grapes
Right moment
I understand why Behrens distressed Andy Beckstoffer by blending just a little
80% Cab; 20% Merlot; 100% tasty — 11 years ago

John Bennett

9.4

The blending of cultivars has brought depth and refinement to this very pleasurable wine. — 11 years ago

Rai-mon Nemar

9.7

Now this is a good wine. A few spicy notes and really soft tannins. Cab Sauv is the most prominent grape but the blending grapes (Tempranillo is one) do their part as well. — 12 years ago