Eric Urbani

9.1

In mag. 47% Cab 43% Petit Verdot and the rest Syrah. Classic Herman Story boldness and fun had by all. — 9 months ago

LM Segal

9.5

This was a mind-f**k. Blindfolded I would’ve said Syrah until lightness and a bolt of zesty acidity and fine minerality lifted the whole thing so that an 80 degree summer night felt somehow mitigated. Wow. Hard to describe. — 4 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Inhale deeply, twigs and branches.
Light to medium body.
Classical forest, sweet cherry bark. Pomegranate, tart cherry, bacon fat, mint, bits of herb, and a lovely lightning bolt of acidity straight through the center of my tongue and lingering well into the next glass.
Central Otago Pinot. Yum.
This is what I want from a Pinot noir. — 6 years ago

Dan Appenfeller

9.3

What on EARTH did I just drink at Webster’s in Chicago?? I knew I was in for something different when I saw a ‘93 Loire chenin, but I could scarcely have been more surprised. A wall-to-wall medium yellow belies the fact that these grapes were picked when I was in diapers, and so does the bolt-of-lightning acidity that greets every sip. That’s likely to thank for the longevity. On the nose and palate are a wild variety of unfamiliar tertiary flavors. Smelled like Skaket Beach at low tide and a bit like my parents’ basement … I suppose wet earth and mushrooms might be close enough. A sip reveals minerals and perceived salinity (maybe it’s just the beach associations) along with a kind of light bitterness that’s tough to describe. Maybe walnut skins or green almonds? Three ounces gave me more to think about than most things! — 10 months ago

Eleanor Westphalen

9.6

Beautiful wine. Silky, slightly smoky and easy to drink. So often you hear fruit forward, it is not. Fruit on the end makes it juicy and happy. 😎🍷🇺🇸 — 5 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.6

My second bottle in as many weeks of Egly-Ouriet’s Brut Tradition Grand Cru. Hands down my favorite under $100 Champagne.

Ultra pungent and what I can only describe as sultry stone fruit pastry. There’s an underlying layer of floral and mineral purity that’s both exotically gorgeous and subtlety confounding. The edges are tinged with ripe apple and Meyer lemon, and ride the lengthy finish on a bolt of acidity. Stunning. — 6 years ago

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.1

From 62-year-old vines; the only parcel of Aligoté in the Loire! Needs a bit of time to open up. After about 20 minutes, at a moderate temperature, it’s racy, vibrant, and electrifying, with a lightning bolt of lime-tinged acidity. Notes of white flowers, anise seed, yellow apple, and almond skin are tinged with crushed seashell minerality and a hint of bitter lime pith. Begs for seafood and/or light, fresh Japanese cuisine. — 2 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.6

Searing. Paired with a bolt of lightning. Introspective to say the least. — 4 years ago

Neil Cornish

9.3

This review is for the Fourchaume. Incredibly precise and electric. A lime tinged lightening bolt in the glass, striking rock and exploding on the palate — 6 years ago

Tom Inners

9.5

Bombastic. Like licking a lightning bolt. It's got snap, it's got some crackle, and ohh boy there's pop. Better than lemonade. More thirst quenching than water. — 6 years ago