Chris England

9.6

This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏

📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001

▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗

🏵 96 points

🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia

👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice

🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 8 years ago

Jonathan Davidson

9.4

Silky tannins and sweetness. Brick color. Lengthy finish — 8 years ago

with George, Paul and 1 other

DAL 9000

9.0

Aroma of dusty raspberries. A hint of sweetness with a big raspberry strawberry dryness in the middle. — 9 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Top year 904 @ £75 that was drank in Zalto burg glass as its like an aged burgundy

🐽 Paired w/ Iberian Ham 😍

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick

👃 Smoked burnt oak, soggy earthy leaves, leather, dark cherry & figs w/ balsamic & damson

👄 Med body of creamy stewed cherry w/ earthy balsamic & slight mocha

🎯 Med finish of above w/ earthy balsamic linger

Reaching peak but I preferred the 95 904 over this but the 890 94 was better than the 95! — 9 years ago

Scott Stewart

9.2

As good as his Pinot and Gamy is, the Chardonnay's coming off of Doug's vineyard in Ribbon Ridge are even better. — 9 years ago

M Gandalf

8.9

Fairly spicy. Good fruit but not overwhelming. Pretty good balance, but still on the fruity side. Slightly light on the body. — 10 years ago

James Newell

9.5

Jammy and fantastic. Will definitely get this one the next time I see it. — 11 years ago

Lesa Gough

9.1

Garnet with rim variation turning brick/terracota, corn on the cob, dill, molasses. — 11 years ago

Austin Beeman

9.3

Going tawny color. Complex mature nose of meat and fruit. Brick leather meat strawberries. Great mature bottle. Complex savory with a line of almost sweet fruit. — 12 years ago

Brad Hemmer

9.8

Bright fruit, cherry, dried herbs — 13 years ago

Chris England

9.8

My favourite Pomerol in a great year 🏆 now sells @ £250-£285 😱 On its 6th try & it’s now much better integrated & drinking lovely but will age more 😉 A New Year’s Eve delight 😍 enjoyed with Lasagne 🍝
.
📍 Vieux Chateau Certan 1998 Pomerol
.
🏵 98 points for 1998 😁 & should improve
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🍇 90% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
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🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
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👃 Nasal Nookie Gang Bang of creamy dark spiced damson plum in soft smoked oak & light cedar w/ soggy earth, wet leaves, liquorice, rock minerals, cracked pencil lead, dirty gravel, cocoa, black berry fruits, charred soot embers, mint & herbs - nasaltastic baby 😍
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👄 Med earthy body of silky smooth ripe dark plum & black berry fruits w/ red cherry, raspberry liquorice & choc mocha in slight dry rock minerals
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🎯 Long deep plum & dark berry earthy soft liquorice mocha choca cherry & a light dry mineral oaky seductive smack in your chops — 8 years ago

Kristie M. Connor

9.0

Cherry pie with homemade whip and cinnamon. Red plums. — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.4

(aged in American oak barrels for nine years and then in bottle for a minimum of eight more years) Faded brick-red. Aromas of red berries, dried rose, cedar and tobacco show outstanding delineation and pick up woodsmoke and herb nuances as the wine opens up. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering mineral-accented red currant, cherry and blood orange flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. The extremely long, tannin-free finish shows compelling sweetness, lingering florality and an echo of smoky oak. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, May 2017) — 9 years ago

Kc Kinnings

9.1

great wine easy drinking — 9 years ago

Mike W

9.0

Dry and great with our Italian sausage carbonara — 9 years ago

Stacy Woods

8.9

An overall translucent red with a broad crimson core extending to a thick ruby border with a thin orange brick rim. Medium plus intensity of aroma in the nose floral dominant and mineral driven (chalk). Rose petal, dried green herbs, tomato leaf. Subtle fruit aromas are ripe, red cherry candy, raspberry jam. Tactile sensations initially dominate the palate, high levels of acid and chalky astringency linger with medium plus alcohol 13.5%ABV but ultimate reveals a seductive mouth filling, medium finish featuring fresh red fruit perfume, ripe red cherry,basil, black pepper, and a touch of savory bacon, black olive, and wood smoke — 10 years ago

Evelyn Marin

9.5

The only Pinot Noir made with Napa fruit better than Brick and Mortar's Cougar Rock Pinot is this wine right here. complex, beguiling, nuanced and mysterious are some of the endless descriptors that can be used to describe this beautiful Spring Mountain Pinot. Can't wait to taste this in another 5 years or so, as it is destined for greatness. — 10 years ago

Erik Helms

Sommelier/Wine & Beer Buyer Whole Foods Oakland

9.1

Very dark in color, dark chocolate, solid wine. Cabernet, petite Sirah and Zinfandel. — 11 years ago

with Miguel, Lauren and 2 others

Jesse Mallgren

9.3

Brick orange color, Cedar, old leather, minerals, Lincoln logs, dusty rocks, tart cherry, orange zest, green blueberries, vanilla, Thai market, refreshing acid, anise, fruit opened up after 30 minutes, — 12 years ago

Erin Pooley

Owner/Winemaker Good Luck Wines

10

Stems deliciousness and hitting the balls out of the park! Oh yeah brickhouse! — 14 years ago

with Alexis

Paco Suro

9.2

Just gets better. Light to medium. Some grit. Some sweet tart. Yum. — 8 years ago

Megan

9.0

I usually tend toward Pinot Noir, but when I want something just a bit bolder, Gamay hits the spot. I have really been enjoying this 2015 vintage. — 8 years ago

Kim Brater

9.4

Really delicious Pinot. Burgundian style. Elegant. Cassis and muted earth. Amazing for the original price. This 2011 is long gone. Paid under $40 several years ago. Wish I had another. Hear my Dad saying in my head "Always buy two..." 😀 🍷 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.5

1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣2️⃣

🗞 👾 $2B, 1st :o), 1st CD, Falkland Islands, Thriller
🎵 I Love Rock and Roll, Eye of the Tiger, Don't You Want Me, Chariots of Fire
🎥 E.T.,Tootsie, An Officer & a Gentleman, Porky’s
🗣 They're Here!
🌍 4.556B

Very much alive & kicking @ £150

🍷 Opaque ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Blackcurrant, earth, liquorice, herbs, charred oak, leather, minerals & truffle

👄 Med body of smooth mocha, date & liquorice infused mineral earthy blackcurrant

🎯 Med+ earthy mocha liquorice black fruit touch dry — 9 years ago

Steve Pacini

9.0

Jammy, Smooth, yummy — 9 years ago

Ryan Key

8.9

Old world, brick red color. Warm red pepper. Acid. Earth. Soft, warm, and coating yet still a bit shallow and acidic on the finish. — 9 years ago

Jefferson Rich

9.4

08 vintage - decanted for 2 hours & it is just a great blend of fruit, wet rock, with a smooth mouthfeel. A slight tobacco & pepper finish. It's velvet & pairs exceptionally well with creamy stinky cheese. — 10 years ago

Lauren Vance

Buyer Whole Foods Market Oakland

9.0

Lovely rose gold color, with a clean and fresh nose. Fruit, minerals, flowers.. Everything I would want in a rose. Plenty of strawberry, tart cherry, watermelon, white and red rose petals and dried herbs. Fruit shines on the palate with plenty of acidity to carry you to a pleasant finish. Sitting perfectly at 13.5, the ABV is not a detracting component. — 10 years ago

Howard Yang

9.0

Burgundy color with edge showing brick color, smell of Roquefort cheese, orange peel, dried apricot, fig, earth, still have good acidity with soft tannin and smooth finish. — 12 years ago

Sanjuana Walters

Skurnik Wines Domestic Portfolio, Freelance Writer

8.9

Very bright and lively — 13 years ago

with Skurnik