Jay Kline

9.2

This was presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appeared deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. There’s slight staining of the tears and the viscosity appears medium+. On the nose the wine is intense. It’s slightly funky with an almost cheese rind sort of thing going on. There’s a combination of red and dark fruits with some purple flowers, dried tobacco leaf, something that sort of resembled pyrazines and a little bit of baking spices which suggests there’s some French barrique being used. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and fiercely tannic. Acid is medium ++. It’s definitely on the darker fruit side with some black berries and blue berries, black pepper and baking spices which all but confirms French barrique at this point. Long finish. I’m scratching my head with this one. It’s wild. Clean and fresh…but wild.

I could see this in a few places: Moulin-à-Vent is one possibility considering all the darker fruit and firm structure. However, I find some real Italian sensibilities to this wine. Despite the monumental structure, I cannot place this in northern Italy. Given the presence of French barrique, I could see this being a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Super Tuscan with a little Syrah and Sangiovese for good measure. So that was my call: 2015 Super Tuscan.

Wow…what a lovely surprise. I mistook the Rotundone for pyrazines (a recurring issue for me) which had me thinking Bordeaux varieties instead of Syrah. And to be fair, we don’t see a lot of Côte Rôtie at Tasting Group. This was my first time tasting the 2016 “La Chavaroche” and while it was a real treat (big thanks to the generous member of the group), it was also a reminder as to why I cellar my bottles of “La Chavaroche” for so long. This is a wee babe and frankly, pretty tough for me to love right now. That being said, the quality and character is unquestionable. I say give it until 2030+ and these will light up your right prefrontal cortex like a supernova.
— 3 years ago

Donna Callejon

9.2

Lovely and well balanced rose from Gigondas...one of my favorite places to visit. 🍷 — 6 years ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Such a great blend of bright fruit and funky earth. Big fan. All pieces in their respective places. — 6 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.2

There are some places in the world where they view present day America as a place where we expect to be happy. Should we feel bad they live in places where you should just expect hardship? We live in a time and place where we can focus on building our inner selves and have a chance at....When we're not constantly putting out fires we can really focus on...should that be a source of shame. When the desperate struggle to find food and shelter is finally behind us, we can turn our attention to other sources of pain and truth.
This is the kinda wine you feel bad about being able to enjoy. I feel privileged. — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.3

Even next to a 2009 Barolo, and a 2011 Ridge Three Valleys, this one was the WOTN. 2009 was great for the Rhône valley, especially places like Châteaunuf-du-pape, but little known Lirac made them equally, if not better. 50/50 Syrah, Grenache, and right in its sweet spot. Dark baked plummy fruits, blackberry cobbler qualities, charred wood, and provancal herb on the nose. The pallet was full, lush, and ever so slightly jammy, with sweet tobacco and dark chocolate covered cherry to the finish. It was great stand alone, and great with the Duck and Maple Glazed Ham, and all the roasted vegetables, etc. I'll be looking for more Lirac in the future. — 8 years ago

Tom Goldstone

9.2

Lovely wine in one of our favorite places! Only wish we were staying here again. — 9 years ago

with Jenn

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2018 vintage. Last had two months ago. Fattened up on the finish a bit; not nearly as lean as it was even in December 2021. Fleshy in all the right places and smoother than previously noted. Still a 9.4, just a different 9.4. — 3 years ago

Keith Crump

9.0

2005 in the best of places — 5 years ago

Joachim Modlich

9.8

Just one of the best Tuscan wines. Cherry flower at ots best. Elegance and deep taste. From relatively young wine grape-wines. In an ideal scenario, drink it “on site” at the Castello. One of the nicest places to stay - restaurant as well as 5 rooms hotel. — 5 years ago

Ted Corvey

9.1

Alto Piedmont may be one of the best places for hang of your buck. Once Nebbiolo hits a certain age it really sings. Rose petal, cherries, and dusty earth notes. Drinking great. — 6 years ago

E & K G

9.2

Doesn’t carry a ton of weight but it’s approachable from the get go. Dark fruit but nice and light on the palate. This is one of our favorite places to eat In Honolulu as well. #wheninamerica #drinknapa — 7 years ago

Jeff Loo

9.5

Absolutely blew me away. This is stunning in all the right places and has brilliant acidity and fruit to match to let this wine continue to develop and improve over the next 10+ years no problem, but it's so good now, why wait? — 8 years ago

Martyn Etherington

9.1

Fall in Dallas = Late Summer in most places. Crisp, dry and very drinkable Provence rose.. probably last of this year. — 9 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Cute and classy label. Darker color than a lotta pinot noir out there. Aroma is nice. Ripe berries from cool places (say coastlines and mountain tops). That classic cherry cola of Pinot. Flavors are nice and bright. Tincture of medicinal plants (echinacea and\or elderberry), iron in red meat served rare, pie cherry, or even choke cherry. Nice long finish with some of that woods after a forest fire or peat bogs in the sun. It’s a very nice, dry and balanced Pinot with elegance. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Just unreal. No formal notes. — 5 years ago

Donald Williams

9.0

Remarkable, a Gewürz from Italy, of all places. Oxidized a bit after this many years, and sweeter than expected, but very nice with our traditional Easter Eve kielbasa, pierogis, and wildly assorted veggies. — 5 years ago

with Bonnie

Michael Tuchband

9.8

Amazing flavors of dark fruit and wet forest floor. Brings me places — 6 years ago

with Moné

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It been hot on the west coast...even in places it's not normally. Today is no different and you can add humidity; which is something we almost never have here. Time to bust out the Sauvignon Blanc. This beauty is loaded with tropical madness. Plenty of crystalline sugar in the bottom of the bottle. The green apple, ripe pineapple, lime, lemon, mango, green melon, guava, saline minerals, dry grassy notes, and spring flowers leap out of the glass. The palate matches the nose with beautiful, round, acidity and round rich long finish. Photos of, their tasting room and Calistoga vineyard. Delicious tonight! — 8 years ago

Tom Riley

9.0

2012. If there were in our home such a thing as a house wine, this might be it. QPR that cannot be ignored. Well made and balanced, all the moving parts in all the right places. 13.0% abv. All for $13.99. Such a deal! — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is unique. Nose has pumpkin bread, tangy, rich red berries, and moist dark minerality. Mouthfilling flavors feature warm sandstone, plummy blackberryish fruit. Ultra-long finish flashes from unidentifiable flavors to unidentifiable flavors. A wine to contemplate, for sure. Just wow. 500 ml bottle. — 9 years ago

with Angelo