Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Just on the other side of peak. Love it.

So this wine is critically in its last year. Not the case at all. Still had five years of good life in it.

I think people are so used to drinking wine young, critics purposely conservatively set their drinking windows to the younger side.

This 06 is just and I mean just the other side of its bell curve. I enjoy them at that stage and in fact, live on those descriptive edges quite often. .

The nose reveals; ruby, ripe & slightly baked fruits of; sweet, black plum, blackberries, black cherries, stewed strawberries, black raspberries, plums, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, raspberry cola, dry, crushed rocks, dry twig, dark spice, anise to black licorice, soft sweet tarriness, sage, graphite, dry tobacco, limestone minerals, soft leather, blonde volcanics, dark, slightly moist soils with candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in lavender.

The palate is; round, juicy, voluptuous & sexy. Tannins are rounded yet firm & tarry. The tension, structure, balance and length are peaking. Ruby, ripe & slightly baked fruits of; sweet, black plum, blackberries, black cherries, stewed strawberries, black raspberries, plums, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, raspberry cola, dry, crushed rocks, dry twig, dark spice, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, soft sweet tarriness, sage, Provence herbs, graphite, dry tobacco, limestone minerals, soft leather, blonde volcanics, dark, slightly soils with candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in lavender. The acidity is round & like a gentle rain shower. The finish is rich, lush, ruby, nicely polished, elegant & finishing with persistent dark spices for minutes.

Photos of our visit to Vineyard 29. Our tasting area, two shots of the walk to their tasting room and display room of their love for a guitar artist I can’t remember. — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.5

The decision to hold this wine until ready made me think of a musician tuning a guitar. He’s turning the keys and plucking the top two strings until the A and the E are the same. And then he strums a heart melting deeply harmonic E chord.

I imagine this wine was tasted, tasted again, then when everything was in tune, magic happens and it’s time for sharing.

It’s glowing gold. Burnt popcorn kernels. Honey. The sweetest indulgent peach preserves. — 7 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.5

Tastes like Prince's solo during the 2004 Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame induction of George Harrison on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, demeanor and all. Also kinda tastes like an Axl Rosé though too. This champ reminds me that some of my favorite things on this planet are pink. — 8 years ago

Adam Wakefield

9.8

Had this on the rack for a few years and decided to finally open it, couldda used a few more years but this is damn good wine. Wild fruit, pepper, touch of licorice. Pairs great with farmers market honey crisp apples, and back porch guitar sesh. — 9 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

10

Interesting to read through the comments in this wine, it's not for everyone, but I love it. It reminds me of Big Black, if anyone remembers them from the 80s, the stark tannin structure is like that metallic grating guitar, cleansing, purifying, hard, stripped down. Orange wine is stripped down, it is missing the veneer of fruit and color, that is part of what is so special about it. It is like bauhaus architecture, you see the steel girders and the electrical conduit. This one is particularly that way. With a delicious resolution. — 9 years ago

Renee Chippendale

10

By far my favorite. Red, sweet, fruity, smooth. It's like drinking juice — 10 years ago

Tom Garland

9.6

1 hour decant (decent chunky/cloudy sediment). A majestic spartan crimson color with little signs of aging. On the nose: very aromatic with that sweet aged Napa perfume, red and black berries, cedar, smoke, slight minty menthol, wet earth, and slight creme brulee. Taste: Singing!!...classic Pink Floyd....Comfortably Numb with the ultimate guitar solo hitting mid palate (thank you David Gilmour!). Its smooth, dense, full body, mouth coating wine with rasberry, blackberry, mocha, crushed rock, pencil lead. A long vanilla mineral finish with some slightly grippy tannins.....will go another 10 years. — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

Crisp steely stuff. Nose shows a beautiful depth of citrus fruit. The palate has a great balance of fruit, acid & salinity. This producer makes makes great wine across the board. This is a hauntingly beautiful record. Reminiscent of Leo Kottke & John Fahey in a slower tempo. Almost ballad-like guitar work from a virtuoso. — 7 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.2

If this champ were a guitar, it'd be the G string...cuz it'll definitely be a grand champagne in the ass to find another one close to as good.
It had everything, toast, brioche, badass mousse, orchard, citrus, tropical and stone fruit...superb! This one came with it all, but just like me it didn't last that long. — 8 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.2

Lushly ripe blackberries tamed with the leathery burr of tannins. Black licorice? Richly welcoming fall. Leaves crunching- though they’re not yet. Fire leaping- though I not yet need it. Sweaters wreak slightly of cedar- but sit in wait. Boots freshly oiled. Classical music or is that Blues? Blues. Bass guitar. Harmonica. Drums. This wine is lovely — 9 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.5

Like an epic guitar solo from a young Eddie Van Halen. This will rock your grill piece clean off like your name was Castor Troy. #NicCageLives — 9 years ago

Dock Hooks

8.9

Kicking back letting the local tunes adjust my attitude with wine:30 showing on the clock she strolls in my direction digging the slow roll Hendrix spinning left then twisting right dressed in deep purple clinging and flowing interestingly crimson along her rim and edges back to casually claret whispering that she's from a small chateau hanging on the right bank of the Gironde near Arveyres. Offering her hand, I accept pulling her in close then a slow spin and a slower twirl she comes close bathed in the essence of blackberry and spice, young but ripe, wet earthy slowly working her way to a first kiss dripping then gripping, pulling tightly then going soft and silky still clinging while working her way deeper. I close my eyes, Hendrix stops and she's gone. A distant guitar string bends an unknown player. I spot her by the bar, her colors waving in the breeze of a lazy fan I reach out take her firmly by the neck, then lower bending her gently back then spinning her my way, she again engages, her essence lingering in my memory, we dance on as the tunes continue their spin. Later, when we are both done I figure she's likely a fine Merlot brightened by Cab Franc having found her way through new French oak nestled by the river, intelligently nuanced well worth the dance and cost is not an issue...

Hanging at Promise' Land Market where the tunes are always righteous, the people are cool, the conversation is groovy and wines dance from the walls... — 9 years ago

Grant Belden

9.0

Right there with Red Guitar. - Costco — 10 years ago

Mike Holzer

9.6

Jonathon brought back from Italy. I thought would not be ready/too tannic but was proved wrong. After 30 min huge bouquet of cherry/red fruit. Beautifully integrated tannins with cherry and other red guitar with mild oak tinge . Delicious want more. Will be good next 2 decades but why wait. A beauty. — 6 years ago

with Ania

Brandon Boesch

9.4

This was perfect with dinner at Olympia provisions. Such an awesome blend that drinks well on its own but is magical with food. Beaujolais meets Loire meets Portland. So good! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The was our second stop in Napa and we tasted four wines all paired with small bites. This 16 Estate Sauvignon Blanc was paired with “Delice Des Deux-Sevres.”

The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, lime, pineapple, green apple, green melon, grapefruit w/ pith, cut grass, green bean, silvered almond, vanilla, cream, light caramel with yellow lilies.

The body a little thicker for an SB, rich and creamy. Meyer lemon, lime, pineapple, green apple, green melon, cantaloupe, banana, passion fruit, grapefruit w/ pith, cut grass, green bean, silvered almond, slight woodiness, vanilla, cream, light caramel with yellow lilies.

Photos of, an aerial shot of Vineyard 29 (the weather was better than the day we arrived), hand blown glass pieces decorating the walk to their tasting room, old guitar & amp that was bought as a donation and returned to the winery and their beautiful tasting room & library wines. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.3

Thank you David Stevens at 750 Wines for introducing us to his guitar playing partner’s (Jeff Smith) wine! HG III is a great blend of mostly Merlot, thus giving it a velvety plushness and dark fruits. — 8 years ago

with Ryan and Katherine

K U

9.4

Wine maker likes clash replaced the guitar with a wine bottle in the photo . Excellent wine, super refreshing. Great citrus, pear and granny Apple notes. Crisp bubbles and really long finish (high acid) — 9 years ago

CMalcolm

9.8

Great Austrian wine, lots of guitar flavor and very smooth. One of my new favorite sweet reds. — 9 years ago

TheWineStalker

10

Brown color. The most aggressive characteristics of this wine in aroma and flavor at this point in its life are raisinated fruits, licorice and menthol. There's also juicy tomato, the inside of an acoustic guitar, and find black table pepper. Sweet tannin and a creamy full body, but so silly smooth that it can feel light as a feather. On the the finish there's menthol, it gains a tart cherry flavor and the tannins turn up the heat drastically. Hands down the best I've ever had from Bulgaria. — 10 years ago