Bret Barker

9.0

Guys steak night bottle numero duo.. another solid napa cab. The most fruit forward of the bottles, not tannic, maybe too much fruit for me but hits well with the steak. — 7 years ago

Jesse Hahn

9.6

Cold smooth amazing wine — 8 years ago

Edward Nista

10

Division Wine - 2010 - Pinot Noir "UN". Old original vintage from a great DUO! — 9 years ago

Joanne Yeung

9.1

Smooth, light, not too sweet but has a delicate flavor. Slightly peppery finish. — 10 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.1

2010. This will be awesome in a few years when the oak mellows a bit. Right now it was great with the lamb duo and smoked duck breast at V Mertz. — 10 years ago

Denis Roudenko

8.9

16/20 (89/100) — 10 years ago

Elena Mercado

9.1

Like licking a stone (in the best sense there is of that sensation) and then a wonderful rush of fruit. Mother and daughter duo that's doing it right. — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.9

Wow! The Cabernet of the night! Big full rich, loaded with fruit and soft tannins. Very impressive! Catelli Duo Dinner with our wine group! 99+ — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.7

Trying the Best Quality Merlot in the World !!! Yes!! Bill Deem is the Best!! Tried my last Bottle with Larry and Jim and a Great Management Team at Catelli Duo. Drinking the Best with the Best South Jersey Restaurant Catelli Duo in Voorhees NJ — 11 years ago

Alex Merzavsky

10

Замечательно! Всего 263 р, а сколько удовольствия! — 11 years ago

Dhrubo Mazumdar

9.0

MACO-SWAB This talented duo deserve accolades for their contribution to wine. Few have heard of Pouilly-Loché, an appellation in the Mâcon where Céline and Laurent Tripoz cultivate eleven hectares. An aromatic harem that is bursting with luscious red berries. A Pinot Noir that will age beautifully over the next 5-7 years. Valeur Exceptionnelle. -DM — 11 years ago

Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng

Champagne Editor FindYourCraving.com

9.0

A South West France winner! Imagine Tannat, Pinenc & the Cab duo brothers, Franc & Sauv. Deep black fruits w/age & little distracting tannins. — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A wine I’ve enjoyed mostly upon release or near it. I vowed to wait six years and nearly made it. At least it is 2018...just! It’s worth waiting this/that long for it to develop. On the nose; sweetly, baked fruits of; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, and notes of blue fruits. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium, beautiful spice, black fruit tea, limestone minerals, loamy, dry, brown top soil, fresh dark florals and violets. The mouthfeel is full, rich & lush. The tannins are round, still have some teeth and possess velvety round edges. It’s fruit driven but not a bomb and showing elegance & grace. Fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, notes of blue fruits and dry cranberries dip in and out. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium beautiful spice that is more pronounced on the palate, black fruit tea, touch of melted brown sugar/molasses, limestone minerals, touch of rich dark sweet turned soil, loamy dry brown top soil, soft understated eucalyptus/mint, dry fresh florals and violets. The round acidity is just right, just a slight very small alcohol burn, the length, structure, tension and beautifully balanced finish are in a very good place. Even better in 2-3 more years in bottle; which is when I’ll have my next one. Photos of; the winemaking duo of Gary Franscioni (left) and Gary Pisoni, Rosella’s Vineyard on the right. As well as, Garys’ Vineyard at the bottom. Producer notes and history...The Santa Lucia Highlands appellation is known for its rich, vibrant Pinot Noirs. However, that wasn’t always the case. The first Pinot was planted in 1973, but results weren’t all that great. Chardonnay was the appellation’s early star. Much of the area’s current fame for Pinot Noir arguably can be traced to Gary Pisoni, a free-spirited wine enthusiast who grew up in a Salinas Valley vegetable farming family. Pisoni decided to plant a few acres of Pinot Noir in 1982 on his family’s horse ranch, at the southern end of what was to become the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation but his horses started eating the grapes. So, they had to go. His initial planting were limited by a lack of water until he dug a well on the property. Pisoni started planting even more Pinot Noir. The vineyard is now around 45 acres and nearly all of it Pinot. By the late 1990s, word had spread about the success of his vineyard, and a number of Pinot specialists from around California had started lining up to buy his grapes. He started producing his own wine in 1998. Pisoni isn’t the only Gary who has become a force in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Gary Franscioni, a childhood friend, followed Pisoni’s lead by planting grapes and started Roar Wines in 2001. The two of them now have five vineyards between them...all farmed meticulously with the same crew. They are best of friends...sort of a Mutt & Jeff. They have become a formidable presence in the Highlands, attracting interest from top winemakers and Pinot Noir lovers from all over. Franscioni is also from a vegetable farming family; Pisoni figures they’ve known each other since they were 3 or 4. Franscioni saw his friend’s success and once he got some money together, decided to plant grapes of his own. Franscioni’s property is farther north and cooler as it’s closer to the Monterey Bay. He was going to plant Chardonnay. He woke up and Franscioni recalls imitating Pisoni, and shouted, “plant Pinot!” Franscioni planted what became Rosella’s Vineyard, named for his wife, in 1996. He took Pisoni’s advice and planted four acres of Pinot Noir, although he still planted 12 acres of Chardonnay. It’s now a total of around 50 acres with three-quarters of it Pinot Noir. The next year, they decided to become partners and planted Garys’ Vineyard, a 50 acre parcel where they grow Pinot and a little Syrah. Since then, Franscioni has developed Sierra Mar, 38 acres of Pinot, Chardonnay, Syrah and a tiny amount of Viognier. The two teamed up again to establish Soberanes Vineyard, 35 acres of mostly Pinot Noir, with a little bit of Chardonnay and Syrah. That last vineyard was developed by Pisoni’s son Mark. The Garys might seem an unlikely pair. Pisoni is colorful character to say the least and has an outspoken manner. Franscioni comes across as more serious- minded. However, the collaboration between the two, who often address each other as “partner,” clearly works well. The two are good on their own, but better together. Pisoni being more gregarious acts as the frontman. He is the Ambassador. He’s a check on the rest to keep the quality high. Franscioni and Mark Pisoni run the farming on their own vineyards and work together on the joint ventures. The family involvement doesn’t stop there. Jeff Pisoni makes his family’s wines, which are under the Pisoni and Lucia brands. Franscioni’s son, Adam, joined the family business in time for the 2011 harvest. He handles sales for Roar and helps his father manage the vineyards. The grapes from all five vineyards are in huge demand, because the two families are such careful farmers, constantly tweaking and improving. Prominent customers include; Testarossa, Siduri, Kosta Browne, Copain and Bernardus. When a new vintner approaches them about buying grapes, the partners examine the winery’s track record and the Winemaker. If they like what they see, the winery is put on a waiting list. There’s not very much movement in their vineyards. When Franscioni planted Sierra Mar, he and Pisoni had 62 wineries waiting to buy fruit. Soberanes was developed with the idea of working with some new winemakers. There was some concern, even among the two families, that quality might suffer as the vineyard operations grew. However, there’s no indication that’s the case. In fact, with each new venture, they build on what they’ve learned in their older vineyards. Eventually, there will be even more vineyards. The Pisonis and Franscionis have purchased a 100 acre cactus farm in the Santa Lucia Highlands. There’s still a lease on the property. So, prickly pear cactus will continue to be grown for five more years. But at some point, the land will be planted with vines. Both families understand the importance of continuing to build for the future. The Garys looking back tell a story of being in the same spot some years ago and looking at a field of broccoli out back. He told Franscioni that the field would look a lot better with Pinot Noir vines. Now that parcel is part of Rosella’s Vineyard, and it’s planted with Pinot. Everybody thought he was crazy...most people usually think that when someone makes a bold decision. He’s a person who has always had vision and creativeness. He also has tremendous passion. Good things only happen when a person possesses all three of these qualities. Their wines are primarily available by mailing list. However, Nepenthe in Big Sur, CA acts as a quasi tasting room for some of their wines. — 7 years ago

Michael Ebben

9.5

1/2 Syrah, 43% Grenache - this central coast Red has black fruit, a little cocoa & espresso layered into the aromatics. Great Job by Carlo Trinchero & Josh Phelps, the duo behind the "Taken" wine project. Excited to try the 2012 which got a 90 from tasting panel & the 2013 Chardonnay which received 91 from wine enthusiast. — 10 years ago

Vanessa Lisovskis

9.1

Damn good Rioja Crianza from awesome father & son duo Santiago Ijalba Garcìa & Roberto Ijalba Pérez. Lovely, lifted, full of ripe sweet cherries, great acid with a persistent soft spice on the finish. — 11 years ago

with Annette

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.7

Wine group this week at Catelli Duo! Wow — 11 years ago

Steve Hagenlock

9.1

Good stuff! — 12 years ago

Christopher Parks

Sommelier Per Diem Restaurant

9.7

Father son duo in Corniglia Italy! — 12 years ago

Lea Fortkamp

9.0

Drinkable red Meritage with good flavor. Perfect anynight wine. DFWF ‘17. — 8 years ago

Surveyor

9.3

Неожиданно. Пожалуй, лучшее из попадавшихся таманских красных. — 8 years ago

Sasha K.

8.9

2014. Отличный рислинг! Немного водоэмульсионки Тиккурилла Джокер, пинии на берегу Лигурийского моря, утренние круассаны, гроздья акации. Холодным сухое, теплым сладчает, кислотность низкая, с гребешками прекрасно, с ризотто стесняется. #Russia #Riesling — 9 years ago

Mitja Sirk

Production La Subida, Aceto Sirk

9.2

Great Friuli duo.. 89 Roseti and 94 Tiglio!! — 10 years ago

Evgeny Aleshkov

9.2

Приятное, легкое — 10 years ago

with Anton

Alex Alan

Wine Director Hotel Delmano

9.1

2013. Peaches and herb. Like a great R&B song writing duo. — 10 years ago

Eddie Gilbert

9.4

Paired w/ a 4.5 oz love of Foie at Torc. Dynamic Duo! — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.7

Wow, the wines tonight at Catelli Duo are awesome.. This offering is fabulous , great structure and body . Really expressive with black fruits, soft tannins. Great choice! — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.8

2010 Russian Rivers Best!! Great Pinot Noir, fresh , loaded with soft black fruits, bursting in the mouth! Bravo. Monday Night wine Group at Catelli Duo! — 11 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.6

2011 Chard from Peter Michael . One of the Best 2-3 Chards from that vintage! Supplied by Howard Levin at Catelli Duo on Monday Night! — 11 years ago

Kelly Stockton

Sales Valley View Imports

9.5

Totally dynamo duo. Just waiting to rip these babies open. More to come. Stay tuned😄 — 12 years ago

Judith Cothran

9.6

My souvenir from Buenos Aires... Couldn't think of a better duo to pop the cork with! #ArgentinianWine — 12 years ago