Dru Margolin

9.0

Carry On - fresh, snappy Texas high plains blend — 3 years ago

Roy Goble

9.5

Second zoom tasting, this time with master sommelier Hak Soo Kim of Per Se. Chris Blanchard nailed the description with the line “velour not silk.” But Hak Soo stoke the show by matching the wine with his operatic voice. — 4 years ago

Bo Conrad

9.0

Really good rose all the way around - maybe my favorite — 5 years ago

Charles Huff

9.6

Rangy and effervescent. — 6 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.1

A pointed Riesling from one of Niagara’s top names. Chiseled and racy, it tastes of peach blossom, river rocks, lemon oil and petrol. Cutting precision and lengthy. — 7 years ago

Julie Carter

9.5

Chris Browns favorite wine - was very full bodied - a little spicy - liked it a lot! — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The Hoffman was nearly the wine of the tasting. Warm fruits; of blue & blackberries slowly lift out of the glass with supple soft spices. It was a hard call to say, was it warm fruit pie or was it more like pudding? I'd say both. The spices in this wine lifted off your palate like warm sun on ground water creating rising steam. You cannot only sense it, you can see them as you sip it. Blackberries, blueberries, black plum, rhubarb, baked cranberries & strawberries follow, black licorice, used leather, dry stems, underbrush, crushed rocks, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, Christmas cake and used coffee grounds. Perfect harmony in body, texture. length, balance, acidity and finish. 5 years in oak. — 8 years ago

Ming L

9.5

The darkest and meatiest southern Rhone blend I’ve tasted with tremendous complexity. Explosive nose of black lack, blueberry jam, cured meat, grilled herbs, black pepper, dark chocolate, sweet soy source, and hint of violet. There is just the sense of Unami. Rich palate but structured like a skater that’s smooth, precise, and effortless.
I had the fortune to taste the 14’ True Believer 2 years ago, and I don’t really know what constitutes a reserve bottling, but this has more Syrah (53%).
Chris Hammell is the long time Bien Nacido vineyard manager, and cultivated the True Believer vineyard on the western edge of Bien Nacido. — 3 years ago

Peg Hanssen

9.9

“Chris makes a dazzling comeback with this rendition of his Pinot Gris, a follow-up to his highly-rated 2017 PG that took Gold at the San Francisco Wine Competition. Chris’s second round is seriously refreshing and bursting with tangy lemon, ripe peach and juicy melon that make this wine a little too easy to sip and even harder to put down. The wine blends grapes from three top-tier vineyards across the Willamette Valley giving it complex layers of flavors and aromas. Chill, open, and enjoy. It is an easy drinker on its own, but also has enough structure to pair with almost any food. Especially great with a roasted fresh picked beet salad, or spicy Thai food.” – Naked Wines — 5 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Our favorite Figgins blend. 2011. A tough year but Chris Figgins turned it into a gem. Minerally. Full body, rich mid palette with a sweet edge, evolving into a dry, grippy finish with with minerals edging the experience. Perfect with aged Gouda cheese. — 6 years ago

with Tammy and Chris

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

This was the wine of the tasting and weekend. It’s in a perfect place right now. Beautifully integrated, amazing fruits with a lean toward blue fruit with dark cherries, baking spices as they should be in all Napa red...soft, balanced blends and perfectly layered. Bright, beautiful dark florals, nicely balanced, great texture and long beautiful finish. Great experience hosted by my fellow Sommelier and friend, Brian Baker. Thank you for a great day tasting. As well, great to catch up. Lokoya’s new facility is amazing. Pictures don’t do it justice. — 7 years ago

Traci Toone

9.1

Lovely dinner wine. Smooth, bright with subtle tobacco notes to finish. Paired well with grillwd steak and the tang of feta in a Greek salad. — 8 years ago

Sebastian Koncurat

9.0

Watch out this syrah rose from Baker Lane. 100% Syrah fermented in neutral oak and still showing crisp acidity and freshness. Often, great California roses show the best after 1 year in the bottle. This 2014 baker lane rose is not an exception, still lively , vibrant and showing an old world style — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A joint venture of Jorge Ordonez, Bodegas Borsao and Chris Ringland, located in the town of Bulbuente (Zaragoza) Spain. Alto Moncayo is the flagship of the winery. A single-grape variety of Garnacha, from vines between 40 and 70 years old, aged in new barrels for 20 months. Bold aromas of fruit and spice. On the palate black fruit flavors, rich and full-bodied, with complex spice. Fine tannins, savory, good structure ending with a smoky character. Very nice! — 4 years ago

Dennis Durkee

9.4

May 9 2020 virtual tasting at home — 5 years ago

Teresa Garcia-Reyes

9.4

Amazing - lots of fruit, smooth — 5 years ago

with Jeff

James Cushnie

9.1

Paired fantastic with leftover Christmas 🎄 Turkey en Croute

— 6 years ago

Olivius Maximus

9.2

Good wine for decent price! — 7 years ago

Pierre Hardy

9.1

Frais, minéral, pas de sucres residuels, légèrement boisé — 8 years ago

Julie

9.9

Velvety, full of flavor yet not too fruity. Beautiful wine on its own or with food. German/Austrian went real well! — 8 years ago

with Igor