Shay A

9.2

My in-laws frequent Cabo often and claim that they’ve found some impressive wines from Mexico/Baja region. They enjoy fine wine, so I trusted their opinion and went hunting. This winery is supposedly one of the top wineries in Mexico, and I was able to find the last 3 bottles (at the time) in the US as the winery was sold out. We had dinner with them at my wife and I’s favorite spot in Fort Worth and I surprised them with this wine.

Pours dark and inky. Aromatically, this was a circus bash of red, blue and black fruit. There was also some black peppercorn and cedar. The front and mid-palate were dense...oak wasn’t dominant, just an absolute rush of fresh squeezed fruit. Finish was spice driven. Blind, I would have likely called this a zin/petite sirah blend (but structure kept this from being an overblown, hot, flabby Napa style zin). Very unique and enjoyable. Bravo Mexico/Baja! — 7 years ago

admiral von schnauzer

9.1

Yes? Super green. Greeny tart unripe stuff. Again, against my advice not decanted as long as i would have done under normal circumstances. Not my circus, not my monkeys. A bunch of good dirty notes, i suspect it would have been an excellent example in either 10 more years, or an additional 40 min in the Decanter. :/ — 8 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.7

2012 CIRQ Estate Treehouse Pinot Noir. Michael Browne’s (of Kosta Browne) personal project which as I understand is an homage to the Summers he spent at a ‘Circus Camp’ in his youth. Treehouse is an amazing hilltop (stunning elevation) property in west Sonoma County with red, iron-rich soil surrounded by (say what?) coastal cypress trees. I had the pleasure of visiting, hosted by Damon Wong, and it's an amazing Vineyard. Unlike anything else I've ever seen. I can understand Michael's fascination with it. The wine: On the nose, red fruits, cedarbox, with notes of rhubarb and fennel. On the palate, pomegranate, kirsch, black tea, spices, roasted herbs along with hints of black truffles and white pepper. Beautiful texture. Lengthy finish. Classic expression of Pinot Noir. If I had to distinguish it from Kosta Browne from a flavor-perspective, I would say higher acidity and a bit of tannin give it a quality more accustom to Grand Cru Burgundy which is not bad company. I'm a fan. Congrats to Michael as well as his partner in this project, my friend Kenny Rochford, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. — 8 years ago

Anna Marie Dos Remedios

9.0

Rich. Burnt caramel. Roasted. Smoky. Nice mouthfeel. A circus girl's pantaloons. Yes. We just said that. — 9 years ago

with Deb

Suzanne Adkisson

9.5

This is a lovely and elegant Malbec from Cachapoal Valley- more restrained than the efforts coming from across the Andes, it has finesse and balance — 9 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

Beautifully balanced spicy and complex fruit. Walks the tightrope like a lifelong circus performer. — 9 years ago

Jessie Sander

10

It's not just a great label, it's also a great wine. Wonderful plum and black fruit flavors took center stage while velvet smooth tannins rocked the closing act. This bottle was just as fun as the circus. — 10 years ago

Leigh Morrow

9.0

Drinking w my circus mates — 10 years ago

with Jim and Rick

Rose’s Cafe

9.2

Some things in life are pleasant surprises! We drove all the way to Napa Valley, and surrounded by incredible wines, we bought this bottle at a wine shop in Calistoga because it was cheap and we felt sorry for Rex, the 47 pound circus freak rooster. Turns out to be a great Pinot noir, with accents of fresh blackberry! Nice! — 11 years ago

Stinkstank

9.1

$18. Smooth and really drinkable. — 7 years ago

Arnaud Pincemin

9.0

Un bon bordeaux élevé en cuve, légé et fruité s'accorde bien avec une volaille, délice ! — 8 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.3

Can't help myself when it comes to Zinfandels! Gotta have them! And when Caymus adds their overly-indulgent blending to the mix, it becomes a circus of plushness. Too bad it is only available at the winery, or I would keep more around. — 8 years ago

with Katherine

David Kline

9.2

Olive pips, brioche, pomelo, tangerine pith and lemon custard nose with a circus peanut candy whiff. Briny lemon entry that eases into candied peel, olive notes echo the scents, and a hard race to a very lemon and caper fulfillment that shimmers with crystalline citrus nectars. Far from moribund, this one scores big where other '05s have given up the ghost! That's the spirit! #champagne bubbles #frenchsparklingwine — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Shane M. Nicholson

9.3

So baffled. Never , ever.....EVER have I had any wine that defied my pallet, but fascinated it so immensely in the same sitting. Bizarre.....yet beautiful. Pungent......yet poised. Intense......yet intricate. It's like the damn Ringling Bros circus clowns conducting a symphony orchestra — 9 years ago

Jacqueline Fusaro

9.8

A sweeter sparkling wine, like the label says, it's a Carnaval!💃🏻🎉🍾😜👯🍼🍼🍼 After a bottle it feels more like da circus! 🐘🐫🍭🐒💩 — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.0

O'Dells sour pineapple is Florida compost pile lovely, with heavy pineapple funk! Asparagus micturition with frosting? Lively/Crazy active/petulant with sour pineapple core. Lemon pith, grapefruit pith and pickled yellow pepper essence drying into a chalky spore circus. #sourbeers #sourale #sour #odells — 9 years ago

with Madeline, Josh and 1 other

John Willison

9.0

Interesting wine. Love Alsace wines. Pale yellow color. A bit of frizzante. Yellow fruit on the nose. A bit of 'circus peanut' nose as well. More yellow fruit, minerality, and well balanced. Nice — 10 years ago

Vinny Eng

9.3

Clusel Roch - what a circus! — 10 years ago

with Wolfgang

Melissa M. Sutherland

Importer Winebow Wines

8.9

Cutesy and tasty. Nutty finish on groulleau shows here. Snacked on pecans while drinking, while also imagining circus peanuts could work. My circus dream wine. For $20, easily two bottles. — 10 years ago

Eric Marit

9.6

The steakhouse in circus circus Vegas — 12 years ago

Erik Hanson

10

I was told Clouet only makes Blanc de Blanc on exceptional years, and 2002 was one of the best ever. (Otherwise their wines are all BdNoir. Huh, cool!) Chardonnay dreaming. Pillowy scents slipping between buttered popcorn, macaroons, brioche toast, and even those circus peanuts candies. Man, I feel like I’m floating in this. Within that ether, some bits of dried pineapple float around with me, complete enough I feel like I can swim up and take a bite. That the pineapple characteristic tastes dried has gotta be a component of its age. I can get lost in the aromatic churn of this yeast-yeast-yeast-fruit game, but that’s not all I came here for. There’s a party that your tongue is hosting and beautiful throngs are knocking. Hello Apple. Hello Lemon, you are fresh very ripe. Why, hello Chamomile. I didn’t expect to see you here. You are lovely! Pineapple you’ve put on some weight! Despite the wine’s age, there’s still a freshness, of just-pressed cider apples that hangs out on the tongue, laying lazy like beautiful ropey, ornate quilt, once the pineapple and peanut party passes on. — 7 years ago

admiral von schnauzer

9.2

Really nice. Reeeeally nice. Just a touch of oxidation, but still quite lovely. Again against my advice poured from bottle and not decanted. Truly better after a tonne of time, but whatcha gonna do. Not my circus, not my monkeys — 8 years ago

John Willison

9.0

Ripe yellow fruit and almond oil nose. Honeyed tropical fruit, a bit of circus peanut, & then a mineral pertrol finish. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.1

This cab heavy blend has cab grapes coming from Howell Mountain. Not much to write home about on the first day, but coming alive nicely here in day 2. In the glass, mid purple color and surprisingly, fairly fast moving legs. The nose smells of baking spices and leather. On the tongue, Bing cherries, and black pepper spice.

Enjoy the circus, everyone. 🇺🇸 — 8 years ago

John Willison

9.0

Pears, yellow fruit, banana circus peanut, rubber hose. Quality Riesling. Great pairing with sushi. — 9 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.4

Really great showing out of this today. Almost exactly 5 years since the first and last time I had it, and it has really paid off that time in the cellar. It is, to be sure, still very young and vibrant - perhaps even *more* vibrant now that it's had a chance to streamline itself and shed all the oak flavors, leaving the fruit quite gloriously pure and front and center. On the initial whiff it's very rich and syrupy but it only takes a minute to transcend that big blast of California sun and then the fruit feels crystallized and crunchy, a super-fresh profile despite it being purple/black in complexion, with the zing of wild berries. There is also a strong sense of stoniness so this is not a one-ring circus. The fruit keeps it intensely drinkable but the rocks add plenty of intrigue, including a tactile crushed stone sensation that works very well with the tannin to add some grit to a wine that remains compulsively drinkable. — 9 years ago

Aron Caruso

9.2

Really enjoyed this. Heavy vanilla and oak. Reminded me of circus peanuts in a good way. I love this f*in wine. Wish it wasn't $40/bottle. — 10 years ago

John Willison

9.0

Chardonnay, not Pinot. Pale yellow color. White floral, honeysuckle, with a bit of sweetness on the nose. Citrus, floral, with a bit of 'circus peanut' candy, ending with some acidity and a drying affect. Simple in a good way, and thoroughly enjoyable. — 10 years ago

Charles Antin

Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys

9.0

My 9 is based on the spectrum of 5 baiju I had tonight (I've had, ever). This one has fruit and floral notes. Doesn't taste like a circus, which I appreciate. Is also hugely expensive, which I appreciate. — 10 years ago

Phil Stice

9.2

Cotton candy, circus peanut, bubblegum, green, and rich. Lots of texture! Really impressive. These wines age beautifully IMO — 12 years ago