Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I like the Patrina for its quality and QPR. Its quality is not all that far from the Reva but, about half price.

I also find the roasted or roasted chestnut quality I find in Rostaing wine out of Rhone. It is my belief, they have more or less styled their wines from Rostaing.

The nose reveals; dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, baked, spiced plum, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, blue, dark flowers with greens topped of with field of lavender.

The body is rich, lush and full. The tension, structure, length and balance are about five years from its peak. The tannins round yet, grainy and speak to another 10 years of excellent drinking ahead. Dark, ruby & slightly candied, currants, ripe; purple fruit mix, blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries & baked, spiced plum. Anise to black licorice, roasted chestnuts, smoke, grilled meats, touch of bacon fat, heavy expresso roast, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil with clay mixed in, dry brush, pepper notes, some caramel, mid, nicely layered baking spices, dry herbaceousiness with bay leaf dominance, with fresh, candied, purple, blue & dark florals with greens topped of with field of lavender. The acidity balances the alcohol like a waterfall over the palate. The long, ruby, ripe, slightly candied, well balanced finish slides into dry tannins & earth and persists several minutes.

Paired well with our slightly spicy Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Skews, Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Green Beans.

Photos of; the Patrina Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker-John Alban and imagery inside their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Straw gold. Distinct and vibrant in the glass. Notes of sweet lemon, stone, white flowers, clay dust and a little ginger spice. Rich in the mouth. Long finish coats the palate. Very nice. Needs more time on its side to gain some complexity. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Light gold. Silky in the glass. Textbook Raveneau nose with notes of light apricot, lime blossom, white clay, honey and brown spice. Round and vibrant in the mouth. Long finish. Still young but the vintage remains approachable at age 13. Two bottles paired well with our Oysters Rockefeller course for a group. — 8 years ago

Luke Frost

9.5

A personal favourite. Untouchable. — 9 years ago

with Jen

John L

9.0

Complex dark fruit, leather and clay-gravel. Pairs well with grilled lamb steak. — 10 years ago

Mark Schumacher

8.9

Drank at Sportello with Ev. Aged in clay pots — 11 years ago

Meg Herring

9.0

Red apples, cranberries, spices, clay, white flowers. Earthy. Med+ acidity. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Ready to rock and roll. Blackberry and red clay on the nose. Entry of black cherry and cola with acidic character. Middle is dark, smoky, leather, more blackberry and hint of cocoa. Still finishes with a young semi sweet baking chocolate and Rutherford dust! Black pepper finish is unmistakable with a ton of black fruit, and plenty of life left. Dang. — 7 years ago

Tom Ellis

9.7

No tasting notes necessary. Almost unreal flavor, textures capable of restructuring your brain cells. This wine almost ruined me by raising the bar impossibly high for everything else that followed. Now regretting I sold my double magnum of '70 in 1997. "Dark chocolate-covered berries, fresh moss, leathery clay bound in a sensory rush that lingers all evening". This is what separates the classics from so many wines; One thinks of it and can taste it for the rest of your life. — 7 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.1

Lovely wine.
Nice nose, laidback and relaxed, soft earthy palate, black tea, olives, clay, dark fruit, tannines all integrated. — 8 years ago

Tony Capone

9.5

This was a tuff year, with lots of rain and cool summer. Cassis, blackberries, with an intense dark Ruby color. Lots of minerals, clay, evergreen notes, smooth tannins. A little bit of vanilla on the finish. Great bottle for "Technical Year". — 9 years ago

Will Anderson

9.3

Great chilled!!! — 9 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

'Les Picasses' lies along a riverbank on a fairly steep slope that is primarily alluvial clay overlaying chalk and limestone. The vines are over 50 years old and the site is known to produce wines with fabulous purity and minerality. As such the Olga Raffault 'Les Picasses' Chinon 1989 has had time to mellow, the aromas are quite lovely—lavender, game, worn leather, a touch of barnyard, and cellar dust. There is a throaty, sensual wildness to this wine, punctuated by a vein of bright acidity and minerals. Everything I love in Loire Valley Cab Franc. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

What a great vintage. Its tannin structure will outlive the 09 and anyone 45 and older. The 2010 is a forever vintage and while different than 09, it will undoubtedly be just as great. It’s just going to take a lot more bottle age than the 09.

The body is full and round. The tannins have rounded but are still big and chewy. It’s more concentrated than 09. The fruit is really beautiful and again perfectly ripe. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum, poached strawberries with hints of raspberries. Soft soil structure; dry top soil, moist clay, medium intensity dark spice, fresh tobacco, dry herbs, crushed rock powder, with dark, withering florals with violets. The texture is velvety. The structure and tension are big. The length and balance are worthy of its perfect score. For me, it’s just not there, yet! The acidity is really good. The long, lush, ripe, well balanced, polished finish is deliciously persistent.

Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago

Martinez

8.9

Softly aromatic, ripe strawberry, clay, tobacco, nice acidity — 7 years ago

John Miller

9.2

Full bodied, earthy pinot. Tart and crisp with and round and buttery finish. Fantastic. — 8 years ago

Natalie Griffin

9.0

medium berries — 8 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.3

#KWN Wine 3. From the get-go, clearly had some age to it. Exhibits initial cherry fruit, which immediately falls into the background. Secondary flavors of leather, forest floor and clay quickly overtake the palate. A Smoky finish with hints of eucalyptus. Opened up nicely over a couple of hours. Magical. — 9 years ago

Matt

9.2

Cool site Garnacha grown on clay limestone (unusual for Priorat). Meaty, flesh, leathery, earthy, spices, dried roses, citrus peel. Deeply layered and would be a blast with age. — 10 years ago

David Singer

Sommelier/Wine Educator LibationEducation

9.0

From 1/2 bt. Much better as it warms up. Honeyed Bosc pear, Creme brûlée, clay, limestone. Solid complexity and length. $65 at legal seafood, what a steal — 11 years ago