Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.1

Winery: Luna Beberide
Wine: Fina Luna Beberide
Vintage: 2017
Denomination of Origin: Bierzo
Grape: 100% Mencia

This wine has changed names with the 2017 vintage. Former called Finca la Cuesta, this is sourced from the same, estate vineyards on clay and broken slate. The winery has reduced the amount of new oak and time in wood with this vintage lending a fresher fruit character. Good thing as 2017 crop was drastically reduced by frost.
Medium opaque purple. Nose of plums, graphite, a hint of gamy/butcher block. On the palate this is fleshier than previous vintages, with a silky, Merlot-like character. Persistent and concentrated while maintaining a sense of levity. — 6 years ago

Joseph Gannon

9.4

Cherry juice with slight effervescene, pure enjoyment. This was my favorite producer from last year’s Nouveau crop, and is likely to be again. love it — 9 years ago

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9.2

The 2012 Alter Ego is unusually dark in this vintage, the result of abnormally low yields and very ripe Merlot. An exuberant, voluptuous wine, the 2012 hits the palate with a mélange of black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice, tobacco and grilled herbs. There is more than enough tannin and acidity to support a good decade-plus of very fine drinking. This is a superb second wine that should be on consumers' radar screens, as it over delivers, big time. The 2012s at Palmer are made from unusually low yields of around 28 hectoliters per hectare. One of the effects of the 2011 hailstorm that hit the estate was a lowering of the following year's crop, which has resulted in rich, tannic wines. Estate Manager Thomas Duroux opted to give the 2012s more time in barrel than is customary and the wines were bottled in September 2014. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous) — 9 years ago

Matt Trader

9.2

Elegance, mouthwatering acidity, and structure of a great Burgundian Pinot, with the finesse of Russian River's finest crop from Dutton Ranch. Gorgeous and floral bouquet, brick red, with wonderful pie cherry and cola spice notes, with a faint whisper of milk chocolate. Truly a terrific wine, one that will even benefit from age, to be enjoyed by its lonesome, but also with your best slow baked salmon recipe. — 10 years ago

David Moore

9.5

Very tiny production from the Brunori family. In 2013 the crop was much smaller, however, very concentrated. Reminds me of a theoretical blend of well-farmed Chinon, and well-farmed Morgon. — 11 years ago

Tobias Mattsson

9.4

Its time. Right now to drink this Wonderful Wine. Fruity, good crop and perfect length — 11 years ago

Anna Vocaturo

9.6

Crisp, Refreshing, lots of grapefruit, grassy- concentration of flavors from 45-48 year old vines, they lost a lot of the crop in 2018 — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

After Jim Clendenen graduated with a pre-law degree in ’76, he was assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery for the 1978 harvest, and in 1981 he pulled a “triathlon” and handled three harvests in one year as Jim worked crush and directed the harvest at wineries in Australia and France. Small crop, early ripening with concentrated fruit, aromas of tropical fruits and toasty notes. On the palate fresh pineapple and pear with oak tones, a bit creamy, almost buttery, a bit overdone, but still a good value. Medium finish with a round mouthfeel and bits of mineral on the ending. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

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9.2

Wine is a product of nature. This fact was all too real for Ormes de Pez in 2014 as the estate suffered through a brutal hailstorm in May that took with it a third of the potential crop. Yet, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining and the positive result here was that the reduced yield resulted in an unusually deep, powerful vintage for this St. Estèphe property that belongs to the Cazes family, owners of Lynch-Bages. A dark, sumptuous beauty, the 2014 Ormes de Pez offers up a compelling mélange of purplish and black fruit, smoke, grilled herbs and graphite, with quite a bit of density. Rich and voluptuous, the 2014 is a gorgeous Ormes de Pez that will drink well relatively early. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2017) — 9 years ago

Pam Starr

Owner/Winemaker Crocker & Starr Wines

9.2

Fresh and savory. 91 was a very long growing season cooler than average and w a rather healthy crop load. Continues to unfold in glass over an hour. — 10 years ago

with Norm

Stephanie Schultheiss

10

This is the cream of the crop at this vineyard — 11 years ago

Jim Westby

9.3

Old, non-vintage (in a 73 cl bottle). I'll speculate and say a blend of the abundant, successful 70 and the difficult short crop 71. In any case, delicious, ethereal, and could only be Rioja. — 11 years ago

Jonathan Troutman

Wine Blogger Jonathan Troutman

8.9

Savory and smokey bacon. Syrah might be Humboldt's 2nd best crop. — 11 years ago

Maggie Harrison

9.7

This was amazing. I’ve never had anything like it. The story told to me about this liquor is that the fruit comes from old old orchards on or near the Chave estate. Apricot trees used to be a big crop for the region a long time ago! this is a sublime drink — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.3

Another stunning wine! Probably tied for WOTN. Just an absolutely fantastic GC, and a lesser known producer, but not to be taken lightly. For under $100 you are getting cream of the crop, and something that even at 6 years of age will soldier on and continue to develop for at least the next 10 years. Vibrant and aromatic - crushed clove, fresh pansies, rhubarb, a faint touch of brett to bring the terrior together. Beautiful ruby color, no loss of youth in flavour either - raspberry reduction, nutmeg, dried cranberries, cedar, and a finesse only known to GC Burgundy.

Another special treat to open. Thank you @Kyle Groombridge ! — 8 years ago

Francesco Montanari

10

Lovin' bottle. Crop 2003 in 2016. Perfect — 9 years ago

Jo Anne B

9.5

Goes great with back injections.😖😬. Haven't had an AVV wine I didn't love. Dark cherry, raspberry, anise and a little black pepper. So good. Makes me forget the aching pain. — 10 years ago

Rajat Parr

Founder Sandhi Wines & Domaine de la Côte, Evening Lands Vineyards, Seven Springs & Maison l'Oree

9.7

Just the BEST!
A rare bottling. Produced from the second crop. — 10 years ago

Kent Waliser

8.9

This PV is from Dionysus Vineyard. It was the first crop. I am glad I waited this long to try it. Would have gone much longer with acidity and tannin. Big structure but fruit comes through. Vintages after this have been fruitier more rounded. Fun to drink. — 11 years ago

Claus Von Jaffa

9.1

First nose brings fresh a dark fruit introduction which after first taste is tightly rounded with a beautiful balance of graphite, bullwhip leather and a bit of cocoa. We always love our 2005 Medoc crop and this sample us an extremely pleasant drinking bottle. The balance is what strikes me most here, spice box Jerry is in the house as well, but every flavor has a role all brought together in a smooth unity. I will rate a 91 at a great $20 pricepoint. — 11 years ago