Brian S

8.9

First Chardonnay from Cerise Vineyard, not bad not great either. Slight reduction, decent fruits intertwined but was lacking. — 5 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Good but could have used some more aging. Cranberry and cedar with tobacco that hasn’t had a chance to fully develop. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Tried two of their more current releases, 21 Russian River & 21 Crown Gap and this 2017 Thorn Ridge from Magnum. Always consistent, solid Pinots from KB. Paired well with the Duck.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land.
— a year ago

David Walser

9.2

I feel this is at its prime. No need to wait any longer. Had with rack of lamb. Served it a bit too cold. I would have enjoyed warmer. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

My last bottle of Cirq. I think the quality is extremely high, but the evolution and secondary market is hard to justify when similar priced wines (ex: Marcassin) are in a different realm.

This straddles bright and moderately lean Sonoma coast Pinot with ripe OR style pinot. When compared to Michael Browne’s Kosta Browne wines, its got a more elegant profile while retaining the rich fruit. Plenty of ripe cherry, black cherry, potpourri, and sandalwood aromatics. The palate here retains a lot of freshness to go along with the spiced rhubarb, black pepper, and maple drizzled black cherries. Acidity is very vibrant and keeps this wine afloat.

Pretty? Yes. Do I see this getting better? Not necessarily, just different. — 4 years ago

Jay Eagan

9.1

This is Dan Kosta (Kosta Brown) new label. It’s a good example of Sonoma with raspberry and cherry tones with a brightness and acidity that work great with our spicy miso salmon. — 6 years ago

with Kristine

Shay A

9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

George Yasutake

9.1

A little early to drink, be better in 3-4 years. — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Massican – Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Massican’s take on Sauvignon Blanc is never about following trends, but about pushing boundaries. This 2016 proves that Napa whites—when crafted thoughtfully—can age with grace and finesse. At 9 years old, it’s still alive, structured, and fascinating, a clear statement that Sauvignon Blanc deserves a serious seat at the Napa table.

Aromas & Flavors
Zesty lime peel, grapefruit, and passionfruit weave together with subtle elderflower and a mineral core. Secondary notes of dried herbs, beeswax, and a hint of lanolin show its age but also add depth and intrigue.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, bright, and polished, with a spine of acidity that still carries energy. The texture is sleek yet layered, leading to a clean, lingering finish with citrus oil and gentle salinity.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented and aged with minimal intervention, Dan Petroski focused on preserving varietal purity while allowing the wine to develop gracefully over time. No oak heaviness—just pure Sauvignon character with a refined edge.

Food Pairing
Perfect with goat cheese crostini, seared scallops, spring vegetables, or even sushi. Its brightness and structure make it versatile across fresh, savory dishes.

Verdict
A rare aged Napa Sauvignon Blanc that stuns with its precision and longevity. Proof that Napa whites can stand tall in the cellar and deliver beyond their expected drinking window.

Personal Highlight
One of the most fascinating Sauvignon Blancs I’ve enjoyed from Napa—still vibrant after nearly a decade, and a reminder that Massican is rewriting the book on California whites. Cheers!
— 8 months ago

Robert Brown

9.1

One of the best as of late. Eggplant parm, pared perfectly. — 3 years ago

with Cynthia

Enrico Pallazzo

9.4

Delicious but not quite as good as it used to be. Lots of cherry. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2017 vintage — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.5

Outstanding @ 10 year point — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2020 vintage. Nice restraint even though it is Anderson Valley juice. Pretty. 12.03.25. — 6 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Medium ruby color. Aromas of raspberry, cherry and cocoa. Delicious cherry pop rocks, baking spices and baked berries on the finish. Lovely 🥰 — 9 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.6

Cherry, vanilla, blackberry, and cinnamon. Rich, flavorful, fruity and earthy. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2006 vintage. So much power. Decanted and tasted after 45 mins. Medium-heavy body STILL!! Big fruit, big oak, big everything as is the old Kosta Browne style. Things dialed down slightly in recent vintages. Showing well tho for this style and looks to do so for the next 7-8 years before dropping weight/fruit. There was enough acidity/tannic structure to propel this along throughout. 12.24.24. — a year ago

David Walser

9.4

Could wait on drinking other bottles of this for another 5 years. Delicious tonight…I expect better in a few years. — 4 years ago

Steve Medbery

9.5

Stunning. Love the pure 667 clone. Strawberry with floral notes. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy Valentines Day!

If you have not looked for this wine on WineSearcher.com or other, you should. Dan Standish has no American Importer. However, you can mail order off his list. Good luck with the Australian/United States import costs. Very prohibited.

Most quality Barossa wines take 15 years in bottle to show their ultimate beauty. Dan’s wines are no different. His Estate vines are 100 years old and produce 500 pounds of fruit per acre...very concentrated. Contrast that to extremely expensive & high quality Napa fruit, those Napa producers are at 2,000-2,500 pounds per acre.

We visited Standish in April 2017. We found Dan to be extremely talented & definitely marches to his own drum. He is salt of the earth and has traveled & worked in many of the world wine regions honing his craft and landing as Torbreck’s Winemaker in Barossa before starting, “The Standish Wine Company.”

As good as the 04 is tonight, it has 15 years of good life ahead...properly stored of course.

The nose is very intoxicating. It is a nice blend of purple, black & blue fruits. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, medium dark spice, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender.

The body is full, rich, ripe, lush and creamy on the palate after a two-hour plus decant. The structure, tension, length and balance are a little short of its peak and will hold there for 5-8 years. It’s a glorious glide on the palate. The fruits are ripe & lightly baked. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, cherry kirsch, red & black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, the dark spices are heavier on the palate & bring just the right amount of heat, sweet, dark tarriness, black pepper, used, dark expresso roast grounds, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone, moist clay, with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round, flush & perfect. The long finish is a unique even balance of; lush fruits, spice, herbs and earth that persists on the palate for minutes.

Photo on the left of Sofia’s 2 dozen long stems. Love you so much!

@Oswald — 6 years ago