Neal Schaffer

9.1

Low yields in Northern Rhône 2013, but the quality of the fruit is prevalent here. Structured and well-integrated fine grained tannins at the five year mark. The nose explodes out of the glass with finesse and doused complexities. Definitive Syrah nuances of black raspberries, black plums, black olives, fresh cut violets, cracked black pepper, Indian spices, grilled and smoked meats, and stone dust. Light weight but packs a continuous release of flavors. Nose and palate changes from fruit to floral to spicy to meaty. As you move to different areas and rooms the wine changes. The more air it gets, the more meat starts hanging out. Complex indeed for a $20 bottle. Great showing. — 8 years ago

with Dana

Mark Farrell

8.9

Pale yellow with a slight lime tint. Clean, clear nose with hints of lemon, apple, and interestingly I pick up a hint of goat cheese. Definitive sweetness with flavors of pineapple finishing with mouth watering acidity. — 9 years ago

Neal Schaffer

9.1

@delectable This is a Texan, not a Californian; Texas High Plains AVA to be exact. I'm speechless after this effort... insane character and uniqueness. Has it's own definitive style without losing the soul of Sauvignon Blanc. This is straight up radiating with energy.

My girl wanted in on this review. She's got a way with words that is one in a million 😜 So, here is our combined effort:

"Now featuring: The Green Elixir. Wisps of kiwi swiftly enter the nasal passage on command. Over-ripened sweet cantaloupe charges through leaping over fresh Bosc pears. Similar to walking through a field of freshly cut grass on a midsummer Sunday morning. Upon walking through the renewed grass, you will come across loamy soil, enveloped with sandy silt. Dandelions magically pop up along the adventurous route dancing lazily in the breeze.

Taste consistently bathes, not lingers, but bathes on the palate. Anyone ever kiss a lime rind? Experience it now with The Green Elixir. Sour, yet makes you yearn for more. Granny Smith apples frolic throughout the tastebuds. Heading towards the end of our adventure, straw begins to make an appearance and wants to join in the fun. At the peak of the completion of our endeavor, a special herb comes out to play. Lemon Basil pleasantly surprises you to make sure your finale is more than grand.

*Medium-plus acidity and Medium-minus body

💚🍏🍐🍈🥝🌿🌳🥂"

@Dana Dungan You're are truly one in a million. PIC all the way.

@nakedwines @texas
— 9 years ago

with Dana

Carm Giardina

9.1

Considering the vintage on this, the wine was outstanding. Dry fruit, some spice, long finish. Excellent old world wine, very definitive. Had this with pizza, spiced chicken dip, chicken wings and other super bowl munchies. What a wine. I'd definitely buy this again. — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

Still such a beautiful and amazing wine, this is the best iteration of a Hirsch Pinot Noir that exists (imo), plenty of youthful fruit, but a sauce and finely textured wine that might be peaking but is nowhere near the finish line. I'd go back and buy more in a heartbeat.

To me Lioco as a producer is definitive of what the best Burgundian varietals can do in California, not to mention some of the other grapes they work with. — 10 years ago

Peter Slagowitz

9.1

Excellent Greek White. Definitive notes of Brine add a nice flavor and slight complexity. — 10 years ago

with Andrew and Nancy

Peter 0'Neill

9.0

Not entirely sure about this, in particular I was struck by the carbonic notes on the palate which were would have screwed me in a blind tasting. That said its clearly too young for definitive judgment - hold and keep your fingers crossed. — 10 years ago

Paul J

8.9

Probably drinking young, could use 3-5yrs. You wouldn’t think Bordeaux from the nose. Large cherry flavors with surprisingly high OH on the palate. Smooth, but not sure that’s a good thing as it lacks power, definitive characteristics, and finish. Merlot like but honestly disappointing. — 8 years ago

with Brooke

Justin Hansohn

9.2

So much happening here in this juice. It is clean and pure and the nose is of northern rhone with the soul of cross between Beaujolais and the Canary Islands. This is very definitive of the brand in full glory. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, liqueured dark cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, dark raisins, plums, dates, figs, baking spices, chocolate, dark rich soils, light spice and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is thick, rich and nicely resolved. Although it's nearly 20 years from inception, it's quite fresh and somewhere just the other side of it's peak. Dark cherries, plum, raisins, figs, dates, prunes, cherries, poached strawberries, somewhere between black raspberries & raspberries, dark & milk chocolate, light spice, rich, dark, moist soil, dry loamy top soil, violets, decayed, dark florals, light baking spices and caramel with nice round acidity. The finish is thick, rich 50-50 fruit and earth and lasts nearly a minute. This 98 is drinking nicely tonight with our Burrata, olive oil, Tondo balsamic, roasted garlic, garden cherries tomatoes and pesto sauce. Photos of; their beautiful villa estate, straw mats in warm rooms for drying the grapes to make this wine, Owner/Ambassador-Marilisa Allegrini, one of their vineyards and our charcuterie. Producer history & notes...Allegrini is one of the most acclaimed wineries in Veneto and a benchmark producer of Amarone. Their owner Marilisa Allegrini is a global ambassador for the region and internationally. Many in the industry considered her, "the voice of Amarone.” The Allegrini legacy spans six generations of wine growers. The Allegrinis have played a leading role in Valpolicella since the 16th century. Giovanni Allegrini is the patriarch of the modern estate. Today, his children, led by owner Marilisa, carry his legacy forward as one of the Veneto’s most acclaimed estates. Marilisa is the Ambassador for the estate while her brother, Franco, is internationally praised as one of Italy’s finest winemakers. They have 247 acres of vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico, the Allegrinis nurture a collection of remarkable sites. Each with its own personality, soils and focused microclimate. All seven vineyards range from the steep hillsides of La Grola to the plateau of La Poja and offer uniquely special expressions that make up their truly amazing wines. Allegrini has earned many accolades. In 2016, they were named Winery of the Year by Gambero Rosso, Italy’s definitive wine and food magazine. Parker called Allegrini the “reference point for fine Amarone.” Tonight this 98 was a nice example of those accolades.
— 9 years ago

Ian Blackburn

9.7

Only 250 cases of this rare beast bottles were made and this is the first I've ever tasted; it will not be my last. The 2007 has a long life ahead of it but I do believe collectors will enjoy it at this moment; the reputation dictates a decade before opening and I gave it that +2 hours in a decanter and I'm very happy to have discovered this now...I will be looking for more. Some wines from the Napa Valley try to be too pretty and this wine is a monster that has been kissed by time and evolved into a very distinguished representative. The tannins are now approachable but there is a very unique and definitive structure here. a great wine to collect and a relative value inside of collectible Napa Valley Cabernet. This was my favorite of three fantastic cult cabs tasted blind at Gwen restaurant "best bottle" dinner hosted by wine LA on 2.8.17 — 9 years ago

Tom Wood

9.2

Round two, decantered showed almost a different wine. Reserve style yet no definitive oak character. Sweet corn, fresh pineapple. Driving and fresh acidity, focus and concentration are not lacking and the flavour profile goes from fruit salad to bamboo shoot, from celery to cut herbs in the space of seconds. — 10 years ago

Erika Speelman

9.2

Definitive dried herbs, black cherry and black olives on the nose. Silky tannins and a spicy finish. — 10 years ago

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.3

Rich but precise. Definitive valpolicella. — 8 years ago

.:;2):’kicndnebxhjd

9.2

Definitive Barolo. We've sold 3 different vintages of this in my restaurant since I've been there. This wine is a great pick up for the price and my favorite vintage of the three (11,12,13). Like Cab, if you give it 3-4 years you're off to the races. This wine had heavy dried cherry and some faint orange candy along with cocoa powder. The tannin and acid back and forth is like a dream. Kinda dusty/rusty but fairly smooth. Rose petal on the nose, a little bit of tobacco and I wouldn't say really any truffle on this. More tobacco vs truffle on the earth notes. I would assume this has some decent barrel influence but no barrique and no new oak. Clean minerality, leaving the restaurant writing this and can still taste it👍🏼 — 9 years ago

David Wanek

9.9

First time w Petrus. Amazing stuff and fun to see how much it changed in the glass over several hours. Started with soft and round fruit but layers of eucalyptus and menthol emerged alongside definitive minerality. Amazingly complex. Superb winemaking. — 9 years ago

John Zuzek

9.1

Lovely plum and smoked meat aromas. The palate was rife with dark fruits and some definitive earthiness. — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.5

Yes! An absolutely glorious assault on the nose, creating that definitive glue-sniffing high, like they cut the wine with toluene. Another ten years needed here to touch the sky. TA Cornas is for sure one of the best values for Syrah on the planet. — 9 years ago

with Chris

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

Welcome to the weekend and we are going to Germany to get it started. Opening the 2012 Monchhof Robert Eymael Urzig Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese.

Upon opening the aromas are very pronounced and ripe with heavy notes of rubber tires, nectarine, apple, Pear, honeysuckle and a little pineapple.

With the first sip the nose is confirmed giving us rubber, petrol, nectarine, apricots, peach, apple, pineapple and honey.

The wine has medium + acidity with a full thick mouthfeel almost to the point of being syrupy. There is a definitive sweetness but not to the point of being overpowering. This is a well balanced riesling and enjoyable.

Please have an enjoyable weekend and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🖒 — 10 years ago

Adam Foster

Beverage Director Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop, Blue Coop Restaurant

9.3

This is the definitive case study in the affinity of mint and Sauvignon Blanc share on a molecular level. Classic! — 10 years ago