Byron C Mayes

8.9

This vintage is 100% Nerello Mascalese. Clear garnet red. Inviting nose of baked cherry and pomegranate. Medium bodied palate echoes the nose adding terra cotta, cherry marzipan, dusty (medium plus) tannins, and bright, food-friendly medium acidity. Finish is moderate but continues the palate which, along with the acidity and tannins, makes this the consummate food wine. Al-Cantara's higher end NM is for hearty dishes. This one is a red that can be paired with seafood (a la Frappatto) and lighter fare. And it shines in that space. I had salmon -stuffed tortellini with vodka sauce. Drink now through 2026. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind. The wine appears deep garnet with an opaque core. There appears to be a slight amount of sediment but otherwise no visual signs of age. On the nose, a beguiling mix of black, blue and red fruits with a pronounced hit of tobacco, green bell pepper, purple flowers, earth and baking space. On the palate, the wine is dry with very firm tannin that I would place in the medium++ category. Medium+ acid. The fruit set is confirmed along with the aforementioned non-fruit characteristics with some leather and earth for good measure. The finish very long and rich. While there is an undeniable amount of high quality fruit, I felt the non-fruit characteristics and the structure leaned more towards the old world. I called 2008 Paulliac from a classified growth. I didn’t even think about Australia! Anyway, this was awesome and came across almost youthful! I’ve long admired Roman’s work with Syrah…and now I know I’ve been sleeping on his Cabernet. This wine will continue to drink well for another decade+. — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

What a nose. Citrus, perfume, spice. Crazy aromas. Palate is so tangy, salty and citrusy. Acid is off the charts. Superb purity. Juicy. Decadent yet stern and energetic. Linear and long. In a perfect space. — 4 years ago

Dick Catlin

9.3

Beautiful. Drank with Des and Kathy at Third Space in August 2022 — 2 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Cool wet stones, smoke, and micro-planed lemon zest. There's weight in the mouth, making space for texture and brighter concentrated flavors. Ceylon cinnamon and starfruit. Bitter lime. Really great. — 2 years ago

Elizabeth Harris

9.7

A great wine. Food yeah! On its own during a sunny Friday afternoon, yep! It's gently sweet but you won't feel like you're having candy. It's enough that makes it slightly heavy on the tongue and easily enjoyable. If you like Riesling this is fantastic! Go Austria!

Color: Pale light yellow like those office sticky note rip offs. But this pale color signals refreshing like a light wine diamonds, not cheap office supplies.

Aroma: It smells juicy, fresh fruit sweet like a Riesling. It smells like peach, apricot, honey lemonade but not too sweet. Like a refreshing cooler that you would have on the beach. Just enough sweetness to counter a tan but not anywhere near enough you'll be attracting bees or feel like a kid in the candy shop. It smells delicious!

Taste: It tastes like a lighter Riesling. It had some sweetness and weight that clings to the tongue. So I would say its light to medium body. It has a honey lemon and peach taste like when you smell.  Yep just enough sweetness to fein off the tang or alcoholic taste but definitely not a sweet wine. — 2 years ago

Keith Crump

9.1

2015 A go to nz red lots of bright blue berry and sniff of spice with backbone of blackberry and warm fruit sitting in a happy drinking space, there is a sense of Wairarapa class rather then Hawkes Bay swagger — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

What a pretty wine. A rather interesting multi vintage red blend from Napa Valley but made more in the old school style. Ruby red core with violet edges. A bright, floral nose begins to unfurl with summer flowers and fresh blackberries. There’s a nice element of cocoa and vanilla as well, along with dried herbs. As it warms in the glass, spice begins to assume a starring role.

Mostly Cabernet Franc to go with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This isn’t a typical ultra ripe, big and bold Napa red blend designed to appease the masses. Though it may do just that because it is so very inviting and pleasing. Smooth tannins and easy going although this is serious stuff. The palate follows the nose closely with lovely red fruit and lively dark fruit. A bit of greenery and a bit more spice. Fun, fun stuff and highly recommended.
— 2 years ago

David Kline

9.5

Young, but accessible. Gun flint nose is instantly seductive descending like smoke onto brioche and twists of impossibly minute lemon peel, lime and tangerine piths, underripe pineapple freshness, Marcona almond, toasted sesame, chalky chunks have absorbed the smoke, and fallen citrus celebrates its rebirth. Lemon pith that oozes lemon skin oils like dewdrop diamonds. Incredible minerality that crystallizes into spines of grapefruit, dandelion, dried gooseberry, and marigold. Shiny, bright, crystal clean, and revelatory. Amazing compilation of parts that remains suspended like a chandelier in ethereal weightlessness.


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Michael Greene

9.2

Very nice. No greeness. Tastes like a light in its feet Matthiasson cab sauv. — 3 years ago