Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.4

The 2020 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is a dense, potent wine. The purity of the fruit is remarkable. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2020 is still incredibly primary. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and rose petal open with a bit of coaxing. All this needs is time and a bit more polish. As always, the Colson Canyon Syrah is one of the most distinctive wines in Joey Tensley's range. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2022)
— 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

A blend of 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella & 5% Molinara, deep Ruby with distinctive raisiny berry fruit flavors and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and strawberry with vanilla spice, nicely balanced with soft and smooth warming tannins on a long finish ending with fruit, licorice and tobacco. Can age well. Nice! — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Young CLB never ceases to amaze. Pop and pour magic once again as high toned red fruit, violets and distinctive CLB spice soar from the glass with almost no reduction getting in the way. Finely detailed and ethereal palate with a simultaneous intensity of vivid fruit and a mineral infusion that leads to its seamless transition to finish. Always a special experience to drink CLB. — 4 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 4 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

A robust Cab with a distinctive nose. A blast of blackberry and bing cherry. Lingering finish. — 6 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Feel horrible. Killled a baby. Really needed a few more years. Very good, fragrant, but the tannins and acidity were a bit too strong. Still a very good, distinctive but rustic wine. — 7 years ago

with Barbara

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc with 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas (prior to ‘18 vintage some Semillon added). Pale lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! Very consistent! — 3 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

A unique and distinctive wine from the genius that is Envinate. Slightly cloudy, mid yellow. Nose features briny rock, sea shells and lemon. Palate mineral driven with Meyer lemon. Long + acid on the finish. Clearly volcanic and “Atlantic”. We loved it! — 3 years ago

with Judy

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

A requested pre-dinner decant served very well as explosive and distinctive Rayas aromatics assert themselves immediately. It’s very complex, hedonistic and layered with flavors you can’t stop listing as they come at you in waves and do somersaults in the glass. Signature kirsch cherry liquor, winter citrus, black raspberry, sage, lavender, incense and a fine mineral infusion on the back end.

There is superb intensity and a palate saturating texture while at the same time it has an airy weightlessness and sensual elegance. Finishes with great energy, length and persistence. This is a fantastic vintage for the Raynaud wines especially, with clearly many more great years ahead to evolve and gain even further complexity. — 4 years ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.3

Distinctive Pinot. Somewhat dry but bright. A step above most. December 2020. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Pulled the cork on another ‘18, and it’s just great! Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc & 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas. Medium lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! — 5 years ago

July Glibova

9.4

Chocolate, minty, spicy, balsamic — 6 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.8

Stunningly complex and layered with evolving auto lysis aromas adding nuance and depth to its distinctive fruit profile. Great acidity and grip here, so better wait another 5+ years before pulling another cork. Amazing length. — 7 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Brilliant.

Hot on open. Fine after 15.

Nose is beautiful. Intense peach flower.

As this opens almost like old Riesling. Like old muellen. There’s some extra element I can’t put my finger on that takes it to the next level. Plus that mountain stream freshness. Wow.

Palate is really clean. Mountain stream. Peach nectar. Balanced. Very good deliciousness without being over the top.

A great wine. Very distinctive.

Bought from fass selections — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Very good.

Nose is cherry, lilacs. A bit penetrating in a good way. As it opens more Burgundian, savory and serious.

Palate is very fresh. Dense mid season cherries. Lingering in a great way. So juicy. Burgundy but with a German twist.

Very distinctive and great. 9.35. Lacks some complexity and density to be truly great but for the price you can’t beat it.

Lovely cherry licorice finish.

An hour in is much better and more serious.

Tannins interfere a bit at this point. They should smooth out in 2-3 years.

Bought from fass selections. — 3 years ago

Carla D

9.7

The 2018 has a nice nose, nice palate. Features inviting asparagus on the nose. Really like this wine. Very approachable and tastes beyond its price point. Think it would go nice with some distinctive cheeses. — 4 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Nose is just piercingly clear cherry and cherry flower. A hint of mountain field.

Palate is so clean. Almost like a mountain stream infused with cherries. Some spice. Almost a lavender extract. Wow. Very distinctive. As it opens some lovely dustiness on the palate.

Finish is so perfect. Cherries. Lingering cherry licorice. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Sick nose. So distinctive. Apricot, iodine, saline, superb minerality. Forest scents. Palate is just breathtaking. Elegant, fresh and huge acids. Dense and deep but so ultra refined. Complex and super juicy and that acid really goes into overdrive on the finish. Terrific mineral complexity just dances on the palate. Gorgeous interplay of fruit and mineral. — 5 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of clear bubbly ruby. Nose is pleasing, with quality Pinot Noir notes, like wet mushroom, cocoa, fresh berries, and a bit of savory spice. Taste is quite sweet and juicy acidity with spicy chocolate vanilla, very distinctive cocoa note, while fruits and spice take the 2nd seat. Aftertaste is some more cranberry and zest. Overall quite dense considering she is a Pinot yet refreshing. Had a 2nd bottle a few months later, and the comments stand. — 7 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.5

This is so so good. Flavor is enveloping. Black cherry and graphite nose. A distinctive minerality in the finish. Omg. Fennel, crushed rock, blackberry, rose, high acid without being angular, so fucking good. Long, plush, delicious — 7 years ago