Jon Nichols

9.4

Excellent with calamari and steak. Double eagle del Friscos Dallas — 8 years ago

TheSkip

10

So, I came home yesterday and there was a package at the door. I wasn't expecting anything and looked at the sender. @Martin G Rivard ! Well then! I knew santa was over, but perhaps Easter Bunny Rivard had struck?

I opened the box with haste. Surely anything from @Martin G Rivard would be of high quality. I saw a flash of orange and though, oh my! But there was only one bottle and it was oddly shaped. This must be the limited edition, double magnum of @Jason Chang's Nine Suns cuvée! I ripped open as if it were Christmas and out came Carlo Rossi.

I'd never heard of this producer but I trusted Martin. This bottle came with a very handy pour handle at the top. I was excited. Although it was only 4pm, I remembered what @Bill Bender said about 3pm so, I thought to myself, why not?

Hurriedly, I came into the kitchen and got my favorite Zalto glass, as inspired first by @Roman Sukley. I retrieved my corkscrew and opened the knife only to discover that this was a convenient screw cap! How thoughtful of Martin!

Open it went and the room filled with a lovely sweet grape must. I knew this would be special. I grabbed my winestop given to me by @Ron R and inserted to to insure there would be not a drop wasted.

Into the glass and my excitement prevented any thought of a decant.

What a wine! Those Concord grapes - what has Welch's been thinking? They've missed out on one of the finest varietals I've ever encountered. I knew I was truly lucky to try this rare wine.

But something felt...off. And I realized, I had nothing to pair with this! Thankfully there was a full 4L in this bad boy. And the screw cap allowed for prompt resealing.

Away I went in the car. What oh what to have? Aih! Exactly! @Paul T told me about the heaven of pairing McNuggets. Off to Ol' McDonalds I went.

Twenty McNuggets and sweet and sour sauce please!

I scurried to the back, and carefully withdrew my Zalto from my backpack. Opening the McNuggets, I knew this would be special. And indeed, I am with words to describe the experience. Yet, again, I knew something just wasn't right. The wine wasn't presenting itself. So I thought, how can I classy this up? And then I remembered all of @David L's posts with the classy silver wine coaster.

I had to have one. I asked the chap at the counter of McDonalds, but the response I received was less than satisfactory. I had to solve this issue myself. Thankfully , while returning to my table, I spotted a HomeGoods store immediately next door. I ran across and found a lovely silver charger.

And finally, returning to my table, I was now all smiles! More smiles than @Mike R !

What a special evening. I really wanted to end this off right. I grabbed a dozen roses and rushed home to the wife. Half a bottle Rossi still intact!

I showed her the bottle and wow! You should have see her eyes. I then suggested we retire to the bedroom and this was met with prompt approval.

And with such a great night, I wanted a lovely memento. I gently placed the bottle against her and snapped a lovely shot that is sure to be on the cover of the next issue of BBB with @Bill Bender !

Thanks for thinking of me @Martin G Rivard ! — 8 years ago

Jared Mayron

9.5

Great minerality, red fruit, floral, great finish, SF international double gold — 9 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

Sweet but but not tangy. Light citrus with floral overtone. Nice job A R. This is a buy that is fun anytime. — 9 years ago

Meg

9.4

This little Irish girl is feeling very lucky and thankful indeed for some R&R. A year ago today, I was spending St Patty's Day the same way I am today - with a challenging morning workout, some tennis (w/ an epic 31 point rally!), pool time w/ a good book, a nap, and lunch w/ a glass of Pride overlooking this breathtaking Blue Ridge Mtn view. It begs the question - can it get any better? What would your perfect day look like?? #throwbackthursday (yes I hear that double entendre....) — 9 years ago

Greg Sorensen

9.5

78 is a magical year for Lopez. Strawberries, marzipan, mushroom tea. Just downright delicious and ethereal. Double decanted. — 9 years ago

Dana Giammaria

9.2

Had this wine April 22,2015. Smooth great taste with a nice finish. We both liked it. Had it with Linda R. — 10 years ago

Liz Mendez

9.1

Magnum, so double that $$ — 10 years ago

Steve Wolmaark

9.6

Excellent. Gift from Jeff at T&R — 11 years ago

Randy P

9.0

A 12 year old Syrah that could have gracefully gone another 4-6 seasons in bottle. Tannins were harsh and gripping initially, but after the first half of Bachelor in Paradise, the wine opened up and flowered. Nailed the acids. Smoke, Clove, aged tobacco and balanced oak work their way out of the glass. More gritty earth, clove and soft, worn lederhosen fill the mouth. This wine was very tasty. — 8 years ago

Rocky Fagioli

8.9

Great for the price — 8 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.3

This is a good wine with ripe fruit, flowers and a BEAUTIFUL NOSE. Well done for $20 bucks. I'm so glad Patrick Chapman (Screaming Eagle) has landed here. Call him and stock up now for spring. This one doesn't disappoint. @Paul T @Ron R @Jacqueline @Bill Bender @Jim Trobaugh @Eric Shanks @David L @TheSkip @Jade Moore @Warren Sapp — 8 years ago

Bart Bartlett

9.0

Incredibly smooth, juicy peach flavors with hints of lemony citrus. A tinge of pepper on the finish. Great wine! — 9 years ago

with Jennifer

Patrick Derdeyn

9.0

I love Carlisle, but if the mantra that they all need tons of rest holds true then that goes double for this one. Day 2 and it's just starting to open up and give a peak. Will hold another 5 years before I check in again. — 9 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

This is so nugget worthy,
Double shift for 10 days straight has brought me to my knees,.
The buffalo sauce seems to over power the wine, I suggest the habanero ranch as the better alternative, bbq sauce is just for kids — 9 years ago

James Thacker

9.0

Good stuff. Touch in the sweet side — 9 years ago

Yvette Lippert

9.0

Double gold at California State Fair in 2007. — 10 years ago

Rudy DeLaurentis

9.4

Picked up a case of the 2005 on a Sideways movie tour in 06. Cool rustic wine tasting room. Santa Barbara County is almost as much fun as Napa and Sonoma. Last one and drinking exceptionally well. Complex nose of dark fruit, licorice, barbecued ham. Similar on the palate, really delicious. Cheers. — 10 years ago

Mike Brown

9.8

2008. Double Fabulousness. Glad when the prognosticators fail to account for genius wine — 11 years ago

with Sariya

Meredith Freudenthal

10

Gift from Kenze/Ian! — 11 years ago

Jeff

9.0

Jammy and bold! — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.7

"Bad Ass in a Glass" is quite accurate here. Poured from a double magnum, this was a big wine that had people smiling and buzzing (in every sense of the word!). Globs of dark fruit, silky smooth, a touch sweet, but so well integrated.

Thank you @Martin G Rivard and @Christine for an epic 48 hours and for opening your home last night for the Super Bowl of wine tastings (and for the four different types of grilled cheese sandwiches that magically appeared toward the end of the night!).

While the wines shared last night literally were the best of the best, so too were the folks I had the pleasure of seeing again and meeting for the first time. Thank you all for making last night so memorable. I look forward to staying in touch and sharing a glass (bottle?) with you all again in the near future.

@David L @Mike R @Ron R @Joe Lucca @Shawn R @Bill Bender @Daryl Calhoun @Ryan M @leon egozi @David Goldfinger @David From The 504 @Monica O @Ira Shapiro @Jeffrey Lew @Mo Salem @"Odedi" @Kirk Alexander @Gina Sabean (tag anyone I may have missed!). Your generosity and enthusiasm in sharing wine was greatly appreciated. — 8 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Made in an oxidative style like the Jura Blanc, but much more so. Rich, saline, nutty. May not be for everyone, but I really like this style. Double post as Mrs A and I shared a bottle the day prior, before opening this one for guests. — 9 years ago

with Max and Albert

Sean Herriott

9.3

I am extremely HIGH on this wine! Definitely one of my top ten Sauvignon Blanc experiences of all time :-) There's layers of tropical fruit flavors surrounded by seductive creamy oak. How does one craft a California SB that tastes like a fine white Burgundy?? (Meursault comes to mind) I have no idea, but I just want to keep drinking it.

Kudos to the "Wild Man" R. Bevan and Victoria for making some of the best wines on the planet! — 9 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.0

New vintage, needs air and/or time in cellar. Every vintage of D&R is better than the last. Keep on rocking guys! — 9 years ago

with Don, Christy and 1 other

Brian Grech

9.3

Full body, inky, with big fruit and medium complexity. This shows up bottles at double the price. — 9 years ago

with Ashley

Sandra K

9.5

Smoothe and buttery. — 10 years ago

Thomas Yoo

9.0

Pretty good wine. Only double the price at restaurant. — 10 years ago

with Rachel

Donna O'Neil

9.5

Double magnum! @stsupery Yum! — 11 years ago

Ryan Simmons

9.2

Purple. Inky. No transparency ate the meniscus . Spicy nose. Bitters, toffee. Not fruit forward at all. Plum, fig. Full bodied and mildly tannic with coffee, leather and dark black fruit holding the spice together. Exceptional. 92 — 11 years ago