Jack Bender

8.9

Turkey digestivo — 7 years ago

Liz Pollen

9.0

Niagara gifts for Americans. 2016 vintage is so light and dry it goes down like water. Not much flavour, but enjoyable. — 8 years ago

Kristin Stein

9.5

Semi sweet white, perfect for a summer day — 8 years ago

Kristin Stein

9.5

Dry Riesling, a little sweetness, very refreshing — 8 years ago

Scott Whitesell

8.9

This was a light but crisp flavor. Very flavorful with a cherry type taste. Will go well with many foods — 9 years ago

with Amy

Corey Lohr

9.4

The very first wine I fell in love with; the vineyard is in a secluded part of NY and well maintained. — 10 years ago

Stuart Robinson

8.9

Good balance and freshness. — 11 years ago

Pelin-Ralph Bright

8.9

This is the first time we've had Dragonfly and it's an excellent example of an Australian Shiraz 😊 — 11 years ago

Catherine Leith

10

Very complex. Went well with charcuterie platter. Smooth notes of French Oak, black cherry, vanilla. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

A night of Saxum and Booker comparisons. On the nose, bright, ripe; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate, vanilla, cinnamon, red vines, crushed volcanic minerals, loamy top soil, dark Burgundian earthiness with dark red florals. The body is M with well resolved tannins. The fruits are bright; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries & pomegranate. Vanilla, cinnamon, steeped fruit tea, red vines, cherry cola, crumbled, grey volcanic minerals, limestone chalkiness, stem inclusion, red roses, violets, cherry lifesavers, softened leather, bright red florals, brilliant fresh acidity and a long, lush, round, elegant and well polished finish. This will be even better in 2-3 years. Photos of; the James Berry Vineyard, barrel room, rock shale and Justin barrel tasting. Producer notes and history...Justin's father James was a veterinarian in a fast-growing suburb of San Diego who wanted to live in the countryside. He bought the James Berry Vineyard property when Smith was 10 years old and planted Chardonnay, because that's what he liked to drink. He sold the grapes to Fetzer and argued continually with Bobby Fetzer who wanted them farmed organically. Justin Smith does farm organically, but is not certified because he says, "my dad would keel over." James Smith still lives on the property, a few hundred yards away, and still farms a section of the vineyard for his own pleasure. But he has given over the majority of it to Justin, although that didn't happen for years. It was in the late 1980s, John Alban (Alban Vineyards) that convinced James Smith that the area in western Paso Robles was better for Rhône varieties than Chardonnay. Slowly over time, the Smiths pulled out Chardonnay and replanted to Mourvèdre, Viognier and Syrah. Justin did much of the early work. When he graduated from Cal Poly, he came back to manage the vineyard. As payment, his father gave him one block of Syrah. Justin and his college roommate Matt Trevisan started Linne Calodo winery with the fruit, making 300 cases in their first vintage. They later parted ways and Smith formed Saxum. In 2003, he built the garage winery under his house. By 2004 it was the most crowded building in the county. Villa Creek also made its wine there. At the time, they were all making about 500 cases of wine. Saxum is now well out of the garage and makes around 4500 cases give or take what conditions allow. Only a few hundred cases are not sold to their members and into marketplace, mostly in restaurants in California, New York and Chicago. Saxum's largest production wine is Broken Stones, a multi-vineyard blend that's heavily weighted towards Syrah and is a little more mineral driven. There most famous wine is the one Smith has been farming the longest, the James Berry Vineyard red blend. The stylist labels for Saxum's single vineyard wines are made by local artist Joe Kalionzes. Some change from time to time., but the Paderewski Vineyard, Joe scratched an eagle onto a rock that came from the vineyard and made a block print from it. For the Terry Hoage single vineyard wine, he painted a label and scratched some of the paint away to create a dragonfly because Terry Hoage has a big pond in his vineyard with lots of dragonflies. — 8 years ago

Corey Lohr

9.0

Interesting, this one is fun and smooth. Reminds me of the Bashakill Dragonfly. — 10 years ago

Laura Andrews

9.6

It was actually the Conga. And fantastic! — 10 years ago

Heather Hofmann

9.5

Smooth, silky. $79 retail at Dragonfly. — 11 years ago

with Pat

Rebecca Graham

9.0

Delicious. A little heavier than most Pinot noirs. Goes really well with my grilled hamburger. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.3

I drink what David T drinks 😃. I have had most of the Nickel & Nickel wines. (My favorite is still Dragonfly Vineyard, when they have it.) The Quarry Vineyard on the east side of Rutherford is expressed nicely in this wine. Dark cherry, mineral and earth. — 8 years ago

with Joe and Katherine

Kristin Stein

9.5

Semi sweet white, great balance, — 8 years ago

Rose Dunn

9.1

Paired nicely with crab cakes. Perfect with chocolate! — 9 years ago

Cindy Cammack

9.1

Nice easy finish to my evening. Props to Benton Alexander for the recommendation. Nice minerality with citrus and floral notes. — 10 years ago

Christopher McCurdy

9.3

Excellent Riesling, especially with sushi! Fun evening out in Orlando at Dragonfly Sushi — 10 years ago

Stuart Robinson

8.9

Fresh and citrusy - not necessarily how I think of Chenin. Has textural qualities. Delivers refreshment. Gateway example (esp @ $18) — 11 years ago