Connor Smith

9.2

Sanlúcar de Barrameda was the port that Christopher Columbus set off from in 1492. Just 1 year earlier, duties on wine exports from Sanlúcar had been abolished to take advantage of English merchants desperate for new supply after the loss of Bordeaux.

It began a centuries-long romance between Sherry and English wine lovers, as immortalized in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 2, when Falstaff glorifies sturdy Spanish 'sack' over thin Bordeaux 'claret' and Rhine 'hock'.

But the honeymoon, quite literally, was not to last. Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon drove a wedge between England and Catholic Europe, and left English wine lovers in need of a new source once again. But Sherry fanatics wouldn't have to go entirely without. When Sir Francis Drake sailed into Cádiz and burned the Spanish fleet in 1587, he carried away 2,900 butts of Sherry - enough to supply London for years - as his most famous prize.

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 6 years ago

Velma Cooper

9.0

Velma had this 7 years ago

Mike Casalenuovo

8.9

Anniversary champagne! — 7 years ago

Isabella Fasulo

9.4

"Miraval to da face doe" - Drake 💓 — 8 years ago

Sherri Corker

9.2

Drake Concert warrants the Celebrity Ace:) — 9 years ago

with Matt

Sam Rethmeier

9.3

Killer. First vintage from Drake — 10 years ago

Drew Summers

Sales Northampton Wines

9.1

Sonoma Coast four vineyard blend (Peay, Hirsch, Drake Estate, & Coastlands) that's been tamed by the years...Dried Berry, Toffee, Sandalwood, Spice — 10 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

A gem from the bargain bin - single block from the Bien Nacido vineyard near Santa Maria, CA — a personal favorite. 2011. Shows a bit of oak up front but mellows after being open for an hour or so. — 6 years ago

Stephen Becker

8.9

A deep-tissue massage from Groot. — 6 years ago

Brandon Gianfala

9.1

Mr. Daniel Drake captured the flavor profile exquisitely. I’ll only add one word to his critique of this beauty...magic. — 7 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.1

What @Daniel P. Drake said. Classic old school Willamette Valley. So good. — 7 years ago

Isabella Fasulo

9.6

"Miraval to da face doe" - Drake — 8 years ago

Ira Schwartz

8.9

Very light in the glass. Perfumed nose offering up spice and cranberry . In the mouth a firm acidic backbone with sweet fruit and some earth. Not sure this will gain in complexity but went well with food. — 9 years ago

Kate Pursley Follmann

9.0

Lula Drake — 6 years ago

Kate Pursley Follmann

9.0

Lula Drake 2016 version — 6 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.2

This is outstanding liquid. We were given the bottle around our wedding along with a poem and told to consume it for our first anniversary. Well, we're three years married and just getting to it now... At a hotel... Before a Drake concert... Anyway, the wine has all kinds of complexity. Blueberry and black plum dominate for me with cedar or new oak flavors also dancing throughout. Really well done. — 7 years ago

with Anita

Jason Keefer

8.9

Very nice, definitely has the structure to age a lot more! Mellow dark fruit. — 8 years ago

with Natasha

Chris Holinger

9.2

With south east Asian fusion this stood tall.
Cheers to Jane Drake Zebro - welcome to the world! Thanks in advance for making it better. — 8 years ago

lon nuttelman

9.6

Nathan Christmas gift 2015.
Drake 1-15_16 Friday night after nathan request to start the contract to sell BECC
Very good, touch of mineral, b very full last forever,
Sad it was gone. — 10 years ago

Maria Pepe

9.2

The label was read incorrectly as Drake Estate vyd but it's actually 09 Hawk Hill vyd in RRV. Nose: Green apple, fresh fig, faint preserved lemon. Palate: bright, crisp minerality, good acidity. Well integrated oak. Lovely wine. — 10 years ago