Eric Urbani

9.5

Six Pinots, all made by Ed Kurtzman, of August West and Roar fame who also consults to Freeman and Mansfield Dunn. Ed joined our tasting. I loved the meatiness of this and it was my #1. — 5 years ago

Michael Lavely

9.0

Very fruity, long finish absolute black cherry. — 5 years ago

Charles Garrison

9.3

Ed knows how to extract brilliance from Rosella fruit! — 7 years ago

Tyson Escoto

9.4

I’ve never evaluated vodka, but it smells like candy corn. And it’s delightful. Especially when tasted against a wheat vodka which just smells like rubbing alcohol. On its own this is a great sipping vodka with a beautiful rich soft mouthfeel — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Began as a dream of 2 friends, Ed Selyem & Burt Williams, who pursued weekend winemaking as a hobby in 1979 in a garage in Forestville, CA, and made their first commercial vintage in 1981. Ruby with complex aromas of black & red berries with subtle spice scents. On the palate cherry and strawberry with citrus, cacao, vanilla spice and toasty notes. Aged on French Oak, well balanced, savory, round tannins, lingering nicely ending with some earthy mineral tone, OR style. Has room to age. Very nice! — 8 years ago

Giammichele Grieco

9.3

Un inno all'equilibrio ed all'eleganza — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

@David L this is the back of the bottle. — 9 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

A lineup of 10 August West and Roar Pinots, 2007-2011, all made by wine maker Ed Kurtzman, who attended our tasting. I found this to be elegant and delicious. — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Lineup of seven reds before our tasting of Sonoma Coast Pinots. Love Ed Kurtzman’s wines: Abv 14.4% — 5 years ago

Rachel Wells

9.4

This is my new favorite $10 wine — 5 years ago

David Wanek

9.7

My fave of the rum lineup — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded in 1988 by Dave Miner, president of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, along with his wife Emily and his parents, Ed and Norma. Gorgeous light Ruby on the pour, ample red fruit aromas with oaky spice notes. Palate has big cherry and sweet red plum flavors, cacao and cinnamon spice with balanced oak. Rich full soft tannins lingering finish ending with herb character. Very Nice! Went well with a Halibut Livornese. — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

I'm floored that this is a '14. A gorgeous, young, rich, chocolate expresso and dark fruit stained glass of love. From the guy who seems to have more Beau Vigne in his cellar than Ed Snider, Mr. @Martin G Rivard — 9 years ago

Dante Mondavi

Vintner R A E N Winery

9.0

When in Puerto Rico — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.4

I definitely preferred Juliet. It is softer and a little bit more elegant. 'Romeo is a great daily drinker. Pop & pour type on f wine. My favorite line from Ed Snider is definitely his guest cottage, reserve and estate. That it is perfect trifecta!. — 10 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

A lineup of 10 August West and Roar Pinots, 2007-2011, all made by wine maker Ed Kurtzman, who attended our tasting. Savory and juicy. — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.4

A lineup of 10 August West and Roar Pinots, 2007-2011, all made by wine maker Ed Kurtzman, who attended our tasting! This one was meaty and elegant, my #2 of the group. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Drank this last Sunday for Mother’s Day. Arras is probably Australia’s best Sparkling producer. Of recent years certainly the most awarded. A few years ago this 2007 won Best Sparkling at the Royal Queensland Wine Show and then the Trophy for Champion Wine of the Show! The wine itself is mid Lemon in colour - low on fizz - we drank this from Burgundy glasses. Bakery aromas with Lemon Curd. 78% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Noir. The lemon/citrus flavours derived from the Chardonnay. The following day Sherbet, Honeycomb and Quince. 7 years on Lees giving a wonderful complexity and ridiculous value at only $60. I don’t know how Ed Carr can do it. — 6 years ago

Mark Seeber

9.0

Bright, lively, a touch tart, super drinkable. I love Sandler pinot...I don’t think you can find a better value in California. Kudos Ed! No rush on opening these as they won’t peak for some time, but you won’t be disappointed if you do. — 8 years ago

with Dick and Brad

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I Coravin-ed this bottle awhile ago. I put it back as it wasn’t drinking as I would have hoped. A couple of months later and it’s come around nicely. I been doing short term and longer term tests of Coravin bottles. As much as I love my Coravin, I am a little more skeptical of their research that states their bottles will hold up 9 years after their first Coravin. I believe the Coravin help develop this 04 a little sooner. It’s drinking nicely without food tonight. On the nose; dark currants, expresso, black olive tapenade, cedar, tobacco, sweet soft leather, vanilla, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked black plum, plum, an array of blue fruit mix, light cinnamon, clove, medium spice, mocha chocolate, dark chocolate, stones, rich, moist black earth and dark decayed florals & fresh violets. The palate is medium full. The tannins are not quite 50% resolved. After it opens up with a half-hour in the glass, it’s like velvet in the mouth. The structure, tension, length and balance are starting to develop into a very good place. However, there are many, many years of aging to go. The fruits are ruby, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked black plum and strawberries. Expresso, black olive tapenade, cedar, tobacco, sweet soft leather, tobacco, menthol, graphite, anise, vanilla, light cinnamon, clove, medium spice, mocha chocolate, dark chocolate, dry stems, crushed rocks with dry top soil, stones, rich, moist black earth, volcanic minerals, and dark decayed florals. The acidity is very good for what was deemed a ho-hum vintage. The long finish is; rich, ruby, gorgeous and lasts well over two minutes. I am enjoying it a lot tonight but will still wait another 10 years to open another. I believe at that point, it has all the potential to merit an outstanding score. When I tasted this at the UGC in Bordeaux fresh into bottle, I thought it was one of the top three wines of the day. In the right photo, you get a full sense where the wine gets it’s stoney & rich, dark earthiness. — 8 years ago