Andrew Verderame

9.3

Very smooth — 8 years ago

Sherry Prindle

9.0

Truly a blend you taste as an ensemble. Individual grapes do. It stand out. — 8 years ago

Shawn R

9.4

Well defined example of mountain fruit based Cabernet. Nose that exudes molten milk chocolate and cassis. Blueberries and a ensemble of dark berries take the mouth. Finish is long and balanced with soft tannins. — 9 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.2

Never heard of and can't pronounce the variety (Rkaciteli), and couldn't identify Macedonia on a map, so obviously had to try it. Really good! Distinct lemon-lime nose and flavors, almost like a bone-dry Sprite, lots of refreshing acid, very light and clean on the finish. One-dimensional in a good way, just fresh-squeezed citrus and not much else. The simple pure citrus character meant that it worked with lots of different food flavors, from salad to meat. Don't think we'll grow Rkaciteli in Napa, but it opened my eyes to the merit of a simple but very pure wine with a meal, like a cocktail ingredient rather than a complete ensemble. — 9 years ago

Christine Yasaitis

9.4

Fabulous wine with great people at La Plage, St Barth - le dernier déjeuner ensemble! — 10 years ago

Greg Anglea

9.8

Restrained yet forceful. A powerhouse of minerality and acidic drive. Fruit in the background, a real ensemble beauty. Oh, and paired exquisitely with hapu upu'u, fresh turmeric, coconut milk, ginger, purple sweet potato awesomeness. — 11 years ago

Joanne Hallett

9.7

Great with steak — 12 years ago

Rajiv Ayyangar

10

This is a knockout wine, a stunner, a pitch-perfect expression of love for wine in general, and Loire Cab Franc in particular. It's wild in all the right places, and impressively refined where it counts.
Medium ruby color. Arresting and straight-up delicious nose that has a certain choreography to it. Specifically it reminds me of Jiří Kylián - finding freedom within a melange of classicism and visceral impetus. Exuberance in wine is rare enough, but exuberance with such focus and intention?
The classicist bent was my first impression - a correct nose of stewed bell peppers and coffee grounds (pyrazines), earthy dog fur with slight clove (brett), and a savory blackberry-cherry fruit compote.
Tasted blind, you would guess Loire, but you might wonder at the shifting nature, at how occasionally the bretty flavors rear up in a flourish, only to be overshadowed a second later by a warm, pure fruit. There is something haunting about the fruit here - it seems to contain memories of many different wines. The wildness is complex - dried leaves, dog fur, toasted mushroom, spiced clove, moist earth. The pyrazinic aromas have uncommon depth and character - stewed bell pepper, coffee, and nascent tobacco.
On the palate, the wine dances with an elegant 12.6% alcohol frame, vibrant acidity, and satiny tannins - the medium on which the finish is printed. There is a moment, mid-palate, where the individual components come together seamlessly - a strong argument for structural-aromatic integration in the Clark Smithian sense. On the finish, the flavors subtly unravel, then persist like a vocal ensemble with synchronized vibrato.
Get this. — 8 years ago

Gustavo Nogueira

9.0

Deep dark ruby robe, smooth, woody and pungent bouche. Warm, sweet nose. Round, elegant ensemble. Had the 2010 vintage. — 9 years ago

Brittany May

9.3

Delicious! — 10 years ago

Blaine Lee

9.8

Love the Ensemble Cellars Four! — 10 years ago

Sabrina Schatz

9.1

Just shared this with strangers and I wish I didn't! Magical! — 10 years ago

Misuzu Ksza

9.2

Interesting white. — 11 years ago

Kindell McKamie

9.4

Perfect combination of flavors! — 12 years ago

Antoine Cauchard

9.0

Là c'est du lourd. Avec une viande rouge ou du fromage, l' ensemble est tout de suite très harmonieux autour d' une jolie couleur — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.4

Wifey went to see the rents for the weekend. I was left with no choice, but to hunt and provide for myself. Cooked a beef bolognese with jacket potatoes. Paired with a brilliant bottle of juice, gifted by @David L. Having just submitted a major stats assignment, I'm getting back to honing my mortal kombat skills 🙂
From the nose, it's immediately apparent that this is not your typical, extravagant cab. It's much more restrained, tilting more toward a Bdx, than Napa. Aromatics offer up notes of coffee, black tea and kirsch. The palette is perfectly proportioned with black cherries, a hint of licorice and herbs. The ensemble is completed with with plush tannins, poise, balance and grace. It doesn't require food, but it shows great flexibility with it. No hurry to drink this. It has another 7 years of runway ahead of it. 14.7 abv.
David and Kirsten - thank you so much. — 9 years ago

Steve Gage

Director of Sales and Hospitality, Moone-Tsai Wines

9.2

Wtf! Amazing Rhone blend. Never would guess the age. So alive. Purchased at winery in 2001! Paired with braised lamb shank, Rancho Gordo beans and asparagus. Crazy good... — 10 years ago

Roger Cabrera

9.0

Vacqueyras doesn't ever get the credit it deserves. This one shows extreme finesse. This example displays the savory end of Grenache with dried black cherry and hints of prune. But there's definitely an underlying herbal kick, not the pyrazine inspired kind, but more Of what you'd find in Provence. A beautiful ensemble with considerable complexity. — 10 years ago

Katrina Midgette

10

sooooo yummy. sweet and crisps!! — 11 years ago

Michael Adams

9.8

One of the most delicious whites I've had in a while. This has a scent of pears and blackberries and the taste of a richly aged berry ensemble of forest floor goodies! — 12 years ago