Shane M. Nicholson

9.4

Fiddle me this Batman.......Kathy Joseph and her eponymous Santa Rta Hills sweet spot flexing all kinda muscle. Layers of fuzzy grippy damson plum, blistered black cherry, RC Cola, candlewood, sandelwood, falsetto acidiTIE , brown spice and then a symphony of chewy woodsy funk meets anise meets clove meets youthful unripe boysenberry.....and they all had a love child. Your welcome!! — 11 years ago

Dick Schinkel

9.6

The Sei Solo wines by Javier Zaccagnini-the founder of Aalto comes with the 2011 version for the first time on the market. Javier begins with this new project in 2007. The Sei Solo only wines with grapes from Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) with vines which between 60 and 90 years old. The old vineyard, just ' tino fino ' is located in the small village of La Horra, heart of the famous Ribera del Duero region. La Horra is known for its wealth of unique ancient vineyards, also bv. Pingus, the exclusive cult wine by Peter Sisseck comes to it. Javier makes there already for some years, but they only wanted to release top wine under its private label ' Sei Solo ' once the wines meet its high demands. The past few years, the little fruit sold to Aalto and was integral in the topcuvée ' PS ', as Javier was still not satisfied. The time has finally come! 2011 is the first official release of Sei Solo with a ' second wine ' called Preludio. Javier Zaccagnini is next to a large wine lover also hooked on classical music. His absolute favorite is Johan Sebastian Bach. As a tribute, he gives this exclusive wine the name ' Solo Sei ', to the exceptional work of J.S. Bach. SEI Solo is a set of six fiddle work. It consists of three sonatas and three Partitas. The label of Sei Solo is in the handwriting of his master j. S Bach. By Sei Solo were there in 2011, only 1000 bottles made of the Preludio 4000 bottles. — 11 years ago

Jonathan Lipsmeyer

9.1

Tastes like baby Vosne Romanée to me! So much asphalt aroma and earth I imagine it's a baby Reignots--perhaps young replanted vines? Dark fruit is here but it plays second fiddle to the massive earthy elements. Heat sticks out on the midpalate a touch, but doesn't prevent this from being a monstrous red with an accumulative aroma that brings vinyl to mind. Curious to see where a short term aging curve would take this. Sebastien gleefully acknowledges this is his finest Bourgogne ever. Even with its flaws, Bourgogne should not be able to achieve these aromatic heights! — 12 years ago

Bailey Howard

9.6

Classicly herbal cab nose with the promise of a typically American lush body. Beautifully composed on the palate with strong rosemary, thyme, and chocolate while the black cherry truly plays second fiddle. Simply superb — 11 years ago

Joshua Corea

9.2

Maybe the 2nd mountain but not 2nd fiddle, kiss the frog and (s)he'll turn into a prince(ss) (whatever you want). A lovely example of VA lifted Jove's blood. Chewing leather soaked in red berry juice and cured in tobacco leaves. — 11 years ago

Colin McCartney

9.0

Faint lemon peel on the nose. Steely, mineral driven palate with tart grapefruit playing second fiddle...acidity in spades. — 12 years ago

Sean McKay

9.0

Villa Barbi Orvieto Classico 2012

Well balanced acidity and minerality. Crisp but plays second fiddle to food; not overbearing. Light on fruit.
— 12 years ago

Jusden Aumand

9.4

1995 vintage. Disgorged in 2000. Long term stored at chateau. Fruit is playing second fiddle to toasty notes, and roasted almonds. Almost a touch maderized in flavor in a very positive way. Golden color with very controlled bead. — 11 years ago

Carl Steefel

9.5

Class, class, class here. After 20 minutes, I realized this had some substantial tannins, but these are playing second fiddle to the dark aristocratic fruit. Very assertive and powerful mid-palate attack that transforms to inner mouth perfume. This will be even better, which is saying a lot. — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

Cabernet done better in SA is hard to find, PH brings it with black cherry, spice and silky-ripe tannic driven prowess. The Cabernet from what I notice plays second fiddle to the Malbec with tasters, but in many vintages the Cab shows more consistently.
— 12 years ago