Connor Smith

9.1

Finger. Lakes. Saperavi.

If this ain’t American winemaking in the 21st century we don’t know what is! 🇺🇸🍷🇬🇪🍇

At least, that’s what we were thinking before reading up on Standing Stone and founders Marti & Tom Macinski. They actually first planted this fascinating Georgian grape here in ***1994*** (just 3 years after Georgia left the USSR, for those keeping score at home) intended for blending.

Increasingly impressed by the quality of the grapes, they offered their first varietal Saperavi in 2010 - as “The Dark Red”, since the grape name was as yet unrecognized by the federal government. Once it was, they became the first American winery to release a wine labeled Saperavi.

Fine tuned to the cold, high mountains of Kakheti in eastern Georgia, it makes sense why it would thrive in the Finger Lakes! The name Saperavi literally means “ink”, a sensible name for a grape with pitch-dark skin AND flesh! 🖤

Marti and Tom sold the winery and retired in 2017. But their enduring legacy may just be budding. We’ve heard of Saperavi planting projects underway in New York, Virginia, and Oregon.

Saperavi’s runaway affinity for the Finger Lakes may have been a bit of a happy accident, but the Macinskis deserve every bit of credit for thinking outside the box, putting it in motion, and bringing it to fruition! 🙌🙌🙌 — 5 years ago

Rob Sternthal

9.2

A lighter Cabernet with a slightly sweet taste. Not overpowering in any way. Slight tannins. — 6 years ago

RCB

9.0

Nice wine. Fruity, just off dry. Would get it again. — 6 years ago

TheSkip

9.8

Finest IPA in the land. #micdrop — 7 years ago

Dan Braswell

9.2

2009 cab worth the wait — 8 years ago

Joe Carroll

Owner/Wine Director Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, St. Anselm & Gotham Artisanal Provisions

9.2

Odd for a restaurant (with a Michelin star) to sell wine like this but not have decanters or stemware. — 9 years ago

Sean Christensen

9.0

Like a flat sour beer — 5 years ago

Amanda Thomas

9.1

Mineral and floral notes. Not very much fruit. Super refreshing! — 5 years ago

with Tim

Kathleen Phan

9.2

Brunch in Palm Springs for Tara’s 40th. Smooth and light! — 6 years ago

Phillip Antley

9.0

Dark fruits, chocolate, some pepper. — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.4

My favorite Napa field blend. Huge dark fruit nose., not for the faint of heart!! It is drinking incredibly well. Decanted 6 hours prior to drinking... was silky smooth yet with incredible intensity and depths of flavored. 😍 love it! This was the 3rd wine opened — 8 years ago

with Roderic, Cindy and 3 others

Jonathan Bleasel

9.0

Smells a bit swampy, deep red fruit, fine sweet bright minerally palate. — 8 years ago

with Kate

Mike Saviage

9.4

Boyz Raveneau tasting. Light straw color. Honeyed nose with light fruit. Soil and stone notes in the mouth to go with lovely Chablis fruit Tight at first but really opened up nicely. — 9 years ago

Thomas koelblen

9.1

Fruity and strong — 5 years ago

Alexander Miller

8.9

Cab Franc is so underrated. Usually like French ones better but this one is awesome for Ca. Still has that vegetal quality but rounded out with tons of big Cali vibes fruit. Medium tanin. Yum. — 6 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.2

Gideon Beinstock produces some of the worlds most exciting wines and this vintage has now finally entered the plateau of pleasurable drinking. Complex and layered with smoke and tarry notes. — 6 years ago

Jason Case

9.0

Mag #1 - age, soil, berries, beauty. Central coast star — 7 years ago

with Alex

Amanda

10

Spoon and stable. Great food, better company — 8 years ago

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

8.9

2013 - very nice Chenin with some substance and charm. — 9 years ago

Kelsey Dean

9.0

From their new Stone Flat Vineyard-Sonoma Coast.
Young but really balanced, buttery Chard. — 9 years ago

with Benjamin