Christine Havens

9.1

The Herman J. Wiemer vineyard is the oldest site the winery owns. Poor, gravelly soil offers good drainage and serves to limit vine vigor. As one might expect the 2012 HJW Riesling is the most austere, and notably the most acid-driven wine in the lineup. It's nervy, with a kind of twitchy energy, like a doe emerging from a lean winter. Fruit is not the foremost expression; rather there is poise, tension and intensity, along with lime pith, lovely textural minerality punctuated by saline. Sample — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.3

Herbaceous and evolved aromas and flavors, this dry and elegant CdP-expression is spicy, earthy and very elegant, but foremost it's an expressive and detailed vintage of this Rhone Valley classic. — 11 years ago

Jenni Sterling

10

Amazing staff, first and foremost. Good food. Some 5 star dishes, some 3.5, — 11 years ago

James Pendergrass

9.2

I love the Long Shadow wines first and foremost. But this Syrah from Duval rocks and may out impress the other wines in the group. Big and super luscious. Could definitely stand more time in the cellar. Consumed over 36 hours. — 10 years ago

Neil Rimer

9.6

Clearly one of my faves. Heavily oxidative nose verging on a flaw but truly a wine first and foremost. Among the best size/ratio of bubbles of any. — 10 years ago

Magalie Guerin

8.9

Bought at vas foremost California--$10--great value — 11 years ago

Jon Van

9.2

Still love the French. $12 foremost? Or binnys. Drink to much French red wine to remember my name. Really like it. — 13 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.2

Elegantly built-up aromas and flavors, centered around peaches, gooseberries and orange blossom notes, framed by hints of oak, but first and foremost this is a modern and positively naked expression where tart fruit and minerality are driving forces. Mid-term cellaring is recommended. — 10 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

This wine features a light golden straw tint with a nose of apples, pineapples and peaches. Big, pure fruit is what is showing here. The palate has a gorgeous mouthfeel, silky and creamy without the wood. The acidity is subdued, but still enough to handle pairing with a salad or seafood. Peach and apricot are foremost with a light touch of earth, but the fruit is the show. — 10 years ago

David Kline

8.9

Wow. This clean-river smelling wine has a real loamy farmland pungency marked with a very strong spearmint note. The terroir is foremost, the wine structured. A great wine at a ridiculous price. Got this for 9$. Really a steal. The fruit is black currant but integrated. Haut Medoc steal. — 11 years ago

with Courtney