Taylor Ahlborg

9.6

Old wine. I can smell the earthy barnyard if success when all goes right. We decanted it at the table and it kept growing with each glass. Paired with a Waugh beef NY it brought forth floral and fruit tones, but cut through the fat in the steak to finish strong with acid and tannins! — 7 years ago

with Nathan, Garrett and 1 other

Joni Hedgpeth

9.8

Absolutely Amazing! Spice and Earth burst forth from big black beauty — 8 years ago

Michael Adelman

9.2

Wow... Always overlooked because it's not from Napa... Lovely mountain fruit with cocoa and cedar. Lots of love was put forth and it shows. Such a treat to have! — 9 years ago

George Chen

9.1

Love old GL...as old big boy St Julian comes forth. They've changed their style quite a bit now it seems but the old ones really more 'fortified' than now and why so unique in its history. Loved this 59 even as label is badly torn wine was lovely! — 9 years ago

Hum

9.4

Incredible. A little brett on the nose that diminishes with some air time. Very bright acidity and classic Loire/aged lanolin showing through. Goldenrod, white flowers and stone fruit pushing forth... Stunning for the price! Great vintage. — 10 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Big and bold imperial nose with burnt toffee and peanut brittle marginalia. Roasted sweet corn just arrived; fashionably late. Heavy malt, deep-space octopi splashes of Cuban coffee, black with half-dissolved sugar crystals. A blood-like mouthfeel, with a briary prickle, and low-burning, spiced candle calling forth the capsaicin smoke shadows. Chocolate smooth the finish. Regla de Ochà in a bottle. — 10 years ago

with Courtney

David Kline

9.3

Unbelievably big jammy Languedoc! Starts as earthy mushroom on stale wheat bread, moldy rooibos tea bag is dancing on bright red icing. Pure tincture of blackberry acid etches onto your tongue! The basil, parsley and burnt pickle prickle forth to slap you silly with vulcan's smoky paw! In your face!!! She lives in a junkyard built on a landfill, and she sleeps on a bed of copralite and bones. Enjoy, and then head towards the light Carrie Ann!! #languedoc #closdestruffiers — 10 years ago

with Courtney

George Catallo

9.0

Intense and flavorful with less heat than one would expect. Nose; Caramel, vanilla, toasty rich oak, tempered corn. Thick and full bodied with notes of toast, caramel, vanilla, coconut, roasted corn on the cob, toffee, candy, all round out the fairly sweet palate. Addition of water brings forth a mellower, floral, fruity, and campfirey profile. 132.1 Proof — 10 years ago

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

9.3

Oh the concentration and elegance was playing back and forth. A long hauler, wants nore time. — 10 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

Blackberry and clove and cinnamon and menthol. Blueberry pie crust. Good body but not over done. — 11 years ago

Andrew Scherer

9.3

One of the best Vinho Verdes I've had. Classic style but it brings forth some extra layers that most others don't have. Playful citrus and minerality. — 8 years ago

Tom Burke

9.1

Soft, delicate, a faint effervescence on the tongue before the cherries burst forth. Consistently this wine maker produces memorable bottles. — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Cole

9.3

I love this wine, for as incredibly tannic and rippy as it is, there's so much delicacy. The truffle and plum notes juggle back and forth with a herbaceous character woven through. — 9 years ago

Matt Trader

9.2

If I had one sentence to describe this wine, it is this: "Ca' Togni is the definition of desire." The vintage was a 2006, and let me tell ya, have the years been great to this mistress! Showing a deep brick red color, and a wine still showing all its wonderful fruits, with an expected maturity thrusting forth delightful complexity, this wine will make you love Black Hamburg! (Black Muscat) On the nose, notes of dried figs, dried rose petals, old leather, strawberry-rubarb jam, followed by a pallet of racy dark maraschino cherries, brown spices, and a vanilla finish. Phillip Togni is a hell of a wine maker out of Spring Mountain! I highly recommend trying one of these, even if it is $50, it was most certainly worth it! On top of that, it is 1 of only three wines he crafts, still in his 80's, still the king of the mountain. — 9 years ago

Andy Tam

9.3

I still remember seeing Clau run back and forth on the Monopole block. My favorite from Mercurey — 10 years ago

Logan Hooper

9.0

A slightly grassy and pear flavor comes out first, fairly minerally as well - to the point of bringing forth the kinds of flavors and feeling on the tongue that reminds one of club soda. Crisp and refreshing, perfect with any light meal or on its own — 10 years ago

Aaron Engel

9.0

Wow!! Amazing old vine Zin from Lodi full of luscious fruit that bursts forth. Awesome balance and not too jammy. Really quite a good drink. — 10 years ago

Melissa M. Sutherland

Importer Winebow Wines

9.2

When a wine finally has its moment. Have visited @wieninger's 2009 Nussberg Alte Reben Wiener Gemischter Satz for three years hoping for it to crack open and gush forth with giving fruit, minerals, textural play. It has. It's ready, folks! #wienerwein — 10 years ago

Lisa Newman

9.0

Nice wine - great value - terrific winemaker. Love the 2011 All Boys cab. Medium body, Dark fruit, tobacco notes. Easy to drink! — 10 years ago

with Chuck

Christanna Honer

9.2

Powerful fruit on nose upon opening. Plummy and chocolaty, smooth texture, full and long finish. Lots of oak influence, woody notes go back and forth with fruit--a little overpowering at times. Enjoyable, but maybe needs a few more years to even out. — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Best known for its Sparkling Wines, which have been served at the White House since 1985, beginning with the historic U.S.-Russian Summit Meetings ending the Cold War. A blend of 78% Pinot Noir and 22% Chardonnay & aged 3 years prior to release, showing aromas of red fruit, citrus and spice. Raspberry and cherry flavors come forth with orange zest, earthy spice and tiny flowing bubbles. The wine is well balanced, gentle acidity, some yeast and minerality on the lingering finish. Celebrate! Tasting Sample — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

On our recent CA trip, we tasted wine from The Hilt, their 2013 Vanguard Pinot Noir. Aged 40% new French oak and 60% neutral French oak, dark Ruby with aromas of black fruits with a touch of smoky spice notes. The palate is complex brings forth concentrated black cherry and slightly tart strawberry fruit, spice, with bold dusty tannins. The finish had earthy and smoky tones and lingered through the ending. Very Nice, small production, 1400 cases. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago

Rebecca Robison

9.1

Really good, decently priced, California cab — 9 years ago

Veronica Castro

9.0

Man, is this Petrol. Tasting: apple, guava and lime notes come forth. Sparkling acidity. Sweetness level is somewhere between a Kabinett and Trocken. With time, more pineapple and sour patch kids come into play. So sleek and linear I wish I were watching Sprockets. — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Dusty pine cone, soggy pretzels, snow iced cream nose. Cut wild lowers and tall valley grass, Coral pieces straight from the sea, covered in living shells. A hint of walnut in cinnamon. Whoa! Absolutely oceanic initially. Send forth the mollusk!! Maybe soda bread, but really just sweet clams pulled from the mud and injested. The idea of cinnamon surfaces often but is not the driving force. You aren't taking the maidenhead for wife, but you can dream. There are no clouds atop this cognac-colored ocean, but the lacing is unbreakable and washes like the ocean around the bowl. — 10 years ago

with Courtney

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.5

Button down the hatches folks, we're going for a ride - destination Montilla-hey-o! Distilled peanuts, racy pineapple pith, pear and pencil shavings. The acidity cuts through, well, everything, sashaying forth with pronouncements long on macadamia and happiness. Also: Salt lick that you like. Marcona almonds. Caselvetrano olives. Respect. — 10 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.7

Wow, real knockout stuff. This is not domestic Muscadet - there's not much in common besides the grape. It has the bright, pure fruit but it is put together in a much fuller style, more like a white Burgundy (minus the oak) than Muscadet. I don't say Chablis because while it's an intensely mineral wine and cranked up to 11 in that department, it's not a marine minerality. The mineral element here is volcanic (and so is the soil), bringing to mind all those cliches about aromas bursting from the glass and so forth, and it's every bit as driving on the palate. — 10 years ago

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

9.0

2002 - always something in there deeper waiting to come forth. This one has - spicy herb, rich mature flavored - still showing coombsville blue hue! — 10 years ago

Jaime Kwon

9.0

New world done old world style. Still get notes of American oak, med tannin, very well balanced — 11 years ago

with Edwin

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

A nice ruby red in color. Cedar and toasty oak with dark cherries come forth on the nose. Cherries, sweet spice, plums, hints of licorice with floral notes on the palate. A more weightier Pinot with smooth tannins and a good balanced finish. I am more of a Burgundian Pinot kind of guy but this is a nice change of pace. — 11 years ago