Mason Balistreri

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

9.2

Syrah seemingly in the zeitgeist right now so I picked up this 2011 Coulet. Wow - it's so different than the Cote Rotie I just had. I know syrah can run the gamut but this is radically different. Biodynamic, low so2, neutral oak & concrete. Not really Vin de Garde; Not really Vin de Soif...

So what then? Certainly intense. Plum & liqueur-like raspberry notes that are both in-your-face "sexy" & "scary" at the same time. Even more prevalent than the fruit are the aromas of menthol, acetate, & iron. Nearly akin to robitussin - & I mean that in the best way possible. It's weirdly delicious & syrah freaks will get it.

Unfortunately, the regular consumer might find it to be too much. The slight volatility is both good & bad. It dials up the fruit's sweetness, giving the wine body & texture. But also amps up the medicinal quality. This is not a wine to guzzle & ignore. Admirably, not subtle.

Coincidentally this wine reminds me Pax - who is getting a lot of attention right now & rightfully so. I have't tried the new 100 point Hillside bottle yet (though I have one ready), but I've always been a huge fan of his wines for a long time. My favorite site he works with is Griffins Lair & I believe I've tasted every vintage of it going back to 2002. Those original vintages are bigger & riper (which I still love & fuck you hipsters for not), but even back then Pax never used superfluous new oak, sulfites, yeasts etc.. Yes, they were broad shouldered wines but they were pure & unmasked - like this Cornas. Some of the early 2000s Griffins Lair had a slight volitility that came across as kirsch sweetness. It's an interesting balance that punctuates the varietal character perfectly - & it demands your attention while doing it.

This Cornas is not some delicate wine that somms gush over; nor is it a slick, parkerized wine without sense of place. It's something else. A wine for the true syrah aficianado. The audience is small but those who can appreciate it, will appreciate it. If you like weirdness, intensity, complexity & the flavors to scream at you from the glass, this is your wine.

#cornas #syrah #coulet #biodynamic #pax #coterotie #rhone #northernrhone #rhonevalley — 7 years ago

Raymond Domenico

9.1

I get why everyone freaks out over Agrapart now. A supplier demanded we open this at 9:30am to start a sales meeting. We agreed. — 9 years ago

Dmitry Koutcherouk

8.9

Freaks green notes of cucumber and green bell pepper, some farm notes, floral tones, in five minutes citrus specially lemony notes coming. Nice acidity but not very strong, I wanted a bit stronger. Medium body, balanced with lemon zest aftertaste. — 10 years ago

Mason Balistreri

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

9.5

Classic Pinot noir that showcases the special strength of the 2012 vintage in Oregon. In other words, the fruit is dense and powerful but balanced and bright enough to please the acid freaks. Dark cherry, red cassis, cinnamon and more minimal oak profile compared to evesham's J cuvée. — 10 years ago

Dade Thieriot

10

Talk about " closet vintages"...2004s are rarely mentioned in discussions of great German vintages over the past 15-20 years, but people are really missing the boat.
The'04s are classic #Mosel #Rieslings with awesome balance and structure, together with ideal acidity levels for long term aging.
Cooler weather vintages such as #2004, which produce wines of greater restraint and less opulence, are less and less common with the onset of global warming, but they are the ones that true Riesling freaks covet most highly--this #Prälat was totally mind blowing!!! #Loosen #ErdenerPrälat #Auslese — 10 years ago

with Petra and Wietske

Jonathan Lipsmeyer

9.4

Pungent minerals and insistent acid, for monastic acid and mineral freaks like mah self — 11 years ago

Carter Nixon

9.6

Sattlerhof knows how to make Sauvignon Blanc! Super stony and powerful. Rich with extract. Acid freaks unite! — 7 years ago

Steven Van Haren

9.2

Will satisfy acid freaks but you won't need to visit the dentist afterwards. Delicious and savory. — 8 years ago

Axel Finger

9.2

2001.
Very special wine. Only for freaks I think. — 8 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.3

Happy lemony goodness! Acid freaks unite. — 9 years ago

Jeff Perlegos

9.1

Chenin for acid freaks. Aromatic, minerality & texture all-in-one — 10 years ago

Stuart Robinson

9.2

Turn on, tune in, and cop out: one for the acid freaks. Peachy top notes with underlying green apple acidity. — 10 years ago

Spencer Cutter

9.3

Fantastic summer BBQ or steak wine. Very dark ruby red with a nose that is a mix of freaks black and red berries...blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, a hint of forest floor, cloves, and leather. Loads of fruit but not cooked or jammy. Similar profile on the palate with medium tannins and plenty of acid to keep what might otherwise be a heavy wine very fresh. — 10 years ago

Alina Ferguson

10

A great dry Riesling with hints of stone fruit and citrus. Fantastic for acid freaks. Very nice. Would pair nicely with a Thanksgiving dinner. — 11 years ago

Paul Kaan

Winemaker/Blogger FilthyGoodVino.com

9.5

Bring it! Fabulous beast @peterkandw you absolutely killed it with1994 @YarraYering Pinot 19yrs young. Loving the animal. Patience required to comprehend just how much evolution & refinement occurs with Yarra Teri g wine over time. As a winemaker it does my head in! You try something, look at the wine over to five years, think you've got it sorted make changes in the vineyard & winery, then on it's 19th B'day it freaks you out tells you it's become a sophisticated adult & the zits have gone. It's no longer a gangle creature working out how to use it's arms & legs. It's moving gracefully, caressing & enchanting all who sit for a moment in it's company. #filthyoldvino #wine #pinotnoir #yarravalley #yarrayering #1994 20 years to complete an experiment is a long time! — 12 years ago

Jeremy Gecker

9.0

Juicy and adult, a great light red that still hits some low notes. Pairs great with steaks and freaks like these. High alcohol, I wish there was more in this bottle — 7 years ago

with Rebecca

Bob McDonald

8.9

Pale lemon in colour. Aromas of Talc and Citrus. Palate is quite lean with Lemon and Lime flavours and pronounced acidity. Thought this might have diminished a little after 7 years. Still a long life ahead but will the mid palate fill out? For the Riesling Acid freaks. Will try next bottle in 3 years when 10 years old. I have visited the winery and met Ken Helm who is passionate about his Rieslings in the Canberra District. Addition 98 weeks later on 2nd March 2019. Not as much citric acid as previous - it has filled out somewhat. Next in a year when 10 years old. — 8 years ago

Brash Higgins

9.1

Snappy, sharp chard, acid freaks sign here — 9 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.4

12.5% alc. Bottle no. 341/600.

This was intended to be shared with my tasting group (all Burg freaks) in Copenhagen in 6 weeks but let's just say that something happened today and they'll now be missing out.
If you still haven't seen or tasted the greatness of German Pinot's please DO NOT start with this (😜) because there's not much to share and I have enough troubles sourcing some of the precious few bottles that makes it to US.

A great wine!!!

@Lyle Fass
— 10 years ago

Angel Martinez

Brand ambassador GHMumm Spain, Wine reviewer www.theluxury.es"

9.8

I'm one of this raw wine freaks , devotion to the Etna volcano . #Wine #Raw #Natural #Munjebel #Etna — 10 years ago

Laura Booras

9.5

For an inexpensive bottle thirst guys always bring me immense pleasure. Bright fruit, jamminess, and tooth dissolving acidity...in a really good way. The example whenever I want to prove to acid freaks that Beauj is worth paying attention to. — 10 years ago

Kristen Murphy Caldecutt

Community Manager SevenFifty

9.6

For vino loving acid freaks. — 11 years ago

Scott Evans

Sommelier/Owner Pago & Finca

9.7

Orangey goodness from a SLC pioneer! Watch out natural wine freaks, SLC is coming for you — 12 years ago