Biagio Distefano

9.6

Who said you need to bet a lot to drink a fine wine?
Beautiful and complex, multilayer of fruit and evolution, tougether with a perfect acidity, Couldn't stop drinking it. — 10 years ago

laura Sidney

8.9

Needs to open or better with food. But who am I to complain?! I'd drink this wine anytime it was poured in my glass. — 10 years ago

with Jim

Jim McCusker

9.5

Wow. Anyone who says a viognier can't age is just WRONG. This is fantastic. Doesn't have the florals that you might expect for a viognier, but after 5 years this wine has evolved to something truly special. Jeff, you would love the petrol character of this wine. Complexity that it did not have upon release, this wine has layers and flavor profiles you would never expect from a viognier. Just goes to show that John Alban (along with Manfred Krankle, Cris Cherry, and Anthony Kinero) are the masters of white Rhones in the central coast. This is an absolute privledge to drink. — 10 years ago

with Vanessa

Megan King

9.0

I'm not the biggest rosé fan. Too bad coz I live in rosé climate. This however was a delight. My friends parents insisted we drink it as its from Bandol an area of Provence known for their rosé. It was dry without the boredom and more structured with a bigger body and tannic without the tart on one hand or sweet on the other. It's a cosmopolitan rosé- enjoyed in NYC, holding its own with political debate or high fashion outfits — 10 years ago

Bobby Linsley

9.2

I really wanted to enjoy this wine but it fell flat. One of my friends told me you should never drink aged cabernet expecting it to be a crowd pleaser, he was right. It is a brilliantly made wine in terms of structure and acidity but still too tannic and grippy on the palette. Maybe it's indicative of the wine's superb structure but not my bag at all. Definitely seeing how cabernet is the thinking man's wine... — 10 years ago

Bernard Rethore

Owner, Fion Wines

9.1

Back in 2006, I had the good fortune to invest in a box of the Neal vineyard designated bottlings pre-release. They have been sleeping in my cellar ever since. Last night, Tony the Fish, who is a frequent contributor to these pages, arrived with a bottle of the 2010 Neal cab sav. It was a solid effort and Mrs Fish quite enjoyed it. As we finished the bottle I remembered I had some of the 2003 vineyard designated wines in the back of the cellar and figured it was time to check in on them. We started with the Second Chance from Atlas Peak. Generally I am a mountain fruit guy, and like the volcanic soil that yields low yielding structured wines. There was plenty of stuffing left after 11 years, and a nice contrast to the 2010 cab sav blend. We then moved to Chafen. Another mountain- Howell this time, slightly lower elevation vineyard. This wine was bigger than the Second Chance with mouthfuls of ripe cassis, berry fruit and coffee- almost a cocoa powder character to it. The final wine of the night - and best of show - was the Howell Mountain Estate. Dark rich tannins with intense velvety chocolate cake flavors. This was a fun night going from the 2010 blend to the all 2003 single vineyard designates. Most of us aren't patient enough or buy them as a group so you can taste them altogether at once. Everyone should do this from to time. It reminds me at least of how different climate and soil can be in the same year. It's even better with friends. Thank you Mr Fish for the inspiration. — 11 years ago

with Susan

Eric Gardner

9.0

I'm a softy for this winemaker. They are beloved by the cats who run Enotecca Piti Gola in Florence, where they sell old vintages of it by the glass. Every year they send some to me in the States. For me, when I drink it, I'm drinking good memories and it brings me back to a lost time. — 10 years ago

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

9.8

Vintage 1949 in Burgundy according to Broadbent: “..most perfect end of a decade - elegant, well-balanced wines”; Clive Coates in his book Cote D'Or: "best vintage of 40's all-perfect beauty and purity”; Robert M. Parker Jr.: “it was the best of post world war II vintages before 1959”
Henri Leroy at that time was négociant based in Auxey-Duresses, his mythical daughter Lalou Bize-Leroy in 1949 was only seventeen.
Les Cazetiers is amongst the most elevated of Premier Cru site in Gevrey-Chambertin - and indeed the whole of Burgundy.
I drank this precious bottle on Mount Etna with #FrankCornelissen and other dear friends. Uncork this bottle lead to a surgical operation. Just begun to pull it out, a light breath of wine molecule with air bubbles magically have emerged on the surface of the cork. It's been like witness the passing away of a dying old man (or Pinot Noir must be a woman?) That humanized wine had held "élan vital", hope and breath inside him for the last 66 years! A miracle of a wine still so tasty, robust, citrusy, vibrant, earthy, incredibly alive and well-preserved despite color and neck level did not bode so well.. that's what I thought and I'll remember until I die: "the wine was waiting for us to drink it up, he gave off his mortal blow to offer us life, joy and smile!" — 10 years ago

with Alberto

Olga Franneck@gmail.com

9.1

This is a Brut which suits me! Not too dry neither too sweet as the rest of the sparklin g/champagne of SA! Easy to drink! Line or with friends! Love it! — 10 years ago

Adam Sabin

9.2

Fantastic Moscato. Not my favorite grape varietal, but it definitely fit the bill for my friends who love it. — 10 years ago

markus gould

8.9

what a special drink!
ancient recipe of piedmont winemakers using barolo, china-bark and plenty of (partially medicinal) herbs.
curing your upset stomach after a heavy meal, and it's said that it may heal emerging flu if taken in time...

who needs more proof that alcohol is remedy..? — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.5

Amazing Merlot!!! Pure pleasure - an extraordinary mix of power freshness and complexity. A masterpiece. Those who know me, know that I don't easily grant 5 stars. But here each star is well deserved!!!

My score 95, drink 2014-2028!

The wine is almost black in color, the nose is seductive and essentially you fall in love with this wine from the first sniff. The aromas are rich and concentrated, plum, black cherry, sweet spices, licorice, coffee, chocolate, blueberry jam and much more. Body is full, chewy, rich intense , rich and extracted, a rare combination of fruit forward and freshness, the tannins are round, smooth and caressing, the light acidity keeps you addicted. The finish is long, and addictive.. Impossible to stop drinking it — 11 years ago

Shannon Jones

10

I bought this lovely wine from a lovely Frenchman who said I spoke French very well. I was supposed to save it for friends but I opened it up after work instead. It is meaty and spicy on the nose with notes of black pepper and allspice. Tart with red fruits. — 13 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

Hello friends and wine lovers. This is another wonderful California Cab from NAPA. Gamble Family Vineyard has done an amazing job with this wine. The cork was perfect. The color is a deep dark purple and the legs are long but not very thick. It's 13.9 %. The bouquet is ripe fig trees loaded with figs.The initial palate is blackberry and earth. The finish is dry with no sour hint at all. WOW. Leaves me thirsty for the next sip, and a sip of water for the dryness. I can drink this all night with no regrets. If it were 14% and darker, I would feel it the next day! Its light but much heavier than a pinot. I love this wine!!!!!!!!!!! — 10 years ago

Christopher Bates

Master Sommelier, Owner/Winemaker Element Winery

9.9

Well. I've thought a lot about this, and what to say. Drank same night as the drc I posted the other night. This is the bottle I have wanted to drink for almost a decade. I hoped to drink it the night I passed the masters but could not afford it. I've dreamt about it, searched for it, and boot strapped for it. While tasting blind is a wonderful way to evaluate wine purely on its content, this acts as an ultimate reason not to. I wanted to taste the wine, but more, I wanted to be a part of the story. I wanted to be a part of the time and the place. To make this only months after finally being released from a pow camp and finding vines that had gone wild on your return. To feel the joy, and despair of that year! It amazed me. And to share that story, that struggle through wine is amazing. I actually think I cried a bit (and now). Either way, it was an honor and a pleasure to finally get to open this and share it with some of my dearest friends. Oh, and story aside, it's one of the greatest wines I've ever had in my life. With story, I'm not sure I will ever get to taste anything so good again. — 10 years ago

with Isabel

Madalyn Kissel

9.0

I thought this was a lovely wine. Very smooth and slightly sweet, it was easy and pleasant to drink (though it followed a wine I liked less). Drinking at home with friends over during a grilling night on 10/27/15. — 10 years ago

Harry larson

8.9

Ok simmer down. If you want to be a wine snob it's not that great. If you want a great summer drink that's also a wine... It's fantastic! Drink it on the deck with friends !! — 10 years ago

Andy Paynter

8.9

Great cab franc. Very simple but well balanced. Good dark red fruit and an acidity that lends a juicy tone to a fairly well structured wine. If you can get it for less than 20 bucks do it. But drink it soon and with friends. Grabbed the 2012 vintage from chambers street wines. — 10 years ago

CynCon

10

Waited over a year to drink this wine.. Bought it in Paris during our honeymoon and was slated to be uncorked on our first wedding anniversary... Until, that is, Vivian came along! Good things come to those who wait! — 12 years ago

CS

Sales Amy Atwood Imports

9.3

Jou Jou Vin 2011 Mossik Cabernet Franc from White Rock Vineyard, Napa Valley. It's always difficult when tasting friends wines to remain objective, and while I want to shout this wine from the hilltops (Radio-Coteau style!) I also want to be I also aspire to eliminate personal biases - positive or negative. Jou Jou you should know your wine received much conversation towards a mostly positive frame. The touch of brettanomyces was dually noted, there were comments on carbonic maceration, but I found balance throughout. I jested about the wine being topped with Baudry La Croix Boissée but the fact is, this wine has a strain of brett that works well with the fruit. The brett adds a spicy, wet earth, or mulchy wet tobacco leaf component that lends itself to wines of Chinon or Bordeaux. Is that replicable? Future vintages will tell. Will it grow in bottle? I plan to drink many more for my own recognizance. First day had some notes of carbonic maceration and brighter red fruits, along with that leafy Cab Franc character, fine dense tannins and moderate acidity with a slight sour note likely a proponent of brett. Day 2: I'll be damned. This is some damn good shit. It's worth that $250 dollar price tag! ;) But truly, the leaf/mulch quality is intact and integral, the darker berry fruits come out but there is still a pleasant sour cherry mid-palate that combines with the albeit softer yet still dense/fine mouth filling tannins. I realize part of the reason this wine was the talk of the blind tasting was that the brett, while in balance, set it apart from every other wine tasted. It was unique, it spoke of an older world style, it crept up in conversation because it lent something else to talk about. Kudos Jou Jou. The wine was made from 12 year old CF vines farmed organically (uncertified) grown in a layer of white volcanic ash. Grapes are fermented WC with ambient yeast in open top macro-bins, gently foot tread, native ML, pressed dry into 75% neutral FO and 25% Stainless Steel. 50 ppm SO2 added post ML, 10-15ppm added before bottling, racked once to bottle in June 2012. 25 cases produced. Good luck finding some! — 12 years ago