Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The 2015 quality producer reds out of; Puente Alto, Maipo, Pirque and Aconcagua are strong considerations for your cellar or temp & humidity control cabinets. The fruit is sensational and the acidity is beautiful.

The nose is ripe, ruby floral and show slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black raspberries. Some creamy raspberries, black cherry licorice/cola, dark semi-sweet soil, nice baking spices, cedar and fresh red & dark florals.

The body is gorgeous and full. The tannins are rounded, firm and gluey. The fruits are ripe, slightly candied and fresh. blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, some creamy raspberries, strawberries, black cherry licorice/cola, dark, nice herbal notes, semi-sweet dark soil, dry loamy top soils, dry stems, chewy leather, lighter baking spices than the nose, cedar and fresh red & dark florals.

Photos of; their tasting in the old Viña, two vistas from their property and the newer more modern Viña. — 8 years ago

Kyle Bella

9.1

A hazy, pale red in color, juicy raspberry notes, lovely acid and a clean dry, finish that make this Pet Nat perfect for a rich meal or just to cheer you up. — 8 years ago

Pete Schork

9.3

Ripe fruit gives way to baking spices baking spices baking spices. Jammy but not overly so. This is a unique little number, very interesting and agreeable — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.7

Look, most of the crew came to play, as you can see. They brought the Napa cults in spades. We wanted to spoil the U.S. party, so we dropped this into the mix.
It was a change of lanes, but the Angelus was on cruise control. Different genre in relation to the Napa penis extensions, but it held its own. I suppose, as a European, I would characterize this as an intellectual wine. Donald Trump may not appreciate this... 😊 — 9 years ago

with Martin, Mike and 5 others

Alejandro Castillo

9.5

Sweet ceder, ground coffee, sweet dried meat coated in a distant vanilla molases sauce, fresh moss / distant moss, med, lean, — 10 years ago

Matthew Christ

9.3

This wine is out of control. Peak bomb.com. Wow — 10 years ago

John Kemper

9.4

An opaque red/purple, the '00 Ojai Syrah '50% Roll Ranch 50% Bien Nacido' is richly scented with black raspberry, ground pepper and dark cherry notes. Powerful mouth-coating flavors of ripe black fruits with spicy cracked peppercorn accents then flood the palate. The fully-rounded and well-integrated tannins make the lingering finish lip-smackingly delicious. — 10 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.4

Ground breaking! Thanks to one of my best buddies.. Happy Thanksgiving! — 11 years ago

with Anthony

Paul Kaan

Winemaker/Blogger FilthyGoodVino.com

9.4

1999 Vieux-Telegraphe ... Brett is under control. Super complex, layered, yummy, textured happiness in a glass! — 12 years ago

Tony Connell

9.1

Deliciously pure black fruit 09 flavors wrapped up in granite and ground pepper. A blast to drink.. — 13 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Cult chard tasted alongside a 2010 Aubert Lauren Chard....this one lost by a unanimous vote (and it wasn't even a blind vote either). I think everyone WANTED the Judge to win, but there was nothing to Judge here. At least for THIS COMPARISON, in 2018, the Aubert was the winner. BUT, this Judge chard did have more acidity up front than the Aubert, and IMO this wine has more aging potential than the 2010 Lauren Chard, which was pretty much right on the top of the hill tonght. Hard to beat a wine in its prime window, but goes to show you that Aubert makes chards that will compete with this kind of opponent. Lots of acid up front. Stone ground fruit entry, mineral-rich middle. I think that I was getting more pear than anything else here, but there was a hint of youthful butter and some dates. Finishes with actually a really nice fruit/nutty/almost gritty/tannin character for about 60 seconds, which is the one thing I will say that I give advantage to the Judge. Bravo! — 8 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other

Peter UPA

9.7

Big potent nose with notes of black cherries, dark chocolate, leather, cedarwood, licorice and forrest ground. Big body with concentrated fruit, well balanced tannins, fresh acidity and long aromatic finnish - Always a great pleasure👍 — 8 years ago

LM Segal

9.2

Giusto hits another one outta the park. Sicilian take on new world Pinot Noir, made in clay amphorae buried in the ground, light, pure pomegranate and red berry. Love how the clay and the red earth come through. Very long. Seek this out, decant a bit. — 9 years ago

Parker Campanella

8.9

Freshly ground garden hose — 9 years ago

Catherine Theis

9.1

Thanksgiving! — 10 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.7

Some of the best damn Côte Rotie I've had. Love this producer. Aromatic intensity with no shortage of ground pepper and bacon fat aromas. — 10 years ago

with Molly, Adam and 1 other

Erin Winter

9.8

Delicious tart cherries and vanilla finish. Love it, great sipper on its own — 11 years ago

Jon Bonné

Wine Editor San Francisco Chronicle

9.2

2012. Really happy to see a new vintage of this appear. — 11 years ago

Mara Welton

9.7

Peach jolly rancher wrapper with a hint of ground cherry. Creamy, yet bracing. Super nice! — 12 years ago

Hansi Brauer

9.9

The year when Kristianstad burned down to the ground. A mind blowing wine. Room filling bouquet, vigorous, balanced and an infinite length. Decanted 2,5 h — 13 years ago

Kim Stanbro

9.2

Chocolate and cherry on the nose, lots of depth both in the glass and in this poetry reading @amysaulderby #wizardtower — 8 years ago

Oliver Seaman

9.5

No control — 8 years ago

Mikey T

9.0

Wow, what a deal at < $20 / bottle
Wine spectator says #69 of top 100 of 2014.
A burly, brambly red, underscored by tarry smoke and underbrush notes, offering flavors of blackberry coulis, herb-marinated black olive, grilled mushroom and ground spice. This shows muscle that recommends it to short-term cellaring, made accessible by integration and balance. Drink now through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. #69 – 91 points — 8 years ago

David Langstaff

9.2

Lovely nose. Covered dark fruits; not too bright. But taste is fresher fruits. A tad too fruity for me but balanced. Tannins present but under control. Would like to try in 5 years. — 9 years ago

Marcie Molek

9.1

Great, smooth but interesting Pinot. Terrific price. — 9 years ago

Florian Perolini

9.0

In English and French.

What a luck !

- A magnum Hermitage La Chapelle 1975 from Paul Jaboulet Aîné.

Bottle opened 24 hours before drink.

The wine is brown and trouble.

A big density, the bouquet offer lot of spicies, cinnamon, dried grappe, old cherry in alcool, date fruit.

The palate :

Full of spicies, deep. Again the cinnamon followed by date fruit and dried grappes, smooth and elegant, a long and fresh finish on the ground aromas like mushroom an old and luxury wood.

Not so old ! A great wine. Loved it.

Around 1200 - 1700 €


- Chance incroyable !

Degustation autour de ce magnum de 1975. Rare. Bouteille ouverte 24h à l'avance.

Sous sa robe usée, trouble et marron, ce vin cache une ceritable fraîcheur.

Son bouquet s'ouvre sur les épices, cannelle, fruits secs, raisins secs, cerise à l’eau de vie et dattes fraîches d'Iran.

Un grand bol de fruits secs, d'épices, de dattes, beaucoup de matière et de tendresse. Un style tout en élégance.
Une longue finale sur des notes tertiaires de mousse, champignon, et de vieux cèdre.

Très beau. J'ai beaucoup aimé.
Attention, le goût de vieux vins est toujours particulier !

Autour de 1200 - 1700 €.

À bientôt.
Florian. — 10 years ago

E Alvelais

9.2

2001 developed well in in the glass. Definitely found some coffee ground notes in addition to the currant and tobacco. Medium body. — 10 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.2

Dog fell asleep on this beauty! — 11 years ago

with Kit, Brian and 1 other

Joel Vincent

10

A standard for Grenache/Syrah blend — 11 years ago

JohnQ Boxler

Sales Berkeley Wine Company

9.5

Give me your root day! This wine will wrestle it to the ground! Boom! — 12 years ago