Peg Hanssen

10

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this blend! 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot & 5% Carmenere. “Superb quality and craftsmanship are the hallmark of Santa Rita, one of Chile’s most admired and innovative wine estates. Heroes Red Blend is a wine with intense violet color. The predominating aromas of red fruits, such as plums, cherries and raspberries are complemented by very elegant and subtle notes of violet, vanilla, cloves and a touch of cocoa. The lush palate is fresh and juice with good depth and soft, ripe tannings.” — 6 years ago

Ron from VA

9.0

After my bar-setting 2016 experience, this “classic” vintage offering didn’t disappoint. While it wasn’t the shooting star that ‘16 elevated to, the ‘12 had all the varietal mojo but with a little less juiciness going on. Solid structure and balance - that’s the hallmark here. Yes, 4 yrs of additional bottle aging to consider. I’m not trying to find a winner, rather I was delighted by consistency! What I was surprised to find: DAY 2 😳 —-> a wonderful rounding and depth evolved. So, I will be picking up another since my source has several. My pond is a secret ;) — 7 years ago

Matt

9.6

The hallmark, and almost its give away, is its balance of all the complexities that come together to create a stunning wine of richness, precision, harmony and length. There’s so many facets to this wine and they all seem to be working together to weave a whole, uniformed wine. Reminiscent of Batard Montrachet, but with a little more CA sunshine to boot. So powerful but so playful and energetic on the palate. — 8 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

8.9

Always an outstanding value. The warmth of the vintage comes through in spades. Bright tropical notes layered over a solid core of apples and pears. A hint of oyster shell minerality on the back but overall this a richer style with a lush, rounded mouthfeel with a lot of Sur Lie hallmark. Very balanced and fresh, a superb choice at this price point. — 8 years ago

Keegan Leary

10

So good. This Rosé is how I channel Rick Ross. Underripe strawberry and sour cherry flavors. Didn't get much on aroma. Dry and acidic for the summer party, sweeping the deck, club banger, or back alley with my black bottle boys. Rich forever. Forever compassionate. Don't call it medicinal, but you may be tempted. Boss. — 9 years ago

with Ryan

Scott Rowe

9.3

Heemskerk Tassy brilliance.
Elegantly refined. An eye catcher. — 9 years ago

Cason Love

9.0

Almost like a Beaujolais on the nose...almost. Aromas of Cherry, wet stone and a touch of bramble. Refreshing and dry with red fruit and hallmark crisp acidity. — 10 years ago

r b

9.4

Drank this wine as a boost before the NY marathon. Help me beat my personal best of watching people run for 1:30 before I changed the channel. Who won? — 10 years ago

Dade Thieriot

10

As simple and direct as Chardonnay gets...restrained, uncomplicated, elegant yet with great finesse as its hallmark and clean as a whistle. Not a marquee appellation but a very classy, affordable bottle--SANTÉ! — 10 years ago

with Petra

Tom Kobylarz

9.0

Premium vinho verde from #Portugal. A fresh bouquet of citrus, peach and white flowers, the palate add the hallmark saline or salty note. The same grape in Spain is Albariño, though for the $ this is fantastic at about $15-20. Should be an insane pairing with shellfish but was an aperitif for us. — 12 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Ruby in colour. Initial aromas of red and black fruits particularly raspberry and also whole bunch notes. Rich and sweet on the palate with plums and cherries finishing with smooth tannins. Fruit for this Pinot was sourced from the Coal Valley, East Coast and Channel sub-regions of Tasmania - the latter adding that richness like you see in Home Hill Estate. — 6 years ago

Jeff Siwik

9.2

- Luscious and round with alluring aromas of black cherry and roasted herbs. The palette is savory and structured with flavors of robust black fruit, currant, and espresso. Ripe plum and peppery spice alongside complex tannins evolve into a delicate finish.
- The wine offers plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit as well as some licorice, truffle, and lead pencil shavings. It is full-bodied, again very opulent (a hallmark of all of the wines from The Prisoner) and finishes authoritatively. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
- Deep ruby, black color; alluring and almost outrageous aromas of black currants and raspberry jam, bold; full bodied, sassy, smooth and fine on the palate; dryish, moderate acidity, well balanced; ripe berried fruit and light savory earth in the flavors, nice dollop of sweet oak; medium to long finish, smooth and layered in the aftertaste. Drinks nicely now. — 7 years ago

Shay A

8.9

Another 4th Friday for the books! Insane pulls this month to follow up the most epic month (April) that we’ve ever had!

Not familiar with this producer, but for a Bacigalupi Pinot, it was missing all the hallmark notes...no cola, little bing cherry, light cedar, non-existent licorice. My review here is more about what it isn’t as opposed to what it is... — 8 years ago

with Mark and Benjamin

Jeremy Pollard

9.0

Balance. Restraint. Elegance. This is lovely pinot. Hallmark Adelaide Hills nose and palate. Really nice. — 8 years ago

with Sam and David

Berg

9.4

This is a great bottle of Burgundy, and shows the winemaking strength I think. Black cherry, unripe tart strawberry, cloves, sassafras, plenty of sous bois funk already, but in balance. I think this will be a glorious, funky example of hallmark Burgundy in 20 years! — 9 years ago

Karin Loudermilk

9.3

Went to the winery for a tour. Channel was inspired by the chateau logo? Maybe. Great property and interesting wine. This was my favorite of the day and was able to purchase a bottle. Drinking on the rooftop patio, last night here. Great trip and great wine. — 9 years ago

with Kym

Dade Thieriot

10

Kick-Ass Kabinett! #2004 was an epic year for #Riesling in #Germany and this bottle has only moved a matter of miles from its original birthplace. Freshness is the hallmark of this incredibly clean, fleshy #Rheingau. Lovely balance that will certainly take it out another decade or more! #prinz #Kabinett #rieslingrocks — 10 years ago

Amanda Burrill

8.9

Drinking this on set for Travel Channel! It's amazing and the pine resin flavor really comes through! A new staple! — 10 years ago

Alex Alvärëz

9.0

One of the skills I'm coming to respect as a hallmark of really great producers is the ability to convey place and vintage well in their entry level bottlings. Von Winning has that hallmark. — 11 years ago

Romain Stamm

9.0

Bibo tasting - straight acidity, medium plus. Oak notes on the nose (toast) but very light on the palate. No petrol. Great floral notes. A must have — 6 years ago

Eric L.

9.6

Gorgeous Cabernet with hallmark Stags Leap District elegance and finesse. Just lovely! — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.0

All the hallmark characteristics of young Sangiovese at a ridiculously fair price. Cherry, clove, tobacco, rose petal, a bit of mint in the back. Polished tannins, very bright acidity. Another great Marc deGrazia import. — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

Prunes and raisins on the nose with surprisingly high acidity in the palate. Subtle brett, but generally this is one of the more clean and polished vintages. More ripeness and primary fruit character for Musar, but with the hallmark minerality and elegant structure. Very little weight. — 8 years ago

Doug Kahn

9.2

Hallmark dugat nose of must and stem. Overall very solid — 8 years ago

Ron from VA

9.5

As always - my rating is a balance between Virginia has a subset and total global wine as a standard scale. The finished product here is stunning as a Virginia grown product and in comparison to Oregon or Burgundy-styled Pinot. Balance is the hallmark here in this classic vintage. Layers of red and citrus fruit mingle with herbs & floral notes to glorious effect. One of the best Pinot I have ever had! — 9 years ago

Jay Christianson

Winemaker Canyon Wind and Anemoi

9.2

A distillation of what Napa Cab is in many ways. Big, fruitful, structured, probably still too young. Just dang good. Nothing leaping out and overpowering anything else. That alone gains .2 above 9. Showing intelligent restraint is the hallmark of brilliant winemaking. — 9 years ago

Tim Parkhouse DWS, CWE

9.1

Great bottle with the hallmark soft, dusty, ripe tannin of the vintage. — 10 years ago

Winn Roberton

9.7

2003. Softened out more than expected but obviously still needs time. Lots of time. Hallmark grace of mouton. — 10 years ago

Stuart Robinson

9.1

Beautiful floral and kaffir lime aromatics; fine palate and hallmark length expected from producer/variety/region. — 11 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.2

A first for me, but WOW! Purity, minerality, dried floral notes and subtle fruit flows into a seamless palate where crushed rocks, gentle vanilla and impressive length are hallmark notes. — 12 years ago