Hallmark

Cavallotto

Bricco Boschis Barolo Nebbiolo 2016

Double-blind. This note is from memory but what an impression it made! I called Barolo along with a few others at the table; likely from a vintage like 2012 or 2015 since everything seemed well and open for business. Dark cherry fruit, dried herbs, and roses with monumental structure. This was a touch glossy on the fruit side and I thought that had more to do with the generosity of the vintage rather than the producer. We were all surprised (and also a bit, “yeah, that makes total sense) when it was revealed to be the 2016 Cavallotto Bricco Boschis. Surprised because the 2016 vintage from such a traditionalist was drinking so well out of the gate! Not surprised with the glossy nature of the fruit which I find to be a hallmark of Cavalotto; simply gorgeous texture. An utter delight now and, I suspect, will be stunning with time. Now that I think of it, the 2013’s were very good upon release as well and there are a lot of similarities between the two vintages. — 4 years ago

Ira, Eric and 29 others liked this
Jae Cho

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Love that color
Jay Kline

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@Neil Valenzuela I can totally identify with that note.
David T

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@Neil Valenzuela 🤔 Remind me to never loan you my baseball glove. 😂

Immich-Batterieberg

Enkircher Steffensberg Riesling 2017

Delectable Wine
9.2

This leads with smoky, stony and pungent notes to which scents of apple, white peach and grapefruit take a back seat. The palate – satiny, yet with underlying firmness, and surprisingly buoyant – offers smoky black tea, peppery olive oil, piquant kumquat, tingling stony impingements plus a crunchy, incisive cut of mustard seed and white currant. The upshot is an energetic, highly invigorating finish offering a dynamic interchange of diverse fruit and mineral elements, but by no means oblivious to Riesling’s first duty to refresh. Look for time in bottle to bring greater textural allure, typically a hallmark of Immich-Batterieberg bottlings. (David Schildknecht, Vinous, January 2020) — 5 years ago

Nadine liked this

Lovingston

Gilbert's Vineyard Pinotage 2012

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 ;) — 6 years ago

Kongsgaard

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012

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. — 6 years ago

David and Tom liked this

Domaine Henri Perrusset

Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay 2015

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. — 7 years ago

Claude Dugat

Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2003

Hallmark dugat nose of must and stem. Overall very solid — 7 years ago

Anthony liked this

Comm. G.B. Burlotto

Aves Verduno Barbera d'Alba 2012

Dark and fairly opaque, the 2012 is a little heavy albeit the hallmark Burlotto texture is there. — 4 years ago

Santa Rita

Reserva Especial Heroes Maipo Valley Red Blend 2015

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.” — 4 years ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

Cuttings California Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

- 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.
— 6 years ago

Scarpetta

Barbera del Monferrato 2015

Ming L
8.9

Excellent Barbera. Fresh and ripe red and dark fruits commingled in a harmony. The palate is actually plush and thick, but balanced by the hallmark Barbera acidity. Very well balanced. Great value to boot. — 6 years ago

Macrae Family Winery

Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008

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...
— 6 years ago

Mark FlesherBenjamin Keator
with Mark and Benjamin
Shawn, Jason and 19 others liked this

Château de Pibarnon (Comte de Saint Victor)

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2012

This wine has a direct feed to the pleasure station in my brain and it’s been too long since my last taste. The nose is seductive in its perfume, alluring crushed black cherry, ripe black raspberry/plums, game, worn leather, roasted spices, camphor, forest floor, tar, powdered sugar, tons of garrigue and a touch of exotic spice. Palate is richly textured, elegantly powerful and raw tannin, with that fine grained yet rustic edge to them. Despite the frame this carries that classic fresh acid that’s hallmark for this estate. Palate a melange of black cherry, kirsch, blood orange, and blue fruit. Black tea, medicinal herbs, creme de violets, cracked pepper, bitter cocoa and crushed rocks. Finish is lengthy, stretching out with its herbal and mineral complexity. — 7 years ago

P liked this

Cullen Wines

Diana Madeline Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

On Saturday I conducted a Cabernet tasting at home with 8 mates. The theme was 2009 Bordeaux v Margaret River. See previous note of 80 weeks ago. Wine No. 3. A nice red pepper note amongst the leafiness, cedar and red fruits. Wonderful balance which is a hallmark of Cullen Cabernet. More elegance than power. — 4 years ago

Ceccherini, Paul and 25 others liked this

La Bastide Blanche

Bandol Mourvèdre Blend Rosé 2018

J. Kim
8.9

Wide and deep, polished and refined, full, complete and integrated. Superior mineral complexity. Multi dimensional, precise placements of flavors that is a hallmark of a great wine. — 5 years ago

P liked this

Pott Wines (Aaron & Claire Pott and Daughters)

Actaeon Quixote Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Gorgeous Cabernet with hallmark Stags Leap District elegance and finesse. Just lovely! — 6 years ago

Dawn, Dave and 19 others liked this

Domaine Marc Morey & Fils

Morgeot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2014

Young but amazing. Loving the 2014 vintage and this is another example of the great 2014 whites. This was hallmark Morgeots and had piercing acidity and wonderful minerality. Drinking well now but will easily go a decade or more. — 6 years ago

Keith, Ron and 1 other liked this

Podere Scopetone

Rosso di Montalcino Sangiovese 2014

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. — 6 years ago

P and Anthony liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Tasted younger as it opened up. This inverse complexity is a Hallmark of Heitz's Cabs...the winery that sparked my love for wine — 7 years ago

Shaw and Smith

Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2015

Balance. Restraint. Elegance. This is lovely pinot. Hallmark Adelaide Hills nose and palate. Really nice. — 7 years ago

Sam MarshmallowDavid David
with Sam and David
Scott liked this

Vollenweider

Wolfer Goldgrube Kabinett Riesling 2015

Serious nose w all the hallmark serious Riesling notes offset by juiciness and acidity. A very high quality Mosel at a medium price. — 7 years ago