Jay Kline

9.3

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. — 5 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

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... — 7 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

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

Loren Elliott

8.9

Hallmark Willamette Valley Pinot with some backbone. Well structured and great representation of Beaux Freres style without quite the finesse and finish of the name labeled, but about half the price tag. (Great with homemade black truffle pasta!) — 9 years ago

George Chen

9.5

This was a 2006 and it did not disappoint! I know all the geeks out there and deride the Screamer but I have not had a disappointing bottle and I've had 4 this past year. Structured, concentrated but by no means a fruit bomb...tightly knit and intense focus that is hallmark of this great wine. Still has years to go...contrary to some opinions. — 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

Dan Fredman

Chef Sommelier World of Pinot Noir

9.8

Seamless Cornas, with nowhere near the Sauvage character I'd expect from Clape. No overwhelming Brett either (hallmark of the 1994) — 12 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

Bob McDonald

9.3

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. — 5 years ago

Eric L.

9.6

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

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

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. — 9 years ago

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

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

Astrid Lewis

10

Absolutely sublime wine.
Incredible intensity on the nose with all the hallmark characteristics of Bordeaux. Leather, spice, inky fruits, pencil shavings and cedar. Lush nose. Palate has great acidity which gives it an elegance not suggested by the nose. Length amazing and goes on and on. Best wine I have had for a long time! Gorgeous. — 11 years ago

with Pierpaolo

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.” — 5 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

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. — 7 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

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

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

Jinglin Zhang

9.3

Earthy spice, rose petal frutti di boschi. Hallmark Barolo with pale ruby rim. Well managed tannin, always one of my favourite. — 10 years ago

Tim Parkhouse DWS, CWE

9.1

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

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