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. — 6 years ago
Hallmark dugat nose of must and stem. Overall very solid — 7 years ago
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! — 7 years ago
Heemskerk Tassy brilliance.
Elegantly refined. An eye catcher. — 8 years ago
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. — 8 years ago
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 — 8 years ago
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. — 10 years ago
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. — 10 years ago
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
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. — 6 years ago
I will somehow suffer through this off year with its harmonious balance and excellent execution. It's immediate appeal and charming forwardness (the hallmark of such junk years) can be overcome with much effort and determination. Everyone stay back; I'll take this one for the team. — 7 years ago
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!) — 8 years ago
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
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
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! — 7 years ago
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. — 8 years ago
This stunning wine is a Blanc de noir and while it does not actually say rosé on the label it does have a slight blush - not the red tone you'd expect from a saignée wine but the same burnished gold richness that typifies Krug rosé. This is as richly flavored and well-balanced a Champagne as I've had in a long time. Great depth of Apple and brioche and such richness that despite the stunning freshness you'd swear it had a solid dosage. But all that richness comes from fruit ripeness, a Drappier hallmark. Beautiful on its own or with food — 8 years ago
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. — 8 years ago
This is excellent, especially for a really cheap wine. It has a hallmark Spain flavor but feels a little more low key. Very smooth garnacha. Taste is pretty grapey, maybe some other dark red fruit (cherries?). It's a pretty quick flavor too, not too much lingering. Color is really pretty, light violet, almost red. Will definitely buy this again! — 9 years ago
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. — 10 years ago
Gotta love this Zin with good tannic structure! Not overripe, always a hallmark of Bill Easton wines. Not quite as good as the Rinaldi single vineyard bottling, but at a fraction of the price, who cares? — 11 years ago
Jordan Wardlaw
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