Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Fall is here and it’s the season I love to drink port. Dow, producing Ports for over 2 centuries. One of the first to establish its own vineyards, acquiring Senhora da Ribeira, in the remote Upper Douro, in 1890 & Bomfim, in the heart of Alto Douro, in 1896. Aromas of ripe fruits, fragrant spices and sweet notes. On the palate flavors of candied apple and jammy blackberries with cacao and honey. Firm dusty tannins, good balance, long finish. Perfect now. — 4 years ago

Stewart Ben

9.1

Wow. What a great Pinot,,,cherries, leather and tobacco, very earthy with some light oak. Has a long lingering tannic finish that keeps you remembering just how focused this winery is on Pinot and it’s quality. First time with a glass cork which makes for a solid reseal. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

One of the great White Pinot Noirs made in the world, I have been fascinated by this wine since it was first made more than a decade ago. The 2017 ‘Coeur Blanc’ opens with an enticing bouquet of cantaloupe, marzipan, white rose and shades of Pazzaz apple that all meld together nicely in the glass. The palate reveals a refined, silky texture and entices. Generous on the mouth, this white Pinot Noir unveils seriously good range from melon tones to green apple and shades of wild mushroom and wet stone. The bright sense of minerality and the generous texture really sing here. While outstanding now, this true heavyhitter of a wine will only become more silky and complex as it ages. Drink 2019-2033- 95 — 6 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.4

Having Hirsch on hand is a must for me. To say this Pinot Noir is smooth, delightful, and wonderful is an understatement. I don't like to give flavors and tastes and scents out because I believe everyone has a different palette and nose. This is Love though! — 8 years ago

Georgina McDonald

9.1

Fairly good red fruit concentration with a little earth and herbs. Easy drinking and good to have on hand for spontaneous midweek dinners. — 8 years ago

Blair Jones

9.3

What a fruity cab with huge structure. I was turned on to this wine and winery... and am a huge fan. Not for the faint of heart. It’s a Napa red... no question! — 8 years ago

with Lydia

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Yup...that's Neil Patrick Harris on their Label. Sleight of Hand Cellars got involved in a charity that NPH was apart. They got to talking and found he not only had a love of Magic, but wine as well. The relationship evolved well enough, they asked him if he would be on one of their labels and Neil agreed. The "Sleight of Hand Cellars" label has been seen a few times on "How I Met Your Mother." NPH is also is a club member. The Conjurer is blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot from the Columbia Valley. Nice, fresh nose of; ripe dark currants, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, black licorice, dark chocolate, soft spice, wood shavings and fresh dark florals. The palate is M+ body & soft M+ tannins with a thick, round mouthfeel. Dark spice, eucalyptus, mint, herb notes, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, chocolate, caramel apple, black licorice, crushed rocks, soft leather, nice, round, acidity and a very well polish finish. This is very easy to drink young and will cellar 10 years. — 8 years ago

Lindar Liebe

9.1

Very tasty and fun, tastes very green, crisp, dry but not bone dry. Astringent maybe? I love it I think this could both goes well with food and is tasty on its own — 5 years ago

Amit Kumar

9.5

like a neighbor with a seductive surprise...
like strawberry on a summer evening...
its like wow, where did you come from...
is that juniper is smell...oh who cares?
great wine... — 6 years ago

Phillip

8.9

Med/Full body, smooth dark fruits, slight pepper on finish. Good value. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Established in 1987, DD Oregon is owned by famed Burgundy producer, Maison Joseph Drouhin. Hand-crafted by fourth generation winemaker, Veronique Drouhin-Boss. Ruby with fruit and sweet floral scents, very French in style. On the palate cherry and blueberry with pepper and earthy notes. Young but integrated tannins, well defined, elegant with underlying richness, long finish.
— 7 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.3

The 2016 is out - and it doesn’t disappoint!!!Medium-bodied but mouth filling showing freshly picked cherries, leather and bacon fat. A memorable finish. One of my favorite wines, one of the most reliable. Huge QPR and one you should always have on hand. A little pricey for an everyday house wine, but it’s always worth it. On the downside it went up $1 and is now $21...... — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

My last 2011 bottle. The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the heart of the Chianti zone, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. Crognolo, aged in French Allier barriques, deep red with red fruit aromas and sweet perfumed spice. On the palate raspberry and cherry flavors, gentle spice and soft tannins with great mouthfeel. Good balance, lingering finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Aged well. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The Levitation is 100% Syrah from the Columbia Valley. It spent time on lees, 15 months in French oak and only racked before bottling. On the nose, plummy dark currants, loamy soils, pepper, grilled meats, light; cinnamon, clove & vanilla. Sweet tarry notes, herbs and fresh violets & dry florals. On the palate; the tannin are M+ but round, fresh; black cherry, black plum, black raspberries, blackberries. Herbs, pepper, spice, understated grilled meats, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, underbrush, crushed rocks, loamy soils, fresh, dark florals, round acidity and a big, rich, polished, elegant, floral finish. Photos of; a Sleight of Hand vineyard, merchandise area of the tasting room, back private tasting room and their production building. — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.7

Okay, some explanation is in order. First of all, the wine is off-scale awesome. Absolutely beautiful fruit on the nose, balance throughout a lingering, elegant finish. Fantastic. The cork, on the other hand, was a disaster. This wine was stored on its side at 55 F upon receipt from the winery. I am absolutely certain that Justin does his due diligence in selecting corks, but something clearly was amiss with at least this cork from the 2007 Heartstone. This is just a word of caution: if you have this in your cellar, the wine is awesome. Just be careful with the cork! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Wulf Losee

9.4

2015 opened 2020. This is a wine with a soft beginning, but it explodes at the end. Black tea and tobacco on the nose. Ripe fruit on the front (cassis and blueberries), and, although the fruit is sweet, it’s very restrained. The tannins are also restrained, but at the same time they’re solid and smooth with a gentle mouth feel on the mid palate. And like the guiding hand of an old friend, with a gentle insistence they lead you into a room where there’s a surprise party waiting for you. And the band starts playing as you enter the room. It’s an unexpected finale which is pretty spectacular, with all sorts of high notes overlaid on deeper earth tones. Then the earth notes fade, leaving the high notes vibrating into a long finish. This wine can only get better, but it’s fantastic right now. NOTE: after an hour in the decanter this wine completely opens a up and begins to fade. Frankly, I find it more interesting right out of the bottle then from an hour in the decanter. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

I like it so much I had to try another bottle. Located in the heart of Sonoma, WALT sourcing Pinot Noir fruit from premiere appellations, this one from Shea Vineyard in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Deep Ruby, luscious bouquet of berry fruit with floral notes. On the palate fresh strawberry and cherry flavors with sweet spice & earthy black tea tones. Fine rich soft tannins, lingering finish bring forward fruit and mineral tones. A Wow wine! — 7 years ago

Thomas M Absalom

8.9

This wine lives and breathes — 8 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.3

Massive, sexy fruit-forward Pinot Noir from Zio Tony vineyard in the heart of Laguna Ridge. Good vintages of this cuvée are on par with the Cohn in my opinion, and this might be my favorite one yet. On night 3 this really opened up and showed some brooding dark berries, cola and sandalwood, laced with earth and spice. Already quite layered and complex, but needs a year or two in Bottle to show more defined flavors. Big oak tannins are still prevalent. Outstanding effort from an unusually low yielding harvest, this wine has some serious future ahead of it. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This Archimage is a blend of; Cabernet Franc 56%, Merlot 38% and 6%Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley. It's 100% free run juice. Amazing nose of; dark currants, caramel, baking spices, black licorice and brilliant florals that are dominated by purple flowers with other fresh dark flowers. The palate has; ruby, ripe, floral, black currants, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, spice, mocha & milk chocolate. Sweet & candied fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, black plum, black raspberries & raspberries. Leather, cigar, tobacco, underbrush, black licorice, big, round, mouthwatering acidity and a long, expressive, beautiful, elegant finish that is; 50% fruit, 30% spice & 20% earth. Photos of their winery signage, beautiful fruit ready for harvest and artwork on their Psychedelic wine label done by one of their friends that plays music and is a graphic artist. — 8 years ago