Jim McCusker

9.3

Our oldest Denner in the cellar, this still had an impressive amount of fruit and structure given its age. Anthony Yount is doing great things at Denner right now...but some of the earlier vintages before he took the helm ate pretty good, too! — 4 years ago

with Vanessa

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale Lemon in colour. White peach notes on nose and palate along with herbal and Lime notes - a little grapefruit. Overall the impression of ripe grapes in a really good season gives one the impression of almost off dry but it is dry. Not as much tension as a few years ago - this being my last bottle. At its peak if you like mature Riesling with a swipe of cleansing acidity to finish off. Again, little or no kerosene or petrol notes which I am starting to believe is a wine fault and the subject of sunburnt grapes as Canberra Riesling producer Ken Helm once told me. 3 Trophies and many Gold Medals on the Show Circuit. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.1

About a year or so ago, I snagged a couple Murrieta’s Well wines from @Jason and Jennie and I’ve been working my way through them. Their merlot has been my favorite so far.

I’ll start this by stating Malbec isn’t a favorite of mine. I’ve tried many Napa ones, and while I enjoy South America renditions a tad more, I just don’t normally gravitate to them. With well known Robbie Meyer at the helm, I thought this would be a good example and I’m pleasantly surprised. The aromatics ooze ripe and fresh squeezed blackberries and raspberries alongside clove. Very rich and fruit forward on the palate. Dense. Signature Malbec notes that coat the mouth with red licorice, red and black fruit and low acidity. Young, but the oak isn’t dominant. A nice representation. — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

This recently caught my eye, mostly because it was a $75 bottle of rosé — it’s rare to come across any rosé more than $40 (aside from Champagne), but also because of its distinctive design (I should’ve trademarked the drip).

The origin of Château Minuty dates to the early 18th century. The Matton-Farnet family has owned the estate since 1936, with its third generation, brothers Jean-Etienne and François Matton currently at the helm.

The Château’s vineyards are situated on limestone and schist hills outside the Provençal village of Gassin and overlooking the bay and city of Saint-Tropez. They exclusively produce rosé.

For their cuveé 281, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, the Mattons enlisted Hubert de Malherbe to design the bottle, who worked on several Veuve Clicquot designs as well as Dior perfume bottles and stores. The blue is said to represent the Mediterranean Sea and sky, both of which have significant influence in shaping the wine’s character. The exact shade of blue is Pantone 281.

The wine opens with melon, citrus peel, and stone fruit, all of which translate through to the palate. That’s where the intensity ratchets up, with pungent, rocky minerality set against a backdrop of herbs and a generous seasoning of sea salt. Everything melds together before taking the long ride home on a bright beam of acid. Superb. — 7 years ago

Craig Mitchell

8.9

Plenty of flinty minerality and acid, maybe lacking a smidge of fruit flavour? — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

This is the Cab Franc, not the CS. 100 cases produced, with Grant Long, Jr at the helm. Bombastically rich black fruit of plums and blackberry, with chocolate and chili pepper seasoning. Hedonistic. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

An 18th century chateau, overlooking the Isle valley, facing Pomerol and the Saint-Emilion limestone hillsides, belonged to the same family for three centuries took over by Michel Rullier in 1955, and his daughter Brigitte took the helm in 2002. Dark Ruby with an array of berry aromas and smoky scents. On the palate plum and cherry flavors with cacao, tobacco and smoky cedar notes with herb spice. Firm chalky tannins, long finish ending with earthy mineral notes. Still tasting ok, but drink now! — 5 years ago

Shannon Saunders

9.0

#FabulousGirlsWineSociety
October 2019

This blend has a unique story... out of the deadly Caribbean waters of the 17th century comes the true story of Jacquottie Delahaye, an orphan driven to piracy as a tender girl. Later, to evade the law, faked her own death, but upon being discovered earned her treacherous moniker “Back from the Dead Red” stirring fear into the hearts of any who saw her fiery red hair at the helm. As deadly as she was beautiful her legend continues to inspire many a buccaneer!

Shared for this ‘Delicious & Deadly’ wine theme shared with the lovely ladies of #FGWS — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

With friends in town during Thanksgiving, I hit up some wineries that I’ve been curious about. Super cool experience at Aonair. Grant Long, Jr has created something special there, and with David Yorgensen at the helm with the wines, it feels all dialed in. Their Grenache was a surprise to me. From El Dorado and there’s some initial funk, but it blows off and what’s left is a balanced, mineral driven, but kirsch laden, and yet still, a bright style wine that’s quite reminiscent of something from Chateauneuf du Pape. — 6 years ago

Mike R

9.3

I am certain that my posse will smoke me tonight as they are at napa valley premiere auction so @David L @Joe Lucca and @ADAM STROMFELD go ahead do so - so damn jealous

I decided to pull this as I know it delivered in the past on other vintages so here we go

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 950 Cases produced

This has so many things it is hard to put them all in but taste vanilla, cherries with notes of toasty oak, espresso and a chocolate twist.

This baby has structure and is a true mid-palate cab with fine tannins with a looooong finish

This is essence of Big Bold and Beautiful and a really true statement of a Napa cab with a great winemaker at the helm as I feel Robert Foley is in my opinion am underrated wine maker

The smell contains aromas of sweet blackberries, cassis, forest floor, and spring flowers- this baby jumps from the glass to show you what a full-bodied, opulent, structured wine should be - textured, layered mouthfeel displays absolutely no burn - it is so ready to drink so enjoy and mindful that this might have another 5 years left

All smiles tonight — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

Totally surprised by the quality of this wine. This is the second vintage of Revana, I believe (with Heidi Barrett at the helm of the winemaking operation). The depth of this is impressive. If you read Heidi's notes from 2006, they apply 100% to how this wine is drinking now. Beautiful nose of cassis, tobacco, black cherry, and leather on the edge. On the palate, all of the aromas are there in addition to a wonderful dark chocolate flavor that persists throught the mid-palate and on to a seamless finish. I can't imagine this wine drinking any better than it is right now. A fantastic testament to the ability of CA cabs to age and achieve levels of complexity that make them worth the wait. Fantastic. — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Brian Schmaltz

9.3

Gerorge III from 2012 with MSmith at the helm? Can't go wrong — 9 years ago

Martinez

9.0

La Montesa by trailblazing winemaker Alvaro Palacios at the helm of the family estate Palacios Remondo in Alfaro, Rioja Oriental/Rioja Baja, the sometimes snubbed, southernmost subzone within the Rioja appellation. Fruit is sourced from from Palacios Remondo’s eponymous 90-hectare vineyard on the northeastern slope of Monte Yerga, at an altitude of 1,800 feet. Fresh, elegant, refined, structured. Juicy fruit, spicy finish. — 5 years ago

Martinez

9.2

One of the first and most acclaimed vintages since the Frey family – also owners of Domaine Paul Jaboulet Ainé in the Rhône Valley- took the helm at La Lagune. Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot from the estate’s 80-hectare estate in Haut-Médoc. Earthy, powerful and complex. Cassis, black peppercorns, leather and forest floor. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Lemon in colour. On the nose white florals with Kerosene notes. On the palate pristine with peachy notes and citric acid. Clean as a whistle. Canberra District is a proven area for very good Riesling - think Helm. Very much a cool climate area. I will have the last one in a year or two by which time it may have developed some honey and toast characters. Ended up having the last one 15 weeks later on the 12th December 2019. Amazed how little the kerosene influence is in this aged Riesling. Ken Helm a veteran Riesling winemaker in the Canberra District reckons kero/petrol aromas are a wine fault and comes about thru sunburnt grapes. Not sure I agree. I have had those aromas with Aged European Rieslings as well. In any event this was a very good mature Canberra Riesling. — 6 years ago

Elaine Luther

9.8

Big bold full - beautiful wine. MA Golf outing - Justin from Helm — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

The Mullins family made their first vintage of Balo in 2009, after several years of selling their fruit. Following a string of all-star winemakers (Jason Drew and Anthony Filiberti, Alex Crangle is now at the helm, crafting tremendous Pinots from their estate property. The 2015 offers a juicy and broad expression of this middle sector of the Anderson Valley. Concentrated and pliant black fruit flavor - huckleberry, ginger, black cherry, sarsaparilla, and tarragon - it tastes medieval in its primal, earthen tones. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

8.9

With an Aussie winemaker at the helm this is very reminiscent of wines from closer to home.
Think Barossa Valley.
American oak, sundrenched fruit, high ABV. — 7 years ago

with Chris, Robert and 2 others

WPO

9.7

another night w George at the helm! — 8 years ago

with Jessica

Brett Pinkin

9.3

By far the best vintage Three Sticks has produced, courtesy of famed winemaker Bob Cabral at the helm now. Keeps getting better! @threesticks @Prema Behan — 9 years ago

with Prema