Jay Kline

9.1

I don’t hide the fact that I’m a massive fan of Brovia and their Freisa which they produce in a dry, still style is among my favorite values in all of Piedmont. The grapes for this wine come from the Villero cru and are aged exclusively in stainless steel. Production is extremely minuscule with under 1000 bottles made per year however, tracking some down is well worth the effort. The 2017 version has aromas of dark blackberries, roses, and tar while the palate is packed with strawberries, mulberries, blueberries and dried herbs. Impressive structure with mouth-drying tannins and snappy acidity leading to a long, tongue-smacking finish. Capable of aging? Yes, and probably would be an interesting one to follow over the next five to ten years. That being said, these are really meant to be consumed on the younger side while we wait for the Barolo’s to mature 😉. This bottle was paired with the “kamikaze” lasagna we got last night from Au Courant which, as it happens, was also my source for this bottle. — 6 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

14.1%. Soft. Some dark berry but mostly cherry 🍒. Teanotes. Really well made. Too agreeable for me but well worth to seek out. — 7 years ago

TheSkip

9.0

Reminds me of other John Duvall wines not named Grange. It’s ok. Nothing I would seek out. Can’t say I’ve been impressed by the Long Shadows collection. — 7 years ago

Justin Farrar

9.1

This is great, would seek out again. Peachy — 8 years ago

Eric Godin

9.5

Even after you smell those big tawny port style raisinated fruits and Tootsie rolls, this wine still surprises you on that first sip. Acidity drives big, ripe, raisins onto the tongue as the wine shows off some lovely organic earth and fruity cocoa. The whole experience is a little boozy though, hard to hide that 16%! Paired up with some tangy bbq for one of my favorite pairings to date. — 8 years ago

with Jay

Steve Martinelli

9.2

Just a really delicious and easy drinking wine on a hot June day. Bright acidity, loads of citrus with a hint of wet stone. One of the few Napa SBs I really seek out. — 9 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.4

A truly remarkable wine from a truly remarkable producer. Seek this out. — 9 years ago

Scott M Davis

9.5

Yes it's light, yes it's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. And yes I absolutely LOVE this wine for those reasons. I have come to like certain Rose's because they are versatile for food matching and sipping but this Pinot is absolutely great at both. Want to impress a group in summertime with an outstanding, stand alone sipping wine...you found it here. It is fantastic for matching with lighter food faire like barbecued veggies or squash , or for those who are not into matching Chardonnay with chicken or fish like salmon.
My confession: I rarely drank Rose because it was too darn light and often too sweet, so my only next step was Beaujolais, which often way too one dimensional, so that left me with a huge gap to move into traditional Burgundy or full bodied Pinot Noir that were way too overpowering for many meals. This is Exactly why Willamette Valley Pinot has such a superb spot in the spectrum of red wine body/texture. And Big Table Farm is hands down the best wine for value of an Oregon Pinot. Plus the owners are so down to earth real, pleasant, and love talking wine, food, farming, nutrition, etc. I don't mean to make this an ad for Big Table Farm, but they make many great Pinots and other varietals. For the money this particular Pinot is hard to beat and you truly owe it to yourself to seek it out if you are looking for a lighter style Pinot that is increasing quickly in popularity. This is one of my most valued favorites because I am not able or willing to spend $65 or more for a bottle that can disappear in less than an hour with a few friends. — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 7 years ago

Sam Agami

10

Wow, old school perfection! California wine from a forgotten age. Pure Italian-American greatness. Reminds me of the wine my childhood landlord would make from the vines that grew behind our house just upstate from NYC. Dark fruits abundant, soft acidity and tanins, nice touch of oak, without obscuring the graps as so many California wineries are obsessed with doing for some reason these days. Found this at a random liquor store on a road trip, will seek it out now. Even better than the Cribari Chianti or Coppola Rosso, which were my previous favorite in this genre, the wonderfully underappreciated "backyard" wine... — 7 years ago

Danny Martinez

9.1

First New Zealand Pinot Noir for us.. Good minerality and versatile wine. Will seek out again! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I can’t pour enough praise on Dan and his talents. I don’t give many wines near perfect scores, but this merits one. The nose is a beautifully balanced mix of floral fruits, earth and spice. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, lilacs, violets and lavender. The balance is incredible...one of the most balanced wines I’ve had. The structure, tension and length are so close to perfect. It’s in the OMG realm. The tannins are nicely resolved but still have teeth. It’s gorgeously lush and rich. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, hues of blue fruits haunt the palate, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, black licorice, touch herbaceous, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, black & white pepper, dry crushed rocks, stones, lilacs, violets and lavender. The finish is heaven all the way around. To borrow Bordeaux terminology, this is First Growth Shiraz. If you don’t seek out Dan’s wines on the secondary market, you are missing something special. Not at all meant to be enjoyed young. This wine is in a very good spot and has another 10 years of life going forward. — 9 years ago

Michael D

9.1

Oh Canada...Oh my!!!!! Beautiful thick and rich...Merlot...Cab Sauv. .Cab Franc blend.velvety...smooth on the Palate...rich and dark...a light oakiness...lively but not overpowering tannins...will try to seek out for future gatherings — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a young wine that I opened last weekend and enjoyed but, had to seal it up and put back into storage until tonight. It’s a touch faded (10%) but, like all young wine, resilient.

The nose reveals, ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spices, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, hints of dry crushed rocks, limestone, dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender.

The body is full with a fair amount of tannin presence. Nicely knitted structure, tension, length and balance for such a young Pinot. Ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of cooked rhubarb, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spice with shades of palate heat, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, saline notes, dry herbs, menthol, eucalyptus, hints of dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, dry & moist clay, limestone, leathery, wood staves, amazing dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The ripe, elegant, balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists nicely for minutes.

Paul makes beautiful expressions of Pinot, Rhône styles & Chardonnay. If you have not had them, well worth your time & investment to seek out.

Photos of; his Sierra Madre Vineyard...netted to keep the birds from eating his fruit, fruit near harvest time, my picture meeting Paul for the first time last week weekend at a “Matter of Taste” in Napa last weekend and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Lots of dark cherry, VR spice, mineral & violets showing amazing richness & weight for a village level. A producer that I always seek out at all levels! — 7 years ago

Clive McNish

9.4

A rare journey into the damned 2011 vintage and what a great surprise. This is excellent, very Bordeaux like, with a wonderful nose of cherries, violet, cedar, mushroom and menthol. The palate is very smooth without the spicy tannins of the neighbouring sunnier vintages. There is some delicate fruit, blueberry and plums with a creamy but relatively short finish. I really like this and will seek out some more and also challenge the ‘11 curse particularly from higher elevation producers. — 7 years ago

Michael H

9.3

48% each Cab and Merlot.... balanced, long silky finish, perfect acidity and dark fruits... would seek out — 8 years ago

Kirk F

9.0

Nice stony minerality here. Had only had their Pinots until now but I would seek this out again. — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

The wine glows pale salmon in the glass, and smells of fresh cherries, light raspberries and a soft touch of Meyer lemon, which was a bit of a surprise. The mouthfeel is fresh and rich, with a zippy acidity and a full mouth. Cherry flavors dominate, but a mineral aspect does not try to hide. This is a delicious rosé that’s as good at the dinner table as it is on the porch. — 9 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.2

16% alcohol!! Where did they hide it? So well balanced it's like magic. — 10 years ago