Mark Juckeland

9.2

First bottle of a vertical ‘12 ‘13 ‘14. High alcohol on the nose. Hint of black licorice. Well balanced on the palate with no real fruit. Spices are present — 8 years ago

Susan Verdin

10

Real Sangria by Cruz Garcia.
Imported from Spain.

When you first open this bottle, you can smell all of the different fruit aromas, and is even more prevalent when you pour yourself a glass. It's like a battle of the fruits, each of them trying to win you over. It won me over when I opened the bottle. In the smell specifically, was different kinds of berries. I could smell a little citrus but the berries might have overpowered that particular sent. I'm not a flamboyant person, but the taste made me feel that way. It is also balanced as it is not too sweet, and not too acidic. The body of the Sangria was a little smooth, a little watery. The color in particular was that of a bluish, and reddish which makes for a nice appearance. The alcohol content is 7% which is not too high so it won't be too strong. Overall I really enjoyed and and would recommend it to anyone who loves Sangria. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

On the nose; ice tea, citrus peel, roasted blood orange, touch of oxidation, decayed roses and medium intensity volcanic soils. The color is orange and you definitely pick up the clay pot influence. The body is lean to medium. ice tea, citrus peel, roasted blood orange, orange peel, a touch of oxidation, decayed roses, delicate minerality, chalkiness, high round acidity, soft warm spices, savory notes with a really nice round finish. Producer notes; the winery is high up in the hills of the Asureti Valle...4200 feet above sea level. Asureti is an ancient village in the foothills of Georgia, about 30 minutes away from Tbilisi. Some of their wines are made with no skin contact and others with skin and stem contact for as long as 7 months. They also farm organically. Photos of; their vineyards, Beka Gotsadze and the qvevri clay fermentation pots. Pairings; sautéed fish to chicken mole tamales and take out Chinese. — 8 years ago

David Podhaskie

9.6

This gets extra points for being high in alcohol content, but not losing any complexity. Incredibly smooth with a great spice and floral finish. — 10 years ago

Winn Roberton

9.5

High elevation cab. Oh yeah good. 2010 vintage. — 10 years ago

Chris Borges

9.1

Juicy, spicy, medium but smooth tannins. Awesome paired with grilled pork. High abv, but not noticeable while drinking. — 11 years ago

Melissa Boon

9.6

50 garnacha, 27 carinena, 16 Syrah, 7 Cabernet, maybe a lil merlot, 93 Parker, 12 meses barrica francesa nueva. $204 cost 6 packs, sell for $50. 700 cajas produccion, 80 a 100 anos vinedos. Nose: some dried fruit, red fruit, cocoa. Mouth: nice tannins, high acidity, heavy body, calls for food, chewy. 8/10 — 12 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

First of the blind white wines for our South African blind tasting. This bottling by Keermont Vineyards is still just a baby that needs some time to fully open up and needs to be around cellar temperature to be enjoyed. Light pale yellow with a muted nose. A touch of floral notes and a little bit of stone/tropical fruits. High acidity (7/10) with a slow attack moving towards a medium to medium plus body. Notes of lemon zest, peaches, and solid minerality on the palate. Really pulls nicely together with the acidity in the long finish. Drink till 2027.

I think @David L can attest to the value and deliciousness of this bottling! — 8 years ago

with India, Sean and 1 other

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Grabbed this from the wine list at 150 Central Park on the Allure of the Seas, great price at $80.00 ($48.00 with drinks package) a bottle, yes 750mL.

Given a three and a half hour decant but might have needed more. Deep purplish red. Insanely tight on the nose with a touch of baking spices, black cherries, petrol, tobacco and a touch earthy. Heavy tannins (7/10) and solid acidity. Medium plus to full bodied with notes of red cherries, black currants, herbs, gravel and cinnamon. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2025.

This is the Cabernet Sauvignon led bottling by Blackbird Vineyards, led with 81% and followed by 13% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Aged in 75% new French oak for 21 months. Only 40 barrels produced and release price is $135.00. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Very light color. Complex, Burgundian nose. Sappy slightly sour cherry, warm brioche, moist humus, and loads of limestoney minerals. Lean, with lots of clingy sour cherry fruit and limestone. High acidity makes it seem more youthful than a typical 7 year old Cali PN. Very unique style for New World. Compares well to an Auxerrois or Sancerre Pinot. — 9 years ago

Jose Angel Briones

9.1

Dark fruits and rich depth in flavor and bouquet. Very oaky and high in tannins. Guess Im a sucker for big reds! — 10 years ago

Shil Kothari

9.5

Definitely a favorite of mine. Big bold and very well balanced. This 2009 is a great example of great mountain fruit. Dark red color, high viscosity mild tannins and dark roasted oak. blueberry, cherry and blackberry flavors and hints of young wood, black pepper , nutmeg and clove. 2/7/2015 — 11 years ago

with Kim

Michael Callahan

8.9

Bordeaux blend. Full body, high alcohol. Smooth finish. Very rich. 7. — 12 years ago

Tracy Wu

9.0

High acidity and freshness, citrus and passion fruit with a touch of yeast. 7/10 — 13 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.2

Mas de Boislauzon has been my go to wine when I'm craving for a glass of full bodied, contemporary styled, affordable CdP. Although I think it usually peaks at around 5-7 years, it is more than drinkable young. Fruit forward without being overly jammy. Blackberry, pine tree, oak on the nose. Full bodied with medium to high tannins on the palate. Some floral notes on the finish, perhaps violet. Perfect wine for the upcoming holiday season. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Day five on the cruise and this night at Giovanni's the Italian restaurant aboard the Allure of the Seas. We decided to open up two South African beauties for this.

Deep mix of ruby and garnet red. Very earthy on the nose with savory and slightly stinky characteristics. A touch green as well. Heavy tannins (7/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Dark berries on the attack of the palate with some dark cocoa and cinnamon notes. Long finish with some cedar notes. Drink till 2028. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

JKT

9.3

CVed 3/16/17 Nebbiolo comp. Cork seemed a bit high and will need to check. Great balance and complexity of earth and dark fruits and long finish. Opened at Frog Hollow 7/9/18 final move-in date. Great wine. Same score. No deterioration. — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Sample from #CapeClassics.
Deep ruby red with high intensity. Nose was slightly dirty to start with a little barnyard or wet hay funk (good South African funk, don't be scared). This aired out to some classic chalkiness with tobacco, light bell peppers and a little charred note at the end. Moderate tannins (7/10) with a medium plus body. This was very tight and softer than expected when we opened it, but started to sing after a few hours in the glass. Very well integrated, no sharp or harsh edges. Layered palate with some red cherries and savory notes on the front end. With the air time came a few more notes of black berries and raspberries, some dried berries too. Also seemed to have a few rustic characteristics. Beautiful wine with a dry and lingering finish. Definitely one of the great wines out of South Africa. Give it some good air time and let it get to just below room temperature before enjoying. Drink till 2028. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Laura Hodges

9.7

93% syrah 7% Viognier. What an incredible bottle of wine. Last I had it was in barrel. Beautiful silky structure with influences of calcareous soils and limestone. Beautiful aromatics. Viognier is prevalent on nose with Monterey fruit. High elevation and above the fog line — 11 years ago

Maciek Gontarz

9.6

Malbec 93%, Cabernet Franc 7%. Dark as ink. Amazing nose, I'm speachless. Cooked ripe red fruits. Multidimensional. Tar with earth and flowers and eucalyptus. High extraction, very aggressive. Need food. Love food. Complexed, stunning! — 12 years ago