Honest Thief

Rene Rostaing

Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2015

René Rostaing's one of those producers who I'd typically forgo when I see his wines on the store shelf, but these days I drink what I get. To be honest, I was pretty stoked to have found this bottle in Kuala Lumpur. I am, however, still not convinced.

A big wine, full-blast of black fruits (verging on jammy I feel), dense, concentrated. Really craving that floral elegance and briny olive-goodness I love from the Rhone. There's a hint of oak, nice pepperiness, some of that spice and herb tones in the background. This isn't the style of Syrah I enjoy, but perhaps time would help bring the wine more balance. I can certainly appreciate the structure and sheer power of the wine, especially without that oak richness.
— 5 years ago

P, David and 19 others liked this

Tyler

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2014

Very good--a little toast and tropical, enough acid to keep things honest — 7 years ago

Tom, Ira and 12 others liked this

Domaine de la Côte

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2013

Honest Pinot. Burgundian and light. Nailed it with steelhead trout. Loved it! — 7 years ago

Anthony, Tom and 15 others liked this

Domaine Paul Pillot

Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay 2011

I know you are thinking this girl is too young, and her biscuits are crisp and covered in graphite and borderline sulphur dioxide match sticks, she doesn't taste of soap, which keeps her honest.
I met her in a sparkling holiday casino where we bobbed for apples afloat in the finest olive oil. The orchids and white magnolias of her floral crown shaking their scents into the leather couches. We say goodnight for now, but plan for breakfast tomorrow.
— 8 years ago

David Kline

David Kline Influencer Badge

Day 2: lemon with a splash of cola. Tangerine, orange and light pineapple and leaf smoke over lemon-costed pebble. Sasperilla and spearmint. The palatal entry is soft, yet minerally, The tastes are floral with a white pepper and chalky smoke into smooth and tangerine pith ending that resonates.

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara Highlands Grenache 2012

Cool wine, this, displaying the whole gamut of sweet red fruit I find so enticing in well-made, young grenache. Strawberry jam, ripe ripe bing cherry, orange peel, rose water, and bubblegum. Fruit is just this side of cloying. Voluptuous texture but a surprising amount of tannic backbone keeps it in check. Whereas so much 'new california' wine is defined by what it isn't - overoaked, super-ripe - this seems like one of the few that's defined by what it is: an honest and full expression of great fruit, carefully handled. — 9 years ago

Marc, Frank and 10 others liked this
Anthony Lombardi

Anthony Lombardi

Wow. Perfectly defined. Great note.

The Ojai Vineyard

Roll Ranch Vineyard Syrah 2004

Plum, licorice, manzanita and buckwheat - perfectly honest California Syrah - meaty nose — 9 years ago

Melissa liked this

Villa Wolf

Ernst Loosen Pfalz Pinot Noir Rosé 2013

Great rose I picked up from Thief Wine Rosepalooza — 10 years ago

Aphros

Ten Loureiro 2011

Super light, honest, great! — 11 years ago

Tenuta Grillo

Igiea Barbera d'Asti

Barbera as it should be. Generous, rustic, intense, honest. It's a wine that looks at you in the eye, speaks of rolling hills, countryside, farm animals and good values. Beautiful nose and excellent length. The great work in the vineyard shows glorious in the glass. Enjoy with no limits ! — 5 years ago

Bob liked this

Domaine Delaporte

Chavignol Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc

More chalk, less flint. Herbal component dominating the fruit. But very strong, honest effort from organically farmed vineyards. — 5 years ago

P, Amr and 3 others liked this

Enrico Serafino

Estate Bottled Barolo Nebbiolo 2013

Consumed with our meal featuring rack of lamb, this immediately struck me as a somewhat modern Barolo with the oak playing a slightly more predominate role than a lot of the Barolo I’m used to drinking. It was fairly austere on this night so judging it was a bit of a challenge. But there were red and dark fruits, slightly more on the ripe side of things; new leather; tobacco; a hint of herbs and anise. A nice wine to be honest but it was outclassed by the Brovia that was opened after. — 6 years ago

Ira, Daniel P. and 2 others liked this

Domaine de la Ferme Saint Martin

Les Terres Jaunes Beaumes-de-Venise Grenache Syrah 2015

One of our favorite Rhone producers. Always honest and refreshing wines with red fruit character and a sense of village earth. — 7 years ago

Apaltagua

Reserva Apalta Valley Estate Carménère

Good price. Simple and honest. I bought two boxes! — 9 years ago

Rochioli

Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2013

Great balance would make old timers happy and honest Chard fans happy too — 9 years ago

Domaine du Banneret

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Erin Pooley
9.1

Magnum of the traditional thirteen. Cool year. Delicious. I love the honest wines of Dom. De Banneret! — 9 years ago

Andrés, Dhamdham and 5 others liked this

Domaine Valette

Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay 2012

Honest and zippy. Unfiltered so slightly hazy. Ultra-fresh malic acid with an alluring saline quality. — 9 years ago

La Fiorita

Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2005

Popped and poured through a Soirée. This was firing on all cylinders right from the get go. Beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers and crushed red raspberries and tea. Had that ethereal thing going that's found in the more honest BdM's. Tannins have softened considerably since my last bottle which makes me wonder if there could be some bottle variation. This was delicious with pasta all'arrabbiata. After about three hours, however, it fell off a cliff. It became really disjointed and started to smell a bit like varnish. The next day didn't yield any better results. This bottle was clearly on the decline. I'll try another bottle soon and see if it's the same experience. My advice, zero decant and enjoy with a meal in the near term. — 10 years ago

Long Shadows Vintners

Sequel Columbia Valley Syrah 2014

Better than the last time I had it but overhyped here on DL in my honest opinion. — 5 years ago

P, Sharon and 12 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Bummer. Love the ‘15.

Road 13 Vineyards

Honest John's British Columbia Red Blend 2017

Light and smooth — 5 years ago

P liked this
P A

P A

@Sean Stephenson Cheers 🍷🇨🇦

Vigneti del Vulture

Piano del Cerro Aglianico del Vulture

I’ve never even heard of this varietal to be honest, but was blown away. This is a huge wine. Incredibly rich with red fruit, soft tannins, never would have guessed this was anything other than new world. So incredibly balanced. I love wine pairings as they introduce me to wines I would never buy on my own. And this was incredible. — 6 years ago

Severn, Eric and 18 others liked this
TheSkip

TheSkip

$29 for the reserva
Ron R

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A wonderful varietal that shows its best with some age.
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

You are a true explorer and thus note tells the tale of the journey and anguish and hard times of the exploration you endured but the victory was well in hand my friend so bravo on the conquest 😂 and the wine and great note

Marcel Lapierre

Raisins Gaulois Gamay 2015

Marc Stubblefield
8.9

A true vin du soif - juicy, fresh and with enough minerality to keep it from being one note. Honest and delicious. — 8 years ago

Velma, Maxence and 21 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

Mathieu is a magician.

Seven Hills Winery

McClellan Estate Vineyard Petit Verdot 2007

My BIL introduced me to this -Petit Verdot is a first for me. Lovely wine! Great start, middle and finish. Definitely recommend for those who enjoy medium-bodied wines (although let's be honest - tastes more full-bodied to me)! — 8 years ago

Greg liked this

Ruby Trust Cellars

Horse Thief Red Blend 2012

Great syrah blend from Colorado! — 9 years ago

Eric Lickteig
with Eric

Amuse Bouche

Vin Perdu Napa Valley Red Blend 2012

Lovely layers, honest balance it's a baby Barrett. Tobacy, floral, cassis, cherry. — 9 years ago

Domaine A. et P. de Villaine

Bouzeron Aligoté 2010

Honest. Clean. Good. — 9 years ago

Anthony, Gabe and 1 other liked this

Edward Sellers Vineyards and Wines

Le Thief Red Rhone Blend 2007

my last Le Thief. one of their best. — 10 years ago

Antonio Vallana e Figlio

Campi Raudii Piemonte Nebbiolo 2010

F*ck me, this is delicious! Beautiful, almost crystalline fruit underneath a lean slightly barnyard attack. Honest wine. Man one could drink buckets of this. What a fantastic wine, what a ridiculously undervalued thing. 2010. — 10 years ago