Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

My homemade warm, Bourbon Pecan Pie with Marianne’s Old Tyme Vanilla...our favorite ice cream maker & second favorite ice cream from them.

Pie made with Redwood Empire “Pipe Dream” Bourbon.

Tawny Port would have been sweet over sweet over sweet...way too much & over powering. The Matthiasson Sweet Vermouth is the perfect pair. It captures the pie with a gentle hug without overwhelming it like Tawny would do.

As I was making my pie, I realized there are very valid heath reasons for only making this once a year. But, wow is it amazing!!!

Our group will likely never go out for another formal dinner if the choice is ours, it just wouldn’t be as good on multiple levels.

The Matthiasson Vermouth starts like summer sun tea with a touch of sugar, subtle brown sugar/molasses background, hints of toffee, butterscotch, marmalade fruit, dry stone fruit, dry pineapple, orange citrus, salted nuts, chalky soils, grainy volcanics, warm toast, slight honeycomb notes, vanilla with dry floral bed. The acidity is insane. The long finish is; unique, extremely well balanced, lush, elegant with persistent length. On the back end, you perceive the most subtle quality of Vermouth.

Brilliant beverage creation! — 5 years ago

with Christina and James

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2017 / young and frivolous! Biowine from Sicily with characteristic Italian acidity on the tongue and raspberry smell. Very quaffable. Nice. / Paired with pasta porcini and green salad. The winegrower says it is ideal with fish (like tunafish) and I can imagine so. Made from Nero d’Avola and Frappato. Did not think you could make such fun wine from Nd’A. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

No detailed notes as we were at dinner with friends. Three Somm’s present for dinner and all thought this was wine of the night. I was one of them.

I believe their 15 is even better than their fantastic 2010.

If you are not familiar with this producer & terroir, I highly recommend you do. It remains under most consumers radar. I should probably stay silent on it as it will only drive up demand and price. But, good wine is meant to be shared with people who know how to appreciate it. This is around $55 on pre-arrival and $70ish if not bought on pre-arrival.

Olivier Lamy left the family Domaine to learn from other producers before returning to his family Domaine. He made Méo-Camuzet for few years just before his return.

The body was thick and slightly waxy. Nice green apple, pineapple, lime, honeysuckle, fruit blossoms with excellent round acidity, texture, elegant and well polished finish.

Recommend you slightly over chill it and decant it for an hour if you drink it this young. After it hour, it really blossoms.

Photos of, the Domaine property, Saint-Aubin Vineyard, amazing Saint-Aubin Chardonnay grapes and Domaine building sign — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Made in Martinborough NZ by Japanese perfectionist Hiro Kusuda. At vintage time he flies out a team of pickers from Japan who inspect each and every grape before crushing. A light to medium bodied Syrah with white pepper and ginger notes - also dried meat. On palate you can actually taste the pepper. Love this style of wine. Cannot see a long cellaring future however. Lovers of big Barossa styles may not like this. With a little more mid palate fruit I would have scored 96+. Very much like another Kiwi Syrah - Te Mata Bullnose from Hawkes Bay - one of my faves - also loads of white pepper. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I’ve had at least two cases of the 97 over the last eight years or more. Our friends Jeff & Hedy brought this bottle of 97 to dinner tonight. It’s the best bottle of this wine I’ve had. We drank our last bottle roughly two years ago. The wine continues to improve. Tonight it’s so lush, ruby, elegant with blue & dark & mid red fruits. Great balance of fruit & earth. So beautiful & easy to drink. The 97 vintage was one no one wanted to buy as it was critically panned. I have said this many times, “in every difficult vintage, there are always producers that make good wine.” In the case of the Potensac, it took 15+ years to fully spread its wings and it continues to improve with another 10 years left ahead. No critic would have told you in 98 & 99 when the initial reviews came out to buy this wine. Potensac is made by the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases. Always follow good producers, even in difficult years. K&L bought 5,000 cases of this wine 10+ years after the fact. They are Masters in Bordeaux wines for this kind of value. Clyde took the shipments in two blocks of 2500 cases and sold through them in about a year or less at $24.99 a bottle. It remains the bargain of a lifetime! @Shay A This is the wine you want to buy to keep you from opening your 09’s & 10’s too early. So delicious tonight!!! Photos of; Potensac, concrete tanks, fruit near harvest and their barrel room. — 8 years ago

Por La Vida

9.1

Wake up to the beauties of Portuguese wine. Full bodied, dark ruby. Blueberry, blackberry pie, slight vanilla, white pepper on the nose. Fresh, balanced black fruit acidity on the palate. Enjoyable tight tannins. I think you could fooled into believing that this is a finely made left bank Bordeaux. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.5

This run of about 13 PHENOMENAL wines I'm posting are from the SQN wine dinner/WNH interview I did at @Shawn R 's house last night. I was like a kid in a candy store on Christmas. What an absolutely EPIC night! Love ya brother!

Ok, so, wow, you know the night is going to be insane when this is the welcome sparkler! Rosé champagnes are becoming a favorite of my wife and I and Shawn seems to be the man when it comes to them. I've never had Krug Rosé, but I can't imagine it being better than this. The fresh strawberries, kiwis and knock your socks off acidity on this made me a believer in this stuff. — 8 years ago

with Shawn

Martin G Rivard

9.8

I'm so happy to see that Ted's proprietary blend officially made it on delectable!!!!!! Congrats my friend!!!! Absolutely Killer proprietary blend. Everything I love: Lush fruit, big, bold and gorgeous on the palate. The nose explodes after a 2 hour decant. This is a Rockstar blend!!! I can't wait to see you what he does with his next venture. Ted and Ed Snider killed it with this one. I heard Ted may next be blending with a winery in Bordeaux or Rhone next????!!!!
Is that True Ted?????!!!!! Be sure to include me on that limited allocation!! @Ted Mandes @Cindy Mandes @Ed snider — 8 years ago

with Christine

Oliver Seaman

9.9

I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine.

- William Shakespeare, As You Like It

— 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

If you never tried a Lugana, a must, you will not be disappointed. Made with 100% Turbiana grapes. Lugana can be consumed young or aged for a few years gaining some mineral tones and elegance. The wine shows a light straw yellow color, with rich stone fruit and floral aromas. On the palate the wine displays flavors of ripe apricot, apple and bits of citrus enclosed in delicate acidity on a lingering ending. The finish has minerality that shows up gently. Nice value. Buy 2 and put one aside for a few years! — 9 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

World Class! Nose: Tart blackberries. rosemary, cardamom? black currant. I would spend at least 3 minutes to figure out the nose! Taste: Tart Black Forest wild morello cherries, leather belt, Black Forest tyme yes there is a thyme which grows in the meadows of the Black Forest. Color: light. Best Pinot made in Germany. If you have any ANY, ANY chance ever to get your hands on this wine get it. Usually highly allocated.
Imported by Lyle Fass or Stephen Bitterolf (vom Boden) often only one keg made. 300 bottles.
Can run with burgundies at 120$ any day tasted side by side with 2013 Mark Haisma Morey St. Denis.


.
— 10 years ago

Willem Booij

9.3

I had my fare share of chateau Latour the last 2 decades, and every time it surprised me that this a wine that never gives up. Strong in good years en without fear in the so called “bad” vintages. With my hand on my heart I can tell you that Latour is my al time favourite, based on on at least a dozen time’s for as far is I remember I tasted it. Mostly by the generosity of good friends from the past and present. The same I can say about LFDL, but quit surprising not about this third wine of Latour, made in the same area from a different plot but by the same skilled crew and under the same conditions. So what’s there to tell about this wine? Is it good or is it not good, and the other big question is it worth the price asked for, its not a cheap wine! The 2015 Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour is a blend of 54.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41.7% Merlot and 4.1% Petit Verdot. The colour is perfect as it is, just as a great Bordeaux red bastard must be in its youth. Then the nose: The flavours fly out of the glass, notes of beautiful ripe Forrest fruit an blackberries, a hint of my humidor and some deep dark flowers. In the mouth it’s not a heavyweight champion but more a well structured delicate wine, some nice fruit and all ready very drinkable at this moment. Well balanced and still potential to soften a little bit more and give more flavours in the nearby future. But overall it’s a true to type Pauillac that satisfied my curiosity. I can easily drink a few bottles of this wine this decade but it’s not a bargain! But it’s from Latour so I think it’s going over the 93 point I rated it now in some years. — 5 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Damn well made Napa cab dominated wine

full bodied blend cab dominated but taste the softness of the merlot and the tanginess of the PV blend - for me it is sweet almost but elegance with a very dense purple zing from blackberry fruit intermixed with licorice and lime soil - the texture is nice loamy forest floor but not all earthy and a gritty layered mouthfeel - love the length

God I miss a brilliantly made cab from Napa

@Eric LaMasters @Carl Fischer your thoughts as you tasted the same tonight — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

If you haven’t explored Washington wines, you need to visit Walla Walla. They are making incredible wines that compete with any region in the world without exploiting your wallet. Their prices will rise in time as the demand grows but, for now, they are outstanding wines at reasonable prices.

One of their best producers is Long Shadows. Gilles Nicault is their talented Wine Director who is a French transplant. He works with several consultants who all work on one wine each. World famous; Michel Rolland, Randy Dunn and JohnDuvall who made Penfold’s for 29 years.

I paired their Riesling with my grilled pork chop; which is largely based on the recipe from Mustards Restaurant in Napa Valley. 14 ingredients go into the two day marinade. It is perhaps one of the best food & wine parings I’ve had.

Photos of, the outside fire at Long Shadows, their beautiful tasting room with lots of hand blown glass the grilled pork chop, rosemary potatoes and grilled zucchini from our garden. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

2010 was a very good vintage in Rhône. Rostaing is a well know producer with people that know and drink Northern Rhône wines, not so much with others that do not. The Ampodium is the entry level into Rene & Pierre Rostaing wines. It is a blend of 13 vineyards in Northern Rhône. They are simply one of the very best producers in the region. I spent an afternoon with Rene & his son Pierre tasting in the their cellar and in their La Landonne vineyard as shown in the photos. The 2010 is drinking beautifully with many good years ahead. On the nose; ripe & slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries, cherries, steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, iron pan, some white & black pepper, bacon fat, grilled savory meats, pork, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with violets. The body is round and medium full. The tannins round, still a little chewy & around 55% resolved. The length, texture, tension and balance are in near perfect harmony. The fruits are; round, ruby & ripe; slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries & cherries. Steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, chalky minerals, iron pan, coffee grounds, spice, some baking spices w/hints of vanilla, white & black pepper, drying blood, dry herbs/bay leaf, dry stems, moderate levels of bacon fat & pork, grilled savory meats, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets for days. The acidly is round and dripping. The long finish is plush, velvety delicious and lasts & lasts. In good vintages, I would put this in blind with the best of of the best new world wines from any vintage that many love; SQN, Booker, Saxum, Alban, Cayuse, Horsepower etc.. I’d bet most of you would pick it over these producers that cost much more $$$. It’s simply one of the best pound for pound wines/producers for this varietal. Especially, for the $$$. Wow, what a wine for the $. $55 upon release. Photos of; Winemaker Pierre Rostaing and our group in their La Landonne vineyard, the small sign that barely identifies their Estate, an example of the Quartz mineral that runs throughout their La Landonne vineyard and the view back onto the river from the top of the very steep La Landonne Vineyard. Producer notes and history...Rene Rostaing produced their first wine in 1971. However, it took almost three decades before wine became a full time occupation for Rene Rostaing. Domaine Rene Rostaing came about through marriage. The wife of Rene Rostaing was the daughter of the famed Cote Rotie grower, Albert Dervieux, and the niece of Marius Gentaz-Dervieux who gave Christine the vineyard land that became the Northern Rhone estate for Rene Rostaing. Through inheritance from Albert Dervieux Thaize (his father-in-law) who retired in 1990, and from Marius Gentaz Dervieux, his uncle, Rene Rostaing expanded his holdings, giving him some of the best terroir in Cote Rotie. The new vineyard land was basically 3 small parcels in the La Landonne, Cote Brune and Vialliere lieux-dits. This initial expansion from his initial tiny parcel, allowed Rene Rostaing to change careers and become a full time vigneron. Since 2007, the estate has managed by Pierre Rostaing, (son) of Rene Rostaing. Currently Rene Rostaing owns 7.5 hectares of vines that is spread out among 20 different parcels located in 14 locations. Perhaps the most celebrated vines of Rene Rostaing are the 1.6 hectares of vines they own in the La Landonne vineyard (photo). On La Landonne, the vines are more than 60 years old. Some vines are even close to 100 years of age! Those are his largest holdings. The smallest vineyards of Rene Rostaing are located on Cote Blonde. Rene Rostaing also has vines planted in; Fonjean, La Vialliere, Le Plomb, Bouchare, Leyat, La Roche and La Tupin. Their oldest vines are more than 70 years old and are used for Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde. The majority of those plantings are on the steep hillsides with mica, schist and rocky soils. 25% of those vines are closer to the bottom of the slopes and on the flats. Rene Rostaing remains a traditional Cote Rotie producer who is not among the last to harvest. His wines are aged using very little new, French oak barrels. On average, Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie are aged in about 10% new French oak barrels. Rene Rostaing produces 4 different Cote Rotie wines. Rene Rostaing Ampodium, which was previously known as Rostaing Cuvee Classique, is a blend of 13 sections of different vineyards, but it does not include their best holdings on La Landonne or Cote Blonde. The fruit for Rene Rostaing Ampodium has at least 40% or more of the stems removed and run between 12-13.5% abv. The wine is usually made from 100% Syrah and is aged in an average of 15% to 25% new, French oak barrels. The amount of new oak can be less, depending on the character of the vintage. About 1,750 cases are produced each year. The wine is no longer called Cuvee Classique, the name was changed to Rene Rostaing Ampodium with the 2009 vintage. Rene Rostaing La Landonne comes from a terroir consisting of sands with iron oxide and traces of quartz. This wine is always produced from 100% Syrah. The grapes are partially destemmed, with about 10% to 20% of the stems removed, depending on the vintage. There are vintages when no destemming takes place. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats. Rene Rostaing is not a believer of using too much new oak for the aging, which on average uses 10% new, French oak barrels and the remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids (600 liter) and French oak barrels. This wine is like most wines from La Landonne, masculine and meaty in character, requiring at least a decade to soften and develop. On average, Rene Rostaing La Landonne produces less than 600 cases depending on what the vintage delivers. Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde is perhaps his best. It’s produced from a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. The grapes are co-fermented. The vineyards is planted in the region call Arzel. Arzel is a poor, mineral laden soil with deposits of Silex and Mica on a steep hillside. The vines are more than 50 years of age. The grapes are partially destemmed…35% to 50% of the stems are removed. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats.
The remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids. This one is the hardest to find and most collectible of all their wines. In fact, they only produce close to an average of 350 cases of Cote Rotie in most vintages. Rene Rostaing Cote Brune made its debut with the 2013 vintage. The vines were once part of the holdings of Marius Gentaz, which eventually passed to Rene Rostaing. Rostaing replanted those vines in 2000. Made from 100% Syrah. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

To me, this wine of all the aged wines had the best entry without a doubt. This wine is made in a very old world and French style, and you can tell it from the start. I was a little worried about this wine, but the cork was in great shape and extracted by an ah-so with no problems. This wine had a very herbal nose, and herbal front. Raspberry front eventually emerged. The middle of this wine was actually quite full bodied. The finish was a little earthy, a little bit of mushroom, and tame oak. The wine was good, and still going after all these years. Look forward to the other bottle soon! — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

I have tasted many of the top wines made on the east coast, these guys while new have made a tremendous impact in such a short time period.

This bottle was better than the last, especially getting time to savor it over a few hours.

If you are in the DC area or traveling through head an hour west and check out @rdvvineyards in the Middleburg AVA of northern Virginia.

More Merlot in the blend here offers an earlier approachability for a superb wine that has a plush core of deep red fruits, plum, graphite, purple florals, cocao and toast. A refined structure that frames the plush and pleasing fruit component well, it then transitions well into a contrast of energetic and persistence on the elegant, but deeply finish. The mid palate on this is insane, so deep and pure!
#rdv #vawines #middleburg @vawine — 9 years ago

Meg

9.3

As I put my sweet baby girl to bed after a looong day, snuggling with her in her new "big girl bed", I found a stray eyelash on her cheek. Maybe I'm alone in this, but for as long as I can remember I have been superstitiously transferring these from one finger to another...and if I blow the lash off while making a wish, "they" say it will come true. I tried wishing this was a 2007 Screaming Eagle - or that I could magically be beamed onto David Lentine's Napa trip for the night (ha!). Alas, no such luck. Seriously thou, with my kids' lashes, I have always wished the same thing: "may you have a wonderful life." But I made this addition: "may you always have the courage to be yourself." #inthistogether #overturnHB2 #onlylove — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.3

We paired this with country ribs drenched in a smoky BBQ sauce. And while I've never made ribs nor tasted this wine, all I can say is...I was transported to scenes From House of Cards, where Kevin Spacey plays the excellent, if slightly sociopathic character of Frank Underwood, Democratic Majority Whip. This wine is brazen, ballsy and complex, with notes of eucalyptus, smoke, preserved meat, asphalt, ox blood, grit and conspiracy. Rich, brooding and as well-developed as a riveting story, the Cimicky will suck you in. — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Mid yellow in colour. Aromas of musk and mandarin with dried herbs and a hint of paraffin. Fresh and sprightly at 18 years of age. I was contemplating leaving this to 2022 when it would have been 20 years old and on this showing it would have made it easily. With time some peachy flavours and some sweetness. Next day - lovely honeysuckle and honeyed notes on the palate. Fulsome with stone fruits and quince - you would think off dry but in fact 12.8% ABV and fully dry. Made by the legendary Brian Croser back then. An absolute treat to have a wine like this for Sunday lunch. One of the Wines of the Year for me. — 5 years ago

Brett Vanderbrook

9.3

Back in May of 2014 Serge and Gaston Hochar came to New York City and led a tasting at my local wine store. I wasn’t familiar with their winery or family at the time, but I understood it was a big deal. At this tasting we got to try both red and white wines dating back to the 1970s. Serge was enigmatic and passionate, and it was one of the most unique wine experiences I’ve ever had. My girlfriend and I splurged and paid (at the time) the most we had ever spent on a bottle of wine for the 1999 flagship red. We had really liked the 1994, but it was beyond our price point, and we figured if we held onto the ‘99 for a few more years it might start to take on characteristics of the ‘94.

Tonight, almost 6 years later, while in week 3 of quarantine here in Brooklyn we decided it was time to get dressed up, make a fancy dinner and open that bottle. So we pan seared some duck breasts, oven roasted some asparagus, and made a celery root and potato purée.

In my brief experience with Serge, I learned he wasn’t much for tasting notes. He didn’t care to hear what the wine smelled or tasted like but more about the esoteric way it made you *feel.* So in honor of the late, great Serge Hochar I won’t tell you that the wine poured a translucent brick red or that its nose was an intoxicating perfume of red fruit, spices, leather, and barnyard. That it was still vibrant and bright on the palate with cherry and baking spice, and without even a whisper of tannins. Instead I’ll just tell you it made me feel not cooped up for a few hours. That I was actually sitting down in a restaurant and enjoying a meal and conversation with my partner, and not locked down for the foreseeable future. It made us feel normal again, at least for one meal. — 6 years ago

with Raina

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded by Guillermo Eguren, who is a self-made "bodeguero", coming from a family tradition of vine growers. Made from 100% Tempranillo, Ruby with fresh aromas of red fruits with sharp spice. On the palate raspberry and cherry with toasty oak notes, well balanced. Tangy citrus finish with cedar and tobacco on lively ending. Tremendous value, aged well, you will be impressed as I am! Good now but will improve over short term aging! A Fav!!! — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

Well, I fired up a couple of fullblood waygu fillets for tonight (and Vanessa made a KILLER polenta), so the competition was tough. This is a terrific cab nevertheless. Classic nose of black fruits, violet, cedar, and black currants with a hint of leather. Not as tannic as I was expecting, but still had enough backbone to keep it interesting. If you have this, I’d suggest waiting a couple of years, as I suspect it will be more interesting once it starts acquiring more secondary flavors. Still a terrific cab! — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Jens Persson

8.9

Tesch does it different. Not the usual Riesling notes of citrus and green apples. This goes in the opposite direction. Big and bold notes of petroleum, honey and almonds. And heavy razor sharp acidity. This wine is not made to please everyone, despite being the entry level wine from this producer. If this is what you get for 16 Euro’s I can’t wait to try more from their selection — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 8 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.7

Yeah so this wine kinda made me feel like Veruca Salt. Soooooo.....

Gooses! Geeses!
I want my geese to lay gold eggs for Easter
At least a hundred a day
And by the way
I want a feast.
I want a bean feast!
Cream buns and doughnuts and fruitcake with no nuts
So good you could go nuts
I want a ball
I want a party
Pink macaroons and a million balloons
And performing baboons and ...
Give it to me
Righhhhhhhht
Now!

I want the world
I want the whole world
I want to lock it all up in my pocket
It's my bar of chocolate
Give it to me
Now! — 9 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.4

Always a stand out winner, for the price I don't think you can get anything more indicative of Morgon made to express the fruit & not winemaking. — 9 years ago

David L

9.4

07' Tuck Beckstoffer Cabernet. You guessed it...Comes from 3 of their iconic vineyards. The Beckstoffer DR. Crane/ Missouri Hopper/Las Piedras (what a combo)100% new oak. Little more then 4 barrels made. 07' was the inaugural release.

The color is purpleish/black. Decanted for 1 hour... needs more. Full-bodied & elegant. I think most people would smell this & guess "Napa cab". Black cherry, raspberry, cigar-box, oak. Pleasing, with an extended & inviting finish. It's got another a good decade in front of it. Crowd pleaser... — 9 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.0

It's a type of wine that I don't care for, but it is a well made type of wine that I don't care for. So, if you like smokey, almost BBQ like flavors, this is for you. Hello Troublemaker drinkers! — 10 years ago