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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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