Influence

Curly Flat

Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2019

Not shy, this one. An upfront riot of aromas and flavour, with citrus, mandarin, nougat and oak influence with good weight and a luscious texture. — 3 years ago

Sam Marshmallow
with Sam

Matthiasson

Napa Valley Red Blend 2007

Paul J
9.3

2hr+ decant. Dark red color. Nose has cherries, pencil shavings, and burnt cedar. Wine has nice flavor, but lacks structure and depth. Medium finish. Love the French influence. — 4 years ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Steven, Shay and 4 others liked this

Ravines Wine Cellars

Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc 2012

Rich style, good oak influence. Missing some vegetal notes that I love so much about Cab Franc. Overall enjoyable. — 5 years ago

Lauren Kirby
with Lauren

Penfolds

Bin 138 Barossa Shiraz Blend 2009

Raspberry aromas and a rubbery note. Very raspberry on the palate. Oak influence is restrained, particularly for a Penfolds red (apart from St Henri) although it is 10 years old, very integrated and nearing the end of its drinking window. Once again the Grenache aromas and influence on the palate dominate in this GSM Blend. Easy to drink. — 6 years ago

Peter, Scott and 9 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@ES Faiello Totally agree. Bins 128 and 28 as well as Koonunga Hill are good as well. Seems like Penfolds Wines are more readily available in the USA these days?
ESF

ESF

I’ve always found them well represented... 707 cab might be a treat, 128 & st henri a bit rare but all in all - not too difficult to find - esp. lower end stuff - cheers!
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@ES Faiello Thanks for the feedback.

Lucia Vineyards (Pisoni)

Santa Lucia Highands Chardonnay 2017

Independence Day 2019 🇺🇸🍾🎆
Evening BBQ with some close friends.

Solid bottle, neutral oak, minimalistic influence.
— 6 years ago

Mike, Matt and 22 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Your too young to need reading glasses 🤓
Severn Goodwin

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I was actually surprised at how minimal the oak treatment was in this bottle, not what I'm used to in CA at this price point.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Many are cutting back on the new oak use.

Merry Edwards

Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Aromas of buttered popcorn that blew off to butter, citrus and white flowers. Viscous wine that coats the mouth, but not in an unpleasant way. Bright key lime and other citrus with fresh mineral crispness. Definitely some oak influence, but not the primary like with a chard — 6 years ago

P, Mike and 27 others liked this
Kimberly Anderson

Kimberly Anderson

@Mike R not usually into CA SB, but this was really nice! It’s like NZ SB and Puligny Montrachet had a baby😎
Jason and Jennie

Jason and Jennie Premium Badge

Yep this is a go to for us at restaurants
Robert Evans Jr

Robert Evans Jr

@Kimberly Anderson Always a go to for me. Never a bad vintage by ME

1000 Stories

Small Batch Bourbon Barrel Aged California Zinfandel 2016

More full-bodied than the Apothic Inferno and the bourbon barrel influence is not only evident after you take a sip, you can also see it on the inside of the glass! 👍🏻 This wine is my favorite so far in this “bourbon barrel-aged reds”. It’s fabulous! — 6 years ago

Retro Cellars

Howell Mountain Petite Sirah 2009

Paul J
9.4

Lovely and consistent. Massive French influence with earth and barnyard smells. Medium depth and a rustic flavor. Dark fruit. Medium finish. Excellent QPR. Definitely my style. — 4 years ago

Steve GautierBrooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Steve and Brooke
Jan, Shay and 2 others liked this

Isole e Olena

Cepparello Toscana Sangiovese 2016

No. 2 wine at the Downs Club Super Tuscan evening last Friday. From magnum. No detailed notes. 100% Sangiovese. Made in the modern style with Oak showing. Ramon our host and importer said this will give the wine better longevity. Red fruited. Personally would like to see less Oak influence . A combination of French Barriques and large Hungarian Oak Bottis. — 4 years ago

Peter, Peter and 15 others liked this
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

2016 and out of mgm, I guess this must have been difficult to “read” so I understand your score.

Fantesca

King Richard's Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2016

Shay A
9.3

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

The Fantesca property on Spring Mtn is gorgeous, and their tasting room at the winery is stunning. Really enjoyed getting to try more of their wines.

Give it time and this will be a point or two better easily. The only Fantesca wine not made by winemaker Heidi Barrett, but by assistant winemaker Tony Arcudi. A good balance of classical Cali Pinot with some old world flair. Fruit here is slightly underripe and a mix of red and black berries. A definite herbal influence with underbrush. Lots of layers here...rhubarb tart and candied black cherries up front before evolving to show herbs de Provence, cedar, crunchy cranberry and tobacco leaves. Complex. Delicious.
— 5 years ago

Tom, Ryan and 26 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

We enjoyed the wines we tasted with him. Particularly, his 13. He was about to bottle his Pritchard Hill...only 2-3 barrels. I was going to buy a bottle and try it but, he was leveraging it to sell his Arcudi wines and was not guaranteeing even one bottle of the Pritchard Hill...only as a wish. Not a fan of that system and believe you aren’t either. However, I have heard good things about his Pritchard Hill.
Shay A

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@David T : Definitely not a fan of that system. With him making Howell Mtn cab, I’m very intrigued to try it at some point. Didn’t know he was making a PH cab.
Jeff D.

Jeff D. Influencer Badge

@Shay A definitely recommend trying Tony’s wines when you are back at the property! He makes such a small quantity which is why he offers them in 3-btl increments and the Pritchard Hill is in even smaller quantities to the howell mtn. He made it as an accompaniment to that bottling, not as a way to get people to buy it

Domaine Méo-Camuzet

Clos Saint-Philibert Monopole Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Chardonnay 2008

Decanted ~2hr.
Prior notes apply, very consistent.

A beautiful golden yellow straw color in the glass.

Nose has banana skin, honey roasted almonds, shaved oak and wet chalk.

Palate is bruised golden apple, warmed pear, candied lemon skin with fading oak influence. The acidity is just perfect to the mineral balance. This bottle has plenty of life remaining.

Paired with a gratuitous slab of steelhead trout on the grill, baby fennel, roasted baby spring veggies and grilled lemon.

Fully into a happy place this evening. 👍

Love how Meo-Camuzet laser etches the corks for security, lot traceability and authentication.
— 6 years ago

Alex, Daniel and 32 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Thank you.
P A

P A

@Severn Goodwin Nice post Cheers 🍷

Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters

Bourbon Barrel Aged Cellarmaster Select Red Wine Blend 2014

Wow! You can smell the influence of the spirits right off the bat. The bourbon barrel aging definitely lends to the taste as well, with the sweetness present but not cloying. This is a really fun wine — 6 years ago

Leeuwin Estate

Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay

2016 vintage. Nicely rounded and ripe, showing moderate oak influence. Tropical pineapple and mango, yellow apple, poached pear, honeyed almonds, nutmeg, chamomile, cream. Good streak of acidity keeps the palate fresh and lively. — 6 years ago

Dr., Ira and 2 others liked this

Elio Altare

Barolo Nebbiolo 2008

Ruby red with a tawny rim. Aromas of menthol, mint, black and red fruits with a touch of licorice and tar. Similar notes on the medium to full bodied palate. Finishes with chalky, fine, drying tannins. This producer was one of the early adopters of using small French oak Barriques. This influence was noticeable 4 years ago in my first Delectable note on this wine but now it has all come together and in balance. Looking forward to trying the 3rd one in 2 or 3 years time. — 4 years ago

Severn, Juan and 27 others liked this

Anthill Farms

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2017

Fruit comes from the coolest coastal parts of this appellation, linked by the influence of the Pacific’s cool marine air, which delays ripening. Ruby with rich berry fruit, citrus and floral spice. On the palate, strawberry and cherry, tangy, with cedar notes and earthy tones. Bright acidity, soft expressive tannins, long finish ending with mineral and cedar spice. Very nice, drink now & over next 5 years. — 4 years ago

Daniel P., Juan and 10 others liked this

Artadi

Valdegines Single Vineyard Rioja Alavesa Tempranillo 2016

In a word “Elegant,” 100% organically farmed Tempranillo from village of Laguardia, aged in barrels for nine months limiting the oak influence. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit and subtle light spice. Palate, clean and fresh fruit flavors of cherry and sweet blackberry, very smooth with super fine velvet tannins. Long finish, complex ending bringing everything together. Outstanding about 1000 cases made. Don’t hesitate if you see a bottle. — 5 years ago

Alex, Paul and 1 other liked this

Paloma

Napa Valley Merlot 2012

Between my wife's fresh tomato sauce and veal meatballs with Incredible spinach the wine just brought in in abundance of complexity intones unequaled in the sphere of my influence — 6 years ago

Cimarossa

Rian Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Compared to the 05 Ponente that went down last night (the 'palate cleanser'), this wine is quite different. But very true to style for Rian. This wine always tends to go darker. Nose and palate of baking spice, blackberry, chocolate, fig. In the first few years, these tend to also have a blueberry and vanilla side hustle, but really tend to lose that after five or six years. This one didn't have any blue fruit or vanilla notes. Towards the finish, this one stiffens up. Still a touch astringent with stiff tannin. Would have been a great one to serve in the American v French Oak blinded tasting from last night. Not really a lot of discernible French Oak influence even though I'm pretty sure they use 100% French. This one has a long life ahead of it. Have one more bottle, which I will try to hold until approximately 2023. Fat chance..... — 6 years ago

Clive, Dawn and 24 others liked this

Azienda Agricola Ronchi

Barbaresco 2014

Intense... could be confused with a Barolo if not for slightly rounder tannins, less oak influence, and fruit intensity. This is not a feminine Barbaresco.... the’14 needs a lot of time in bottle, or at least a long decant. SommSelect . Update: 2 days later and after a 90-minute decant, this thing is starting to come alive. Much better now with some rich Italian food. Hold until 2022+ — 6 years ago

E, Anthony and 4 others liked this

Château Vannières

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2012

Viscous color and texture. Bouquet is subtly perfumed of roses. You can smell the Italian influence. It’s as if you’re there in the fishing villages of Bandol.

A cool, rustic charcoal flirts with plum and vanilla. Almost perfect balance of fruit, oak, tannic structure, minimal astringency, silky mouthfeel.

Complex and round all at once.

$40. Worth every copperhead.
— 6 years ago

Ron liked this