Patrice Conxicoeur

9.0

Never disappointed with this Alsace-inspired blend from Okanagan which includes Gewurtztraminer, pinot blanc, pinot meunier, riesling and a touch of muscat. Not as sweet as one might think. Clearly on the young side but perfect with a steelhead trout. — 5 years ago

Chip Hughes

9.4

Wow. Just when I can’t take another slim, emaciated glass of lemon water, I luck out and get an old-school Chablis that isn’t afraid to show its class. Rich, but still refined and inspired. — 6 years ago

Sharon Su

9.3

As good as 2013. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec. Very easy to drink. Great top shelf table wine. Worth buying a case of this. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

100% Grillo. Another lovely luscious Grillo with good peachy mid palate fruit and lively acidity. Could never get tired of these with Sicilian seafood - on this occasion an Arab inspired dish with couscous to go with the Scampi and Amberjack. Appropriate seeing as the Moors from Morocco we’re on Sicily for spprox 200 years I believe. — 8 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.4

Inspired by @Fraser McKinley , I had to open this. Unfortunately I could not find the 1996 ( it is hiding somewhere). Shiraz while no longer my go to choice had always been well represented in my cellar. We all know Shiraz went through a period of polarization , thank you RP, however I have always enjoyed producers who got "it" right. The reality is Shiraz will never drink like Burgundy.
Rockford for me is a producer who gets "it". When you pour this into the decanter the color despite its age shimmers a beautiful shade of purple.
On the nose and the palate all the characteristics one comes to expect from a Rockford BP are there: tar, plums, a hint of VA, earth and most importantly well concealed alcohol and structure. It might be in its last year as a teenager but it will remain forever young. — 8 years ago

Karla Alfred

9.6

The nose on this wine is ridiculous. Raspberries and hibiscus up front with a slight warm, woody background. The wine is a light ruby, bright and clean. We enjoyed this with some porch sun and black truffle potato chips. In a few years, it will be a great French-inspired dinner wine. — 8 years ago

with Daniel

Kat Hamidi

9.0

Take those Italian varieties and werk y'all. Integrated, easy drinking but thoughtful & well crafted. Channels the Langhe Rosso its inspired by. Happy place. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Inspired by “mixed blacks” first made by Italian immigrants originally settling in Napa, blend of Zinfandel, Cab Sauv, Petite Sirah, Syrah & Charbono. Deep Ruby aromas of berries and complex spice. Aged 30% on new oak, combo of French/American barrels. Palate shows big flavors of cherry, blueberry & raspberry, bold spice lively acidity, vanilla & cedar notes, good balance. Fine tannins, long finish. Nice, cellar this for a while. Note, ‘17, bigger & bolder than ‘16. — 6 years ago

Rick Billups

9.3

Unbelievably smooth. Big finish — 6 years ago

Doug Hengel

9.4

I don't drink dessert wines often, this one has inspired me to make Sauternes part of my regular diet. Rich and refined. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Anvil Cabernet is 100% Cabernet. 60% from Pepper Bridge and 40% from Minnick Hills. 100% New French Oak. On the nose, ripe, slightly candied, blackberries, dark cherry, plum, touch of spice, black moist earth and dark fresh flowers. The body is M and the tannins are M+. The fruits are deliciously ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, black & raspberries. cigar, leather, crushed rocks, dark chocolate chalky saline minerals, spice, round nice acidity and a beautiful round fruit driven finish. Photos of; the tasting bar, Forgeron fruit sourced Vineyard, Marie Eve with her husband Gilles who is the Wine Director at Long Shadows and the exterior of the tasting room and production. Producer history and notes...Forgeron opened 2001, as the 23rd winery in Walla Walla. Marie-Eve Gilla (Owner/Winemaker) has French roots. She studied viticulture and oenology in Burgundy. The production and tasting room were a stones throw from our hotel. It's located in a turn of the Century blacksmith shop. Blacksmith translates from English to French as Forgeron. I'd never had Marie-Eve's wines until now. I was introduced to the idea by her husband Gilles who is the Wine Director at Long Shadows. However, after enjoying his wines, I was inspired to stop by and check out Marie-Eve's wines. I wasn't disappointed. Most every Walla Walla producer I met considered her wines one of the best kept secrets in Walla Walla. — 8 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

This Friulian inspired blend is more than just a fancy label. A very conscious and clever winemaking that includes both an extended skin contact, partial new barrels, and to judge by the taste probably som battonage as well. Generous indeed; floral and ripe fruit, pronounced oak influences, a scrumptious viscosity but with enough freshness to carry the wine all the way to the finish line. A very interesting encounter I must say. — 8 years ago

Sean Herriott

9.1

My #WOTY so far! The wine is classic Rhone goodness, but the provocative conversation that was inspired by this beauty really put it over the top for me. Bravo! — 8 years ago

Justin S.

9.2

Opened as part of an Asian-inspired dinner. Floral notes. Decided to serve room temp, not cold. Very good. — 8 years ago

with Joe

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Inspired by the golden hills that frame the landscape of San Bernabe Vineyard at the southern edge of the Santa Lucia Mountain range. Deep color with berry fruit aromas and notes of toasty honey scents. On the palate blueberry and cherry flavors with vanilla, cacao and toasty notes. Smooth tannins balanced well with acidity, lingering ending with espresso and spice character. Nice value. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Pingus is produced by Peter Sisseck, of Denmark, who arrived in Spain in 1993 to manage a new project. While planting he began thinking about the old vines around the Ribera del Duero. By the 1995 vintage, Peter had found ancient vineyards that inspired him to make "Pingus," after childhood nickname. Concentrated dark fruit aromas with gently smoky notes. On the palate Rich Cherry flavors, sweet vanilla spice, well balanced, soft tannins, lingering ending with slight oaky tones. Very Nice! — 6 years ago

Eric Guido

9.4

It's been a while since I've had a chance to taste the 2009 Gourt De Mautens, and i must say that I'm pretty impressed with it's evolution. Here I found a haunting bouquet of blackberry and marine-inspired minerality, along with moist earth, hints of animal musk, dusty florals and sweet dark spices. It was vibrant and finessed on the palate, yet deceptively so, as mineral-encrusted blackberry and cherry fruit gave way to sweet spice and herbal tones on a silky frame with sweet tannin. The finish was long and polished, showing black fruit and spice contrasted by a hint of sweet herbs and lingering tannin. What a beautiful wine, which I'm so happy to revisit and feel assured that there are many years of development ahead. #rasteau #jeromebressy #rhone — 7 years ago

with James

Carl Fischer

9.5

Inspired by @Jody Scharf - Still one of my favorite chards and love this vintage in particular. Not overly oaked and completely balanced, there is a great texture to this wine in addition to the amazing flavors - nutty, brioche, lemon curd with a clean finish. So good. — 8 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Touch of Orange blossoms on the nose and palate hint at slight sweetness of a Muscat addition perhaps. Perfect for grilled spicey light meats and veggies or asian-inspired dishes. — 8 years ago

Leanne M

10

Premier wine — 8 years ago