Mikey T

9.0

$75 club purchase. Pretty, pretty good — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

On the nose, creamy dark & mid red fruits, fresh purple florals and loamy soils. Palate of lean ripe fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, plum & raspberries. The tannins are dusty but grippy, raspberry cola, brown dusty soil, crushed rocks, fresh purple florals, leather, bramble, steeped fruit tea, good acidity but not a great finish. Astringent and dry. Wine is really tight at this point which is surprising for a 2012. Elizbeth Tangney is the Winemaker. She worked for L’Aventure in Paso Robles, Booker Vineyards, in St. Emillion and for Bryant before becoming their Winemaker. Aron Potts is their Consultanting Winemaker. He has his own label, Potts. He was previously the Assistant Winemaker at Kongsgaard and was the Winemaker at Château Troplong-Mondot in Bordeaux. Both shown in the photos as is their estate building and one of their vineyards. — 8 years ago

DAG

9.2

Love line ups. — 9 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.5

Similarities to Kongsgaard. Petroleum, tobacco, chocolate. No very fruity. Love it! — 9 years ago

with David and Keith

Michael Meyer

9.4

Wow! Reminds me somewhat of a Kongsgaard for its richness and depth but with a bit of eccentricity. — 9 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.2

I used to love this wine back in the day. Now I know why. According to Parker, back in the glory days, all of the fruit for the Unfiltered Chard used to come from Kongsgaard Judge Vineyard. Still pleasant, but it'll never measure up. Past is prologue, but not when they take away the Judge. — 10 years ago

Paul Costigan

Founder Courtier Wines

9.0

2008: The overriding impression of the nose was smoky mezcal, no matter how many times I went back to the well. A silky almost glossy quality to the fruit. Most likely VA driving the nose, yet I imagine it's simply this bottle. — 10 years ago

DAG

9.3

This Hudson Estate Syrah showed as well as the Kongsgaard- Hudson vineyards Syrah. Great wines. — 10 years ago

Rajiv Modak

9.4

What a surprise. Blind called Hermitage. — 11 years ago

Dade Thieriot

10

Arietta is an oenological
tribute to Beethoven created by the musical minds of John Kongsgaard and Fritz Hatton and the latter has taken over the project, expanding it to include this blend of several white varietals that is crisp, citrus-driven and very food-friendly! — 11 years ago

with Petra

Peter Alig

Wine Educator Robert Mondavi Winery, Von Holt Wines

10

The only better California Albariño I've had is the Kongsgaard. — 12 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.3

Leviathan is the creation of husband and wife team Andy Erickson and Annie Favia-Erickson. They also collaborate on their Favia label, each bringing a resume boasting serious cult winery experience. Andy has spent time as winemaker at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Dancing Hares and Arietta, with prior work at Harlan and Staglin, while Annie got her start with John Kongsgaard and Cathy Corison, before spending more than a decade as a viticulturist with David Abreu. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Jon Bonné said about the Ericksons, “Together they could probably create a 98-point wine in their sleep.” Their 2012 Leviathan is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, and 14% Syrah all coming from Northern California, and mostly from Napa. There’s no dispute that this is rich and extracted, but there’s an underlying savoriness that balances out this fruit bomb. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, mocha, cigar box, crème de cassis, and sweet tannins that carry with them that savory herbaceousness. — 8 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.6

One of my absolute favorites! If I'm not going to be drinking Kongsgaard or Aubert, this is the chard I want in my glass. Rich, luscious and full bodied — 9 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.1

I'm not the biggest Schramsburg fan. This is just fine. The ladies like it, and anything that will distract them from drinking my Kongsgaard is great in my book — 9 years ago

with David

Jonathan Wall

9.4

Music. Everything but Malbec. Pedigree such as David Abreu, Howell Mountain, Kongsgaard, Erickson, Beethoven Opus 111. Yeah... It's in the wine. The nose and finish are balanced, long, and deep. If you happen upon a bottle, let it settle thoroughly, unfiltered and extracted, but once "clean" it is gorgeous. — 9 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

8.9

Lovely wine. "Jean" kongsgaard". — 10 years ago

Bill Bender

9.0

Undeniably well made Chardonnay with impressive viscosity, fullness and in your face decadence. I'm guessing this is a crowd pleaser. For my palate there is too much predominant oak here and a cloying sweetness on the denouement. I'm going to revisit tomorrow and see if there is a blow off. I still like it but I'd grab a Kongsgaard or Aubert over this every single time. — 10 years ago

Kelsey Dean

9.3

It's no Kongsgaard but, it's pretty damn good. — 11 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.6

Excellent, has almost tart on the mid palate. This maybe from the bernaise sauce. After a 2 hr decant, was outshined by the 2002 Kongsgaard Syrah. — 11 years ago

Christina Turley

Sales & Marketing Turley Wine Cellars

9.3

Skeletons for sorellina's bday @ Bouchon. — 11 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.1

Butterscotch — 8 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.8

My buddy Patrick Has been talking about this stuff for years. It's simply incredible. Full malo, heavy petrol, unfiltered, super long finish. Tasted blind, thought it was a Kongsgaard Judge. Phenomenal wine — 8 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.3

Showing that Kongsgaard lineage superbly. Perfect complement to @Dan Blackwell's short ribs. — 9 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Steely, reduced style. Delicious. Thanks to John Kongsgaard on Thanksgiving! 2 Roulots in less than a week. Lucky duck! — 9 years ago

with William

Michael Meyer

9.4

God I love the Judge! Got my buttered popcorn, ready for a movie! — 9 years ago

with Chuck

Shiven Ramji

9.0

Board dinner — 10 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.2

Wine of the night at our Halloween fondue feeding frenzy. Broad and bright at the same time. TY John Kongsgaard. — 10 years ago

with Debora and William

Ray Isle

Executive Wine Editor Food & Wine Magazine

9.3

05 vintage of Roussanne/Viognier. Unctuous, absurdly rich, and bizarrely balanced for all that. — 10 years ago

DAG

9.4

THE 2012 FIMASAURUS - BIG — 11 years ago

Lenard Henson

9.8

Lenard had this 11 years ago

with Somer