Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and showing some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruits: lightly stewed Bing cherry, strawberry, some funky horse blanket, red flowers, leather, green herbs, dry rocky earth and old wood. There was also a little bit of VA. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and freaking delicious. The alcohol seems a little elevated.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Sangiovese, Grenache (or based blend), Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir from Italy, France, or Spain. Because there was some light staining, I eliminated Nebbiolo and because the structure was so stout, I also eliminated Pinot Noir. I just felt like this reminded me of a Chianti Classico Riserva with a lot of age…from a producer like Felsina. So, that’s where I’m at for my final: Sangiovese, from Italy, Toscano, Chianti Classico, Riserva with 25+ years of age; call it 1995 since I have some reference there. Daaaaaymn!!!! 2014 Cuvée Laurence?! This tastes more mature (not too old or anything) than a recent 2014 Cuvée Réservée but maybe that’s due to the extra year in foudre? I got caught in the “triangle of death” but should have clued into the elevated alcohol a little better. Regardless…this is delicious. The structure is incredible! Drink now with patience and through 2039. — 13 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; consumed over an hour. The 2018 Nostros Blend is an interesting combination of Rhône varieties. A GSM with a touch of Roussanne. The wine pours a deep garnet color with medium+ viscosity; faint staining of tears. On the nose, a combination of ripe and stewed red, black and blue fruits, oiled leather ball glove, black pepper, olive tapenade, salmiakki, tomato leaf, dry rocky minerals and just a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (+?) tannin, medium acid. Alcohol is medium + but comes across a touch hot. Finish is long and spicy. My favorite red so far from Manousakis. Should drink well through the end of the decade. I can sense Laurence Féraud’s hand on this ❤️ — 2 years ago

Jonathan Drummond

9.1

Not the blend….but the Laurence Reserve Cab Sav. Excellent. At the winery. — 2 years ago

with Allison

Eric Grasser

9.2

Very impressed — 2 months ago

Rasmus Olsson

9.2

A beauty of a wine. After some air it’s fruity, vibrant and the acid is refreshingly delicate — 5 months ago

Daniel M

9.1

After a month off of any type of ethanol content to prepare for a marathon that I ran and finished earlier today, it's about time for me to come back on here. My first entry post break and race is a celebration post. And what better way to celebrate than with a proper bubbly?
The nose shows some reductive notes of sour apple, along with green apple, brioche and croissant. It's very inviting. The palate is very dry and acid driven but shows again these superb notes of croissant and some lemon curd too. The bubbles are subtle and complement the pastry notes very well. The finish is fresh, lemony, zingy and quite long. It's really a great champagne and it's been a while since I last tasted such a quality one. Great stuff and perfect way of celebrating a sport achievement ✌🏻 — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Holy cow this is good. Still so fresh. Deep, brothy, minerality. The marrow of the earth. Beautifully balanced acids. Love it. — 2 months ago

with Dan, Rebecca and 1 other

Allison Kohl

9.2

with allison. girls night in. we liked it cold! — a year ago

Stan Nguyen

9.0

A little thin. Reminiscent of that one Bichi rose. — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby quite wide light garnet rim . Touches of wood spice and ripe strawberry , raspberry , star anise . Quite ripe and sweet fruit in the mouth, touches of dry spices as well. There is a meaty quality to this in the palate , quite rich and mouth-filling . Ok acidity , quite ripe but noticeable tannins , just protruding alcohol . On the finish nice ripe slightly darker fruits, spiced strawberries , ok length . Probably just slightly young , needs another couple of years and will hold well for at least further 6-8 years. The recently tried 2016 Moonlight Race impressed me a little more than this — 2 years ago