Chris Zitzman

9.3

This is a delight. A light strawberry hue leads to a nose of robust red fruits. As it warms of course it comes to life and expresses deeper flavors of cherries and even a bit, I THINK, of some lightly fleshy tobiko. Think that’s how you spell it. It’s opening beautifully, evolving into a richer/smoother, more lush display across the palate. Pick it up and try it if you can find it- in more ways than one, it’s in its own league. — 6 years ago

with Beth

Martin Mills

8.9

Muscat is very noticeable on the nose, that distinctive grape aroma (how few wines actually smell and taste of grapes). On the palate, a hint of mandarin orange or if we’re being fancy orange blossom, to go with a slightly unctuous mouthfeel that I presume is the Pedro Ximinez. Slightly sweet, as you’d expect from such a blend, but with a rustic charm, not too polished. Stone fruit and a little bit of salinity to keep it interesting. Sourced in Montreal for about $55 in the summer- I’d buy it again, though it’s not in the same league as their Pedra de Guix — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Sweet cherry, leather, tobacco, very floral & elegant showing more finesse than power with rose petal & violet notes. Soldera is in a league of its own! — 8 years ago

Brian Grech

9.9

Cedar, violet, leather, cranberry, cherry, currant, fruit is well beyond anything like ripeness. Perfect balance, high complexity, extremely long finish. Way out of my league, to be honest. — 8 years ago

with Justin, Chi and 1 other

Sarah O'Kelley

9.5

Wow this is really blowing my mind. I admit that I'm a sucker for Pinot blanc, this is in a league of its own. Beautiful floral nose gives way to pears and tons of minerality on the on the palate! — 9 years ago

Mike R

9.0

Ok it is Rose and feel definitely out of league but I will say we have the beginnings of smiles - crisp refreshing and delicious — 9 years ago

Kevin Lang

9.0

My first wine on this wine journey! Smelled like fruit but more just like alcohol. It tasted much better than it smelled - fruity and suuuuper smooth. Doesn't seem very tannic or acidic. I've been told it's unstructured, so I kind of want to try reservas now. I love it compared to the stuff I've had before (very cheap); this is in another league! — 9 years ago

Jeff Clavier

9.2

So awesome - these old Chenin wines are just in a league of their own — 10 years ago

with Maurice

Christine Havens

9.4

With respect to Washington producers, Quilceda Creek is in a league of it's own. I found the Galitzine to have a slightly different profile than their flagship Columbia Valley Cabernet, which often has a unique fingerprint of soy and Asian spices. Even so, this Red Mountain Cab is exquisite and pristine. Notes of violets, graphite, wild plums, boysenberry, incense, and smoke. Well-structured, with firm, precise tannins. The structure, in fact, overwhelms the fruit at this stage, more cellaring is needed. — 10 years ago

Nestor Tsioustas

9.1

Out of it's league compared to the 2013. Aromatic nose, herbal notes, tobacco and leather. Apparently old roses?

Savoury complex, sophisticated and elegant with integrated tannins. Top quality fruit = real purity and class. Mineral dry chalky tannins. True Bordeaux style, still very youthful. 93 points. — 10 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

Cherry, raspberry, iron, earth, rose petals a bit of barnyard at first. Is that orange peel too lingering in there. Easy going, no secondary, no tertiary, plain simple and efficient nose. The palate is acid driven with raspberry and cherry all along and some tannins coming in the rear to give a nice mouth feel and an impression of chewing it. The finish is delicate with fruits and rose. Not grand, not overwhelming, not showing off but a delicate, well crafted burgundy which plays above its league. — 6 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.0

Tricked me into thinking it was something else. Which means it’s out of its league. Great wine. Herbal start, reminiscent of nuanced mountain Napa cabs and then finished old world like something Spanish, like rioja. — 6 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.7

My favorite Grand Cru Rose!
Bang for the buck it destroys the others at $100 per bottle. The Paul abara Special Club Select is in a league of their own! I prefer it to Veuve, Billecart, etc, etc — 7 years ago

with Christine, Dov and 1 other

Daniel M

9.1

Double magnum. Nose of strawberry jam and smoke and currant. Superb palate of strawberry and well integrated tannins and a long acid frame. This is why bigger bottles are the best. Wines are aging so much better in them. Way above their league. — 8 years ago

Cason Love

9.3

Lots of ripe fruit and a doughy nose. Really good but not in the same league as the 1996 — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.3

A terrific offering from Blair Fox, the 2007 Terra Alta syrah exhibits classic central coast syrah aromas of roasted meat (reminiscent of Alban - though not quite in the same league), along with considerable depth and balance. Probably peaking right now, this was a terrific syrah to share with our dear friends Gavin and Claire on their first night back visiting Michigan! — 9 years ago

with Gavin and Vanessa

John Kanellopoulos

9.2

Classic all star Pauillac: what not to love: body, color, strength maturity best value for money when considering this plays in the 300-800 euro league of left bank Bordeaux Giants! — 9 years ago

Peter Heidt

9.3

...back in NYC. Nanni on 46th. Waiting in Frankie Five Angels and Slots... Dom Pro has to coach little league.... Nice, nice wine... Dark, lots of fruit, real good. — 10 years ago

Kate Kranz Jordan

9.0

2003. Everything still in balance...just enough tannin and acidity, wrapped in spiced berry flavors. This was the right time to drink this one-on the occasion of an Ivy League MBA graduation! — 10 years ago

Fred Dex

Master Sommelier

9.0

Lean, mean and clean Kerner from Isarco DOC. Mandarin orange, line, stones and touches of white flowers. Jam with some 80s electronic pop like Human League! — 10 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.8

While the winery is still there, this amphitheater vineyard site is long gone. It made some of the lightest, leanest Cabernet that this sunny state has ever produced. Although at times this wine smelled like a fall leaf pile, it had length and focus in the league of great Champagne. The last glass had revitalized currant fruit and top class texture without any hint of heaviness. A great experience and important piece of California history. Bear Gulch greatness! — 11 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

This smells intensely of sage and sage flowers, along with passion fruit, grapefruit and elder flower. (“I am Scheurebe, hear me roar!”) Given such a resounding opening gambit, the wine proves (relatively!) discreet on the polished palate, turning in a coolingly minty and melony direction while preserving such luscious fruit as well as herbal pungency as the aromas promised. The terrifically-sustained finish is infectiously juicy, exhibiting overt but perfectly-integrated and supportive sweetness. Sage, grapefruit zest and smoky black tea accents serve for invigorating counterpoint. On occasion, the Rumpfs have demonstrated that these vines in the Dautenpflänzer can yield Scheurebe capable of playing in the Pfeffingen or Müller-Catoir league – and this is one of those delicious occasions. (On the heels of this beauty – on November 2, 2018 – I tasted a dry 2018 Scheurebe trocken, from fruit harvested in mid-September, that was already improbably delicious; but the Dautenpflänzer Scheurebe grapes from 2018 had been picked only a few days before I visited!) (David Schildknecht, Vinous, April 2019) — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Amazing expression of whole cluster Nebbiolo grown in limestone & sand! Incredibly elegant & floral with a sweet core of strawberry, raspberry, spice & violets. Wow! Burlotto is in a league of its own with their Monvigliero. — 7 years ago

Freddy May

9.1

Soft, like licking a cigar made from mole skin, fruit forward and dissipates like the hopes and dreams of Leicester winning the league again. Yet there remains a smidgen of tobacco and plum.. Duh.. Dum..dum.... Yeah would still do it. 9/10 — 8 years ago

Louie Christensen

8.9

A well built Zin with a great fruit profile. Some jam is starting to show amongst the ripe black and red fruits. A supple acidity highlights the Zin baking spices. — 9 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.2

In a league of its own. It's so singular I'm not really sure what to do with it. I think I need a much more sober and focused state to really get into this chick. Discover this if you can. — 9 years ago

with Taylor

Sasha Agapov

9.6

Ugly duckling vintage in my opinion so we decanted it for 2-2.5 hours. Village level, striking way above its league. I would perhaps confuse the nose with high quality Central Coast Pinot from a cold year (to my shame), but it's way deeper, more layered and complex and the palate proved it with fabulous ripe red berry tones, late harvest dark cherry and white flowers. Very feminine and elegant, feels like the first day of summer. — 9 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.5

This is one of the most impressive Gonons to taste on release that I can recall. The sheer amount of stuff going on here puts it in the same league as that jawdropping first vintage of the V.V., although this is not as tannic and therefore more accessible and sweetly fruited. But there is so much stuff here - olives, cracked pepper, barbecue smoke, dark wild-berry fruit given a kick in savoriness with succulent salted meat flavors. And plenty more I can't even try to attach a name to. Leftovers are much dryer and showing the structure, so this'll likely close down at some point, but if you've got some lying around now, don't miss it. — 10 years ago

Shane M. Nicholson

9.4

Blue Mountain Cherry Cider from Milton- Freewater Oregon. These guys are THE best in the country. Washington apples are like Michigan cherries.....epic. And guess what? They are smart enough to buy Traverse City cherries for the Blend? Mind blowing combo. AND, they do it right. Fresh pressed. No force carbonation. No added sugars. No added caramel colors. Orchard to bottle. Literally. That's it! Unlike those other brads that buy frozen Chinese apple concentrate, dump some potassium sorbate, and fake bubbles and serve that shitty soda pop as " cider". Frankly that kind of faux" orchard" crap makes me " angry"! Get it?? Ya see what I did there?? :). Truth be told - Uncle Johns, Tandem, Crispin..... You all do a nice job. Blue Mountain........league of their own. — 10 years ago

Peter Heidt

9.3

Some of the staff shows up late... 4th bottle.... Just Tuesday night for me.... spaghetti wine, nothing special... Not even in the league of our earlier picks... — 11 years ago