Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.0

Picked this up for a song a little while back - some library liquidation going on no doubt - and for what I paid, I probably should have bought an entire case. Gorgeous black olive and bacon fat umami going on here along with cassis and blackberry and chopped herbs. Faint, taut tannins hang at the edge of perceptibility. Hints of plum ski. In the finish. Slurp!!!! — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Last night in MT at the lake. Gave this several hours of air. Nice dark tawny color. Vibrant in the glass. The nose is great right away and stayed on point through the evening. Notes of black cherries, warm raspberries, old cedar, some plums and a little leather saddle. Rich and silky in the mouth. Velvet glove. Long finish. Great wine. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

8.9

A really interesting wine. Even though I know these can be everything from black fruit dominated to more of an ash dominated type of wine, the notes here were a little bit tart and even a little on the sweeter side. Dates, sweet plums. Had a hint of tobacco, very ashy in the middle and finish. There is suggestion that this one may even be on its way down, and I definitely question that now. Left remaining 25%of bottle for 12 hours later and although the nose had markedly improved, the wine had not. This doesn't seem to be a good ager. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Compared to a Spottswoode 06, this one seemed to have similarities but and it was over all this one has more tobacco and slightly less of the dark mature raspberry and black cherry. However, this one even after an hour was still a little disjointed and out of balance. I don't know if this is just on the decline or maybe a little bottle variation. I'd think about drinking this. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Big, dark and rich! Dark fruit aromas and flavors. Black pepper and licorice notes. Hint of tobacco and cola. Lots of oak. and fully extracted. A little Bret but the tannins are relatively smooth for a young vintage. — 8 years ago

Karen Lewis Zeilnhofer

8.9

Nice red blend, but a little “jammy.” Had in Gvl, with Dad over steak — 8 years ago

Doctor No

8.9

Classic, if a bit foursquare. Subtle meaty notes, slightly faded black fruit, hints of white pepper, a little soil. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On the nose, stewed fruits of; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Mocha, chocolate, mixed berry cola, sweet spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, loamy mineral soils and dry dark florals. The mouthfeel is less concentrated than other vintages of Corison but that's indicative of the 10 Napa vintage generally. The tannins are nicely resolved with another 5-8 years before they are completely resolve. The fruits are; dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, blackberries with strawberries that dance around the rest of the fruit. There's nice barrel toast, vanilla, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, touch of wood shavings, liqueur notes, caramel, mocha chocolate, mix berry cola, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks, bramble, dry stems with nice soft round acidity. The finish is a little lean but tasty. Good balance of fruit and earth with long, rich elegance. Cathy slightly overachieved the 10 vintage as a whole. Photos of; her estate building, Cathy in her vineyard, grapes coming in at night (better to harvest when the fruit is cooler) and her estate vineyard in all it's glory. Producer notes and history...Cathy Corison grew up in Riverside, California. She studied biology at Pomona College and was on their men's diving team, because the school didn't have a women's team. In 1972, she had to take an extracurricular class. She signed up for a trampoline class, but changed her mind upon seeing a sign-up sheet for a wine tasting class. This class was the catalyst that sparked her interest in winemaking. After graduation in 1975, she moved to Napa Valley in California. She received her Master's degree in Enology from University of California, Davis. Upon moving to Napa, she started working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and at a wine shop. During this time, she was getting her Master's degree at the University of California, Davis. She was told by her professor that she would not get a job in Napa Valley because of being a woman. However, if she wasn't the first Napa Valley female Winemaker, she was certainly one of the first. She tried to get a job at Freemark Abbey and was denied because they believed she could not work in the cellar. She almost took a job at Christian Brothers in the enology lab. However, she decided not to take the job and in 1978 she became an intern at Freemark Abbey and eventually became their Winemaker. She joined Chappellet in 1983 and was their Winemaker for nearly ten years. She founded Corison Winery, in 1987. The winery is located in St. Helena, California in a barn built by her husband, William Martin. Corison makes Cabernet and Gewürztraminer. They produce about 3,500 cases a year depending on the vintage. The winery makes a Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos is an estate wine that is made from organic grapes. The vineyard is dry farmed. The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Cabernet comes from Rutherford. The Gewürztraminer is called Corazón and comes from the Anderson Valley. — 9 years ago

Dan Rath

9.3

Awesome Central Valley Syrah with crazy grip and still balance, stewed black fruit and loamy soil, little jammy on a finish that could be longer/stronger — 11 years ago

Samantha Curtin

9.9

I'm not always a fan of Merlot but this was delicious! Very smooth — 13 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

This 41 yr old LLC was still fresh & drinking well showing a little funk in the beginning that quickly blew off with notes of red & black fruits, currant, cedar, leather, forest floor & tobacco leaf. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This Petite Sirah from Lodi is always enjoyable. Big and bold, spicy and tangy.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins.

Showing black fruits, chocolates, coffee, wood, vanilla, licorice, mocha, caramel and peppercorn.

Full bodied with a nice finish. Might be a little sweet for some.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tasted blind. Dark reddish purple color, opaque. Looks and smells rich. Notes of black berry fruit, tobacco, some cassis and a little anise. Chewy in the mouth. Powerful fruit and structure - this is still young. Easy to guess as a young Cal Cab, althought it wasn't that young. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 8 years ago

Kelli

8.9

Tall grass. Smooth, little sweet. Crowd pleaser. Easy to drink on its own. Would buy again — 8 years ago

Jim Enloe

9.0

Very nice, needs a little time to breathe, nuts has nice fruit and tannins in a good balance. I'm running out of bottles and will be disappointed! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, dark sweet currants, stewed fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries & poached strawberries. Baking spices, dark rich turned earth, dry stones and fresh dark soils. The body is full with M+ tannins. Still a little meaty. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries & poached strawberries. Anise, vanilla, clove, spice, pipe tobacco, leathery, dark rich turned earth, dry stones, black cherry cola/licorice, fruit tea, dry brush, crushed rock powder, touch of mint, round acidity and a dry, meaty tannin, fruity finish. Out of 3L. This needs more time in the bottle. 7-10 + years in 3L. — 9 years ago

Brad Rosborough

9.3

This was a full bodied wine. Dark fruit, cedar, and black tea on the nose and palate with a little eucalyptus. Long finish. — 10 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Super deep and dark ruby red with an almost black core. Dark baking spices in the front of the nose followed by dark fruits, especially dark dark cherries. With some air there were some purple floral notes and more vanilla. Moderate tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Initially a little tight so we gave it a splash decant. Around an hour or so in, tons of cinnamon and other dark spices. Strong undertone of puréed dark berries and light herbs too. Long body but this needs a little more bottle age. Cannot wait to try it again at the release party next month. Drink till 2028. — 10 years ago

with Sean and India

Sabrina Dempsey

9.1

Love the name and the taste! — 13 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.3

Beautiful scents of black plum and a little vanilla. On the feminine side for a Napa Cab. Precise flavors of black fruit, tobacco, leather with an under layer of smoke. Nice smooth finish — 7 years ago

with Chad

Tom Garland

9.5

Father's Day!......dug down and reached way back in the cellar for this 2002 beauty (Winespectator wine of the year 2005 issue). Double decant (some chunky, lots of fine sediment). A dazzling inky purple with slight bricking on the edges. On the nose: red fruit, blueberry, floral, cassis, little earthy...all explode from the glass. Taste: silky and pure with black cherry, plum, cedar, mineral, coffee. Leading to a nice long finish. — 7 years ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The nose reveals, perfume floral, dark, ripe cassis. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, strawberry flesh, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped, dark, fruit tea, limestone minerals, dry stone, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark spice, rich, moist dark soil, just a hint of herbaceous notes, mint, leather, fresh tobacco, graphite, dark berry cola, fresh, dark red, blue and purple florals with violets.

The body is; rich, lush, gorgeous, sexy, and full. The tannins are; round, velvety, still a little firm and sticky with tarriness. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting harmony. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries, plum, strawberry flesh, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped, dark, fruit tea, limestone minerals, dry stone, wet clay, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark spice with heat, rich, moist dark soil, dry crushed rocks, just a hint of herbaceous notes; mint, bay leaf, thyme, leather, expresso roast grounds, cigar with ash, graphite, dark berry cola, fresh, dark red, blue and purple florals, lavender with violets. The acidity is a fresh water stream. The finish is unbelievably; elegant, well balanced & polished, lush, rich, ruby, gorgeously sexy and lasts minutes.

Warm, ripe Bordeaux’s vintage with roughly two decades of good drinking ahead of it.

Photos of, my favorite Chateau in Bordeaux, their newer barrel room that sits under the bottom photo, field hands harvesting their Estate fruit and the outer building that is their barrel room. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tasted blind. Tawny color, translucent with amber rims. Notes of black cherry, cedar, some spice and a little barnyard floor. Sweet fruit in the mouth, with tannins fully resolved. Guessed 1955 Calon Segur. Perfect looking bottle, the cork revealed this bottle was reconditioned by the Chateau in 2000. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Third wine with Charles at De Toren. Set to be release in early 2018 similar to the Z.

Darker than the Z, deep and dark ruby red. Needed to open up a little bit on the nose. Gained some dark cocoa on the nose with minerality, pepper and dusty notes. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Darker berries on the palate with some black cherries, cassis and a touch savory in the backend. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2030.

Made up of around 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and around 16% Malbec, the rest is made up of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

RustyR

9.2

Open. Cassis on nose. Dig and vanilla mostly back of the palate. Fat. Little more tannin would be a plus. But very little dark chocolate flavors and plum/prune. Good little expensive — 9 years ago

Dianna K

9.0

Delicious, not too dry — 9 years ago

Rochelle

9.0

Smooth integrated fruit on day one today day two more Tannic more prune -cherry flavors and a little anise kick — 9 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tawny reddish rims. Almost opaque. Deep nose of Violet's black cherry and a little dirt. Huge structure in mouth with round and chewy fruit. Still mostly primary. Good finish. Beat expectations. Needs more time. — 10 years ago

Katie McVan

9.0

Big fan. Good price. Great taste! — 11 years ago