Aaron Means

9.2

New world cult Cab lovers will find a lot to like with this one. Dense, fruit forward, and hedonistic. Not showing much now other than its showy oak character and massive fruit. — 8 years ago

Amer S. Ahmed

8.9

A conundrum on Day 1, it hinted too much residual sugar (even for a Vouvray), with not enough backbone. Pleasant but cloying. Day 2 was a different story: ripe peach, honeydew, apricots, and zippy acid taking it to a close. Would buy again but offer to serious Chenin lovers — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.2

I would say this is in-between a cab lovers Pinot and your typical Pinot. Not quite as heavy, but the plum and texture on the tongue lean me towards cab style. I loved it. Then again, hard to beat RRV pinots. Bing cherry, cola, Cedar and baking spice. Happy birthday @Cody Cotten ! — 9 years ago

with Cody

B

10

Magnum 2008 Peter Michael Point Rouge Chardonnay. Dinner at Tap w S&L DiM and P&S Co. Super. Loved especially at Susie and Lydia- the Chardonnay lovers. Not overly oaky- just rich and oaky enough to know it's a CA Chardonnay, but not so much that it's buttery and too rich in oakiness. Enjoyed. — 10 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.4

A beautiful crimson glow in the glass. Cherries, moist earth and iron combine to tease the olfactory system. My mouth was filled with glee as I did not expect such a vibrant mixture of fruit,acid and tannin. No danger of fading but also not sure it gets better as it appears to be in the sweet spot wine lovers are always on the search for. — 10 years ago

Valerio Dogliotti

9.0

A Rhone blend of 75% Grenache and 25% of Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise and Clairette. Nicolas Renaud made a great job on this complex and extraordinary blend. The estate is organic certified, spontaneous fermentation in Vats. Nicolas uses a minimum amount of Sulfites and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. The color is a semi-intense ruby red, with orange nuances, gave to the fact that is a 2012. The nose is catchy and complex, with red fruits and liquorice bouquet. The palate reminds to the fruity nose, with soft and round tannins, that convey in a warm and lingering finish. Very recommended to all the lovers of Cotes du Rhone blend and not. — 10 years ago

William Leslie

8.9

Surprisingly the bottle needed a bit longer to open up than expected. Nose gives off a nice oak feeling. dark berry flavors, mild cherry come quick, yet fall away to the background. Although balanced well, the tannins are a bit elevated drying out the fruit flavor. The oak holds well in the back, not overpowering, and not absent, well proportioned. There is also a bit of a spice on the end that lingers for a very long finish. For dry wine lovers this is a great choice. Coppola wines are great entry wines, I just feel this is a bit over priced for the result. But outside of price, this is a nice daily drinking wine — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This wine is not from Spain as Delectable has identified it. It's Monte delle Vigne 'Nabucco' Emilia-Romagna IGT, from the Emilia-Romagna area in Italy. Ripe Blackberry, black plum, raspberry, boysenberry, light dark earth, toasted oak, caramel, cinnamon and vanilla. You could fool some CA Cabernet lovers in a blind tasting. — 11 years ago

Casey Stewart

9.1

Cab lovers merlot. Not really a merlot guy, but wow! Impressive. Nose is all cab. — 11 years ago

Spencer Chaffey

9.1

Youthful. Powerful entry with tongue gripping structure gives way to suave ripe fruits and earth. A bridge between lovers of old and new world wines. At the moment, do not consume above suggested serving temps, if anything, serve a few degrees under. — 12 years ago

Jaime kowan

9.7

Dam is this amazing.... As far a Mencia goes this is the bomb! So ripe with dark plummy fruit, so bright and fresh showing that acidity belongs in red wine, so clean and chock full of minerality... Not for those who have "lush" in mind. This is a wine for food lovers who shop with what they are drinking in mind. Wild game, smoked meats, wild mushrooms...getting hungry ... — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A wine I’ve enjoyed mostly upon release or near it. I vowed to wait six years and nearly made it. At least it is 2018...just! It’s worth waiting this/that long for it to develop. On the nose; sweetly, baked fruits of; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, and notes of blue fruits. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium, beautiful spice, black fruit tea, limestone minerals, loamy, dry, brown top soil, fresh dark florals and violets. The mouthfeel is full, rich & lush. The tannins are round, still have some teeth and possess velvety round edges. It’s fruit driven but not a bomb and showing elegance & grace. Fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, notes of blue fruits and dry cranberries dip in and out. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium beautiful spice that is more pronounced on the palate, black fruit tea, touch of melted brown sugar/molasses, limestone minerals, touch of rich dark sweet turned soil, loamy dry brown top soil, soft understated eucalyptus/mint, dry fresh florals and violets. The round acidity is just right, just a slight very small alcohol burn, the length, structure, tension and beautifully balanced finish are in a very good place. Even better in 2-3 more years in bottle; which is when I’ll have my next one. Photos of; the winemaking duo of Gary Franscioni (left) and Gary Pisoni, Rosella’s Vineyard on the right. As well as, Garys’ Vineyard at the bottom. Producer notes and history...The Santa Lucia Highlands appellation is known for its rich, vibrant Pinot Noirs. However, that wasn’t always the case. The first Pinot was planted in 1973, but results weren’t all that great. Chardonnay was the appellation’s early star. Much of the area’s current fame for Pinot Noir arguably can be traced to Gary Pisoni, a free-spirited wine enthusiast who grew up in a Salinas Valley vegetable farming family. Pisoni decided to plant a few acres of Pinot Noir in 1982 on his family’s horse ranch, at the southern end of what was to become the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation but his horses started eating the grapes. So, they had to go. His initial planting were limited by a lack of water until he dug a well on the property. Pisoni started planting even more Pinot Noir. The vineyard is now around 45 acres and nearly all of it Pinot. By the late 1990s, word had spread about the success of his vineyard, and a number of Pinot specialists from around California had started lining up to buy his grapes. He started producing his own wine in 1998. Pisoni isn’t the only Gary who has become a force in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Gary Franscioni, a childhood friend, followed Pisoni’s lead by planting grapes and started Roar Wines in 2001. The two of them now have five vineyards between them...all farmed meticulously with the same crew. They are best of friends...sort of a Mutt & Jeff. They have become a formidable presence in the Highlands, attracting interest from top winemakers and Pinot Noir lovers from all over. Franscioni is also from a vegetable farming family; Pisoni figures they’ve known each other since they were 3 or 4. Franscioni saw his friend’s success and once he got some money together, decided to plant grapes of his own. Franscioni’s property is farther north and cooler as it’s closer to the Monterey Bay. He was going to plant Chardonnay. He woke up and Franscioni recalls imitating Pisoni, and shouted, “plant Pinot!” Franscioni planted what became Rosella’s Vineyard, named for his wife, in 1996. He took Pisoni’s advice and planted four acres of Pinot Noir, although he still planted 12 acres of Chardonnay. It’s now a total of around 50 acres with three-quarters of it Pinot Noir. The next year, they decided to become partners and planted Garys’ Vineyard, a 50 acre parcel where they grow Pinot and a little Syrah. Since then, Franscioni has developed Sierra Mar, 38 acres of Pinot, Chardonnay, Syrah and a tiny amount of Viognier. The two teamed up again to establish Soberanes Vineyard, 35 acres of mostly Pinot Noir, with a little bit of Chardonnay and Syrah. That last vineyard was developed by Pisoni’s son Mark. The Garys might seem an unlikely pair. Pisoni is colorful character to say the least and has an outspoken manner. Franscioni comes across as more serious- minded. However, the collaboration between the two, who often address each other as “partner,” clearly works well. The two are good on their own, but better together. Pisoni being more gregarious acts as the frontman. He is the Ambassador. He’s a check on the rest to keep the quality high. Franscioni and Mark Pisoni run the farming on their own vineyards and work together on the joint ventures. The family involvement doesn’t stop there. Jeff Pisoni makes his family’s wines, which are under the Pisoni and Lucia brands. Franscioni’s son, Adam, joined the family business in time for the 2011 harvest. He handles sales for Roar and helps his father manage the vineyards. The grapes from all five vineyards are in huge demand, because the two families are such careful farmers, constantly tweaking and improving. Prominent customers include; Testarossa, Siduri, Kosta Browne, Copain and Bernardus. When a new vintner approaches them about buying grapes, the partners examine the winery’s track record and the Winemaker. If they like what they see, the winery is put on a waiting list. There’s not very much movement in their vineyards. When Franscioni planted Sierra Mar, he and Pisoni had 62 wineries waiting to buy fruit. Soberanes was developed with the idea of working with some new winemakers. There was some concern, even among the two families, that quality might suffer as the vineyard operations grew. However, there’s no indication that’s the case. In fact, with each new venture, they build on what they’ve learned in their older vineyards. Eventually, there will be even more vineyards. The Pisonis and Franscionis have purchased a 100 acre cactus farm in the Santa Lucia Highlands. There’s still a lease on the property. So, prickly pear cactus will continue to be grown for five more years. But at some point, the land will be planted with vines. Both families understand the importance of continuing to build for the future. The Garys looking back tell a story of being in the same spot some years ago and looking at a field of broccoli out back. He told Franscioni that the field would look a lot better with Pinot Noir vines. Now that parcel is part of Rosella’s Vineyard, and it’s planted with Pinot. Everybody thought he was crazy...most people usually think that when someone makes a bold decision. He’s a person who has always had vision and creativeness. He also has tremendous passion. Good things only happen when a person possesses all three of these qualities. Their wines are primarily available by mailing list. However, Nepenthe in Big Sur, CA acts as a quasi tasting room for some of their wines. — 8 years ago

Carly DeFilippo

9.2

I only grabbed a taste, but wow was this wine funky. Friends described the nose as having something of a dirty diaper element -- very rich in decomposed fragrance. Not for everyone, but a gem for weird wine lovers -- and that label! 😍 @ Terroir Tribeca — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.6

2011 Francois Carillon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru: from Jay. Fifth from the Left in Picture - Lovely rich golden color. Quite an attractive wine to observe although its color contradicts its youth. Very rich on the nose. There is great depth here. You're immediately aware that something special is resting in your glass. Roasted hazelnuts, acacia, quince and a touch of lemon zest present on the nose with hints of honeysuckle. On the palette this wine is lush with incredible concentration and depth. It envelopes the mouth completely with fabulous viscosity. The wine dominates the mid palette with a punch akin to Iron Mike Tyson at his prime. The finish is not as robust but it remains profound for a wine of this age with superb minerality all the way through. The wine is very well balanced although the oak has yet to fully integrate. With time this will be an exceptional wine and the acidity should afford it the ability to age wonderfully. This is a true wine lovers wine. Bravo! - tremendous effort. Drink 2017 onwards. 96+/100

— 11 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2003 vintage. Medium garnet, star bright. Pronounced mineral crushed rock, animalistic and leathery, red fruit and savoury profile. Herbal teas and cloves. On the palate, ripe red fruits - strawberry, cranberries and red currants. Medium minus acidity and medium tannins - round and ripe. Medium plus alcohol. Magnificent long finish. For an '03, this is still on the way up as the fruit is still very much alive. For Rayas lovers, the wine does justice to the domaine and although I have had better vintages, you will not be disappointed. One criticism is that's touch more acidity would have made this wine fabulous. — 11 years ago

Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

9.3

Full of wonderful funk and earth! Cranberry and raspberry fruit up front, and then in comes the moist humus, forest floor, mushroom component. Absolutely complex and thought provoking... Not just "another Oregon Pinot" Very pleasing texture, nice intense acidity but balanced by a powerful weight to the fruit. Burgundy lovers take notice! — 11 years ago

jarred gild

Head Wine Buyer Western Market

9.5

2010, i think. i hear that they're not making this wine anymore, which is a damn shame. sweaty sopressata aromas up front, cranberry psychedelic in the mouth. a shiraz lovers nightmare. — 13 years ago

Alan Weinberg

8.9

crazy story on this "white" Burgundy that geeks love. Many years ago while walking through his vineyards, Henri Gouges noted some vines with white grapes, took some cuttings and grafted them, ultimately making a white wine from grapes now called Pinot Gouges--Pinot Noir has only one gene for color and these vines lost it, making them white. So it is a white or albino Pinot Noir, tastes red but looks white. Couple other producers make it, too. Good, not great wine, though. Fun to blind taste Burg lovers on. — 9 years ago

Sebastian Koncurat

9.1

This a great surprise for Gamay lovers. It has the juicy red fruit along with a leafy - earthy , still enjoyable note. Not showing too much Kirch or banana flavors, this byodynamic Beaujolais comes from a single 7 ha plot farmed on granite soils — 9 years ago

Mike Davila

9.3

Really dark color, pleasant nose of cherry/raspberry follows on to the pallet, with some smokiness and nice acid finish. Certainly can go another couple of years maybe more. Wife called it "Pinot with an attitude" not for burgundy lovers. — 9 years ago

Ian Burrows

Sommelier Atelier Crenn

9.4

Rollin' the Deiss!
This wine needs time in decanter. Slightly (and pleasantly) oxidized. Very traditionally crafted... there's a lightness to the texture and savory earthy character. No powerhouse Pinot. Not for the Kosta Browne lovers. My type of PN. — 10 years ago

Rock Arrow

9.5

What's not to love here?!? I love my espresso, love my dark beers, & love my dark red wines. This is delicious, jammy, and full of flavor... Top it all off with a 15% alcohol content. White Zin lovers beware! This is for serious robust wine appreciators. Thank you, Australia!! — 10 years ago

Nicole Jensen

9.4

PERFECT accessory for a night in enjoying pasta and #SBSeurovision. — 10 years ago

Michael Horkay

9.0

From a good but not great year in burgundy this grand cru was awesome. Took time to develop but mushroom first floor cherry sandalwood just make this a wine for burgundy lovers. I love maume... You should as well. — 10 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.0

Subtle complexity. Not for lovers of the fruit bomb. A high end quaffing wine. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.3

1998 vintage. Deep purple. Wow - what a nose. Bacon fat, raw meat, chocolate liqueur, prunes soaked in brandy, ripe fruits. On the palate, full body, pronounced concentration, high alcohol - warming, very integrated high tannins - lovely texture. Full on Amarone that will be a meal in and of itself. Not for everyone as its a big wine. But fantastic for lovers of this style of wine. — 11 years ago

Nate Miles

9.0

Not your Nona's Italian quaffer. Oily. Honeysuckle. Pear. Nectar. White Rhone and Alsace lovers should check out this little lady. — 11 years ago

Kent Snyder

9.1

Very well balanced. Not for oak lovers — 11 years ago

Yuki Gravely

9.4

Not too sweet but just right. Not for dry wine lovers — 12 years ago

CS

Sales Amy Atwood Imports

9.1

John Lockwood ladies and gents, keep and eye out for his name. Blind tasting yesterday revealed 50% lovers of this wine, 50% felt it was one dimensional. I'd have to disagree... I think it's textbook Syrah. Yesterday I noted it "smells like a Pax or Arnot-Roberts Syrah" because of the white floral tones and the unmistakeable Syrah characteristics. Had a touch of EA, but I felt it made the wine more lofty, carrying other esters up from the glass. Blueberry, red currant, baked olives and a touch of cream. Standing great on day 2, EA is still there but still a positive note, not a nail polish remover, more like blueberry magic marker meets blueberry pie, brown spices- nutmeg and clove, a little walnut hull, dark chocolate. Color looks extracted, aroma's would imply the same, but its not overly so, soft yes, acidity is there but shaded by the fruit. The grapes are sustainably farmed, harvested at 23.5 Brix 100% whole cluster, gentle foot tread 1-2 times per day for a short cold soak, followed by a cool 10 day fermentation with native yeasts, pressed to barrel before dry to finish ferment, native ML. 13.7% alcohol 3.7 pH. 125 cases — 13 years ago