Lars Kirstein

9.1

Again a red Bordeaux in perfect shape, cigar box with leather and earthy notes, red fruits and violets on the palate, medium body and medium finish with a good acidity so you really want to drink the next Glas — 4 years ago

Matthieu Michon

9.7

Exceptional wine. Opened at Cheval Blanc in August 2019. Incredible nose - beautiful violets and floral perfume. It goes on and on and keeps bringing me back to it. The wine is fresh, full, complex, ethereal. Surreal experience and highlight of the trip for me. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Le Parc at Les Crayeres in Reims. Deep dark ruby color, opaque. Wild nose with notes of black cherry, violets, menthol, slate stone and some mocha. Very perfumed. Rich and silky in the mouth. Tannins integrated. This is ready for consumption. — 7 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

8.9

2016 vintage. Black plum, black raspberry, black cherry, violets, little bit of sanguine-iron, dusty tannins. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Nice showing for this Unico. Purchased off of their list. Fully mature & at its peak drinking window with many years ahead. Great aromatics of dried berry fruits, mocha, leather, tobacco, earth and dried herbs, very floral with notes of rose petal & violets. This was elegant & silky with good acid & tannin structure. — 9 years ago

K J

9.3

Spicy Fruity. Violets. At Frenchie wine bar — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

2004 vintage. From Jay. 2004 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Dark ruby colour. Fresh violets on the nose together with cherries. A little tobacco wrapper. Cracked cloves. Nice fruit on the pallet and very silky. This is both elegant and old school in all the right ways. 92+/100. Drink 2017 to 2028+ — 10 years ago

Holly Orchard

Certified Sommelier, President of Savvy Cellar Wines Inc.

9.1

Classic notes of burnt match head, smoked ham, damp soil, violets, wet stone, white and black pepper and a surprising amount of acid... awesomely wonderful with filet mignon in a brandy peppercorn sauce. — 10 years ago

Gillian Robb

9.8

Oh my heavens. I could wax poetic about Vietti all day. Violets and crushed purple roses jump out of the glass, followed by tart bramble fruits, high acid, and gripping tannins. Nebbiolos smell like the Deep South in summer: wisteria and hot asphalt. — 11 years ago

Paul Hogan

9.8

Mad Men of Riesling 2012 great southern Australia — 12 years ago

Karen Daenen

9.7

Violets, aroma that jumps out and grabs you — 13 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

Signature manure and violets on the nose, purple flowers and forest floor. Very balanced and pretty, incredible acid and chalky minerals all the way through the finish. Great if not quite the brilliant energy and structure of 2014. Such a unique and iconic expression of cab franc. Upgrade to 9.4 after a few days open. Just beautiful. — 5 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.8

The 2016 ‘Insignia’ is an absolutely incredible showing, and is amongst the most compelling vintages I have yet to taste from the Estate. Composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec which spent 24 months in 100% new french oak. As this unwinds in the glass it begins to release its seductive aromatics of ripe dark currants, crème de cassis and blueberries along with fresh violets, pencil shavings, wild sage brush and exotic spices. On the palate this is full-bodied, with a gorgeous rich, opulent texture that is beautifully balance by a lovely touch if underlying acidity keeping it fresh and inviting all the way through the long enveloping finish. Displaying a remarkable combination of both power and precision, the 2016 is a total stunner and will go on to have a marvelous future for many years to come. — 7 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

More notes later. Stunning. So smoky and sweet. Ethereal.

Nose of smoke, mesquite, sweet raspberry fruit, violets and other flowers. Unreal.

Palate is soft and sweet and spreads to every nook and cranny. Unreal purity, length and delicacy. — 8 years ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.3

Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 8 years ago

R Bl

9.1

Rather closed but still attractive. Dark fruit, but crushed violets loom. White pepper hints. — 9 years ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Broad red fruit with herbal notes and violets. Slightly scorched. Intense fruit. Some stew. Long. Good. — 10 years ago

with Major-General

web bond

9.2

Classic, and still needs a lot of time. Violets, granite, savory fruit. — 10 years ago

Michelle Steiner

9.0

Great wine - smooth, robust, affordable! — 11 years ago

Nathaniel Jones

9.2

Delicious! Violets and berries. Hints of vanilla, intensely good — 12 years ago

Mike Kim

9.8

Chateau Marmont — 13 years ago

Jeff Murray

9.0

Excellent blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo instead of Syrah. Works very well. I saw this described as “dusty fruits” which I take to mean earthy, and just slightly subdued. Relatively smooth and opens up nicely with air time. Will keep the other bottles for a while to see how the evolve. Another good effort from ONX wines out of Pasa Robles. Cheers — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Dark cherry, kirsch, earth, wild herbs, black olive, pepper & violets. Still somewhat primary that is approachable now but still needs more time. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you want to impress a Somm with a bottle of wine, bring a Grand Cru Gamay. I hate using the term Beaujolais. It gives a lot of people the lesser impression of Beaujolais Nouveau which, equates to the impression left by Blue Nun in the 70’s/early 80’s and Yellow Tail in and around 2000.

This is one of my favorite producers of Gamay, a member of the “Gang of Four”; Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard & Breton. There is a fifth honoree member to the “Gang of Four”, Yvon Metras, who I enjoy equally. If you want to finally appreciate this varietal, look for one of these producers from Morgan or Fleurie.

The nose reveals; dark cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, blueberry hues, spearmint, granitic minerals/soil, dark berry cola, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, a whiff of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets.

The body is full, rich and guides over the palate. It shows some tannins. The structure & tension are still big. The length and balance are at the beginnings of truly rounding into butterfly form. Still will benefit from 5 plus years in bottle. Bright red florals are far more pronounced on the palate. Ripe/bright; dark tart cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, half baked rhubarb with lovely blueberry hues, blood orange & dry raisins. Spearmint, tree sap, granitic minerals/soil pressed in to the palate, dark berry cola, orange peel, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, hints of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets. The acidity is like a warm summer rain shower. The long, rich, ripe, well balanced, elegant finish is nicely persistent for minutes.

12% ABV 👍

Photos of; Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Marcel Lapierre (may he RIP-2010), Marcel’s son and current Winemaker-Matheiu Lapierre and their Morgan Vineyard.
— 7 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.0

Very good. Crushed violets/roses in the nose. Smoked meat with tea leaves on the palate. Would like to see it in a few years — 10 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.5

Such complex aromas that benefited with a bit of air that lead to aromas of sandalwood and smoke, tea leaves, tart red fruits, violets, spice, damp earth and herbs. Long in length with cat tongue like tannin and perky acidity. So so good. — 10 years ago

garry post

8.9

Enjoyable wine with salmon entree. Blackberry , black cherry, violets. Soft and silky mouth feel. Touch of tobacco, licorice. — 10 years ago

Marla Shelton-Watts

9.3

Purchased in Bend, Oregon from local wine shop. What a surprise! Very smooth and light....not jammy at all. — 11 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.7

Great Hermitage black fruits, grilled meats, creosote, mineral, violets just an absolutely beautiful wine, my type of Syrah! — 12 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Floral nose, with apple skin, blackberry, and violets, leather adds to the palate as this is drinking really well right now with youth and maturity playing tug of war with the palate. Best Mourvèdre ever for me so far! — 13 years ago