2001 SuperTuscan heavyweight match with Tignanello vs Flaccianello. This one got off to a slow start in the early rounds with a muted nose and flat palate, but after a couple hours was sparring vigorously with its dark well-extracted fruit, tobacco, and suede. Was it enough to take the title? Perhaps not, as I think the aromatics were never quite up to the task - but bravo ragazzo! — 9 years ago

Cork crumbled but wine was sound! Needed a bit of air. Struck match, lemon curd, marzipan, minerality, med + acid, long finish. — 9 years ago
Rock solid Chablis, crisp. Minerality and orange zest. Perfect match for lemon-seared scallops served cold. Nice find @Chris Young! — 9 years ago
Beautiful. In its prime. Paired with paella. Perfect match — 10 years ago
They can't seem to find a match for this wine????
It's a 2008 Ch Beaucastle Roussanne vieilles vignes — 11 years ago
Loads of plum, mild spice, graphite....tannins are starting to integrate really well....a little grippy still but starting to even out to a nice dustiness. Drinks well now and should continue to get better. Great buy on sale at Whole Foods for under $40! — 11 years ago
Velvety, smooth, blackfruit, wood, vanilla, L-M tannin, long chocolate black fruit finish... GOOD! — 13 years ago
It’s usually a good sign when the winemaker can articulate what the wine is about like this: “Ceras is Botanica’s counterpoint. Its color is more purple than red. It is more about minerals and herbs than fruit and flowers. It is a focused and elegant distillation of rock rather than an opulent cascade of fruit. It is an expression of the geology that lays beneath our land, the tart blue fruits of the coast range and the tender herbs that one finds amongst the trees and mushrooms of the Northwest forest.”
Her 2013 Ceras is yet another example of Maggie Harrison’s sorcery over the vines at Antica Terra. The focus and intensity of flavor is off the charts, yet it maintains an almost ethereal weightlessness, only emphasizing the layer of silk that separates you from the wine. The pungent rock is so on point and distinctive it instantly reminded me of the scent of lichen growing on rocks, which I experienced in Colorado when I was 7 or 8 years old. This sets the stage for the level of complexity exhibited. The fruit has both an extraordinarily high level of purity and yet the woven tapestry of herbs and spices and even fruit blending are impossible not to notice. The key being that nothing is forced.
The nuance of complexity only being noticed when desired is nearly an impossible feat. I can’t help but recall James Conaway quoting Andy Beckstoffer in his recently released book: Napa at Last Light: America’s Eden in an Age of Calamity. “If a wine was a model with a chipped tooth, you’d have to give her something to compensate with. If she needs better shoulders, better breasts, give her some. But her real charm is in how she carries the defect.”
After reading his book, I can tell you I’m definitely not certain whether you can accept his quotes verbatim. One thing is certain, though, Maggie Harrison’s Antica Terra wines carry the defect like no other. — 8 years ago



Pretty darn good for something below $25. West Cape Howe, you've done it again. — 9 years ago
I agree with a previous review, raisin on the tongue. Smooth yet bold. Delicious. — 10 years ago
Marg pizza rossa wine match made in heaven — 10 years ago
This might be my favorite white wine in the @Grand Cru Selections book right now. 🔥 — 10 years ago


What is it about these French reds? You can pick them out from a global mix: clear and a little dry. I'm sure if I knew the regions better, I could match them - they each seem to have a signature. — 11 years ago
Honeyed and unctuous. Cremebrulee with a nose to match (burnt sugar). Not the top tier D'Yquem, but quite satisfying — 11 years ago
First off, I've really missed Tuscan reds. Wow. And this one is no exception. Fruit forward with red and black fruits smacking you upside the head. But a beautiful complex finish rises from behind the fruit. My only problem with this wine? The nose has ever so little funk on it. Just doesn't quite match the brilliance of the flavors. — 12 years ago
A great Rioja! Hey beautiful balance of body acidity tannins. Bright cherry notes with leather undertones. Match very well with a grilled steak. — 8 years ago

Day five on the cruise and this night at Giovanni's Table, the Italian restaurant, aboard the Allure of the Seas. We decided to open up two South African beauties for this.
Deep ruby red with a slight garnet hue on the edges. Layered nose with dark cocoa, floral notes, dark berries and spices. Some classic 'South African' chalk as well. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Dusty dark black cherries on the attack with some black currants, dark spices, a touch earthy, vanilla and some nutmeg. Seems quite restrained and reserved but well integrated as well. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2037.
Third time trying this limited bottling by De Toren Private Cellars with only 1,132 bottles produced in the 2013 vintage. This wine is made through the use of extreme winemaking techniques such as extreme cropping, extensive hand sorting, 200% new French oak for a total of 18 months and unfiltered. You are probably wondering how it can be 200%? This is done by aging the wine in 100% new French oak barrels for twelve months before transferring them to another set of 100% new French oak barrels for six additional months. — 9 years ago

If tar and rose petal are the stereotype, then I think I'm safe in calling this traditional. However, there's plenty of nuance in the layers and the style that make this special. An old leather-bound book, citrus peel, dried tarragon, and ripe strawberry. The finish is firm, but not without a lively and racy acidity. One of the better food wines I've had in a long while. — 9 years ago
We all need a little Lunatique in our lives. Forgot about those ⚛ synthetic purple corks on some of the older B&H though - the Rabbit was no match and had to pull out the heavy artillery to open. Slightly muted nose and a bit thin to start, but fleshed out into a decent Napa Syrah with air. — 10 years ago
#lifegoals = making enough money to make this my go-to weeknight wine 😍 I used to (and still) love how it smells to crack open an old book. This tastes like that, in the best way possible. Enjoyed this with Potatoes Anna (heavy on the Kerrygold butter), grilled asparagus, and pork loin. Feeling fat and happy 😬 — 10 years ago
Lovely sweetness to the fruit and excellent length. Perfectly mature & superb match to grouse. — 11 years ago
In a perfect place - drink! — 11 years ago
Depth and intensity. Perfumed and a touch of struck match. Unreal. — 12 years ago
Wow. Amazing Aligoté, not to be wasted on a Kir. Could pose as good chardonnay as well. And perfect match for the ceviche. — 13 years ago
Charles Antin
Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys
Precise, chiseled, match stick — 8 years ago