Steven Beishuizen

9.0

Black cherry here and the characteristic raisin-y note. While floral was evident, the range of flavors was less than I expected. Still always nice when we're able to get in an Amarone. As for food, we paired this with a fairly powerfully-flavored zucchini, tomato, and sausage dish which seemed to mesh just fine. This wine isn't over-the-top powerful, but finding the right meaty accompaniment is key. — 5 years ago

with Anita

Matt Sterr

8.9

Dry and complex. Citrus rind notes mesh with a deep minerality and long finish. Wonderful value. — 6 years ago

Craig Stanfield

9.4

The other wine for tonight’s Asian pork. This was outstanding. Wish I had more of it. Perfect pairing and so multilayered and a good mesh of being American with a solid Burgundian edge to it. — 7 years ago

Susan Hanners

8.9

Medium to heavy body, Full, good finish. Robust! Easy to drink without a food pairing but would mesh nicely with pork/steak/pasta! My new house wine, for $7 a Super Steal — 7 years ago

Bill Carroll

10

Opened 2+ hours in a decanter. Sweet leather, tobacco. Cherry skin, ripe black cherry, rustic orange peel. Brown and orange secondary colors mesh perfectly with the settled red center. Great age. Medium bodied. Lovely elegance. Applewood smoked bacon. Acidity has relaxed over time. Drinking really well. — 8 years ago

with Randall

Tom Riley

9.2

Intense, juicy, concentrated. Bright fruit and endless acid and light tannins all mesh for a wine that is balanced and accessible, but certainly built for some cellaring. Delicious. Sleek. Did I say juicy yet?! — 8 years ago

with Mary

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep pink color with a clean nose of ripe fruit integrated with gentle spice. Good bubble flow with vivid acidity and mineral tang mesh with raspberry flavors. The finish gives off toasty oak, nut and biscuit flavors that linger. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago

Mark Geylikman

9.3

This is lights out. The minerality and acidity combine for a mouthfeel like no other. The fruit is just ripe enough to mesh with the 25% new ok to create for an intoxicating nose. — 5 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Had about 30 sec to pick a bottle as store was closing - Saw the familiar wire mesh and knew I had a winner. Needed some air to shine, but improved steadily over three nights. — 6 years ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.8

Good legs. Smells sort of like old fruit. Blackberries, very subtle leather, soft oak smell. Quiet taste, all the flavors linger and mesh together, nothing overpowering anything else. Tastes medium to full bodied, doesn't cause a huge reaction. Goes down very smooth. Dry, subtle, sexy. Velvety on the tongue. — 7 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.6

Autumnal yet remarkably fresh at 49. Red cherry buoyed by bright acidity and still present tannin mesh with fallen leaves moist after an October rain, with the smoke from a burn pile gently wafting by. Compelling, complex and complete. What a joy to drink. — 7 years ago

with Max

Bill Bender

9.6

Opened and decanted last Wednesday night and it was very clenched and unyielding. Disappointed, I re-corked and then audozed for a couple hours before Thursday night dinner. What a difference a day and some air makes! This is just mind blowing stuff from @Fraser McKinley when it’s given the proper treatment. Impossibly concentrated dark fruits, a creamy textured core, creosote, blood, iodine and mahogany mix and mesh and tantalize the palate. Get some of his stuff. When you do give it ample time and if you can’t do that give it the air it needs. You will reap the benefits. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.1

What a way to end a night that was filled with all New World minus USA wines that totally rocked the house. This was brought out at the end of the night and it needs a good amount of air time. Swirling through the decanter, you get a mix of plum & baking spices but also more bright floral notes. Still quite young, it wasn't super tannic, but the fruit and oak still have a few years to mesh together. Should be excellent in 10+. — 8 years ago

with Weston and Benjamin

Will Reed

9.2

Cork broke, salvaged it but decanted twice (once with a mesh filter) to make sure there was no debris. Very good. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

This producer was new to me. Loved it! The nose has such dark fruit wrapped in smoked/chargrilled meats. Not overly savory and zero funk, but just a killer mesh of sweet and savory. Tobacco, graphite, cassis up front with a finish of blackberry pie, leather, and herbs de Provence. This could be a wonderful wine in 7-10yrs. I called this left bank 2012 vintage. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

Alive and kicking. Pungent plum and black cherry mesh with tobacco, sandalwood, and soy sauce in a haze of smoke and herbs. Surprising freshness. It can get away with saying it’s 29 for years to come. — 7 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.6

Butterscotch and non carbonated cream soda Werther’s Original. A mesh of perfect acidity and balance of tart green apple. Yum! — 8 years ago

with Frank

admiral von schnauzer

9.0

Still not totally sure about this wine. Nice effort I mean its great wine, but it really didnt mesh with the other three for me. Balanced, but almost on a decline? — 8 years ago

Hao Feng

8.9

Way too young. Fruit is ripe but doesn't mesh well with the oak. Overall impression: red berries, smoke, tobacco, peppery, dry leaves, decent acidity, mid-high but not-so-smooth tannin (needs time to soften), full body with good finish. Definitely have potential to blossom — 8 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.2

Real good. Talc, floral, lemon grass, grapefruit and lime. Lengthy in the palate, slight phenolic grip along with a saltyness all providing some real interest — 9 years ago