Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.3

Clear lemon color. Opened beautifully after a little bit of air. Lemon, rocks and ocean spray nose. Great balance between the acidity and the softness of the wine. Very long finish. — 7 years ago

with Frankie

Justin Hart

9.4

Ah, the Rocks at Milton-Freewater produce such remarkable and distinctive fruit. Morgan Lee’s take on the Stoney Vine Syrah is outstanding. Earthy, gamey, succulent, dark and full stone fruit (plum) that just keeps going. This is good for another 5 years I think. — 8 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Ron Siegel

9.3

Yum! Pure, clean & balanced with lemon citrus, crushed rocks & refreshing acid. — 8 years ago

Annika van Leynseele

9.0

Chateauneuf-du-Pape-esque. Low acidity and tannins. Berries, spices. Yum! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

From either the 3rd largest co-op in the world or in Europe. I think it's in Europe. Produttori is located in the heart of the tiny town of Barbaresco just to the right of the tower shown in the photo and up the street from Gaja. Also, one of the best Michelin stared restaurants for lunch we've ever had. As well, the best restaurant service we have experienced and it wasn't that pricey. For such large a co-op, they produce some outstanding value wines and some straight up excellent wines. This 09 is quite nice and one of their entry level value wines. A nice pair with my skillet lasagna. The wine shows more sour than sweet dark cherries, black raspberries, dry dark plums, touch of pouched strawberries, black cherry cola, dry dark florals bouquet, a light delicate herbaceous quality, dark soils with dry powdery crushed rocks with nice acidity. The balance of fruit & earth is improving as is the finish. It still needs at least 3-5 more years in bottle. Very nice wine under $30. A 9.0 on it's own with the skillet lasagna, 9.1-9.2. — 9 years ago

Marshal White

9.0

Pure, intense, long. Tastes like rocks and a cool summer breeze, tense with the threat of lightning. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Lemon curd, sweet & ripe, honey, wet rocks, chalk, very fresh with good length and acid. — 10 years ago

Ben de Vin

9.5

Extreme drinkability: wet rocks, slate, minerals, sweetness balanced with cutting acid. Long finish. Love. — 10 years ago

with Freddy

Cat Gomes

8.9

A nice and simple dry wine! — 11 years ago

Victor Hwang

9.2

Massive, chewy almost amarone like. So many layers of fruit. Very new world in style and amazing for what it is, but may not be for everyone. Great nose of lilacs, wildflowers and some hot rocks. — 11 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.3

Wow totally surprised by this wine. As a random purchase at $40, this definitely out kicked the coverage. The aromas are so inviting....perfumed floral, mint, and earth.
BlackBerry, black cherry, pomegranate, and crushed rocks on the palate.
Decanted for 60 minutes.
This is still very young and has a decade or so to go. If this was a St. Emillion it would be easily twice the price point. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It’s a B-day double dip of Pichon Lalande. Following up the 89 with the 96. I Coravined this 96 about a year ago and put it back because it wasn’t ready. I still feel that way, but my trust in Coravin has been a little shaky lately. So, I figured I’d I finish it just in case the Coravin advanced it too far or to spoil as I’ve experienced in the last year. On the nose; scorched earth, spearmint, cigar, dark currants, well baked blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, cherries, strawberries, steeped black tea, slight tarry notes, herbaceous character, soft, subtle spice, dark chocolate, black licorice, expresso grounds, cedar, used leather, dry, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets. The body full and putting on weight as it continues to open up. The tannins have softened & are rounder but still have big teeth. The structure, length, tension are still quite big. The balance is in a very good spot and will continue to evolve to a better place. The palate fruits are like the nose with lots of dark currants. Well baked blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, cherries, strawberries, steeped black tea, slight tarry notes, scorched earth, spearmint, cigar box, herbaceous character, soft, subtle spice, dark chocolate, black licorice, expresso grounds, cedar, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry river stones, dry, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets. The acidity is round & well done. The finish is big, thick, rich, long with split evenly with dark currants/earth and lasts minutes. Still needs at least 5 years plus in the bottle to really get to a sweeter spot with another 15-20 years ahead. Personally, I’ll wait 10 years to open another. Photos of; Pichon Lalande, Virginie de Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, their library cellar I’d love to spend a weekend opening bottles and their barrel room. I remember being at dinner about 8 years ago where their Director told us they had recently opened three bottles of 1897 and one was still good! Wish I’d been in line with a glass. 😋 Anybody notice the difference in the 96 & 89 label? — 8 years ago

Bryan Thomas

9.4

Just a couple of guys trying to right the ship - Raveneau rocks! — 9 years ago

Matt

8.9

This bottle was so different from the the last. Salty, cured ham, parm, wet rocks, yeasty, white strawberry, funky. Edgy acid, laser-like on the palate. Showed a lot of development with air which makes me think this wine just needs some time to become truly enjoyable. Points for expressiveness and character, just not finding the right wavelength to get on with this wine. Perhaps a revisit with a proper decant is in order. — 9 years ago

Sean K McNeely

Viticulture and Viniculture Assistant at Viña Vik Vineyard, Winery and Hotel

9.2

Like you just tripped and spilled your sour cherry icee on a bunch of lava rocks and started licking it up. Unbelievably delicious and incredibly versatile when it comes to food pairings. Bottle went way too fast...definitely need to try those single vineyard wines ASAP. — 9 years ago

Ian Blessing

9.5

Spectacular as always. Started off with typical Cayuse funk that integrated pretty quickly into a kaleidoscope of rich, sweet fruit while never being cloying. Framboise, fresh raspberry, blueberry, tons of violet, and a finish that's carried by crushed black rocks. Cayuse amazes me with its intense flavors that somehow never seem overextracted or heavy. It's the domestic version of an iron fist in a velvet glove. — 10 years ago

Shae Kinsman

9.7

Oh. My. Such focus and precision. Flinty, minerally nose - wet rocks and citrus rind. Amazing concentration on the palate. A mere pup, but so bloody thrilling. Can't wait to watch it age and fill out. Love, love, love! — 10 years ago

Dave Loretta

9.5

Broiled chicken and mashers paired brilliantly with this "Rocks" vineyard Syrah — 11 years ago

Ryan Schmied

9.3

Crushed rocks, world class value — 11 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

WoW ! One of the best Sancerre I’ve had. Superb nose of lemon, cat piss, mineral things like crushed rocks, dry herbs. The palate is a model of balance : sheer acidity and a lovely texture with white flowers. Long finish with a touch of salt in the end. Very good! I’d like all my Sancerre to be like this one — 8 years ago

Rajiv Advani

9.0

Fantastic nose. Lavender and chocolate notes. — 8 years ago

with Navin

ES

9.0

This wine rocks, balanced, well made, bright fruit, fantastic acidity, wonderful QPR — 8 years ago

Bonnie Bruenderman

9.0

Light without being thin. Complex without being overloaded — 9 years ago

with Adam

Cameron Myhrvold

9.6

1997 Leoville Barton
Wow this Rocks. A dry and delicious bordeaux. Nicely aged. I would drink this any time. — 9 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Cherries and rocks, floral, med + acid. Delicious bojo! — 9 years ago

Y Kwon

9.1

Citrus, lemon zest, crushed rocks and no oak. Nice acidity. Should be able to cut through fat if paired an oily fish. — 9 years ago

Paul Gordon

9.3

Very good GSM blend — 10 years ago

Corey Zamora, CSW

9.1

Bright beautiful acidity, wet rocks, intense fruit. #texsom — 10 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

Chardonnay, Viognier and Muscat Canelli. Rocks! white has a pale yellow tint in the glass, with a brilliant nose featuring a spray of floral notes with melon and a spicy, herbal twist. The palate offers very bright acidity in a wine that is sweet, but not syrupy. There is a cantaloupe note in the middle and a citrus finish. This is a natural with Japanese noodles, Pad Thai or penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes. — 11 years ago

Yelena Iglanova

9.3

Dark maroon color, pleasant on the nose, full of dark berries, touch of cinnamon and spice. Soft and velvety tannins. — 11 years ago