Matthew Cohen

9.5

Nose is so warm and seductive.

Palate is intense but spicy and fresh. A hint of bitterness. Controlled. Rich. But elegant. Elegant subtle spice. Wow.

Great pairing with beemster. — 2 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.4

Since the temps are going to be around 70 this weekend, thought a rose tasting might be in order. Did a blind tasting of the Modus Operandi 2021 , Myriad 2020, and the Kale 2018. Myriad and Modus were the clear leaders. I rated them as follows #1 Modus, #2 Myriad and #3 Kale. Wife rated them #1 Myriad, #2 Modus, and #3 Kale. I wonder if the older vintage of Kale by a few years flattened it out a bit. To me, the Modus had more fruit on the nose, while the Myriad had a more lengthy finish. Good stuff! — 2 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.0

This is the Central Coast, “Vicarious” Pinot from Modus Operandi- and it behaves nothing like what one’s expectations may be for such a thing. I’d love to hear about some of the vineyards because this Pinot, for its price, personality & value brings it. Delightful notes of spice box on the nose that leads directly to a welcome and syrupy palate of rich cherry, boysenberry and even some smoke towards the finish. I paid, with my own money to pick up six bottles of this debut effort of the Vicarious brand that was sourced from what must be some of the best vineyards for Pinot in ALL of the “central coast”. This is some great juice.
@ifyalikepinotyagottateyit. — 4 years ago

with Beth

M. Christopher Roebuck

8.9

Decent...a bit hollow. I would rate Ruffino Modus higher. Alcohol forward. Some red berries midway but otherwise disappointing. Drink with massive food otherwise pass.

89 points — 4 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.1

Medium to dark purple with a nose of dark dried cherries, blueberries, and vanilla. Nice full to medium-bodied mouthfeel. Some fine grained tannins which will soften with time, but this is also nice to drink now. Finish is not as long as I would expect. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Wine Advocate BYOB Napa dinner...must be a Robert Parker +93 point wine....I brought the Quilceda Creek 99 point magnum and a Marcassin 2012....97 pt pinot. Wines I had at dinner:

2012 screaming eagle
2014 penfolds grange
2012 bevan wildfoote vineyard vixen block
2010 domaine de la Janasse chatauneuf du pape in magnum
2007 corton charlemagne grand cru magnum
2010 modus operandi collection..aged in some of the rarest French oak per owner who sat next to me.
2008 kapcsandy family cab
2005 Qupe bien nacido X block syrah in magnum
2001 quilceda creek cab..another aficionado was pouring the 01!!
More to come as my brain cells recover... — 5 years ago

with Brenda

Mark Farrell

9.2

This is actually the 2018 Modus Operandi Caldwell Vineyard Syrah. Color is deep purple with scents of bacon fat, plum sauce, cigar box, and maybe camphor. After opening up a bit, I get cardamom and vanilla, as well. Nose is a little funky, but not in a bad way. Bold, medium to full-bodied wine. Medium to high acidity. Medium level of tannins. This was the best wine in a blind tasting of Syrahs with DuMol and Kimsey. Both my wife and I ranked it #1. The finish was significantly longer and more pleasant than the others. — 2 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Black cherry, vanilla, raspberry, blackberry, plum, licorice and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 2 years ago

Scott G

9.0

Very fresh summer squeeze of lemon and apple, with just a hint of greater complexity within but not enough to stop and think about. — 3 years ago

Eva Rosenberg

10

Perfect orange — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.1

If you aren’t familiar with Brasswood, you should change that. A truly state of the art custom crush facility in St Helena (has housed clients like Bevan Cellars, Moone Tsai, Montagu, Modus Operandi, Dark Matter, etc), with tasting rooms, caves, a shop, bakery and a fantastic restaurant. On top of all that, they have their own label, which Angelina Mondavi consults on.

This is my first time trying their Chardonnay offering, courtesy of Brasswood’s Somm @Joshua Fisher . I was fortunate to follow this over the course of a few days. Day one had this showing very primary...down the middle type chard. Day two saw this increase in complexity...certainly true to Napa chard with a warm and soft profile, revealing lanolin, lemon cream, and even a cotton candy note on the nose. The palate has added notes of ripe melon, banana, and powdered sugar. Viscous but a line of acidity keeps this nervy. Thanks Josh. — 4 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.6

Color of pale to medium yellow with a nose of peach, melons, pear, and lemon with grass undertones. A heavier body than most SB’s. Good acidity with a solid balance of fruit. I’m normally not a fan of SB’s, but this wine is fantastic and will definitely has a place in my cellar. — 5 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.3

Deep ruby color with a nose of black cherry, vanilla, bay leaf, and fig. Nice, well-balanced mouthfeel, medium to full bodied with and excellent, well rounded finish of fruit, tannin, and acidity. Velvety tannins. Nice, long finish. — 5 years ago

Mark Farrell

8.9

The wife and I did a fun Syrah blind tasting with the coravin. We ranked the wines exactly the same. I feel like a Modus Operandi fanboy, but their wines really do perform well in these blind tastings. #1 Modus Operandi 2018 Caldwell Vineyard Syrah #2 Dumol 2016 Wild Mountainside Russian River Valley Syrah # 3 Kimsey 2017 Syrah. The MO and DuMol were much better than the Kimsey. I was really disappointed in the Kimsey. It just wasn’t there. Since DuMol is tagged here, the nose had dark fruits and a bit of funk. Flavors were nice, and the finish lingered a bit, but not as long as I would have liked. Score is for the DuMol. — 2 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.5

The ‘18 Modus Operandi Edcora Cabernet Sauvignon is young with a color of inky dark purple. Nose has both blackberries and blueberries with eucalyptus, pencil lead, smoke, and leather. I love it when a wine takes you back in time. The leather note took me back to sitting in my grandfather’s leather chair when I was a kid. Nice fruit with good balance. Tannins are there and will soften with time. Probably popped it a bit early, but it is still good. Glad I have a few more bottles to see how it develops. My favorite Modus Operandi single vineyard Cab. So far from @Jason Moore. This was a celebration wine for hitting the revenue goal for my new business. Paired with some prime steaks from The Fresh Market. Doesn’t get much better than that. — 3 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.5

Even in Its youth, the 2018 Modus Operandi Cellars Pinot from the oft-heralded Bacigalupi Vineyard is more than just approachable- it’s unreal. The nose is already in bloom with oodles of Burgundy-like bramble berry, while the mouthfeel is as silk should be defined.
Frankly, I’ve never had a Pinot Noir like it, anywhere near it’s price. Not even close. — 4 years ago

with Beth

Anthony Kluska

9.0

Charcoal and dark red fruit — 4 years ago

David Schoonover

9.6

Collection Cab; story is next level on the origin of this wine — 4 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.1

This is the Farella Vineyard Cab. Deep Ruby to deep purple in color with an explosive nose of blackberries, black cherries, black pepper, and cocoa powder. Very powerful nose. The aromas fill the room. Flavors are a bit tight on this. It is a 2016, so it may open up after a bit of aging. Medium to full bodied. Bone dry. I think this needs a bit of time to develop. — 5 years ago

Mike Finfer

9.5

beautiful tart sicilian — 5 years ago