Christina Ahlheim

8.9

Once it opens. — 6 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Yes, Virginia, there is a reason Gaja is...well, Gaja. And I ain’t Santa Claus, but the kind somm who brought this by as a gift gets that moniker. Ethereal nose of dried, dirty mushrooms, light tar and asphalt. Meticulous layers of cherry tea, dried strawberry and old leather. Despite a few angles this was silky, sensual. Years to go. — 6 years ago

Max Kelly

9.1

Beautiful purity and cut against just the right amount of sweetness. Lives up to its minerally moniker. — 7 years ago

Jack Bender

9.1

Very interesting and definitely worth a try. Combo of tart fruit and pepper. — 8 years ago

Christian Bronstein

9.4

Subtle depth of flavor backed by energy on the rose of Mataro without the "Blush" ness that the moniker eludes. Great effort by Tegan! — 9 years ago

Steven Foster

Wine buyer Belmont Wine Exchange

9.3

This sure deserves a diamond moniker. So much blackberry, spice, and Howell mountain character that you would hope for from 2012 lamborn. Super impressive for an impressive price. #pnv15 #heidibarrett @Brian Lamborn — 9 years ago

Kristin Cancellieri

8.9

Complex butter cream oak bomb when it’s warm. Past it’s prime? Who knows? It’s yummy and delivers. — 6 years ago

Tim Eller

9.7

I came for the famous moniker, I stayed for the deep blue/black fruit and smoky balance. Like silk in my mouth. A treat even if it's not the real Petrus or, for that matter, Gaja. — 7 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.0

Delicious, fresh as spring. I could bathe in this. Blossoms and green almonds, a fleeting botrytis note that brings to mind this wine's now verboten moniker tocai. Now in compliance with the most stringent laws since the Roman Empire , the dropped place-name only adds to the odd vertigo--it's not on the bottle, but you can still taste it. — 7 years ago

with Alsu

Zachary Price

9.0

A total wine pick up. Vacqueyras is a French AOC in the southern Rhône region, established in 1990. Often receiving the unfortunate moniker of "a poor man's Châteauneuf-du-Pape", the wines are typically GSMs and can age nicely if produced correctly. This one is 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, (the AOC requires a minimum of 50% Grenache in the wine). While you can drink the wines young, they truly begin to shine after 3-4 years. This wine seems to be peaking now. ~$17 | #totalwine #vacqueyras #GSM

On the eyes: Dull deep brick brown, slightly cloudy, peaking to slightly orange at the rim. Med stain, med tears, no gas/floc.

On the nose: Black cherry, mulberry, vinous, nice oak character, hint of petrol and pepper.

On the tongue: med+ acid, med tannin, med alcohol, med body, a bit chewy in the mouth. Bright red cherry, stewed blackberry, a hint of mulling spices, touch of oak and tar. Nice finish. — 8 years ago

Steven Foster

Wine buyer Belmont Wine Exchange

9.5

Another BOSS vintage of boss man. 2012. This is so massively good, it deserves this moniker. Go for it. Now. — 9 years ago

Uli Klumpp

8.9

Classic Napa style Sauvignon Blanc, from the winery that coined the Fumé Blanc moniker. Melon and grapefruit on the nose. Pyrazines account for herbaceous, grassy character. Wooden barrel, not steel, but no distraction from any new oak here. — 10 years ago

Kevin Kaley

9.2

Ah, the brilliance of R Mondavi using the Fume Blanc moniker. Just a great stand-by go-to wine. Some peach, oak and pear on the nose and tongue. A nice clean crisp wine. Picked up at Costco for $13 so can't beat the pp. Will get some moe to enjoy on a warm Texas summer evening on the patio. Enjoy. — 6 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Oh my! Star bright straw gold with green highlights. White flowers, orange rind on the nose. The palate is downright creamy(!) on entry immediately brightening mid-palate (medium acidity) and giving up orange rind, honeysuckle, and a bit of coriander with a honey like -- yes, honey like -- finish. My wine son and I enjoyed it with scallops and red snapper with a foie gras starter. It sang. So much variety falls under the Bordeaux Blanc Sec moniker. This might spoil me for a lot of what's left. — 7 years ago

with Jean-Paul

Andrew Schirmer

8.9

This is the Alsatian basic blend--cheap and quaff-worthy. It's delicious, with a honeyed nose and lychee/grapefruit on the palate. Edelzwicker means 'noble blend' in German, and this is one that truly lives up to its moniker. — 7 years ago

with Alsu

Emily Johnston

9.5

Just bottled! Another vintage deserving of the moniker 'pink crack.' Orange, orange pith, wild strawberries, pink grapefruit. — 8 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.2

A bit of rain in September gave us a little bit of mold they triple sorted the fruit with cassis and currant berry fruit cigar box spice fresh earth and a nice freshness to the finish some fresh black earth with dar bitter coco notes through the finish 800 foot elevation in their estate vineyard they had a bad set giving them one ton per acre. The 2010 has more richness and 3000 cases is the normal production the 2011 is only 900 cases. They make 15,000 cases total under the Merryvale moniker. The 2010 has more richness more tannins and a long finish. Most excellent. — 9 years ago

John Kemper

9.0

Although I'm a huge fan of L Mawby's Leelanau Peninsula "methode champenoise" sparklers, he also produces a cheaper, more fun line of sparkling wines under the M Lawrence moniker. The pale yellow NV M Lawrence Extra Dry Sparkling Wine 'Sandpiper' emits sweet/tart apple aromas with a hint of toast. Although sweeter than a brut, it has a crisp tartness that refreshes the palate quite nicely. — 11 years ago