Max Schector

9.0

Great wine for the price. Has a great depth for such a young year. It’s a 2018, but has the character of a 6+ year old wine. Dark berries and cherry notes. Cinnamon and cardamom trails. I’m very impressed. I’d buy this again. — 6 years ago

Mark Head

9.5

Tannins have given way to a tight core of dried cherries and berries. Some graphite notes. The finish trails off slowly. A much better bottle of wine than I expected given the age. — 6 years ago

J. Kim

8.9

Very good, trails just a little bit in the purity and refinement to Fichet, Ente and Roulot and rivals Javellier, Jobard and Mikulski in intensity and restraint and surpass almost everyone else. — 6 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.1

Deep purple with medium (+) intensity developing aromas of smoked meat, blackberry, black cherry, leather, mint, cranberry. Dry, with medium acidity and high tannins, high alcohol and the wine is full-bodied. Lovely aromas of smoke, blackberry, black plum. Medium (+) finish. It trails off a bit at the end but still very good quality. Drink now but has potential for further aging. — 7 years ago

Kirk F

8.9

Smooth and polished dark fruits abound early but the finish trails off unexpectedly. That said, enjoyable and restrained at 13.9 abv. 100% syrah. — 7 years ago

Rich Schutzer

9.5

part of birthday collection. Stacey liked more than me, but I liked as well — 8 years ago

Liz O'Neal

9.0

The adventure continues -- trying new wines this weekend. Pear, lemon notes on the front, orange citrus notes on the of back. Soft herbal note on the nose -- sage? Medium acid that trails off pretty quick. Nice wet clay & earthy tones from the lees — 8 years ago

Joshua Clemence

9.0

Ran 10 miles today on the trails with Rob, drank 10 miles today 🥊 — 6 years ago

Bryan Martin

9.2

Very good, easy to drink. Full body and fruity — 6 years ago

with Antoinette

Nancy Clayton

9.1

Confluence Tandem Weekend. Easy table wine, slightly sweet — 6 years ago

J. Kim

9.0

The aroma is very average, but the mineral volume elevates it to an excellent wine. Unlike most Aligote it feels like it comes from a serious terroir. The fruit purity trails those of Fichet, Arnaud Ente and Chevillon. — 7 years ago

Kenta Hayashi

9.4

Wet leaves, earthy, very fresh, olives, black currant, smoke jerky or bacon. On the palate, velvety and nicely textured. Smoke trails through the nose. WOTN. — 7 years ago

Corson Fidler

9.2

Brightly, balanced, trails off nicely, dry, get a bottle in summer! — 7 years ago

with Kelly

Tobin Spratte

9.3

Tasted in 2015: Modern-styled Tempranillo bursting with raspberry, blackberry, and balsamic notes that envelope a bouquet of umami, baking spices, blueberry cobbler, and leather. Gorgeous flavors of berry pies and lavender honey on the palatte with trails of cedar. — 8 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.9

Quffable, complex #maulevalley #pinotnoir. Lush blackberry nose, delicate body with robust acidity, some coffee notes and peppery spice on the finish which trails off gradually. The only faults here are grippy tannins that are inelegant on such a long finish. For $9 at Costco, I can’t imagine a better QPR Pinot out there. I rolled the dice on another 92-93 Suckling rating special and came up with a winner. — 6 years ago

Max Schector

9.3

A beautiful wine. Subtle baking spice, with beautiful dark berry notes. Oak and vanilla trails. Nothing over the top, great balance throughout. Little on the pricey side- but I think it’s worth the money. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Balanced intensity. Nice spice edge. Tobacco drenched in dark tart cherry and huckleberries ....I think. 😄. I just threw that one in because it was on my mind. We were eating huckleberries on our trails hiking Idaho this weekend. 👍 — 6 years ago

with Tammy

Mark Flesher

9.3

Dan was being very curmudgeonly as he could taste butterscotch in this wine. I say he was right. I'd ALSO say I'll take every last bottle of this he has left and will even volunteer to take them away personally! Poured a medium amber color. Notes of butter and herb om the nose. Entry is overripe stone ground fruits with a nice weighted base. Butterscotch in front and middle but trails away in the finish where this wine just kind of dances more with a tarragon and peach kind of note. The only white I dared to try with the braised pork and pickled peppers. Although neither was a perfect complement, I was shocked at how this one definitely didn't run away! A true Marcassin! If you have these, I think I'd drink now. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

September Roman

9.3

Pale gold wine with citrus and floral fragrance. Soft and smooth tropical notes of apple, pear, peach, and pineapple, with a grapefruit end that trails into a slight taste of vanilla lingering on the tongue.  — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.5

Opened this to put the kibosh on Alabama. And it smells like it just might have those powers. Founded by John Alban in 1989, Alban Vineyards is the first American winery and vineyard established exclusively for Rhône varietals. Jeb Dunnuck said “One of the best entry-level wines out there is John's 2012 Syrah Patrina, and it competes with many top cuvees.” I wholeheartedly agree. Patrin is a gypsy word for leaf and grass blades. By mounding up patrin in specific configurations called Patrina, Gypsies mark secret trails that kinsmen can follow to special gathering places. Patrina guide these nomads to the site of what starts out as a simple get together underscored with wine and song. These bohemian celebrations of nothing in particular inevitably escalate with great abandon into wildly hedonistic carousing.
Aromatically virile. Intense aromas of black raspberry and kirsch, star anise, white flowers, violets, pepper, and baking spices. The palate is equally potent and sports a black fruit infused with red fruit character. The lush and ripe fruit is buttressed by layers of licorice, lavender pastille, chocolate, and cured meats. An all-time favorite of mine. — 8 years ago