It’s a great grape for rose. Grenache gets too little attention on its own as it’s typically in a blend. But here this Abacela Rose shines. Cherry. Strawberry. Tart and crisp. Lip smacking. Dry. It’s wonderful chilled on a hot day and equally delicious as it warms to room temperature. The QPR is amazing for the substance of this wine. Ranges $15-20 bottle. And keep some for Fall and Winter too. Rose isn’t just for sunny summers. Goes with a myriad of foods all year long (think turkey at Thanksgiving or ham at Christmas). It goes Especially well with all grilled things. Barbecue season here we come! — 5 years ago

Fantastic wine, really enjoyed this one. The nose is stewed blackberries, plum, tobacco, baking spice, cedar wood and raisin. This is powerful juice and it tastes rich and almost chewy with the myriad of flavours balancing the tannins and acidity. The palate is ripe dark cherries, light smokey oak, vanilla and winter spices. It has a long elegant fruit driven finish which I liked. This may not suit the purists as alcohol is high and the style is right up in your business but I wish there were more Bordeaux offerings at affordable price points that really make you feel wow, that was just a great reflection of the region that can be enjoyed now, without taking a second mortgage or waiting until a time you may never see to enjoy. Worth grabbing a bottle. — 5 years ago
The blend of Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling yields a wine of power and structure. The flesh of the wine, makes this bold enough to hold up to rich meats. The minerality of the wine is beautiful, and the aromatics are complex: floral, savory, perfumed, and fruit filled. The notes of orange blossom, and white peaches waft from the glass with a stony minerality with a perfume of orchids and salt water. The palate is full and round, with no feeling of oak or being too decadent. The bottle age rounded out the sharp edges this wine can present in its youth. Here the texture and acidity have that fantastic marriage between the two that complements the myriad of aromatics and flavors that is packed in this wine. — 6 years ago
I look forward to seeing where this goes in the next 5 years. Jammy and berries all over. — 7 years ago
Dug deep in the cellar to find this one. Letting it age for 5 years, really improved the quality of this Mike Smith product. It was in 2013 (the 2011 vintages) that we discovered his Myriad and Quivet labels and have never been disappointed with his output. While 2011 wasn’t a great year overall for the industry, this was still high class, but no comparison to his 2013-2015 vintages. — 7 years ago
In a great spot after an hour of air. A fantastic complement to lamb chops. Bravo, @Mike Smith! — 3 years ago
Great Syrah, young — 6 years ago
Great stuff. 2012 vintage. Violets, lilacs, some savory notes of grilled meat. Really good acidity keeps this bright and balances the weight of the dark fruit. Tannins give it good finish — 7 years ago
Really delicious w/ 1 hour decant! Love whole Cluster wines; a lot of finesse in the glass! @Mike Smith 👍. @Paul T- Huntington Beach has a nice informative history on Petaluma Gap; thank you! — 4 years ago
Best Bordeaux value I know. Beautiful brasserie wine that goes well with a myriad of foods. — 5 years ago
2015 for dinner with grilled NY Steaks salt a pepper finish. Fruit on the wine complemented the fat full flavor of the beef but the harmonious touch of dried herbs and an earthiness of mouth feel came together. In a really big sensation of married flavors to hand you the real deal. Beautiful Cabernet. Great wine and flavor combination to remember. Excellent. No rush to dink this wine it has years. — 5 years ago
The 2016 Gabbro, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is one of the most compelling wines I have ever tasted from Montepeloso. In most prior vintages, Gabbro has been rich and concentrated, but the 2016 flows with a sense of total refinement. Wild flowers, herbs, licorice, lavender, graphite and spice add myriad shades of dimension to a core of dark, beautifully resonant fruit. A wine of real gravitas and structure, the 2016 is going to require a number of years to be at its best, but it is stunning, even in the early going. In fact, I am simply blown away by how integrated it already is. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2020)
— 6 years ago
I bought a 1000ml bottle of this gin and it's nearly gone. Monkey 47, when served with Fever Tree Refreshingly Light Tonic, is a stunningly fresh, lively, complex and intriguing drink - no guest has ever been satisfied with just one. It's a hell of a gin. Aromatic and arresting, the myriad herbs that comprise Monkey 47 each play their note in the orchestra that is this gin. I'm English and I like London gins, and perhaps I'm lacking loyalty by loving this Black Forest beauty, but so be it. This Monkey's Gone to Heaven. — 6 years ago
Mark Farrell
Head to head. Mike Smith and Thomas Rivers Brown. Both are fantastic wines, but for me the Maybach is more my style. It is darker and fuller bodied than the Myriad. Color is a dark ruby/purple. Nose of cassis, blackberries, violet, lavender, and a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied with flavors pumping through the long finish. It has all of the power of a full-bodied cab., with a lingering ride akin to a pinot. Amazing wine. One of the best if not the best I have ever had. I will be making this a regular splurge in my cellar. — 3 years ago