Shay A

9.5

This run of about 13 PHENOMENAL wines I'm posting are from the SQN wine dinner/WNH interview I did at @Shawn R 's house last night. I was like a kid in a candy store on Christmas. What an absolutely EPIC night! Love ya brother!

What kind of world do we live in where we use THIS as a palate cleanser?! Haha. So insane. I'm late to the Aubert train but this was actually my first Pinot from them (love their chards). Big cherry cola aroma, red licorice and graphite on the nose too. Excellent acidity and a finish of tart cherry and blackberries. — 8 years ago

with Shawn

Daniel Hernandez-Brun

9.5

13% booze, about $68, sample. In the tank for Carillon. Fat and juicy, with tons of nutty flavors and big bright acidity. Serious wine. Best enjoyed out of a plastic cup on a late night train so full it's standing room, on the way to see friends and family, in December. — 9 years ago

Christopher Fowler

9.0

A delicious souvenir from our train trip through the Pacific Northwest in 2014, we decided to crack it last night. I was a little worried it might be starting to fall off by now, but it was perfect. Just the thing to turn Monday evening into an occasion.

A delicious mix of fruit and sweet tobacco. — 9 years ago

with Michael

Anna Sangiacomo

8.9

We decided to make it a Pinot night.
— 9 years ago

with Dede, Darlene Kardum and 1 other

Rich

9.4

Jay-Z's favorite bubbly, this pink Champagne falls under the Champagne Cattier umbrella. "Ace of Spades" is the new Cristal, at least in hip hop circles. About as limited as a wine can get. This one is mainly sold at night clubs.
I sold this Liter for $2,000.00. My guest loved it and bought a total of 2 bottles. Wow!! — 10 years ago

James Hallett

10

Play on playa — 10 years ago

Ameilia Douglas

9.5

Dinner night with friends amazing view, amazing wines, amazing people — 10 years ago

Andreina Romero

9.7

This was such a surprise! My experience with American wines is limited but when I tried this one: OMG!!! The bouquet is so astonishing, you'd want it to taste as it smells... !! Beautiful ruby colour and, believe you me... It tastes better than its scent. Rich, full bodied yet subtle in The palate with a wonderful oaky and fruity aftertaste. Wish I could find another distributor in Western Australia where I am currently living. I tried this one at the #AshStreetCellar in #Sydney . Great night with @Desiree Diaz and Ben and Jochem and enjoying wonderful food from Zach our master chef!! — 10 years ago

Christopher Stadler

9.6

Best cab s of the night. Incredibly complex and developed. Drink now! — 11 years ago

Matt Young

9.3

Had this at Paesanos in San Antonio, great night. Decided to keep on the barbera train, great decision. Moderately priced again, nice smooth wine with good flavor, nothing too intense. Interesting fact, this maker has a moscato that's really good as well — 12 years ago

Scott Gruber

10

made for a special night with dvd of the sunset limited. check it if you haven't yet cause them both special. — 13 years ago

Andrew Claffey

9.3

Very smooth. Drank this the night I got into med school. Has a little sweetness. — 8 years ago

Mike R

9.3

Yummie - Wednesday night and smiles are out tonight - what not to love - 2 hour decant and pop - Singing begins - limited production - love the color- like a purple robe from queen Mary days - nose is tight and having a hard time opening - hints of plum and black currants,

Taste is an all this - elegant, balanced - classic Napa cab

Smile and make someone happening — 8 years ago

David Todd

8.9

Late night Liz bday — 9 years ago

with Elizabeth

Kathryn Innes

9.1

Good on a rainy pizza night — 10 years ago

C.C. Fridlin

9.3

This is a wonderful Cab - had an opportunity to taste side by side with the unreleased 2013 at a special winemaker dinner last night. This was served with a huckleberry dish and paired very nicely. The 2012 is very balanced with very well rounded tannins. Nice red berry fruit flavors with depth and length. We were told that the grapes for this bottling are grown in one block at the highest part of the estate. Very limited production. Both vintages were excellent with the 2013 obviously still a bit young. Excellent string of vintages in Napa. — 10 years ago

Jennifer Ann Salyer

9.8

Nashville bound for NARM. Staying the night in Little Rock, AR. — 10 years ago

with Chris

David Todd

9.0

It's bachelor night that means wine — 10 years ago

with Brian and Elizabeth

Kevin Mahoney

9.2

My favorite wine I've had so far. Granted I'm a college kid so my wines have been limited to under $30, but I could drink this all night. Very easy to drink compared to similar priced wines I've had. — 11 years ago

Linda Holm

9.2

Shared this on the patio last night with some good friends. Light and refreshing, will buy this again. — 11 years ago

Sonia Hunt

10

Unbelievable presentation, defs my fave champagne of the night. #bubbles — 12 years ago

TheSkip

10

So, I came home yesterday and there was a package at the door. I wasn't expecting anything and looked at the sender. @Martin G Rivard ! Well then! I knew santa was over, but perhaps Easter Bunny Rivard had struck?

I opened the box with haste. Surely anything from @Martin G Rivard would be of high quality. I saw a flash of orange and though, oh my! But there was only one bottle and it was oddly shaped. This must be the limited edition, double magnum of @Jason Chang's Nine Suns cuvée! I ripped open as if it were Christmas and out came Carlo Rossi.

I'd never heard of this producer but I trusted Martin. This bottle came with a very handy pour handle at the top. I was excited. Although it was only 4pm, I remembered what @Bill Bender said about 3pm so, I thought to myself, why not?

Hurriedly, I came into the kitchen and got my favorite Zalto glass, as inspired first by @Roman Sukley. I retrieved my corkscrew and opened the knife only to discover that this was a convenient screw cap! How thoughtful of Martin!

Open it went and the room filled with a lovely sweet grape must. I knew this would be special. I grabbed my winestop given to me by @Ron R and inserted to to insure there would be not a drop wasted.

Into the glass and my excitement prevented any thought of a decant.

What a wine! Those Concord grapes - what has Welch's been thinking? They've missed out on one of the finest varietals I've ever encountered. I knew I was truly lucky to try this rare wine.

But something felt...off. And I realized, I had nothing to pair with this! Thankfully there was a full 4L in this bad boy. And the screw cap allowed for prompt resealing.

Away I went in the car. What oh what to have? Aih! Exactly! @Paul T told me about the heaven of pairing McNuggets. Off to Ol' McDonalds I went.

Twenty McNuggets and sweet and sour sauce please!

I scurried to the back, and carefully withdrew my Zalto from my backpack. Opening the McNuggets, I knew this would be special. And indeed, I am with words to describe the experience. Yet, again, I knew something just wasn't right. The wine wasn't presenting itself. So I thought, how can I classy this up? And then I remembered all of @David L's posts with the classy silver wine coaster.

I had to have one. I asked the chap at the counter of McDonalds, but the response I received was less than satisfactory. I had to solve this issue myself. Thankfully , while returning to my table, I spotted a HomeGoods store immediately next door. I ran across and found a lovely silver charger.

And finally, returning to my table, I was now all smiles! More smiles than @Mike R !

What a special evening. I really wanted to end this off right. I grabbed a dozen roses and rushed home to the wife. Half a bottle Rossi still intact!

I showed her the bottle and wow! You should have see her eyes. I then suggested we retire to the bedroom and this was met with prompt approval.

And with such a great night, I wanted a lovely memento. I gently placed the bottle against her and snapped a lovely shot that is sure to be on the cover of the next issue of BBB with @Bill Bender !

Thanks for thinking of me @Martin G Rivard ! — 8 years ago

Petrina Soh

9.1

My wine vocab is real limited. All I can say is, this is the smooooooothest I had tasted so far. Wine is to be enjoyed with friends. Tonight was such a night. Love. — 9 years ago

Michael Schultz

8.9

Bought a case at a wine fair. Just opened up the first bottle. Very full bodied - let's see how it opens up grouch out the night! — 10 years ago

David Devan

10

This was pulled from our 1996 - 2001 Vertical Box Set. Brads birthday gift a few years back. We enjoyed it with the winemaker playing Mexican Train Dominoes. Our large group reviewed some amazing bottles all just recently posted on my Delectable app. I need to use it more. What a fun night we all had even though I was in the caboose the entire night! — 10 years ago

David Todd

9.0

Steak night — 10 years ago

with Elizabeth

Jose Lopez

9.0

The splashy label gave me pause and I approached with caution, but once I tasted, I was hooked. Fruity and warm without being a fruit bomb. Strong finish with stewed fruit and a hint of star anise. I would enjoy this all night solo hit it begs for food. — 11 years ago

Daisy Wine

9.1

Black as night. Black Forest fruits and dried cherries. — 11 years ago

Eric Marit

9.3

Andy Krickenbarger 2013 thanksgiving game night — 12 years ago

Kookooforcorks Vin

9.7

Bottle of choice from the fridge this late night: a 2011 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir. I am on my Calera train this week it seems, lol-last night was a Chardonnay from Calera, tonight a Pinot noir. I must admit, I am now a big fan of the Calera wines so far; this Pinot noir was awesome! The wine is light in similarity to many Burgundies, but has the fruit common with most California wines. I will be definitely drinking more Calera Pinot noir in the very near future! Color-ruby Bouquet-crush cranberries, with raspberry jello . There is definitely some light earthy notes, as well as floral notes. This wine has a beautiful bouquet Palate- cranberry, raspberry flavors with nutmeg and a long spicy finish...awesome! WA(Wine Advocate)90 RP-(Robert Parker)90 — 12 years ago