Doug Powers

9.4

So, this is pretty incredible and super young, grapey Syrah, soft tannins, but this bottle suggests it will last 15-20 more years, easily!! — 2 days ago

with Jim

romo

9.4

Who the hell brought this awesome mag of Clape? Romo, you are awesome. 😛 — 13 days ago

Mary H

9.4

Beautifully tamed tannins, smokiness, garrique, blackberry, black olives. Goes great with olive tapenade. There’s something wild below the surface about this wine. — 5 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

When mature Jamet are on they’re sooo good. ‘98 is gorgeous tonight and even less evolved than a prior bottle. There’s such balance and clarity to its evocative richness wafting complex aromatics of deep blackberry fruit, smoked meats, camphor and black truffle with an elegant, satiny palate, melting tannins and a stunningly long mineral and savory finale. Beautiful wine, and for my tastes, at its peak. — 13 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have wanted to do this producer side by side with Alban with well seasoned Tri-tip. Tonight is the night.

The crowd that leans California liked the French better.

I have always thought Alban in the new world mimicked Rostaing’s style.

Both phenomenal and I enjoyed both for slightly different climate & soil reasons.

These two producers do Syrah without the heavy smoked meats & bacon fat of say Cayuse. — 5 days ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

Gorgeous black fruit. Smokey and minerality. Needs time to develop in the glass. — 5 days ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Original price tag, this Crozes-Hermitage is really remarkable (I believe La Guiraude is a special cuvée?), meaty, smoky, classic aged French Syrah, long finish, amazingly this was the most ready to drink of these wines I’ve been posting tonight, and the favorite of at least one of our 6 tasters tonight!! With all that said, if anyone has bottles of this wine, it’s fully mature. — 2 days ago

with Jim

Ron Siegel

9.3

Showing lots of dark fruits, smoke, meat, savory spice, mineral & violets. — 5 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Great vintage that is drinking well at 20 yrs with many more yrs ahead. Dark, inky, polished showing red & black cherry, berry fruit, mineral driven with sweet spices, graphite & violet. — 19 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was silky, inky & polished with dark fruits, graphite, mineral & violets. — 7 days ago