Shay A

9.5

Opened for a buddy’s birthday, alongside a 2005 Tatty Comtes, 2015 Cristal, 2018 Realm Falstaff and 2023 Kobayashi M/R.

I still remember my first Allemand seven years ago and how it immediately reeled me in and every bottle since has been the exact same. The rusticity and feral nature of Cornas is why for me, as a Syrah fanboy, it’s the best and most pure region for this wonderful grape.

Removed cork about an hour before pouring. Initial notes of olive, black pepper spice and herbs, some smoked meat and a brief blood-orange citrus aromatic. Deep red/black in the glass. There’s a layer of brett (low level, adds to the intrigue, doesn’t detract) and lavender bouquet before peppered strip, herbs, raspberries and blackberries, and a sanguine tang hit the palate. Not sure of whole cluster use here but seems there’s a little bit (which I love). Wild but civilized. Medium-plus bodied with beautiful acidity and plenty of tannin for this to cruise years. On the early side, but these are so hard to resist in every phase.

I wish I could drink this every day. I need to find a wine of similar style at a better price point. — 5 months ago

Mark Osmers

9.2

The Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot (2021) reveals a deep ruby core with subtle garnet reflections, suggesting youthful vibrancy with potential for short-term development. The nose is precise and layered, offering blackberry and raspberry fruit interwoven with cedar nuances, indicative of measured oak influence.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with light acidity that enlivens the fruit profile while maintaining balance.

Tannins are fine-grained and unobtrusive, supporting a bright structural framework that lends clarity and poise.

The finish is clean and persistent, marked by freshness rather than weight, making this a versatile companion to dishes such as roasted chicken, grilled salmon, or semi-hard cheeses. — 7 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.7

California’s version of White Burgundy. Great older bottle from recent auction. — 9 months ago

Dan Casagrande

9.0

Love it. Thanks Tom, had it with prime Chuck smash burgers. Smooth, dark fruits, so good. — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.0

A tropical fruit filled chilled SB with jumbo stone crab in a summer like day.
Life goes on! — 6 years ago

Andy Hock

9.1

Wow delightful and refreshing. Lemon/rind and mineral. Get some! — 7 years ago

Renee guillien

9.6

Just balanced thread of Shiraz pepper and velvet consistency on the tongue. Will age very well, but very good now also. — 9 years ago

Pete Hoskinson

9.0

Great old vine Zin — 10 years ago

with Chelsea

Randy

9.5

Surprisingly good — 11 years ago

Patrick Dolan

9.3

Slight vanilla and crisp smell. Some pear too. Taste has some bitter and sour notes but malactic makes it a little smoother. Minerally. Better with food. Had butter garlic clams. — 13 years ago

JKT

9.0

Another new one, unusual Cali Cortese with 12 years. Color on the yellow amber side and nose with mature notes with a touch of oxidation. Balanced on palate — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — 6 months ago

Jeffrey Howell

9.1

Delicious, well balanced — 7 months ago

K L

9.2

Staple. Always great. — 2 years ago

with Matt

E D

9.0

Nice version of this variety. Rich grape. Quite dry and acidic on the tongue. — 5 years ago

SK

9.3

Fabulous table wine. The Australian version of The Chocolate Block. Affordable too. From Wine Rack in Belsize. — 6 years ago

Matthew Humbaugh

8.9

Really enjoying this wine. Very drinkable. Don’t know anything about Monastrell but would definitely drink more. For a $15 wine, this is great QPR! Drink this all day! — 7 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.3

I love this wine. I love this wine because it exists all the way at the 'painstakingly clean and precise' end of the skin-contact spectrum. Don't get me wrong, I love the super-natty wild and wooly and of the spectrum too. But this. This is so purely and exactly what it sets out to be. And I love it. — 9 years ago

Tim O'Rourke

9.6

What? So good. All the olive and pepper and leather that you would expect and plenty of game and mushroom as well. I don't suppose I'll have another chance to taste this, so I'll have to rely on memory of something so delicious. — 11 years ago

Trish Barry

10

Nothing more to say about this wine except for AMAZING!!! — 12 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Barrel aged 10 months sur lie! Medium lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with notes of warm baking spice. On the palate ripe apple and lemon flavors with vanilla and nutty toasty oak. Well balanced on medium finish ending, a bit buttery with slight oak and mineral notes. Drink now! — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A Fav! Medium+ lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, spice, floral, cedar, biscuits and citrus. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & ripe apricot with citrus zest, honeysuckle and nutty toasty oak notes, rich with creamy tones. Smooth, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit and integrated creamy oak. Nice! — 6 months ago

Ed Chin

9.4

It is so open for business right now. A prime example of Napa old school. Dark fruit and resolved tannins. — 7 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Needs a little air, great recommendation from @Somm David T
First mag of two — 8 months ago

Leo Gentile

9.4

Delicate pale straw color. Tart Gala apple and pear. Crisp with balanced acidity true to the vineyard and deftness of the winemaker. This wine can keep going for years to come. Drank over three nights and final glass was no less, perhaps more enjoyable than the first. — 5 years ago

Dylan Thomas

9.0

With halibut cheeks, dandelion greens, sand dab fillets from west port farmers market, g-town — 6 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.2

A savory juicy textured herbal food pairing champ. Like cooking sous-vide with an immersion circulator, what was once a geeky oddity has found a permanent home on our table. Not a universal solution, but really the right tool for the job in certain situations. Like pan seared halibut with fennel or spring vegetable risotto. — 8 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

19 yrs old and still stunning late harvest CHARDONNY... Complex with vibrant fruit and acidity. Only two barrels made. The finest late harvest CHARDONNY I have ever had.... Lush and balanced. Only have one bottle left. Very lucky to have a few bottles.....
— 10 years ago

with Joe

Michael Mendes

9.2

Run, don't walk. They leave just a hint of RS. This wine could lay down for decades, but fantastic now. — 11 years ago

Puerto Rico Wine News

9.3

Really nice stuff — 13 years ago