Max Kelly

9.5

A wine that astounds through its subtlety, finesse, and length rather than absolute power or complexity. Tropical fruits and maybe a hint of botrytis dominate more than minerality, and it lasts for ages on the haunting finish. Head and shoulders above the two other two Montrachets tonight, but is it the best white Burg I’ve ever tasted...not sure about that. — 7 years ago

with Berg

Lindsey King

9.4

How do I even begin to comment on the privilege of lapping up the last drops of a life's work? Puffeney's 52nd vintage, his final potion. The wine that made me aware of the Jura, that first sparked sensation of time and place, a wine that exists equally in bottle as it does in brain. When you find yourself paused mid-step on the walk home, paralyzed by the distant sound of a youthful pianist stretching their hands across blessed white and black keys. Recognizing the tension that folds over their shoulders in tandem with the all encompassing lightness of body that accompanies practice. There is something so real about the way they are playing, without too much fluidity, they stop and start again and somehow that's better than an unstopping song. There is no performance here. What is it about the walls, windows and air between you that deliver these wafts of sound in such a pleasurable way? How does the space aid the aesthetic? You keep standing there, basking in this auditory coat, and for a sliver of time you want nothing. You want no one. You have everything. This pianist will never meet you, nor you them, yet there is partnership, a unity, an offer and reception. An electrical circuit you have both worked to complete. You want to cling tightly to this moment and you find yourself searching for evidence to make you present. The sky was blue, the pavement was wet, I was just about there, I was happy. But all of this is already phrased in the past tense, the moment has already slid away from you. You pick up your forgotten step and continue forward, dizzy from experience, left with only a stamp in your mind that you can picture but never fully revisit. Little death. — 8 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.0

Cool wine. Nose dominated by leather and meat but with broad shoulders of plummy fruit and an underlying menthol cedar note. Much weightier than one would expect from a barbera. Does not have the tongue splitting acidity of most barberas but definitely refreshing. A bit of a barnyard note along with a refreshing bitterness on the finish with soft and slightly grippy tannins — 8 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

Intense raspberry on the nose with hints of smoke. Amazed how time has tamed this wine. Rich and lush red fruit this has successfully transformed itself. Reverberated in every nook and cranny of my mouth Carries its alcohol effortlessly. Last of 3 bottles and this one was head and shoulders better than the previous 2. — 9 years ago

with Monica and Stephen

Steve Lazarus

9.1

This is an awesome wine with a plate of beef --whether in South Beach for a Giants victory or not!! On lighter side. Great taste of fruits very detectable, it open up for a few minutes. Really enjoyable and probably only gets better with a few more years of maturing. — 10 years ago

Joshua Fisher

8.9

In the old testament Moses sends two men forward to scout the promised land, they go and return carrying bunches of red grapes so large and god filled that they had to transport em hung unstemmed on a long pole carried on the shoulders of the two fellows. Proof they had been and seen the Promised Land ahead. If any grapes broke and that juice ran free down the pole and they, in their thirst, drank that broken juice, Chateau Unang was what it tasted like. — 10 years ago

Jay Svoboda

8.9

Allow me to start with a confession: I love Carmenere. Never had a glass I didn't like. Oddly enough, it's really the only grape from Chile I've truly enjoyed (that's probably not fair, so let's just say Carmenere is definitely head and shoulders above any of the competition. And this doesn't even factor in the ridiculous value - this particular bottle fits into the sub $10 range. It's kind of like a new world Rioja, which incidentally, also tends to be a bargain (and delicious). Dark red fruit - plums, stewed raspberries and blackberries - meet tobacco, farm pasture, eucalyptus, and menthol (and a touch of petrol) on the nose. Silky smooth tannins greet the palette, with black and red fruits forward and a bit of rich, black soil in the background. Everyone's tastes are different, of course, but if you haven't found your wag to a Chilean Carmenere yet you should really give one a try. — 10 years ago

Paul Stefani

9.8

This is a home run! The winery run by owners and former SF Giants, Rich Aurilia, and Dave Roberts. Paired with a paella for this evening dinner. Dark red hue, and rich and opulent. Dark cherry, well balanced with cloves and earth on the finish. — 10 years ago

Peter Monteleone

Sales & Marketing Martine's Wines

9.0

Giants winning the World Series may be affecting this post, but this bottle is really singing. Definitely needs more time to mellow, but couldn't resist after Bumgarner closed the door on KC. — 11 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.7

It’s usually a good sign when the winemaker can articulate what the wine is about like this: “Ceras is Botanica’s counterpoint. Its color is more purple than red. It is more about minerals and herbs than fruit and flowers. It is a focused and elegant distillation of rock rather than an opulent cascade of fruit. It is an expression of the geology that lays beneath our land, the tart blue fruits of the coast range and the tender herbs that one finds amongst the trees and mushrooms of the Northwest forest.”

Her 2013 Ceras is yet another example of Maggie Harrison’s sorcery over the vines at Antica Terra. The focus and intensity of flavor is off the charts, yet it maintains an almost ethereal weightlessness, only emphasizing the layer of silk that separates you from the wine. The pungent rock is so on point and distinctive it instantly reminded me of the scent of lichen growing on rocks, which I experienced in Colorado when I was 7 or 8 years old. This sets the stage for the level of complexity exhibited. The fruit has both an extraordinarily high level of purity and yet the woven tapestry of herbs and spices and even fruit blending are impossible not to notice. The key being that nothing is forced.

The nuance of complexity only being noticed when desired is nearly an impossible feat. I can’t help but recall James Conaway quoting Andy Beckstoffer in his recently released book: Napa at Last Light: America’s Eden in an Age of Calamity. “If a wine was a model with a chipped tooth, you’d have to give her something to compensate with. If she needs better shoulders, better breasts, give her some. But her real charm is in how she carries the defect.”

After reading his book, I can tell you I’m definitely not certain whether you can accept his quotes verbatim. One thing is certain, though, Maggie Harrison’s Antica Terra wines carry the defect like no other. — 7 years ago

Scott Fitzgerald

9.2

Opened another bottle of this last night amongst several other wines. This wine was head and shoulders better than the other reds we had. Great zin characteristics, some spice, and a little complex with several other flavors at play. Kicking myself that I didn't load up on the 2016s that just released (I did buy the SVDs!) as this has to be one of the top QPRs in the wine world. Enjoy now or let it sit...should drink well for several more years. — 8 years ago

Marshal White

9.0

It has the almond skin, the broad shoulders, the power/drive on the palate and the aromatics; bergamot, sage, melons. But it also has a lovely acid grip and tension. — 9 years ago

Stephanie Losee

9.0

Celebrating one happy month in the new job on David's balcony while watching the Giants fans gather — 9 years ago

Peter Simpson

9.9

I want a red dress.
I want it flimsy and cheap,
I want it too tight, I want to wear it
until someone tears it off me.
I want it sleeveless and backless,
this dress, so no one has to guess
what’s underneath. I want to walk down
the street past Thrifty’s and the hardware store
with all those keys glittering in the window,
past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old
donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers
slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly,
hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders.
I want to walk like I’m the only
woman on earth and I can have my pick.
I want that red dress bad. — 10 years ago

Emily Yoo

9.3

Great bubbles, complex on the back end. A steal at €27, and head and shoulders above its peers. — 10 years ago

Marc On

Writer Originalverkorkt, Lobenbergs Gute Weine

9.4

Super ripe aromatic on the nose with a lot of honey, quince and cold smoke. The palate is much younger. Lively acidity, bright shoulders, great smoky component on the back-end. Amazing length. — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.5

Huge wine with immense structure, broad shoulders and nicely tuned acidity. Cocky tannins and packed with sweet dark berries, spicy minerality and hints of pan-fried herbs, this large-scaled creature is impressive on so many levels, but for me personally, a touch too big. — 10 years ago

Ken Kailin

9.7

Lovely big black dense cherry, animal, smoke, broad shoulders with ripe aromas. Succulent wine showing earth dark sweet sour black Cherry with wonderful density, long and sleek. Lots going on, very very good. Great place, but still young. Loads of pleasure. — 11 years ago

David Kline

10

Well I had a review of this fantastic wine right after the update, and apparently didn't save it, as I was unused to the GUI. So here goes from memory: this is a beauty, with such depth, breadth, and complexity, that I will only touch on the highlights which subsequently have burned themselves into my psyche. This is pure espresso, mocha, blackberry cobbler, black cherry and black currant without being jammy. It is layered with toast, scorched earth notes, charred meat aromas, rosemary, a touch of mint. Violets and black roses, balanced acidity lifting the weight of its complexity on atlas like shoulders of absolutely sensuous perfect and satiny tannins. Tobacco, white pepper, nutmeg and much much more! If you can find it, grab it at any cost! It is just now hitting its stride, and it's 'certainly not showing any signs that it is slowing'. Trip down a chocolate river anyone? — 11 years ago

with Courtney

Brad Mate

9.3

This wine stands on the shoulders of giants. It’s from Niagara but rivals the great wines of Bordeaux. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Deep dark scarlet. Opaque. Nose offers notes of black cherries, pencil lead, plum, anise and old cedar desk. With several hours of air it offers menthol, cranberries, and becomes more profound. Still young though with only secondary attributes. Big shoulders and masculine in the mouth but tannins have softened. Still needs more time to add complexity. Lots of structure and a bit of dryness on the finish. Will check in again in 5+ years. — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.7

The young ‘03 Bordeaux was very hot and showing a lot of alcohol. At almost 15 they are in a very nice spot with ample air. This is a stand alone wine and really fun to one to stop and study. Concentrated blue and black fruit, gravel, soil and herbs. A majestic wine with broad shoulders and a voluptuous mouthfeel. Deep purple smoke on the water and fire in the sky. Still building weight and gravitas and will improve for many years to come. — 8 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.5

Stonestreet Upper Barn 2012 at is Best. Tropical Fruit galore, good underlying acidity, yes just the right touch of oak! Also watching the Eagles Beat NY Giants on Thursday Night Football! WOW! #Eagles, #philly . Great end to a day of wine selling at WineWorks in Marlton NJ! I give this a solid 95! — 9 years ago

with Karen

Liz Hale

9.0

Dolph Lungren shoulders on this dude. It's a big boy. — 9 years ago

Alyssa Goch

9.2

Please do not end. #completion #thoroughjob
this was controlling me. I like that. Gentle control is acceptable but right now I need a firm grip on the shoulders followed by a hard shake that rattles my mind into reality. This = that. Chapstick for my mouth, please, sir? — 10 years ago

Robert Hines

9.9

Great wine! We did a tasting at home with 5 friends and 5 different wines and this came out on top..head and shoulders above the others! — 10 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.5

The '13 Wegat Vineyard Zin by Maley Brothers is a worthy addition to the Lodi Native lineup. It is colored very dark and smells that way, too. Blackberry and black cherry aromas do a good job of distracting from the subtleties that lie beneath them. Rich, black earth, minerals, smoke and coffee all appear in turn. The palate turns those aromas into tastes, with a plummy blackberry front, and amazingly earthy middle and a juicy finish that lasts forever. It's a big wine, a brawny drink - not elegant. This wine has broad shoulders, blue jeans, a big belt buckle and dust on its boots. Use it in a marinara sauce - you will have the best sauce ever. — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.5

From the famed Prichard Hill estate vineyard, this 100% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a cult wine, rubbing shoulders with Screaming Eagle, Harlan and Colgin. The nose is typical of Napa Cab, with rich aromas of steeped blackberries, cassis, saddle leather, spice box and carmelized brown sugar. On the palate, it's silky, sexy and nicely balanced. There is a lovely, polished interplay of fine tannins and glycerol, along with darker notes of saddle leather, cedar, and espresso beans. Medium plus finish. — 10 years ago

David Kline

9.5

Very rich and subtle wine with a white cherry note and a super-long finish the texture is opulent and rificulousy svelte. Head and shoulders above any 'luxury' wine on this price range. Prove me wrong! You shall fail. Nuff said! — 11 years ago

with Courtney

This One Goes To Eleven... This Is Not The Account Of Spinal Tap!

10

This had this 11 years ago