Shay A

9.2

This was a head scratcher. My plan on opening this was due to a craving for some savory/funky Syrah, but what I got was a nice aged Syrah minus any sort of herbal/savory/meat type characteristics. I’m not really sure why? No technical flaw to the wine, but my experience seems to be an outlier...

I followed this over two days and it stayed mostly the same the entire time. Perfumed aromatics of potpourri, high percentage cherry infused dark chocolate, and grilled, underripe black cherries. It is nicely balanced at this point in its evolution, showing power without much weight. Red currant, tangy grilled rhubarb, plum, cocoa dusted dates, and mocha show up on the palate.

For the glass nerds out there (of which I am one of), I tried this out of the Zalto Universal and the Glasvin Universal (pictured). I found the Zalto to have slightly better aromatics as it showed more complexity, but the balance and bowl of the Glasvin were preferred. Similar drinking experience from both. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Recent reviews by some on CT had me curious about how these were evolving so I had to check in myself and personally assess, you know, for science. Popped and poured; consumed over three days. The first day was OTT with red fruit and spices...but mostly the fruit. The spices, really sort of a one-note black pepper bomb, pricking the tongue, perhaps giving a glimpse of something more interesting if patience was exercised. Super clean with no signs of brett. I was almost taken aback because this was coming across rather ham fisted and definitely an outlier for Pegaü. I say almost. Two days later, I revisited the remaining half of the bottle and that’s when things really started to show off. Chewy red and black fruits were still very much in abundance but they were now more delineated and showing somewhat grainy tannins which seems much more pronounced now than they were on the first night. Think the texture of eating a mouthful of brambles. The spices that were teasing on the first night were stepping up to play a more pronounced role taking on more of a black licorice character with some lovely garrigue. Sound structure...though perhaps not as impressive as the 2016 Cuvée Réservée. Long, lip smacking finish though...and really delivering the goods! Based off this experience, I would imagine the best is yet to come for the 2015 Pegaü. If you’re drinking on the pop and pour, prepare for disappointment. These could use some time. I look forward to revisiting in 2025 and beyond. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.0

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee, hosted by @Jeff Meyer , was so educational with fantastic German & Austrian wines. 1 sparkler, 5 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert wine. All served blind as usual.

Knowing there was an outlier out of the 5 whites, I called it this one, and it was. I picked up a lot of white pepper both aromatically and on the palate. Low acidity and a herbal medley. Spicy version of Viognier. I called this Grüner. — 5 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 1 other

Bill Bender

9.2

Fun Italian outlier for our SB lunch from @Eric LaMasters noticeable depth and concentration. It unfurled slowly but I’d say it was right there with the Pape Clement and Silex for most unique wine of the day. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

My surprise of the day. I didn’t expect there to be much here as I know these don’t have a great track record for aging, but this was an outlier. Blood orange, rhubarb and herbal black cherry aromatics. Sporting nice acidity with cherry cordial and sandalwood. Drink up. — 5 years ago

with Dan and Mark

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured. This was opened on a night where there was stiff competition from the Old World (Ferrando Carema and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco). While it was an obvious outlier, it held its own just fine. Abundant Zinfandel fruit in a slightly more restrained style with enough nuance to keep someone interested in a night of wines that dominated in the nuance and structure department. All that being said, it sure was a nice wine to end on. The 2012's are drinking well at this point but I still think these will be better with a couple more years in the cellar. — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

I’ve heard for years about the wildly extroverted and extra-ordinary Sancerre wines from Sebastien Riffault. His wines are an outlier of ripeness in a sea of lean high acid chalky juice. Rich with an amber glow.

He picks his Sauvignon Blanc at the last minute to reach a level of ripeness you’d never expect could come from the tiny cold pocket of the Loire.

Now I like both styles, but this is super fun and something completely new to me.

Think juicy peach, fresh apricot, and bright yellow pineapple. But still with high acid - nothing flabby. — 4 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.0

Tasting group. My 5th, group 6th. Outlier in the group due to age and Botrytis/sweetnes/age but lovely wine. Butterscotch, burnt toffee. Creme brûlée. Broad, bit flabby. Viscous. Tart — 4 years ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Dark, rich, tannic, this probably needs 20 more years of cellaring, kind of an outlier in this group?? — 4 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

Cool little aged outlier from @Mike R bringing the smooth lines and blackberry cedar. Comes off as more Tempranillo than Sangio. — 5 years ago

Jeff Clement

9.0

Would get again — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.1

Cherry, raspberry, dried herb (sage maybe). Definitely an outlier of the turley profile as it is more restrained, elegant, acidic. not as lush or layered as other turleys (4hrs in the fruit is softening up). The bright acidic fruit shows up front but the herbs/earth show up somewhere in the mid palate and dominate the finish. Still well made, and I have no doubt this would be appreciated by those wanting a more elegant style of zin. — 5 years ago

Vinod Peris

9.0

Another Pinot that I like. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Oh yes, this is exactly what I want in my Chardonnay. More Chablis than Côte de Beaune. A sublime mix of tropical fruit, lemon and minerals. Super crisp and wonderfully refreshing. The acid plays on the palate for over a minute. Impeccably well done and such an outlier from other Napa and Sonoma Chardonnays. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

The first of a monster lineup of 5 incredible red wines. For the first 10-15mins, this was actually my favorite. Very high toned and lifted. Bright. Rich red fruits, spicy black fruits, kirsch, sage and potpourri jump from the glass. On the palate, it was the most elegant of the five with Black Forest cake, mulberries, cedar, dark chocolate shavings and baking spices. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab (but it certainly seemed a bit of an outlier compared to the next 4!) — 4 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Matt

9.3

This could be my favorite young vintage of Graillot. The freshness and balance this has is awesome, almost going as far to say there’s tension in what is normally an area that produces lipsmacking Syrah with so much jovial personality. This has a serious side. So much just ripe blackberry, currant, and marion berry fruit, lavender, crack black and pink peppercorn, salt cured olive, iron, animal, licorice, spruce and that classic Graillot tar note. The mid palate and finish wrap the tongue with stony mineraity, the depth too is awesome. The acid and “focus” almost make it an outlier for the house style, but there’s so much class to it. This has dimension and posture, I’m excited to watch it evolve. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Opening salvo in a night of delicious dinner courtesy of Howard Street Wine Merchants and Chef @Paul Kulik , the energy behind Le Bouillon. Our dinner guest was our friend John Paine from Rosenthal. Tonight was an evening of Burgundy, which outside of Chablis and Beaujolais, has always been a challenge for me. This was a delicious opener, if not an outlier. Regardless, a really tasty wine with bright red fruits of notable freshness. Not super complex but unique and always fun to drink Sancerre Rouge. — 5 years ago

Charles Antin

Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys

9.3

Outlier at La Paulee ! — 5 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

Can’t go wrong with the always unique outlier Cayuse in the mix. Raconteur @Shay A brought this and the expected fox fur and raw hot dog bouquet hits you immediately upon initial swirl. Blood and iron everywhere. Like a civil war battlefield. Always fun. — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

2012-2014Royal punishers flight along with the rest of the 2016 turley rattlesnake petite. The 2012 is the outlier with much higher alcohol and weight. The 2013 was my favorite. — 6 years ago