Jim McCusker

9.4

Reached pretty far back in the cellar for this one. Pax Mahl was making some terrific wines out of his eponymous winery (Obsidian and Griffin’s Lair were my favorites), until some sort of flare-up between him and Joe Donelan eventually resulted in them splitting the vineyard accesses between them and shutting down the winery. After 15 years, this wine is still going strong. Great example of a cooler climate north coast syrah. — 3 years ago

with Vanessa

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

@Delectable Wine this is the 2017 Gottfried Mocke Wine Projects Cape Winemakers Guild Pinot Noir.

Our first time every at the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction and we will make sure to come back! (Tasting was on 9/28/18).

Fifteenth wine at the Friday Auction Tasting for the Cape Winemakers Guild and the fourth red wine. This is made up of 100% Pinot Noir by Gottfried Mocke from the Kaaimansgat vineyard (Crocodile's Lair) in the Overberg region in the Western Cape. Aged for a total of fifteen months in 50% new oak barrels prior to bottling. Only 60 cases produced with 40 being auctioned in 2018.

Medium ruby red with garnet edges. Layered nose with an attack of leather, followed up by dark cherries and fresh twigs. Medium acidity (6/10) and well integrated with a medium body. Rich palate with complex layers of dark berries, spices, gravel and touch of twigs. Well refined and seems to have some good aging potential. Long finish. Drink till 2029.

$$ - Tasted at the Cape Winemakers Auction. Average bid at auction was R3,880.00 ($45.64 a bottle) a case. Highest bid was R4,800.00 ($56.46 a bottle) and lowest bid was R3,200.00 ($37.64 a bottle).

#gottfriedmocke #pinotnoir #overberg #southafrica #cwgauction #cwg #redwine
— 6 years ago

with Sean and India

Steve Mitchell

8.9

Hoot hoot.........Mild tannins, smooth finish — 6 years ago

jim bryan

9.2

Barnard's Lair — 7 years ago

Michael Sinowitz

9.3

After we had the arbor roberts' griffi's lair, the friendly somm at Bowery meat co recommended this red. Always great to have wine from Justin Smith's vineyard and this is made by someone who worked with him at Saxum. Rich, dense, plush, and the complexity and acidity I associate with this vineyard. — 7 years ago

with Jennifer, Robin and 1 other

Jim McCusker

9.0

One of the single vineyard offerings from Pax Mahl's winery (before he and Joe Donlan parted ways), this syrah has evolved nicely over the past decade. Doesn't possess the depth of Griffin's Lair nor the intensity of Obsidian, but is still a nice example of the type of syrah one finds in the warmer parts of Russian River. Probably still has a few years of life left, but I suspect it's starting on its decline so I'd recommend drinking this sooner rather than later. — 7 years ago

with Vanessa

Rocky Fagioli

9.2

Great Pinot flavors Wi — 4 years ago

Ernst Blofeld

9.1

Minerals. Granite. Citrus. All the ingredients needed for a light evening in the lair. Now to find the missiles. — 5 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.0

Asian spice, smoke!, dark fruit. Medium-light. Good wine! — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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10

The 2016 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides has been nothing less than stunning on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. A wine of extraordinary purity and depth, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. The richness and power are simply breathtaking. Bacon fat, smoke, grilled herb and lavender are woven into a graceful, seamless core of inky blue/purplish fruit. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 remains remarkably light on its feet. The Sonoma-Hillsides is a blend of fruit from Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffin's Lair and Walker Vine Hill, done with 100% whole clusters and aged in a combination of concrete and neutral oak, with no SO2. I am not sure how the 2016 will age, but I am also not sure it will matter, as most bottles will be long gone before that is an issue. Quite simply, the Sonoma-Hillsides is a total pleasure bomb and a modern-day benchmark for Syrah in California. Don't miss it! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2018) — 6 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.6

Talk about sexy! And the wine was great as well. My first post after a bit of a hiatus from Delectable. In San Diego for a meeting and was able to sneak away for a few sips. Thanks so much to @Bill Bender for generously making time to host me at his lair, perched high above the city looking down on the harbor, for great friendship, conversation, and of course, killer juice. The initial notes of stewed plums and spice blew off after a bit of time in the decanter, revealing layers of deep, rich voluptuous fruit and earthy minerals. Almost surprisingly youthful and powerful at 15, this will continue to evolve for a long time. One of my favorite Burgs. Thanks again, Bill!!! — 7 years ago

with Bill

Kellie Stocker

8.9

Easy afternoon winter wine. Love the hints of dark chocolate! — 7 years ago

Eric Vishria

8.9

Solid but very simple and straightforward. — 7 years ago

Carina Clark

9.0

Crisp CH, not overall Oakes. Stone fruit notes and citrus finish — 4 years ago

Robert Glunt

9.0

Very tanic and closed off on first blush, but delicious after some decanting and some air. — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.2

Syrah seemingly in the zeitgeist right now so I picked up this 2011 Coulet. Wow - it's so different than the Cote Rotie I just had. I know syrah can run the gamut but this is radically different. Biodynamic, low so2, neutral oak & concrete. Not really Vin de Garde; Not really Vin de Soif...

So what then? Certainly intense. Plum & liqueur-like raspberry notes that are both in-your-face "sexy" & "scary" at the same time. Even more prevalent than the fruit are the aromas of menthol, acetate, & iron. Nearly akin to robitussin - & I mean that in the best way possible. It's weirdly delicious & syrah freaks will get it.

Unfortunately, the regular consumer might find it to be too much. The slight volatility is both good & bad. It dials up the fruit's sweetness, giving the wine body & texture. But also amps up the medicinal quality. This is not a wine to guzzle & ignore. Admirably, not subtle.

Coincidentally this wine reminds me Pax - who is getting a lot of attention right now & rightfully so. I have't tried the new 100 point Hillside bottle yet (though I have one ready), but I've always been a huge fan of his wines for a long time. My favorite site he works with is Griffins Lair & I believe I've tasted every vintage of it going back to 2002. Those original vintages are bigger & riper (which I still love & fuck you hipsters for not), but even back then Pax never used superfluous new oak, sulfites, yeasts etc.. Yes, they were broad shouldered wines but they were pure & unmasked - like this Cornas. Some of the early 2000s Griffins Lair had a slight volitility that came across as kirsch sweetness. It's an interesting balance that punctuates the varietal character perfectly - & it demands your attention while doing it.

This Cornas is not some delicate wine that somms gush over; nor is it a slick, parkerized wine without sense of place. It's something else. A wine for the true syrah aficianado. The audience is small but those who can appreciate it, will appreciate it. If you like weirdness, intensity, complexity & the flavors to scream at you from the glass, this is your wine.

#cornas #syrah #coulet #biodynamic #pax #coterotie #rhone #northernrhone #rhonevalley — 6 years ago

Brittany Whitmore

9.6

so good! Easy drinkijg. — 7 years ago

jim bryan

9.3

Barnard's lair 2017 — 7 years ago

Stephen Jackshaw

9.4

This is massive. Rolando Pinot from Griffins Lair drinks like classic Bordeaux almost. — 7 years ago

Kaushal Kantawala

9.1

Amazing pinot! — 8 years ago