David Kline

9.5

Medium viscosity; dark, glass-painter. Warm cherries in black and deep red with brownie and tiramisu notes. Nano star anise, black pepper, and tea. These on the nose. Sublime mouthfeel showcases the blackberry, black currant, boysenberry, coffe and sweet tobacco notes that rotate into a persistent resonance.

#outpost #howellmountain #napa #cabernet #cab #cabernetsauvignon #cawine #mountainfruit — 7 months ago

with Courtney

David Shaw

8.9

Flavored with saffron, toasted fennel, star anise. Golden brown, excellent clarity. Light carbonation, head disappears quickly after pour, pinpoint bubbles. Apple, anise and saffron-floral notes in nose. Anise flavor in first sip, followed by mix of apple and anise flavors. Saffron comes through as light perfumed note throughout. Slightly tart malic aftertaste, with mix of apple pulp and saffron astringency. The cider here is a medium for showing off the botanical additions, much of the apple character gets lost in its role as the canvas, with the cider maker in the role of the painter. The botanicals are the colors at play in this, er, painting. (Belabored, ain’t it? Basically it’s a portrait in contrasts). Pleasant enough but not my favorite since so many of their ciders soar by comparison. Well made and interesting in an analytical way, however. — 6 years ago

Andrew

9.2

Full bodied and smooth. Blackberry, cherry, plum and nice peppery spice. Very good length. Although near the end of the bottle I had some sediment in my glass so drink up! Paired nicely with top sirloin. 87% Zinfandel, 7% Valdiguie, 5% Syrah and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. — 10 years ago

Emily Mcilhinney

9.8

My ideal Chardonnay- different, unique

Manchester wine tour @ sterling bar Bruised melon, burnt lime. almond, popcorn, smoky bacon, damp pavement — 10 months ago

William Paley

9.7

Grapes from hell. Off-dry, acid dab, rock-lick, gorgeous texture. This sh1t is on point! The struggle for life as depicted by a painter - makes you weep with incredulousness. Sugar-frosted bandaids and plantain-skin visions on the second day, if you can get there. Royal leanings. Sun-stroked skin. Impeccable scale. Dig it. — 5 years ago

with Jess

Christine Havens

9.1

Another standout producer from a recent tasting, Bruno Paillard is a new discovery for me, and I find myself wondering how it is I've never tasted it before. "...putting together a wine is very like for a painter carefully choosing the origin of colours." As a trained fine artist and former winemaker, I could not agree more. The Première Cuvée boasts classical lines and multi-faceted beauty, one first notices the extremely fine mousse, followed by razor-sharp minerality, oyster shells and bubbles. — 9 years ago

Monika Pitchford

9.6

Abouriou cotes du marmandais at a cote with painter/Tuggle — 11 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. Etalon Rouge is a tiny 1,46 hectares vineyard (1,26 ha red with 100% Cabernet sauvignon and 0,20 ha white with 100% Sauvignon blanc) situated in the Blaye appellation, but sold as Bordeaux AOC. One of the best kept secrets in Bordeaux, the estate was owned by Gérard Depardieu and Bernard Magrez, followed by painter Thierry Bisch, and today by a group of 10 wine lovers worldwide. Maître de chai these days is Clarissa Schaefer, who is also a very talented painter. With her husband Leslie she owns the wine bar/shop La Petite Cave in Blaye, a must-visit if you are in the region, but they ship worldwide too. The wines of Etalon Rouge are fabulous and are sold on allocation only. The tiny cellar in the centre of Blaye is well worth a visit. This 2018 white is a terrific example of the potential greatness of perfectly ripe Sauvignon blanc in Bordeaux. Aged in French oak with stirring of the lees. Complex nose with white stone fruit (mirabelle, peach), ripe pear, a distinctive minerality and a hint of fresh rosemary. Concentrated and profound with enough acidity to balance the richness and alcohol (abv. 14,5%) in this warm vintage. The oak is hardly noticeable and the mineral finish is impressively long. Take your time to let it warm up to 14 degrees Celsius to capture all the complexity of this beauty. If you are lucky enough to find a bottle. — 5 years ago

Loren Semones

9.5

Mild Tempranillo on the sweeter side. Love the label w/ Spanish painter Gris artwork — 7 years ago

Christine Havens

9.3

Another standout producer from last week's tasting in Chicago held by the Champagne Bureau, Bruno Paillard is a new discovery for me, and I find myself wondering how it is I've never tasted it before. Stated on their website, "putting together a wine is very like for a painter carefully choosing the origin of colours" as a trained fine artist and former winemaker, I could not agree more. The Première Cuvée boasts classical lines and multi-faceted beauty, one first notices the extremely fine mousse, followed by razor-sharp minerality, oyster shells and persistent bubbles give way to layers of brioche, citrus, orchard fruit, and more nuanced aromas of raspberries and Queen Anne's cherries As for this author, Bruno Paillard is instantly a new favorite. Sample — 9 years ago