Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

First, a person has to pause and realize how lucky they are to drink this wine from 3L. Thanks Clyde for opening. This is in a perfect stage. Such evolution, length, balance, structure. Love the lower 80's alcohol levels. It's rich, lush and near perfect. Dark cassis; ripe and resolved blackberries, dark cherries, black plum w/skin, mixed berry liqueur, tobacco leaf, leather so soft you would wish it as a pillow cover, dry pebbles, dark rich earth, perfect acidity and a rich, elegant, ripe dark fruit finish. In 3L, this wine still has 10-15 years. — 9 years ago

Jaume

9.0

Very pleasant wine. The bouquet gave me pause but on the palate there was nice fruit and good rounded structure. — 10 years ago

Brian Monks

9.2

A slight touch of prune gave me pause but a lovely wine — 10 years ago

Paula Dragosh

9.0

By the glass at Pause, check it out. — 10 years ago

Terrance Johnson

9.5

Exceptional after a brief pause and evolution in the glass! Beautiful fruit and balance. — 10 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.7

Tar and roses fix @ Lalimes's on our way to Berkeley Rep. Brief pause in the grape action. — 11 years ago

Grace Hom

9.9

Pause wine bar — 11 years ago

Blake Leyh

9.3

This gave me pause, with an emotional tug of something half remembered, a whiff of memory just beyond reach. Dark, delicious, intriguing, complex but so easy to drink. Fantastic wine. Have yet to be disappointed by a Cabot. — 12 years ago

Said Medina

9.6

This was just stupid haha I quit life for a couple minutes this day. Just when Merlot started disappointing. The Italians said pause, rolled up their sleeves and punched me right in the kisser. Easily one of, if not THEE best Tuscan red I've ever had. Additionally, the best 100% Merlot I've ever had. This wine makes me crazy. I quit. — 9 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.5

Like apple pie, with a perfectly balanced structure--this made me pause, stop, and really enjoy this. — 10 years ago

Jonathan Pytko

9.1

The one liter bottle, topped with a bottle cap, forces pause. But then it's like, shit, should have bought a lot more. Awesome light unpretentious drinker. — 10 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.0

Delicate and silky. After my long run of northern rhone in the last week this is like a petite little girl dressed in white. I had to pause between bites of pizza to really take moments with this. Very silky and floral with just a hint of cherry, and a hint of mineral and earth. Smooth sailing in a cool weather chill. Taste a bit of fog rolling in. — 10 years ago

Justin Hansohn

8.9

Sweet tarts, the pink cherry ones, and just a hint of spree, the coating, that initial metallic sour shock. Head change keeps getting foggy...the cloud spirits are strong in here. I keep thinking I'm tasting chalk but then I keep feeling like I'm tasting ocean clouds. I'm having a fun time with this right now at work but this bottle calls for a day of rain or a windy pause in the hills. The confusion of this drink is tricky. It took twice around to have these evaluations and perhaps its ready now but then again maybe the fog becomes something pretty in the end...but when? — 10 years ago

with Arturo

Philipp Detscher

9.2

Jesus H... What a wine. I was a little skeptical at first, but the recommendation came from high. Judging by colour alone I was a little spooked. But man, oh man did this foreign little grape impress. Super floral on the nose, which isn't usually my style, but a nice crispy lime finish made this medium body vin perfect for the flounder we were baking. I had to continuously consciously pause and make sure I wasn't chugging it down . Pairs well with Steve McQueen movies. — 12 years ago

Dmitri

9.4

Light chocolate, bitter fruit notes, quaffable without a pause — 9 years ago

Malcolm (Dan) Powell

9.0

The Thinker Is Right. This Spanish Galicia Region wine touches your lips and causes you to pause with expectations of smooth and tasteful Irish home made whiskey! Instead it delights your pallet with the full taster of mixed citrus Great cross over with Snow Crab Claws, Fresh Oysters, & Gulf Coast Red Bud Garlic Shrimp. Let's Think Again Real Soon — 9 years ago

with Lisa

Chaad Thomas

Owner, First Tier Imports

9.5

This was unexpectedly deep garnet, bricking pretty heavily, so that gave some pause. Balsamic and tar on nose reassured, and in the mouth, the high detailing and supple texture carried a milk chocolatey note over classic elements of dried rose, savoury mineral and tanned leather. Fruit was perfectly interested, along bitter cherry lines, yet juicy and succulent. Long, harmonious finish proved perfectly resolved tannins. Wow! Despite atypical features, this was clearly Barolo, and an utter joy to drink, satisfying at every step. — 10 years ago

Christy Canterbury MW

Master of Wine

9.0

Another Chilean Pinot Noir that makes me pause. Gulpable, savory, balanced...black plum, black currant, underbrush, smoke, tar. Full on sexy. — 10 years ago

Vin Naturel

9.1

Les Débonnaires 2011 – Chinon de Luc Sebille


Qui ne nous jalouse pas ce soir aurait bien tord. Qui n’a jamais goûté Les Débonnaires devrait en faire de suite une des priorités de sa vie ou, à défaut, de la fin de cette semaine. Il y a des choses qui dépassent leur statut, et ce Chinon fait partie de ces choses qui nous font dire que le vin…c’est souvent autre chose que du vin.

La dégustation :

Réduit à l’ouverture et légèrement perlant, ce Cabernet Franc issu d’un sol argilo-calcaire ne met pas longtemps à révéler tout son potentiel. Au nez : le cassis remplit l’espace olfactif et laisse percevoir des accents de feuilles et de mousse sur une légère pointe de framboise poivronée. C’est top !

En bouche : les sensations sont belles, c’est soyeux et fruité et le charme opère immédiatement c’est rond, facile avec ce qu’il faut de matière et de longueur. Un très bel équilibre en somme, sans lourdeur, tout en étant désaltérant. Une buvabilité parfaite ! Vous l’aurez compris, si vous croisez Les Débonnaires, faites-en votre affaire !

On avait aussi adoré le vin de pause 2010, un superbe Chinon, qu’on vous conseille vivement !

Profitons-en aussi pour rappeler la définition de débonnaire, que beaucoup d’entre-nous ne connaissent pas :

On dit d’une personne « débonnaire » qu’elle est bienveillante, humble et généreuse : avec une tendance à se montrer secourable et favorable à autrui.

C’est ce qu’on lit sur la contre-étiquette de cette bouteille et tout porte à croire que Luc Sebille n’est pas étranger à cette définition . — 10 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.7

Too young, I know but a sale is a sale. Its present beauty gives me pause, but it will be staggering in 20 years. — 12 years ago