Paul T HB

9.7

Not as dark & opulent as the 97 ZD Reserve. But still another very good properly stored bottle. Cork looks great for the age. A little brickish at the edges . Give it 30-45 minutes to blow off the age. Can’t put it down now, this is a 1 person bottle. Had to give it an extra couple points Parker 88 back in the day. So much better now — 6 years ago

Sonja Richter

10

Normally, I'm not a white wine person. This wine is light and crisp and I really enjoyed it. I might have to rethink liking white wines. — 6 years ago

Joseph Valentin

9.0

Not a big Champagne person but this is truly delicious. — 7 years ago

Jesse Pender

Assistant Winemaker Delicato Family Vineyards

9.3

Lake Nelson had too many sand flies so had to jaunt down the road for 10 minutes to this river campsite. Was only $5 bucks per person for the site. This wine helped heal the wounds of the flies. Dense, killer weight, a touch waxy and plenty oaky. Killer views from their tasting room too. — 7 years ago

Kevin Pierce

9.1

I like this wine. I’m not a big cherry person but this wine has some chocolate in it as well which I like. This will be one of my favorites. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Forgot to add this in on the 4th. The Release Party was a lot of fun and we were lucky enough to meet @Shay Aldriedge in person! Also a solid wine and loved the single vineyards we got to try.

Dark purplish ruby red. Tons of baking spices on the nose with black and dark red fruits. Heavy tannins (8/10) and similar notes on the palate. Full bodied and long finish. Drink till 2030. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Meredith Lyons

9.0

Normally I'm not a savingon blanc person but I loved this! — 9 years ago

Christine Havens

9.1

I received a selection of Catena wines following an interview with Dr. Laura Catena (to her credit, she's an amazing person and a part time ER doc). Her 2014 High Mountain Vines Cabernet displays glorious aromas of black currant, anise, mocha, exotic spice, and cedar. Medium weight, elevation has endowed this Argentine Cab with elegance and silkiness stitched against a backdrop of fine tannins and high acidity. It’s fresh and intense with a finish that flirts with saline-tipped minerality. — 9 years ago

Darren Gale

9.3

I am a Cab person, but this Syrah is fabulous. Light tannins, but great with the beef that we had. — 6 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.1

A different kind of Viognier. This is a full framed person on a strict fitness regimen. Round melon and hibiscus, then zippy citrus acidity. Love this! — 6 years ago

Jon Rapp

8.9

I would drink this at the beach all day long. Multiple bottles per person. it’s a crisp sipper. — 6 years ago

Sheryl Lee

10

Not normally a medium body person but will make an exception for this. Our wedding guests loved it. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

One day wine sale today at all Northern California Whole Foods locations. 20% off all wine. 30% off any six bottles or more. Can’t find this any other place for $59. Knock em down! If you live in another part of the country, you just have to ask the wine department person when they do theirs. Tell the wine person to add you to his email reminder list for pre-order or just the sale date reminder. I believe they do it three times a year. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

If you thought Australian wine weren't for you or just weren't that noteworthy, you haven't had Dan Standish's wines. This is as good as any great producer I've had anywhere. On the nose, boysenberry, blueberries, black raspberries, olallieberries, raspberries, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, Asian spices, raspberry cola, dry stems and brilliantly fragrant violets. The mouthfeel and texture are liquid elegant heaven. 12 years in the bottle and it's just now peaking. On entry, it's a rush of ripe, lush; boysenberry, blueberries, black raspberries, raspberries &raspberry cola. Dark chocolate, darker but mellowed spices with uplifting heat, hint of pepper, loamy moist soils, dusty tannins, crushed dry rocks, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, blue fruit pie with crust, volcanic minerals, liquid fragrant violets, perfect acidity with a finish that doesn't fade and lasts minutes. The tension, length, structure and balance push perfection. photos of; estate with with Dan, wide side shot of the estate, a sample of the soil structure of the vineyard this wine is grown...under the top soil and Dan's estate vines. Producer history and notes...The Standish Wine Company was created in 1999. Dan Standish purchased a small parcel of Old Vine Shiraz from his parent’s vineyard in the heart of the Barossa Valley. The 96-year old vines are planted on the typical sand over clay soil profile characteristic of Vine Vale the sub region of the Barossa Valley. Dan never got a enology degree. He learned on his own traveling to the Rhone Valley. The influence definitely comes out in his wines despite the very different terroirs. He's worked in various regions around the world including; Napa, Sonoma and La Rioja. After he returned to Australia, he eventually became the Winemaker at Torbreck in the Barossa Valley. Interestingly, Dan worked as a chemical engineer prior to his career as a Winemaker. Meeting him for the first time in April was a pleasure. He is a true salt of the earth type of person, with a great sense of humor, who is absolutely passionate about making wine. He marches to his own drum...not at all a person who follows trends or changes styles if something or one becomes successful. His wines are beautifully special if you can find them on Winesearcher or other. He does not have, need nor want a US importer. He sells all his wine through his mailing list. You can order his wines from here but the shipping charges are hugely expensive from Australia. The shipping cost for three bottles were as much as the cost of the three bottles. The quality of his wines will stand in there with any producer world wide. Tasting his new releases in April was impressive. Finding a well aged bottle back in the US to enjoy tonight is simply fabulous! — 8 years ago

barak heller hayun

9.1

this bottle takes me back to Alsace.
i spent a weekend in Strasbourg in 2006 protesting/partying in front of the European parliament that's located there.
no wine was tasted as i sticked to self imported bottle of zubrowka vodka, drops of potent LSD (that were dropped to the tail end of the vodka by a really short vicious smiling man - true story) and local pilsner beer that i remember fondly that's called 'meteor' and came in large 750ml bottles(pretty good ice cold and just ok after the sun warmed up the last 3rd of the bottle).

and now... 13 years later. different tastebuds. but I'm still the same person essentially.

100% pinot gris

off dry officially but feels dry.

14% ABV

pale green 👀

🧀 rind, green apple, pear, very fresh lemon and finely chopped greens👃

full body. I'm guessing the rs helps to build it.
medium plus acidity.

creamy, tart and a bit fruity with added white pepper and maybe even ginger 👄

long lingering pleasent creamy 🎯 like tasty and slightly bitter 🍬

great wine, no doubt about it.
tasty and complex, plays with you and changes every sip, but always superb.

excelent vfm (110 nis). expensive but works hard for your money.

need to try the winery Riesling now.

had it all day on it's own while vacationing.
soft and spicy cheese platter could have helped but I'm too full. — 6 years ago

Amanda Thomas

9.3

Herbaceous, tannic, delicious. Another pick from our wine person at Spec’s. — 6 years ago

with Tim

Jason Keefer

9.6

Transcendent! Almond cream, rhubarb, great with all kinds of food! A very traditional vintage champagne! — 7 years ago

with Natasha

Ellen Clifford

8.9

It’s good. It’s bright. All the ripe grapefruit and lemon and hints of white flower one might wish for. But not something I’d seek out. So I’d call it solid and probably perfect for a person who just wants something bright and perfect but not exceptionally nuanced or interesting. But fucking tasty all the same. — 8 years ago

Jon Nadler

8.9

I would not buy a case of it.... but I would buy it again. Dry. Subtle flavors that you have to look for. I must say I love the person who reviewed this by just stating "goddamn". — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Williams Selyem is one of the most consistent producers of Pinot in Sonoma. They must be farmers at heart because the fruit they grow is always generally very good to excellent. The raspberry flavors in their Pinots always stand out to me when I have them. Not that I'm a points person by any stretch of the imagination, but I've always felt like their wines are under scored by critics. Maybe, because they only score them young and for the most part don't revisit them much later as when I enjoy them. That said, this Russian River is drinking beautifully tonight. Certainly, one of the better 02 Pinots I've had and 02 was a very good year for Pinots generally speaking. The fruits in this 02 are singing after 12years in the bottle. Dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberry preserves, dry cranberries, concentrated pomegranate juice, pronounced spices, sprinkle of light herbs, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, dark fresh & dry florals, gritty chalkiness, grey volcanic minerals & dry stems. The structure is still very sound as is the tension, length and balance. Acidity is near perfect and the round, lush, polished finish doesn't end. — 8 years ago