Tom Casagrande

9.0

Happy to see a little baseball (Caribbean Series, but still) as a harbinger of spring during a long climatic and political winter. This wine is intensely earthy, with garrigue-inflected, olivey notes leading the way. Soft and mouthfilling. Loads of Mourvèdre tree-bark flavors. Lots of tannin but it is very fine-grained. Medium low acids. Drinking very well right now. Unique, with lots of character. — a year ago

William Paley

9.3

Quiet brooder.....good for political debate. Tar and graphite, evolves to coffee bean, a little menthol....anise....young sediment, a touch of spring water may turn off some but for me it quiets it down. Fruit is a distant echo. Easy drinking. — 6 years ago

with Jess

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Happy Friday & weekend all. Cheers! 🥂

I don’t often celebrate bad political operatives going to jail but, when I do, it’s for good cause and with a good glass of Rosé Champagne.

My numerous notes still apply. Ruinart is very good and consistent if anything.

Photos of, the House of Ruinart, famous paintings of Dom Thierry Ruinart, their caves and Grand Cru Vineyard. — 7 years ago

Camille Offenbach

9.7

This is Tioga-Sequoia Brewery's Joaquin Murrieta Chili Beer. Where do I start? The terroir? (Fresno, where so many good things come from, grows the chiles, that make this beer a spicy, hot and cold phenomenon) The smog? The heat? The complicated geo-political space? The morlock valley we all are happy to disparage with one side of our mouth while stuffing it's stone fruits in the other? Sharp, hot chile flavor in the front, round, smokey, still hot chile flavor in the back. Lingers a long time on the exhale. A yeasty, wheaty nose doesn't give any of it's secrets away. I haven't seen this gracing the supermarket aisles any where else but Fresno, so if you find yourself there, grab some. 2017 — 9 years ago

Elizabeth Rice

8.9

Charming with flowers, fruit, and leather. Everything is in the nose and front pallet. The finish falls short which is why the 89. Great way to start an evening of laughter at a live political comedy show with Bill Maher! No joke! — 10 years ago

with Pierre

Raymond Domenico

9.2

No longer classified as a Classico because of Chianti's political needs, this family does an amazing job. This is so juicy and fresh, tannin is easily ignored and soft. Cherry cherry cherry — 10 years ago

Megan King

9.0

I'm not the biggest rosé fan. Too bad coz I live in rosé climate. This however was a delight. My friends parents insisted we drink it as its from Bandol an area of Provence known for their rosé. It was dry without the boredom and more structured with a bigger body and tannic without the tart on one hand or sweet on the other. It's a cosmopolitan rosé- enjoyed in NYC, holding its own with political debate or high fashion outfits — 11 years ago

Scott Rapacki

9.0

Early Nov night by the fire… Racy never disappoints! Although, I am disappointed they “rebranded” due to political leaning. — 3 years ago

with Adrienne

Tegan Marriott

9.3

Absolute gusto! Prior: After I Practiced my civil duties , I wanted to ease back in my sipping seat to do some deflecting/reflecting on the last 4 years of this political climate. I can only hope for the best man to win but with this tasty wine in my glass I don't need to stress about who wins because what difference will it really make?! Happy election day everyone!🖐️ — 6 years ago

Flora Bokma

8.9

I most frequently drink California Pinot Noirs. There is quite a big difference between the California PN and Oregon PN. First the color. A California wine will be darker in the glass. This Cristom is pale and purple with hint of rust, but very transparent. it is also more acidic. A California PN is actually quite bold and rich. The Cristom is more complex, I would say, because it is light, but yet it has depth. It is hard to classify because it seems to bounce from left to right ( like the political opinions of some!). It finishes long . I think I could acquire a taste for this stuff. But, for now, it is new and still up for further scrutiny. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.0

Mellow toasty wood notes, pairs great with the PBS NewsHour tonight, mellow news reporting in our recent hectic political times... — 8 years ago

Erin Simpson

9.0

Pair with handmaid's tale and/or political apocalypse. — 9 years ago

Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

9.6

Absolutely terrific wine. Bound to uplift even the most doomy-gloomy mood. As such, it pairs well with political discourse and the prospect of "President Trump." Go ahead, drink those sorrows away. You deserve it.

Beautiful, shimmering golden color. I believe it's actually already deepening with age. (2012 vintage consumed in mid-2016)

On the nose, apricot fruit and unrefined honey dominate but is accompanied with a menagerie of rare and precious aromatics. The result is a feeling of having something truly exotic in your glass. This is a world-class wine for which there could never be any argument over its worthiness. You will be taken by this wine and there's really no way to over-hype it and set the expectation bar too high because this wine will meet it every time.

As we dig in deeper past the obvious top notes, we discover a treasure chest filled with persimmon, sandalwood, white flower, and vanilla bean.

Upon first entry in the mouth you are met with a zippy liveliness but then that melts gently across your palate to really give you a fine, pervasive coating that excites the taste buds in every corner of your mouth. This is a POWERHOUSE of assertive flavor. This wine will stage a veritable coup d'etat upon your complacent palate. There will be an ouster of your resident ennui. No incumbent sense of boredom will be safe from this wave of populist essence. There will be a complete and total transition of power in the halls of your mind's parliament leading to a peaceful but efficacious revolution. With your personal Congress in shambles, this fresh new confederacy shall draft a Constitution that will usher in a new era of utopian cooperation and transcendental civic euphoria!

Sorry, maybe for a little carried away there. For reals though. Drink this wine when you're feeling down and feel the BURN! Well, not really - because the alcohol is really well-integrated. ;) — 10 years ago

constantin a velo

8.9

More of a political statement — 3 years ago

Nina Walton

9.2

On the 15th anniversary of the Slate Political Gabfest. Wowzers! — 6 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Omg earth by which I mean Brett by which I mean the aromas leaping at me like a barnyard sheep leaping over the wineglass moon at my innocent nose. Patience. This brett (unlike political ones) will dial down and in fact help out the rest. Earth and acid and all types of fruits in the barn in the nose and the barn goes away on the palate. Super fun time. Try this. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Sometimes I just don't understand these CT ratings. I don't know if it's political that certain wines get certain scores, or if people actually feel that way. In my opinion, this Chardonnay is worth at least two points from the average sub 90 rating. Popped and poured. Ample weight on the nose and on the front of this wine. Nose of kiwi, and hint of honeydew. The entry of this wine is way more potent. Peach, herbs, mango, medium-plus acidity. Really delightful. I think this wine will develop for another 5 years. — 7 years ago

with Dan

Spinning_spins

9.4

Beautiful, purple, peppery, boysenberry and savory, minerally Syrah, countering what has been a monumentally shitty couple of weeks. And don't tell me not to get political. This is just me and my Syrah talkin, so unfollow if you don't like it. — 9 years ago

garry post

9.3

Woo hoo, very nice. Fig, blueberries, jammy notes, lovely nose of licorice and dense dark fruits. Violets. Geraniums. Plums. Sweet tobacco.

100% Syrah $28 at Plum market.

Big day for us. We'll see what happens.

What kind of political party would be trying to chose between Trump and Cruz?! How about toothache or diarrhea? Crazy. — 10 years ago

garry post

9.1

Delicious. Near perfect. Hope we may have one more in the cellar.

Relaxing after Super Tuesday. Go Hillary!

Presidential political ads on TV here in Michigan one week before our Presidential primary.

May make some drink more... — 10 years ago