Rebels & Grapes
Heitz Cellar
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017
A beautiful Chardonnay! Only 15 acres planted with grapes grown in Rutherford (warmer with rich ripe fruit) & Oak Knoll (cooler with fresh acidity in grapes). Pale lemon, with fresh & crisp citrus & stone fruit aromas, no malolactic ferm. Palate shows peach, apple & Asian pear flavors, with lemony & toasty notes, lively acidity & balance with touch of vanilla oak (9 months of French oak aging (25% new & 1-year old, remainder neutral oak). Long finish ending with fruit, spice & biscuit notes. Nice Value! — 5 years ago
Domaine des Rutissons
La Bete Vin de France Red Blend 2018
What a nose. Mondeuse like but made from many wacky grapes. Fresh and deep .More later.
After 4 hours open.
Nose is dusty earthy and loads of berry fruit. Mineral and precise with just loads of fruit on the nose. So pure. Palate has loads of crunchy berry fruit that is blue and black with light tannin and terrific freshness. Sappy and even a little complex. Great value. — 6 years ago
Domaine Tempier
Bandol Rosé Blend 2015
The 2015 Tempier Rosé is drinking marvelously after a few years. The grapes used to make this rosé come from selected parcels where the vines are on average 20-years-old. This wine immediately awakens to aromas of rose water, lemon zest, smoke and ripe guava that are simply sensational. The palate unveils a wonderful concentration and a gorgeous, soft texture. Guava purée and red cherry candy flavors connect with suggestions of blood orange toward the back end. Truly delightful to savor now, this beautiful Rosé will continue to evolve in the cellar over the next decade. Drink 2019-2028- 92 — 7 years ago
Le Piane
Maggiorina vino rosso 2014
An absolutely delicious field blend (Nebbiolo, Croatina, some other local characters including white grapes) to drink while we're waiting for its more serious Piedmontese cousins to come around. Spicy, fruit forward, feather light, one of those bottles that just disappears. — 8 years ago
Descendientes de José Palacios
Pétalos Bierzo Mencía 2013
Grabbed a bottle I had in my cellar. Nice blend of 4 grapes from the Bierzo Valley. Deep red color with Lighter edges with tons of Berry fruit on the nose adding some sweet floral spice. The smooth soft palate shows cherries, raspberries, and blueberries with a mineral tang. Well balanced with integrated dusty tannins, lively acidity and a smokey dry finish that lingers nicely, excellent structure. Tremendous value. — 9 years ago
Grapes of Roth
Merlot 2012
My favorite! — 9 years ago
Beaulieu Vineyard
Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Still needs a serious swirl in the decanter for full enjoyment. Watch out for the fruit flies! These nefarious buggers are officially in abundance now that the grapes are harvested and fermenting (Oct 2014). — 11 years ago
The Mascot
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
#Memorialday
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from a great vintage in Napa Valley.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Showing black fruits with chocolates, earth, cedar, spices, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, vanilla, licorice and light vegetables.
Dry on the palate with a long finish and fine grained tannins.
Good right out of the bottle, but really needs a few hours to open up properly and show the tannins, which we did not have this time, as it finished way too quickly.
This 8 year old is still young, and would age nicely in the next 15 years.
Showing great complexity with a smooth, soft and delicate mouthfeel. Rich yet elegant, with a spicy finish.
Grapes come from the younger vines of BOND, Harlan Estate and Promontory.
I paired it with a nice piece of steak and baked potatoe.
94 points.
$170. — 5 years ago
Orin Swift
Mannequin California Chardonnay 2017
A blend of (changes each vintage) mostly Chard, with Sauv Blanc and Muscat, aged in 35% new French oak for 8 mos. Grapes sourced from some new AVA’s this year, Sonoma Coast, RRV, Santa Lucia Highlands & Atlas Peak AVA’s. Pale lemon with aromas of stone & citrus fruits with complex floral spice. The palate shows flavors of peach and apple with hints of sweet lemon, vanilla and wet stone. The wine is well balanced with integrated oak, crisp, lively acidity and a long finish ending with pepper & mineral. Nice! — 5 years ago
Baron-Fuenté
Grande Réserve Brut Champagne Blend
Pretty sure I haven’t had a better bottle of Champange at $24.99 and even some higher.
The nose reveals; bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, soft honeycomb, oysters, sea spray, baguette crust, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies.
The entry is clean, fresh, rich and lively. Bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, golden apple, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, caramel, soft honeycomb, sea fossils & spray, baguette crust, nice white spice with some palate heat, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies. Crisp lively acidity. The finish is refreshingly delicious, well balanced, good, seamless, delineation, nice polish and persists with spice for several minutes on the long set.
Photos of; The House of Baron Fuentes, grapes at harvest, Proprietor Eric De Brisis and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 6 years ago
Ferrari-Carano
Sonoma County Chardonnay 2016
Family-owned and operated since 1985. Found a ‘16 vintage in my cellar. Grapes sourced from several vineyards, complex aromas of fruits, citrus & sweet spice. On the palate ripe fruits, apple, pear and peach with lemon citrus and vanilla adding toasty oak. French oak aging, great balance, lingering ending with toasty oak finish. I continue to have this wine as a staple in my cellar for a number of years. Enjoy! Great value, compared to Chards costing more! — 6 years ago
Grapes of Roth
Dry Riesling 2016
Almost a sauv blanc. Apple and a bit tart. — 8 years ago
Adesso
Romagna Cagnina Dolce Refosco
This Italian wine is unique. Floral Aromas and berries. Slightly sweet on first taste , labels says finishes of candied violets. I have never tried candied Violets. Might have to try them sometime. When you are looking for a wine that has a subtle sweetness but does not taste syrupy this is it! Yum . I have never had Refresco grapes. Very interesting flavor. DULCE!!!!!!! — 8 years ago
Masi
Brolo Campofiorin Oro Rosso del Veronese Corvina Blend 2009
Made with Oseleta grapes which give the wine a unique character and complementing the Veronese grapes. Deep red with aromas of dark Berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate, this full body wine shows ripe jammy Berry fruits, a touch of and cacao with sweet vanilla spice. Fine smooth tannins, generous oak and well balanced. You can taste the dried grapes (dried for 2 months) on the long lingering finish. A great value. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago
Elouan
Oregon Pinot Noir 2014
Grapes sourced from Oregon Valleys of Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue. These cool climates enable a longer growing season, giving an intense structure. Deep Ruby with ripe Berry fruit flavors and sweet spice. The 2014 is a bit richer than 2013, with ripe fruit, raspberry, cranberry and strawberry, with cinnamon spice. On the finish, vibrant acidity, great balance and a touch of earthiness with subtle tannins. Tasting Sample (also tasted 2013). — 9 years ago
Roccolo Grassi
Valpolicella Superiore Corvina Blend 2004
This is a Valpolicella blend without Molinara but with some Croatina. Grapes come from volcanic soils of San Briccio Cru, near Mezzane. 2004 is a 4-stars vintage, great texture and softness, highly enjoyable after 10 years. — 11 years ago
Azienda Agricola Zýmē
Kairos Veronese Corvina Blend
Should be called a super Tuscan .
Made from 15 different grapes — 11 years ago
Dominio de Pingus
PSI Ribera del Duero Tempranillo 2018
Wow what a good wine, just had to try again!! A blend of 86% Tinta del País/Tempranillo (from old vineyards), 12% Garnacha and 2% other grapes, including whites. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe fresh fruits, herb and complex spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and strawberry with vanilla oak and cacao. Good balance, fine elegant tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit and earthy character. Very nice! I grabbed a few bottles to see how this ages, check back!! — 5 years ago
Azienda Agricola COS
Pithos Rosso Vittoria Nero d'Avola Frappato 2016
Made with organic grapes consisting of 60% Nero d’Avola/40% Frappato; aged in clay amphorae. It’s clean & expressive with an elegant balance & structure. Noticeable earthiness, spices and berries makes this an immediate crowd pleaser. Cheers🍷 — 6 years ago
Testalonga
El Bandito King of Grapes Grenache 2014
Monvínic. Club 50 Sep-18.
14.12.19 — 6 years ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley Red Blend 2013
Fruit forward. Strong dark grapes.. — 6 years ago
Domaine Viret (Domaine de l'Ecu)
Fratis "Love & Grapes" Syrah
Beautiful pure expression of syrah. — 7 years ago
Boekenhoutskloof
The Chocolate Block Cinsault Blend 2015
South African blend of mostly Rhône grapes. Similar nose to fuller Southern Rhône blend, perhaps Vacqueyras. Notes of blackberry, violet, black pepper, cocoa nibs. Dry, medium to full body on the palate. — 8 years ago
Dirty & Rowdy
Familiar Blanc California White Blend 2015
Get in line! These guys are killing it. Blend of a bunch of grapes but this is knocking it out of the park with complexity, verve, tension. — 8 years ago
Field Recordings
Fiction Paso Robles Zinfandel Blend 2014
Really enjoyed this. Fruit forward, lots of red fruit. Strawberry, grapes, very lush and juicy. Great length, not astringent at all — 9 years ago
Allegrini
Palazzo della Torre Veronese Corvina Blend 2007
Third time trying this wine, opened the day before. From my father’s cellar. Something very interesting that I found out about this estate is that they air dry 30% of the grapes before they begin the fermentation process. The color is dark opaque garnet red with the brownish edges. Within the nose there are a lot of sweet berries or prunes. As it opened up more some brown sugar and hard candy came with the nose. The palate was very interesting, because of how sweet the nose smelt compared to the palate. The mouthfeel started off very sweet and light then changed to full and lingering finish. A little fur dancing across the tongue drying out my mouth. Soft/light start across the tongue and then spikes mid to end of the tongue. Not yet at the end of its life, probably has about two or so years left in it. Very interesting varietal that I need to get more experience with. Great QPR, especially for an Italian wine and only for $19. — 10 years ago
Alder Yarrow
Wine Blogger Vinography
Blinded by the light. There’s something ineffable about this blend of three grapes, that has seamlessly woven them together to be greater than the sum of its parts. Like an antique glass window shining in the evening sunlight, 48% Friulano, 41% Ribolla Gialla, and 11% Chardonnay meld into a synesthesia of sunlight, burbling mountain stream and white flowers. Pear skin, lemon pith, grapefruit and wet stones soar through a gorgeous arc, with small bursts of chamomile. Outstanding. 2018 Massican “Annia” White Blend, Napa, California. @massicanwinery rocks it, as usual. — 5 years ago