Amy Rehagen

9.5

Such beautiful Oregon chard from a classic producer. Well integrated and subtle oak, perfect weight, and crisp acid to reign it in. 🤌🏼 — 3 years ago

Jenks

9.1

Distributor closeout at the local Albertsons. $55 cut to $30, bought it on a whim. Calistoga, not even sure these vines are still standing. Big ripe Napa cab, just exploding with fruit, oak, vanilla, some grip to reign the fruit in a bit. Washed it down with smoked chuck roast, potatoes and a snow storm. — 5 years ago

Ash Finlay

10

Tastes like the mood purple. — 5 years ago

Christopher Losa

Owner/Wine Director Bar Bambino

9.2

the queen of the dolomites continues her reign. benchmark extended maceration from high altitude. — 5 years ago

Kevin Cahoon

9.4

As fine a village Savigny Blanc as I have had. Opens with ripe pear, red apple and lime zest fruit with touch of rusticity. Broad on the entry, the combo of acid and minerals reign it in. Dense apple and tangerine fruit flavors mingle with a bit of wood spice. This was delightful. — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.3

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery offers a series of Belle Meade Bourbons finished in different used casks. The Cognac finish helps reign in the bourbon’s flavors and choreography, coming to a narrower, cleaner point as it leaves the palate. Its aroma was described to me as “eggnog,” a descriptor I find hard to shake. The spirit does find a beautiful combination of suave, warming flavors – cream, cinnamon, clove – as well as a gentle magnolia blossom florality. — 7 years ago

garry post

9.1

Smokey, tobacco, raspberries, spice... Very well done big, complex and engaging Pinot Noir. Plums, some barnyard notes and quite a bit of fruit overall but with a decided oak finish.

Trump ought to resign but it will take the courts, Congress, the media and most of all the people to badger him and his frail ego until he bails out of his criminal reign of terror.

Wine helps us get through these days.

My recollection is that it wasn't inexpensive. — 8 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

There is something special about La Lagune. In my younger days I read an interview with Émile Peynaud where he stated that in the whole of the Médoc there are only a handful of wines that can support 100% new oak: the first growths, Leoville-las-Cases, and maybe La Lagune as it is the most aromatic. The times have changed ever since, but there is some truth in the aromatic side of La Lagune. While I have good memories of some older vintages (1970 and 1982 come to mind), the wines have never been better than under the reign of Caroline Frey. This 2019 is absolutely gorgeous. After 10 minutes in the glass it displays black and red fruits, cedar wood and spices with a hint of lead pencil. In the mouth the 14,5 abv. goes unnoticed as elegance supremes over power. It combines Margaux-like silky finesse with Pessac-Léognan spiciness, the latter especially in the impressively long finish. Moreover it's amazing value. — 4 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Douro Reserva Port Barrel finish. Deep, near black hazy purple. Abundant, port-like nose of dark berries and patent leather. Dark fruit, vanilla, and patent leather reign on the full-bodied palate. Medium tannins. Medium minus acidity. Tastes like a light Port, which is understandable given the varieties and production method. Best with hearty neat stews or roasts, but a nice lighter cigar will work, too. Drink now through 2030. Yes, that’s what I wrote. — 5 years ago

Casey Carden

9.2

Excellent and sweet. Perfect for summer. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Still so surprised seeing a Bevan wine around 14.5ABV! Very much a cab lovers pinot. Grilled black cherry, black peppercorn, potpourri and cedar aromatics. The palate shows candied cherry covered smoked meat and it finishes with cherry liqueur and licorice. Better balance than the ‘14, but less acidity than the ‘16. I believe these wines are made to be consumed young, and with the few years of age here, acidity has mellowed out. While not my typical Pinot to enjoy (this is anti Sonoma Coast, whole cluster type pinots), the flavors are delicious and age has helped reign in this bull in a china shop. — 5 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.2

100% Dolcetto, 13.5% abv, 341 case production.
At first super briary and leather belt lashings reign supreme on both the nose and palate. Later on, as the wine opened up to me, it whispered tellings of a time where rhubarb cobbler and tart cherries fought for a plum's honor with light body armor and a sense of chivalry not seen in centuries past. — 7 years ago

Bob Yoon

9.3

Move over Salice Salentino, this is my new go to pizza wine. It was a good 17 year reign... #cameattheking #didnotmiss — 8 years ago

Lauren

9.5

Very good! One of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs. Very light and refreshing. — 4 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.2

2019. Big strawberry flavors, full body, nice acidity. Great first wine from this Maryland winery. — 4 years ago

Scott Petrus

9.4

From mag. I didn’t know Gamay could taste like this. Unfined and unfiltered this wine had an intense nose and persistent finish. All berry and cherry the producer let the grapes do all the talking. Funky and fresh.

Let chaos reign. — 5 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.1

Terroir and transparency reign supreme here. I would have not been able to tell this was 25 years old at all. Energy fully intact. Actually a great representation of Beaune 1er Cru that can at least be a great accompaniment at the table and stood up for a solid 48 hours opening more as time went on and never lost its gusto. No blockbuster but absolutely worthy. — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

Definitely felt like the biggest wine of the bunch. Oak & spice on the nose with some darker fruit. Great power, but more than enough acidity to reign it in. Wonderfully structured, and it doesn’t take much to convince me this has a long life based on the other bottles we had. Great stuff. — 6 years ago

Bryan Vogt

8.9

Fruit is somewhat muted. Peppery notes reign — 7 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2013 Artist Series Red is an elegant composition of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Malbec, and 3% Cab Franc, with 85% of the fruit sourced from Cold Creek Vineyard. This is also winemaker Bob Bertheau’s favorite wine to blend, one where he’s given free reign. Freshly turned earth, black currants, cassis, sweet tobacco, and kirsch round out the nose. On the palate, it’s softly textured with mouth filling tannins. The balance of tannin to fruit is particularly nice in the Bordeaux-style blend. 14.5% ABV | Sample — 8 years ago