Mark Flesher

9.1

A bit on the quirky side. I really have no idea where this wine is in the spectrum of things. It definitely isn't done, but it has a big hole in the middle. The nose is fruitcake and cola. The entry is pretty big and rounded. Powerful fruit. At first the middle was dead, but after 30 minutes it really started to come around and showed some cinnamon, spice, nutmeg. The finish became a little more acidic. Slight toasted tannin finish. Really impressed. I have stayed away from opening these mainly because I thought they were all dead, but curiosity killed the fat cat and the result was MUCH better than expected. — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.2

Pleasure to drink. Wish it wasn't so expensive. For a 16 yo drop, this was showing good energy. Reductive when open, then it was all that soy and mushroom on the nose, some delicate fruit - almost somewhat ripe - on the palate. Solid finish, with a still present acid. Can't say I could taste the Vosne terrior though, perhaps a result of age. — 9 years ago

Robert Sherman

9.0

Excellent. Smooth. Nice nose, of rich red berries. A bit dry. Medium to full bodied. Complex and well structured. Decanter for an hour before for best result. Nice blend' — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The Backus Vineyard is on a steep hillside in the low end of the Vaca mountains...across from Rudd Vineyards and Screaming Eagle. It's a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot & 1% Malbec. Tonight, it's showing elegant evolution. The tannins are about at the halfway point in their evolution. It has a slightly jammy character. The fruits are; ripe to dry blackberries, spiced plum, dark cherries, touch of blueberries, black raspberries & raspberries come on late, coffee grounds, spice-box, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, mocha chocolate, a nice woody barrel toast comes through mid palate, black licorice anise, dry stems, black tea, dry florals & fresh violets, dry hay, rich semi-sweet black earth, dry crush brown volcanic rocks and the acidity is perfect. The wine is in a good place tonight with a 3 hour decant. The structure, balance, length and finish are outstanding. The finish goes on and on. It's; ruby, lush, thick, round, elegant with just the right amount of spice and earth. The first bottle in a set of three. I would have the next bottle in 5-8 years. Guessing, the last bottle in another 3-7 years depending on the showing of the second bottle. Sweet dark cassis nectar. — 9 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.0

Went really well with the pepperoni pizza. — 10 years ago

with Ilida

Cayla Dee Porter

9.4

Really liked the color, it had a nice body and very fruit forward, but not to much. — 10 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.2

When tasted years ago at the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri this was IMO a basket case. I was regretting my earlier purchase and as a result never purchased another vintage. Similar to a juvenile delinquent who turned their life around. I do not know how the components integrated but they did. Lots of of red fruit and plums with a streak of soil. A medium finish with persistent tannins to remind you what neighborhood you were in. — 11 years ago

Gab Floramica

9.0

Not normally a fan of barrique... however, credit where credit is due and the result is velvety, intense, and "in-check" — 11 years ago

Andrew Stover

Sommelier/Wine Director Oya & Sei, Wine Blogger ChiefWino, Founder Vino50

9.5

2013 Bedell 'First Crush' White, North Fork of Long Island. Blend of Chardonnay, Riesling & Sauv Blanc. Only 11.5 abv. A fresh #summer white with green apple, cantaloupe and lime peel notes. Crisp and zesty. The way summer should taste. #wine #sommelier #nywine @bedellcellars — 12 years ago

jarred gild

Head Wine Buyer Western Market

9.7

going to crush a bottle of this with panettone and satsumas xmas morning. — 13 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.8

Bottled just a few months ago, the 2015 Continuum is shaping up to be a real gem. The flavors are dark, bold and incisive. In 2015, poor weather during flowering took with it 50% of the production in Continuum's prime Cabernet Sauvignon blocks. As a result, the 2015 has a high percentage (31%) of Cabernet Franc. Today, the Franc is keeping the wine a bit clenched, but that should be less of an issue as time passes. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.4

Asahi Shuzo is one of the very few breweries that offers Junmai Daiginjo in multiple seimaibuai and keeps everything else remains roughly the same. As a result, you can experience how seimaibuai affects the end result. At 39% seimaibuai, it's priced right between the 50 and 39. Interestingly, it has slightly darker colour and bigger body than its siblings. Similarly nose with different finish. A little more forward than the 50 and 23 and sharp pineappley finish. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Deep Crimson in colour. Closed to begin with as a result of the Wine Fridge set a little cold. Aromas of currant, blackberry, roast meats, tar and liquorice. As the wine warmed up a hint of violets came through. None of the ashtray notes I have had with previous Spanish Monastrels. Palate is ripe, full bodied and obviously from a warm climate. From near Alicante on the east coast of Spain and therefore very Mediterranean. Ultra savoury with robust tannins. Aged in 500 litres Oak Barrels so the Oak is not overdone. Overall a fairly masculine wine and not particularly liked by my better half! Tasted 2nd and last bottle 107 weeks later on 18th April 2019. Ultra savoury / so much so that the fruit is masked. Aromas of tar and violet with a certain rusticity. Medium to full bodied with fine grainy tannins. — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.9

Picked this up off the shelf at Crush a few hours before dinner. Might of been the best bottle I have had yet. Wow. Amazing concentration, graphite, tobacco, and dark fruit. Great stuff @Jason Chang @Martin G Rivard wish you guys were here. Add this to the list of must have in the cellar. — 10 years ago

Jenks

9.1

Had this Aligoté from Bouzeron couple of months ago and was impressed. Revisited last night, same result, fucking love this, and why wouldn't it be awesome with neighboring villages of Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet. I'll throw $28 at this all day. — 10 years ago

Pia Rix

9.6

Very smooth. Not too sweet, at all, with hints of vanilla bean and a subtle spice. Would love to keep on hand! — 10 years ago

John Willison

9.0

Bright salmon color. Subdued nose. Bright strawberry fruit, watermelon rind, and a slightly earthy finish. Solid. — 10 years ago

Justin B

9.0

Nice dry fruity wine. Not sure what it's a blend of but very nice. Good pic Gils! — 11 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.4

Improbable combo of bright red fruit - straw bomb! - and pert minerality. They find a middle ground. Color is cranberry - thus emerging as my holiday aperitif of choice. In all seriousness, it's dry but not too dry for before d, redolent of herbs and delish red fruit, peach fuzz, and general fabulosity. *crush this for holiday* — 12 years ago

Francis Wilden

Director Francis Wilden Food & Wine Consulting

9.0

10 Etna: made from nerello mascalese, v Pinot appearance, mid wt red now lightening at meniscus; Pinot like nose of red berry, earth, quite cx; lovely floral / rose fl attack, light to medium bodied with tannins starting early and finishing IT dry. V interesting. — 12 years ago

Ryan M

9.3

Yes 93. Extremely smooth and dark purple. Cherries, Blackberries, clove, wet moss, cedar, pine, and tobacco. Resembles an $80 bottle from the mountains.

Winemaker Notes
Dark and rich, the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas and flavors of blackberry and ripe plum, with hints of clove and earthiness. Notes of brown spice and vanilla enhance the palate for a lusciously full mouthfeel, culminating in a long finish. 7% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Petite Sirah, 1.5% Cabernet Franc.

Since 1978, William Hill Winery has produced wines from the cool southern regions of Napa Valley, including the Silverado Bench and the Carneros districts. The winery specializes in Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, producing Reserve and Napa Valley bottlings. Chardonnay grown in the cool climate and well-drained soils of Carneros typically offer brighter, more intense flavors and higher acidity than grapes grown in the richer soils and warmer temperatures at the upper end of the Napa Valley. The result are Chardonnays that are highly complex and multi-layered with crisp, bright flavors. — 9 years ago

with Larissa

Weijie Shi (Jay)

8.9

Red fruits dominate, with a lot of game, bacon component and a crush of black pepper. Very different from the Pegau one I've had before. This is very approachable, gentler than Gigondas. 2010 vintage — 9 years ago

Matt Trader

9.0

Yes, young but I wanted to see what 14 is all about in Pessac. Dark bramble fruits, vanilla, leather notes, and velvety tannins, even at young age like this, and a bit of crush rocks. Paired this with a Portuguese soft shell clam recipe with Coriço. Melded well with the spices. — 9 years ago

Paul Weil

9.0

White Barbera! This was one of the "fantasy" wines announced by "Superman's Pal' and crowdfunded by us Naked Angels. The result is well worth it. A deep straw color with a ring of orange, this is not overly sweet like a white Zinfandel or white Grenache, but has around the amount of residual sugar one might expect from a Pinot Grigio or dry Riesling. The mouthfeel is slightly creamy with a pleasant orange-pomelo flavor, conveying just enough tartness to balance the sugar. While I enjoyed my first bottle as an afternoon cocktail wine, I am reserving my second
to pair with spicy Asian cuisine. Cheers to Mr. Olsen's "Super" fantasy! — 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

Paul Mills

9.5

Funk and more funk. I love it. — 10 years ago

Steve The Wine Guy

Cellarbrations at Cottesloe Western Australia, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)

9.2

Great intensity and a well balanced linear acidity that expands and freshens the pallet start to finish. Also the result of 4+ hours decanting. Loving this! — 11 years ago

David Cesar

9.1

Bought it for $5.50. Tastes like a good $20 bottle of wine. Smells like pop-tarts, clean, light and fruity. — 12 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.3

Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon am offshoot of reynvanne all walla walle fruit . A good bit if barnyard fresh earth and that animal game like note light smoke to the plum and cherry fruit. A very ehonesque fashioned wine with that barnyard and savage note through the finish. Finish 35+ excellent + — 12 years ago

Kristen Murphy Caldecutt

Community Manager SevenFifty

9.9

A treat on my random vacation day before the crush of the dreaded holidays. Fronsac, FTW. — 13 years ago