Michael Greene

9.3

Cranberry, rhubarb, forest floor. Aging well — 3 years ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.2

Vibrant with rhubarb on the front, followed by blueberry, with a finish of strawberry and rose petals. — 4 years ago

Tobin Spratte

9.4

Notes of hibiscus, strawberry, rhubarb, and pomegranate. Slight mineral background. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Joseph Phelps Party. Starting off with the 89 Insignia from 6L.

Notes of stewed fruits; blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, cherries & strawberries. Cola liqueur, steeped tea, limestone minerals, well softened and layered baking spices, menthol, dry herbs, underbrush with withering & fresh bright red & dark florals.

The palate shows similar stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, cherries, strawberries. Cola liqueur, steep tea, limestone minerals, well softened and layered baking spices, menthol, dry herbs, dry top soil, dry rock powder, old to & leather underbrush with withering & fresh bright red & dark florals. Beautiful acidity and a well balanced finish that persists with some dark spice heat.

Photos of, the Phelps party and food spread. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Reddish tawny color. Vibrant in the glass. Direct nose with notes of raspberries, rhubarb, asian spice and moist black soil. At first, more structure than fruit. But with 6+ hours of air a sweetness develops and softens the harsher notes, making this more voluptuous. Was singing loudly at the end of the shindig! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s officially Summer! Time for Rosé. Tempier is one of my favorite Rosés. They’re even better when you let them round out a year in bottle before enjoying. The color darkens to a slightly rustic orange color.

On the nose, some sour notes with a little funk. Sweetness and sourness in the fruits. Strawberries, tangerine, cherries, Georgia peach, nectarine skin, juicy watermelon near the rhine, unbelievably just a touch of petrol, gummy character, chalkiness and fresh pink spring flowers and pink roses.

The body is round and full for Rosé. Sweetness and sourness in the fruits. Strawberries, tangerine, oranges, cherries, Georgia peach, nectarine skin, juicy watermelon near the rhine, well ripened rhubarb, just a touch of petrol, gummy character, spice, chalkiness, perfect intensity of crushed volcanic minerals with fresh pink spring flowers and pink roses. The acidity is like a waterfall. The length, structure, tension and balance are excellent. The long, rich, elegant finish is beautiful and lasts minutes. It’s delicious!!!

Photos from our 2016 visit. Domaine Tempier tasting room and cellars, shot of our barrel tasting w/ their assistant Winemaker (a sweetheart), the digging for their additional cellar; which I imagine is now complete and the view from the Domaine entrance — 7 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.2

Dark cherry nose. Heavier in the mouth than your average Pinot with more dark cherry, rhubarb pie, and moderating darker merlot notes. Chewy tannins and long acid in the finish. This is a substantial 100% Pinot with nice balance from start to finish. — 8 years ago

with Susan

Mike Saviage

9.6

I brought this, my last one of these. Opened and decanted 5 hours before serving. Bright tawny and almost opaque. Awesome nose. Seems young. Notes of bing cherry, asian spice, sandalwood, some dark earth and some rhubarb. Rich and silky in the mouth. Velvet glove delivery. Awesome wine. My red WOTN. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

The 2018 Lapierre Morgon is a spark plug bursting with energy. Even six hours in the decanter wasn’t enough to get this to uncoil but it started to give a glimpse of things to come. In the glass, it pours a hazy, garnet color. On the nose, it’s all raspberries and apricots. On the palate, it’s raspberries, apricots, rhubarb, dry earth and minerals. Medium tannin. Medium acid. Best to let these sit for a few years in my opinion and could potentially be at their best around 2025. I really like where this is headed. — 5 years ago

William Hughes

9.3

This wine is hitting a peak. A confectionary note over cool rhubarb, dried flowers, and red currants. Lenny of acidity and a dusting of tannins commingle with more fresh red fruit and a dash of sweet spice in my mouth. Just delicious! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I’ve had a a fair amount of older Williams Selyem Pinot Noirs, this one is the most different. It seems more extracted and darker than the bright; cherries, strawberries & pomegranate Pinots from them that we’ve had a run on over several years.

The noses reveals, deep, dark, ripe; currants, blackberries, black cherries with liqueur notes, baked black plum, black raspberries with hints of blue fruit. Touch of smokiness, cinnamon, clove, vanillin, black licorice, mid intensity, sweet tarriness, herbaceous notes, mint/eucalyptus character, touch of tree sap, black, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, limestone, dry rock powder, dark chocolate bar, mocha notes with fresh, withering & dry, dark, red florals and just a hint of violets.

The body is medium full. It has gorgeous mouthfeel. There are still round, softened, teethe & tarry tannins here. Tannins were in the bottle neck which, is not always traditional even in older Pinot’s. The structure, tension, length and balance are really nice with another three to five years of good drinking ahead. It’s right around its peak. Perhaps, just the other side of the bell curve. Dark, ripe; currants/cassis, blackberries, black cherries with liqueur notes, baked black plum, black raspberries, cooked rhubarb, raisins with more blue fruit showing vs. the nose. Touch of smokiness, cinnamon, clove, light nutmeg, vanillin, black licorice, mid intensity sweet tarriness, herbaceous notes, mint/eucalyptus character, touch of tree sap, black, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, limestone, dry rock powder, dark chocolate bar, mocha notes with fresh, withering & dry, dark, red florals and violets beaming on the finish. The acidity is excellent. The long finish is; ruby, ripe, elegant, gorgeous, extremely well balanced and persists on the palate with warm, dark spice.

IMHO, Williams Selyem Pinot Noirs do not score well early and really shine at 10 years plus in many vintages. They are a Sonoma Pinot pioneer and a gold standard comparison for other producers and Pinot lovers to take note.

Photos of; Williams Selyem winery, Sofia’s great handy work with flowers and one of our two raised garden boxes. 💐 🌸 🌺 🌹🌼🥀 🌽 🥒🥬 🍅

Happy Memorial Day weekend all! Hope you are grilling & enjoying some of your favorite wines. — 6 years ago

Gobindjit S. Dhaliwal

9.4

Incredibly complex on the nose with toasted brioche, dried cranberries, cherries, rhubarb, candied ginger, sesame seed oil, and chalk dust. Frothy mousse with small concentrated bubbles that caress the palate and seem to make this wine lithe and airy, mouth drying chalkiness with hints of tart red fruit flavors, toasted brioche, and a long lasting finish filled with exotic oriental spices. — 7 years ago

with finding.wine and Carlos

Ryan Guy

9.0

Dried cherry, forest floor, violets, light perfume notes. Acid driven, cherry and rhubarb, consistent with the old school style of López de Heredia. Lighter in weight, finishes with slight astringency. Food wine. Drink now. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Along with a vintage bottle of Roederer’s L’Ermitage, I always open a Zinfandel on the 4th of July. Perfect pairings for grilling out and a relaxed day!

I’ve had the Pesenti a few times now (this is my first with the 2017), and it’s always a different beast to me than other Turley zins. In fact, I’m consistently shocked this is a Paso zin as I’d expect this to taste 2-3times as intense. I decanted for two hours, and then consumed over the next 2-3. Ruby in the glass, immediately on the nose this is spicy. Potpourri, black peppered black cherries, underripe raspberries and blackberries, and cedar on the nose. The body is nowhere near as rich as you’d expect, and the acidity is really nice and nervy. It lends to the profile having a spicy and tart mid palate. Rhubarb and peppercorn crusted pomegranate dominate here. It wears its mid 15ABV well. Would be curious to see how this changes with age… — 4 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.3

Such an awesome wine. Loads of yeast, strawberries, spices, and rhubarb. — 5 years ago

with Krystal

Mark Flesher

9.2

Playing a little catch-up.... Tasted alongside a 2016 Amizetta cabernet franc. In comparison, this is definitely the thoroughbred. Made for long term aging, this wine displayed incredible astringency from start to finish. Had a wonderful black cherry and rhubarb front, a little bit heated to the middle with some dried herb and allspice. Lots of wildflowers on the nose and entry. The finish was quite astringent with lots of stiff youthful oak tannin. If this was open for about two hours, it would have killed. So, for those that choose to open this one now, give it a fairly long time to breathe. Better yet, keep it in the cellar for about 3 or 4 years. — 6 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Bouquet of strawberries and rhubarb, fig jam, herbal notes, saddle leather, moderate acidity, cedar box. Lovely. — 6 years ago

with Deked1

Matt Perlman

8.9

Beautiful light cloudy rhubarb/garnet color. Medicinal sour cherry and vibrant tangy strawberry. Lacks the complexity and funky/savory elements of the top Jura examples but compensates with purity of the fruit — 6 years ago

John Willison

9.2

Prototypical TRB Pinot. Citrus, forest floor, rhubarb. Great QPR. — 7 years ago

Sky Morrar

9.7

White flowers and blood orange on the nose. Wet stone, cherry, rhubarb on the palette with a spiced finish that lingers. I could drink this all day long! — 7 years ago