Marilynn Davis

9.3

My absolute fav Pinot Grigio! Low in alcohol 13.3 but high on flavor. It's perfect as an aperitif, with fish or fowl. Grapefruit overtones, with mineral bass notes. It lingers in the palate in just the right way. I like keeping this Pinot on hand. — 11 years ago

Laissez Fare

9.0

Els Jelipins 2009 (a very kind gift from, and shared with, @J_A_A). Made by Gloria and Berta Garriga in the hills Penedès. Based around the Sumoll grape, with a slightly different blend each year (depending on which rows of vineyards they decide to take fruit from). The fruit is hand-picked over a number of sessions — always early in the morning and in small cases. It ferments with the natural yeasts, without temperature control, fining, or filtration and only a touch of sulfur added right before bottling. Open-top barrel fermentation and some wax-lined oval amphorae are used, along with lengthy aging in big barrels. Each bottle is painted by hand – the design is different each year, but always includes the symbolic heart.
This has to be one of the most distinctive, intriguing and confounding red wines I've ever tasted. The first thing you notice is the cloudy ruby color. A mysterious scent leads to strong flavors of green herbs (almost medicinal) on the palate: is it tarragon or dill, or both? Elderflower perhaps? Maybe fresh olive too. Underlying this is an ever-changing red fruit core (cranberry, tart cherry), with the odd streak of wet rocks and a zippy freshness. Totally raw and wild. Impossible to pin down and paradoxical.
Ultimately, this wine was indomitable. We paired it with a full-flavored Iranian stew (ghormeh-sabzi), then with vegetarian Indian curry. The wine went remarkably well with both, though I wouldn't say it 'paired' well. You could always taste the distinct flavors of the wine, and it didn't interfere with the food, but they didn't really enhance each other either. Essentially, even robust food flavors could not tame this cloudy, 'little-looking' red wine.
After all of this, I will not say that I am gagging to try this wine again, as I'm not really sure I love the flavor profile overall … but it did grow on me over the four days we had it open. And the wine was possibly even better on Day 4 than it was on Day 1. I would definitely be happy to try it again, though, as there is no doubt it would challenge palates, ideologies and spark conversation. This is a 'real' wine, with no pretense and oodles of individuality. — 11 years ago

RD Bundschuh

9.5

This wine was excellent right when opened. 5% Petit Verdot. Tobacco leaf, blueberries, vanilla, coffee bean. — 13 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.5

A man needs a refreshing brew in his hand when he is commanding the grill. This crisp, characterful Munchen beer is perfect for backyard cooking. — 11 years ago

Greg Giere

9.0

Oh man- this wine is in a nice place right now. Super elegant, lengthy finish. Good job Tim! — 12 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

Surprise surprise balanced Syrah from Cali — 12 years ago

with Owen

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.0

2000 nice evolution fresh earth red currants and cassis very complex bouquet cigar box. Very smooth and balanced but still has a good hand of tannins red currant exotic spice sand a long layered finish 50+ most excellent 2006 very forward and fruity bouquet light smoke cigar box and fresh earth smooth and evolved on the palate very smooth drinking nicely right now. Finish 45+ excellent + 2010 first certification year lovely complexity toasty oak spice dark currant and coffee fresh earth very well endowed tannins are a bit hard but lots of everything and a long finish 50+ killer — 13 years ago

Shana Wall

9.4

#2005 #LaGeynale #Cornas #RobertMichel My favorite grape, #Syrah from my favorite region, #NorthernRhone ❤️ The Deep, dark purple/red color seduces you before your lips even touch the glass. "You had me at Hello..." (is what I may have said out loud actually) 😊. This wine is like a tall, sexy, brooding man with all the right moves😗😘. Once you taste it there's really no turning back... Savory, lightly spicy, rustic yet refined at the same time... This is a very unique and gorgeous bottle of wine. Unlike any other Cornas I have tried. Touch of funk dancing gracefully with the big tannins and perfectly round dark fruit... Such a smooth ride. I feel sorry for any other wine trying to win you over on the same night as him... & he will only get better with age👌😉 #Betony restaurant #ThirstyThursday #HappyGirl #Cheers 🍴🍷 — 11 years ago

Grant Wood

9.4

Delicious. Fantastic apricot and manjool date. Very drinkable right now with fabulous color.
— 11 years ago

Peter C

9.6

I am floored! Fass man was absolutely right. Amazing stuff/qpr. Huge difference from 2010 by leaps and bounds. — 12 years ago

with Lyle