Rooted Souls

Renato Corino

Barolo Riserva Nebbiolo 2008

(Magnum bottle)
What a hulking but at the same time incredibly graceful Barolo. Deep-rooted minerals, plums, dark chocolate, mocha and a bit of smoke, well integrated oak & smooth, sweet tannins. definitely showing the darker side of rocche in this fabolous piece of land in la morra.
— 8 years ago

Chris and Byron liked this

Save Our Souls

King Valley Rosé Blend

This is the Yarra Valley rosé. Could easily pass as a red wine, it's got power and is well balanced. Red fruits and spice. A delight to drink with a chill on a warm evening. Very good value. — 9 years ago

New Clairvaux Vineyard

Poor Souls Block Petite Sirah 2014

Barbera is becoming one if the most popular wines in California, and this one will show you why. Beautiful ruby color, cherry & light oak, smooth with a lingering soft finish. A Great example of the definition of "Balanced". — 9 years ago

J. Wilkes

Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2014

Dry and minerally. 100% Bien Nacido fruit from 44 year old rooted vines. — 9 years ago

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin

Valmur Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2012

Marc Stubblefield
9.2

Lovely, with a richness that stays firmly rooted in Chablis. Full of ripe orchard fruit, limestone minerality, and deft use of oak. I'd drink more chardonnay if I could afford more GC Chablis. — 10 years ago

Eric, David and 14 others liked this

New Clairvaux Vineyard

Poor Souls Block Barbera 2012

Had this with carne asada tacos, perfect match and also enjoyable on its own — 10 years ago

Winderlea Vineyard and Winery

Winderlea Legacy Pinot Noir 2012

2012 Legacy. Made solely from 45 year old own-rooted vines in Dundee by Robert Brittan, this needed an hour open to come around. When it did it had almost ethereal aromas of cherry pie and strawberry plus a hint of spearmint. Nothing like a Cali Pinot. — 10 years ago

Daniel and M liked this

La Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle

Extrème Metodo Classico Morgex et de la Salle Prié Blanc 2011

Really amazing, complex sparkler from one of the highest vineyards (own-rooted) in Europe. Pure liquefied stone. — 11 years ago

Kristin ORo Cohoon
with Kristin and Ro
Anthony, Patrick and 2 others liked this
Christopher Olin

Christopher Olin Influencer Badge

2011 vintage
Patrick Rauber

Patrick Rauber Premium Badge

I've been wanting to try their wine, glad to hear it is as good as I hoped!
Ro Cohoon

Ro Cohoon

This deserves a 10!
10

Dirty & Rowdy

Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvedre 2011

Beau Carufel
9.3

Boom. Drinks like souls and love. — 13 years ago

Davis and Marty liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

Blindfold California Chardonnay Blend 2014

Founder and Winemaker Dave Phinney’s deep respect for the vineyards is rooted in an early attempt to make a sophisticated wine from a difficult site. Golden yellow aromas of tropical and citrus fruit and melons.This wine was aged, 25% in new oak, 60% neutral & 15% stainless for 10 months. The palate shows fresh fruit flavors of melons, citrus, and pears, hints of cinnamon spice and toasty oak. Lingering finish, lively acidity, good balance ending with mineral tones, and was well balanced. — 8 years ago

Daniel P. liked this

Casa Castillo (Julia Roche E Hijos)

Pie Franco Viñas Viejas Jumilla Monastrell 2008

A beauty. Deep ruby red. Tight as a drum at first, but patience is rewarded after about 2 hours after opening, when aromas of stewed plum, raisin, tobacco, and sandalwood begin to show. Farmed on own-rooted Monastrell vines, the wine is balanced and food-friendly; it paired well with a spicy dinner. Plush and full-bodied on the palate, with black currant, blackberry pie, tobacco, anise, and other flavors that carry over on a long finish. Excellent. — 9 years ago

Bob, Marc and 1 other liked this

Envinate

Táganan Parcela Amogoje Malvasia Blend 2014

Single parcel field blend of very old own-rooted vines, on volcanic rock overlooking the Atlantic. Bruised pear skin, smoky volcanic ash, briny, wild herbs. One of 600ish bottles produced. All I need now is a few dozen oysters and some uni nigiri! — 9 years ago

Riddley, Chad and 8 others liked this

Adega Regional de Colares

Arenæ Colares Malvasia 2011

100 year old own-rooted vines on sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic. Lots and lots of texture from 6 hours skin contact and short time in old Brazilian oak foudre, I also get sea air and pear skins. Perfect with aged cheeses and bring olives. — 9 years ago

David, Ben and 5 others liked this
Marc Stubblefield

Marc Stubblefield Influencer Badge

Just had this in the shop. Such a cool wine, and continues to gain complexity and development over days open. Those vines are crazy.
Mark Lindzy

Mark Lindzy Influencer Badge

Yeah, this was a final glass left after showing it the day before. I wonder how it does on a 3rd or 4th day, but being in 500ml it's tough to keep it around that long!
Marc Stubblefield

Marc Stubblefield Influencer Badge

I had a glass on day 4, and it was still gaining complexity. The only reason it lasted that long is the little bottle got lost behind the regular 750s.

Marabino

Noto Nero d'Avola 2013

From the DOC Noto Nero d'Avola (Sicily) to my parent's table in order to mitigate the legumes gloom that springs out of a winter beans soup bowl - "pasta e fagioli"- so eloquent in his humble celestiality.
Pierpaolo Messina's the producer, Marabino's name of the winery. What a pomegranates plot like! Same succulence of a "blood orange" squeezed by this red wine originated from vineyards rooted on such a white soil "terra ianca"! A fertile land cultivated with art wisdom and awareness, all qualities though, applied with energetic measures by Pierpaolo who's inspired at - both practical and theoretical - some sound principles in the biodynamic agriculture arousal.
— 10 years ago

Alberto Buemi
with Alberto
Alberto, Eric and 2 others liked this

Baehner Fournier Vineyards

Solus Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Having recently tried the Baehner Fournier Petite Verdot I found myself compelled to find more of their wines. A small producer in the Santa Ynez Valley - they produce around 500 cases a year - I was pleasantly surprised to find their 100% estate grown Cab locally. Thankfully, aside from a few people, I'm not too worried about anyone reading this and finding out my secret: these wines are both fantastic and reasonably priced. Black and red fruit, leather and wet clay - even a touch of pasture I associate with Spanish reds - greet the nose. Supple tannins and dark earth saunter across the palette, smoked berries, dried plums and tobacco come next. This is a wine you can just swim in for any length of time - complex, rooted in the old world but balanced with the new world. At around $20 a bottle, the secret is out. — 10 years ago

Mas Laval

Les Souls Vin de Pays de l'Hérault Grenache Blanc 2010

vinified in barrels , a complex Langudedoc , deep and fees. Viognier, marsanne and Chardonnay
— 11 years ago

I Vigneri di Salvo Foti

Vinupetra Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese Blend 2010

Giampiero Nadali
9.9

One of the true souls of Etna, from a centenary vineyard, grapes are Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Alicante and Francisi. Iper-organic philosophy, a real masterpiece. Amazing wine! — 12 years ago

Giampiero, Andrea and 2 others liked this

Kramer Vineyards

Heritage Yamhill - Carlton Pinot Noir 2005

Beau Carufel
9.1

Own-rooted 100% Pommard clone, planted in 1984. BOOM. My in-laws made this gem. — 12 years ago

Ned, Matt and 1 other liked this

Domaine Marquis Ravardel

Châteaneuf-du-Pape

The Dark Souls of the wines. — 8 years ago

Save Our Souls

Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2012

12' Pinot from SOS on the shelves at $19. Either they need to fire their manager or they're insanely charitable. I drank this out of a coffee mug and didn't once have a complaint. — 9 years ago

Scott liked this

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Hofer Vineyard Grenache 2014

I love @Angela Osborne 's Grenache, but was a bit skeptical on this one. The story was intriguing, pre-prohibition own-rooted vines planted in sand..and growing in the shadow of Ontario Airport east of Los Angeles. Did I mention Cucamonga Valley? But I should have known that Angela wouldn't have picked it if it wasn't special. Greatly exceeded expectations. Color was lighter than some Rosès, but this was no lightweight. Fragrant nose, nice acidity, a bit of earth and stems, but strawberry and just a nice purity to it. Best at cellar temp. Easy quaffer and a joy to drink. — 9 years ago

Bill, David and 16 others liked this

Save Our Souls

Yarra Valley Sangiovese 2015

Found this to be a real stand out. Didn't remember it too have such flow to its structure. Remembered it to be primary and grippy. Maybe that extra few months in bottle treating it well — 9 years ago

Scott and Aaron liked this

Adega Regional de Colares

Arenæ Colares Ramisco 2006

Tiny production Ramisco (7,000 bottles) from own-rooted centurion vines on sand dunes outside Lisboa. Aged 3 years in hundred year-old Brazilian oak foudre - wha???

Beautiful wine, tart cherry, dried herbs, a little of that ol' saddle leather too. Moroccan lamb fits the bill rather well.
— 10 years ago

Josefa Concannon
with Josefa
David, Steven and 6 others liked this

Giacomo Grimaldi

Barolo Nebbiolo 2006

2006 So good will not share - very big and round for a Barolo, with good structure and a rooted spine through the finish — 10 years ago

Koehler-Ruprecht

Kallstadter Saumagen Auslese Riesling 2007

Cork looked rooted so this was such a pleasant surprise. The nose shows hay, honey, baked peach and botrytis marmalade character, as well as a blue cheese and toast note. The palate is delightfully textured - medium-bodied and waxy smooth - with intense flavours of all that was on the nose, including (off-putting for some?) the blue cheese, while that hay-honey-citrus combines for a kind of sweet herbal lemon concoction. The finish is long, the acidity sneaking under the fruit and snaking it out with luscious complexity from go to woah. — 10 years ago

Michael and Bob liked this

Tyee Wine Cellars

Estate Barrel Select Pinot Noir 2012

Recently rated 92 points by Wine Advocate this Pinot lives up to the hype. Small production (100 cases), the fruit comes from 30 to 40 year old self rooted vines on the family's Century Farm. Winemaker/Vineyard Manager Merrilee Buchanan Benson hits a home run with this delicious Pinot from the great 2012 Willamette Valley vintage. — 10 years ago

Christine liked this

Turley

Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel 2012

#Turley #Wine Cellars rocking Lodi on the label, takes a bow w/ this shiner version of the Kirschenmann Vineyard, dry farmed, self rooted, planted in 1915 and still going strong in sandy loamy soils! Winemaker Tegan Passalacqua. This wine demonstrates what's possible in the Lodi AVA in the right hands! — 11 years ago

Cindy and JJ liked this

Thymiopoulos Vineyards

Boarding Pass Malagouzia 2012

Looks like moscato. Smells like moscato. Slightly effervescent like a moscato. And yet it tastes dry... good with Ottolenghi recipies and adventurous souls. — 12 years ago