Isaac Pirolo

9.3

2017 Bedrock Riesling from Cienega Valley AVA. Planted in 1963 and dry-farmed. Apparently it’s the second oldest riesling vineyard in California. “Own-rooted in decomposed granite and limestone lovingly tended by the magnificently mustached Pat Wirz,” according to Morgan Twain-Peterson MW. Loaded with flavor. Lime oil and granny smiths with a hint of honey, and lots of rocks. A steal at $25. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

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. — 9 years ago

Spinning_spins

9.3

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

Mark Lindzy

9.5

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! — 10 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.4

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. — 10 years ago

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

8.9

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

with Alberto

Roy Piper

9.2

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. — 11 years ago

Cuvée Corner

9.5

#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! — 12 years ago

Adam Shaylor

9.4

Looks like moscato. Smells like moscato. Slightly effervescent like a moscato. And yet it tastes dry... good with Ottolenghi recipies and adventurous souls. — 13 years ago

Stephen Osgood

9.1

From own rooted vines planted in 1955.... — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral; blackberries, blueberries dark cherries, black raspberries, caramel, mocha, vanilla, loamy soils, fresh, red florals and violets. The body is thick & full. Tannins are round and velvety. The fruit gorgeous and creamy in style. Dark currants; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, blueberries, raspberries. Mocha, medium intensity baking spices, cinnamon, vanilla, milk chocolate, loamy dry souls, violets, fresh red florals, beautiful round acidity. the structure length, tension are well executed well a balance polished finish. Photos of; the entrance to the Winery with a press on east side, Layered soil structure of their Dr. Crane Vineyard and the immaculate barrel room. — 8 years ago

Fernando Limas

9.6

The Dark Souls of the wines. — 9 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

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. — 10 years ago

Tom Wood

9.3

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 — 10 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.4

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

with Josefa

david decker

9.5

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

Ed Merrison

9.3

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. — 11 years ago

Bruno Lorthiois

9.0

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

Martin Redmond

9.0

My kinda Holy wine! — 13 years ago

Benjamin Hall Jr

9.0

I’m beginning to enjoy the other varietals (than Malbec) produces in these Argentine Andean souls at high altitudes more and more. This 70% Cab / 30% Syrah blend is a lovely example of a refined mix giving intense new world character with the subtleties of old world wine making. The terroir comes thru in notes of gravel and rosemary. The fruit is big but it mildly dissipates in a most pleasant way. Drank it with a cheesy vegetable casserole with mushrooms and herbed garlic tomato sauce base... a great pairing! — 8 years ago

Manuel Buergi

9.3

(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

Tom Wood

9.0

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

Mike the Wine Guy

9.1

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". — 10 years ago

Jannine Rickards

9.3

This was delicious! — 10 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Dry and minerally. 100% Bien Nacido fruit from 44 year old rooted vines. — 10 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

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

Michelle Hickok

9.0

Had this with carne asada tacos, perfect match and also enjoyable on its own — 11 years ago

Christopher Olin

9.8

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

with Kristin and Ro

Giampiero Nadali

Wine Blogger Aristide

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

Beau Carufel

Winemaker/Owner Random Wine Company

9.3

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