Jeff Orlowski

9.2

Purple. Oak nose. Full body, dry, prominent but not overpowering tannins. Plums, currants, and cassis on palate. Should age well. — 6 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Mark Smith

9.0

The 2016 was one of my finds of the year last year, but unfortunately the 2017 was almost undrinkably bad... however, it seems the 2018 is back on track. Nice wine. — 6 years ago

Alexander Vadas

9.1

Young version of this wine ... on track to exactly what I like in Cali Pinot noir. Stems, ethereal nose, light weight but with grip. — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.3

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is leading a live-to-picture performance of Star Wars: A New Hope, a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.)
Generally we get to hear Star Wars scores a couple times per season here at Tanglewood, but tonight we get a chance to hear them with the backdrop of the movie (Episode IV) that launched a franchise, to say the least!

I celebrated another full trip around the sun, since my coming into this world, earlier this week. Tonight my wife, some dear friends and me will be enjoying some enticing wines along with our movie night. So notes...maybe, but I'll try!

Declassified Meursault! — 7 years ago

Billy L.

10

Bravo!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Kudos Chris Maybach & Thomas Rivers Brown, absolutely fabulous!!!
Cheers 🍇🍷

Robert M. Parker Jr. 💯
“There are roughly 600 cases of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, all of which comes from the Weitz Vineyard on the eastern Vaca Mountain hillside of Oakville at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the Silverado Trail. This is shallow soil interspersed with loads of pebbles and stones. This wine is incredible first-growth material – a magical Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color, an extraordinary nose of blackberry and cassis, white flowers, crushed rock and minerality followed by a full-bodied majestic mouthfeel with phenomenal balance, purity and overall equilibrium. Stunningly rich and impressive, this wine will hit its peak in 8-10 years and has the potential to last 40-50 years. For those who keep track of such things, the wine was completely aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels.” (RP) (10/2015)
— 7 years ago

Eric Guido

9.7

What an amazing bouquet on the 2015 Gourt de Mautens, @jebdunnuck seriously called it here. This Rhone blend was seductive from the onset, showing a mix of ripe blackberry, black raspberry, crushed violet candies, lavender, stone dust and a hint of animal muskiness. On the palate, textures like liquid silk wrapped around the senses as a display of remarkably fresh yet saturating red and black berry fruit seemed to hover, dispersing violet florals, licorice, minerals and hints of grippy herbal tea-like tannin across all that they touched. Balanced to the core, with brisk acidity making light of the wines amazing textural depth and resulting in a finish that was both impossibly long, amazing fresh, yet structured all the same. I can still taste the purple inner floral and dark fruit tones, having lost track of how long the finish has been going. It’s hard to fault the 2015 Gourt de Mautens for anything, and incredibly easy to become lost in it. #rhone #gourtdemautens #rasteau — 8 years ago

Adam Baker

9.4

Blackberry, blueberry, cassis. Smooth yummy mouthfeel. Long finish. Keeps coming back. Very good with Korea BBQ pork shoulder, and the s'mores dessert at Amelia's. Could use a few more years for the fruit to mellow out. A little bright, but definitely on track. — 9 years ago

Ross Chernin

9.5

Intense dark blackcurrant and tarragon, cracked black pepper, dark cherry covered in dark chocolate on the nose.

Palate rich, opulant, generous and sharing. Just an incredible amount of flavors to keep track. Black tea, more and more tarragon, black raspberry. Just a hint of alcohol at the finish. Every flavor and texture has direction and intention. — 6 years ago

Stephen Osgood

9.3

things appear to be back on track in Neive. — 6 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.7

I’ve lost track of what day we’re on... this is beautiful. Chocolate and caramel with a smooth finish. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.4

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is leading a live-to-picture performance of Star Wars: A New Hope, a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.)
Generally we get to hear Star Wars scores a couple times per season here at Tanglewood, but tonight we get a chance to hear them with the backdrop of the movie (Episode IV) that launched a franchise, to say the least!

I celebrated another full trip around the sun, since my coming into this world, earlier this week. Tonight my wife, some dear friends and me will be enjoying some enticing wines along with our movie night. So notes...maybe, but I'll try! — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.1

It's sunny and just over 30°F today, so fire in the chimnea time! First flames of 2019.

One of our favorite new (2009) AOC's in France, this is 80% Gamay & 20% Poulsard, but the epitome of 100% sparkling strawberry juice! So GD delicious!

One thing to note, last bottle is always the best, we're out of stock now, but don't hold these too long. We've seen bottle variation, likely best to track lot codes on the bottles and make sure your buying a newer version than the last, since we're talking about an NV product. — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor David Newman is leading a live-to-picture performance of Leonard Bernstein’s score for “West Side Story”, originally directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, and with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.) The BSO installed very fancy and large LED screens on the perimeter of the Shed facing the Lawn, amazing!

Very nice light Salmon color. Nice fruit, 50% Cinsault & 50% Grenache. Very tasty, much better than their still rosé. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A wine I’ve enjoyed mostly upon release or near it. I vowed to wait six years and nearly made it. At least it is 2018...just! It’s worth waiting this/that long for it to develop. On the nose; sweetly, baked fruits of; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, and notes of blue fruits. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium, beautiful spice, black fruit tea, limestone minerals, loamy, dry, brown top soil, fresh dark florals and violets. The mouthfeel is full, rich & lush. The tannins are round, still have some teeth and possess velvety round edges. It’s fruit driven but not a bomb and showing elegance & grace. Fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, notes of blue fruits and dry cranberries dip in and out. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium beautiful spice that is more pronounced on the palate, black fruit tea, touch of melted brown sugar/molasses, limestone minerals, touch of rich dark sweet turned soil, loamy dry brown top soil, soft understated eucalyptus/mint, dry fresh florals and violets. The round acidity is just right, just a slight very small alcohol burn, the length, structure, tension and beautifully balanced finish are in a very good place. Even better in 2-3 more years in bottle; which is when I’ll have my next one. Photos of; the winemaking duo of Gary Franscioni (left) and Gary Pisoni, Rosella’s Vineyard on the right. As well as, Garys’ Vineyard at the bottom. Producer notes and history...The Santa Lucia Highlands appellation is known for its rich, vibrant Pinot Noirs. However, that wasn’t always the case. The first Pinot was planted in 1973, but results weren’t all that great. Chardonnay was the appellation’s early star. Much of the area’s current fame for Pinot Noir arguably can be traced to Gary Pisoni, a free-spirited wine enthusiast who grew up in a Salinas Valley vegetable farming family. Pisoni decided to plant a few acres of Pinot Noir in 1982 on his family’s horse ranch, at the southern end of what was to become the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation but his horses started eating the grapes. So, they had to go. His initial planting were limited by a lack of water until he dug a well on the property. Pisoni started planting even more Pinot Noir. The vineyard is now around 45 acres and nearly all of it Pinot. By the late 1990s, word had spread about the success of his vineyard, and a number of Pinot specialists from around California had started lining up to buy his grapes. He started producing his own wine in 1998. Pisoni isn’t the only Gary who has become a force in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Gary Franscioni, a childhood friend, followed Pisoni’s lead by planting grapes and started Roar Wines in 2001. The two of them now have five vineyards between them...all farmed meticulously with the same crew. They are best of friends...sort of a Mutt & Jeff. They have become a formidable presence in the Highlands, attracting interest from top winemakers and Pinot Noir lovers from all over. Franscioni is also from a vegetable farming family; Pisoni figures they’ve known each other since they were 3 or 4. Franscioni saw his friend’s success and once he got some money together, decided to plant grapes of his own. Franscioni’s property is farther north and cooler as it’s closer to the Monterey Bay. He was going to plant Chardonnay. He woke up and Franscioni recalls imitating Pisoni, and shouted, “plant Pinot!” Franscioni planted what became Rosella’s Vineyard, named for his wife, in 1996. He took Pisoni’s advice and planted four acres of Pinot Noir, although he still planted 12 acres of Chardonnay. It’s now a total of around 50 acres with three-quarters of it Pinot Noir. The next year, they decided to become partners and planted Garys’ Vineyard, a 50 acre parcel where they grow Pinot and a little Syrah. Since then, Franscioni has developed Sierra Mar, 38 acres of Pinot, Chardonnay, Syrah and a tiny amount of Viognier. The two teamed up again to establish Soberanes Vineyard, 35 acres of mostly Pinot Noir, with a little bit of Chardonnay and Syrah. That last vineyard was developed by Pisoni’s son Mark. The Garys might seem an unlikely pair. Pisoni is colorful character to say the least and has an outspoken manner. Franscioni comes across as more serious- minded. However, the collaboration between the two, who often address each other as “partner,” clearly works well. The two are good on their own, but better together. Pisoni being more gregarious acts as the frontman. He is the Ambassador. He’s a check on the rest to keep the quality high. Franscioni and Mark Pisoni run the farming on their own vineyards and work together on the joint ventures. The family involvement doesn’t stop there. Jeff Pisoni makes his family’s wines, which are under the Pisoni and Lucia brands. Franscioni’s son, Adam, joined the family business in time for the 2011 harvest. He handles sales for Roar and helps his father manage the vineyards. The grapes from all five vineyards are in huge demand, because the two families are such careful farmers, constantly tweaking and improving. Prominent customers include; Testarossa, Siduri, Kosta Browne, Copain and Bernardus. When a new vintner approaches them about buying grapes, the partners examine the winery’s track record and the Winemaker. If they like what they see, the winery is put on a waiting list. There’s not very much movement in their vineyards. When Franscioni planted Sierra Mar, he and Pisoni had 62 wineries waiting to buy fruit. Soberanes was developed with the idea of working with some new winemakers. There was some concern, even among the two families, that quality might suffer as the vineyard operations grew. However, there’s no indication that’s the case. In fact, with each new venture, they build on what they’ve learned in their older vineyards. Eventually, there will be even more vineyards. The Pisonis and Franscionis have purchased a 100 acre cactus farm in the Santa Lucia Highlands. There’s still a lease on the property. So, prickly pear cactus will continue to be grown for five more years. But at some point, the land will be planted with vines. Both families understand the importance of continuing to build for the future. The Garys looking back tell a story of being in the same spot some years ago and looking at a field of broccoli out back. He told Franscioni that the field would look a lot better with Pinot Noir vines. Now that parcel is part of Rosella’s Vineyard, and it’s planted with Pinot. Everybody thought he was crazy...most people usually think that when someone makes a bold decision. He’s a person who has always had vision and creativeness. He also has tremendous passion. Good things only happen when a person possesses all three of these qualities. Their wines are primarily available by mailing list. However, Nepenthe in Big Sur, CA acts as a quasi tasting room for some of their wines. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Though not the same as it was pre-COVID -19, a handful of us were able to gather (while keeping our distance) to celebrate being back together and opened some fun wines to share. Wine is always better with good company.

Here’s one you don’t see very often. Tiny producer who has a track record of doing magical things with this vineyard. This falls in to the hedonistic type bucket. My first glass was like smelling a freshly baked mixed berry pie being pulled out of the oven. Dark chocolate, Andes mint, baking spices, charcoal and sandalwood jump from the glass as well. It was both elegant but rich on the palate. Decidedly dark fruit driven on the palate (less of the red fruit profile I typically get from GIII vineyard) as well as lavender, plum and currant. Lengthy finish that is delicious but still very youthful. Thanks for opening @Benjamin Keator — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Connor Smith

9.5

#Nebbiolo is a surprisingly rare grape. Even in its native Piedmont, it accounts for only 8% of vineyard land. There are fewer than 100 hectares planted in the United States. 🕵️‍♂️🍇
Over 80% of prewar Italian immigrants came from Sicily and Southern Italy. Piedmont was the wealthiest and most politically dominant region. But if fortunes were reversed, could Nebbiolo have taken Primitivo/Zinfandel’s place as a grape relatively uncommon on the boot but dominant in California? 🤔🇮🇹🇺🇸
Probably not. The Nebbiolo vine is *not* for beginners. It flowers early and ripens late, making it susceptible to both spring and autumn frosts. It loves the occasional fog bath (some say the name is derived from ‘nebbia’, Italian for fog ☁️☁️☁️) but is prone to the mildew that may result from such humid conditions. Its fussiness would make Pinot Noir blush: it demands southwesterly exposure, a proper gradient, constant sun above, and fog licking at its toes. #diva
Sound anything like California’s Central Coast? 🌅
In the Santa Maria Valley, where the East-West Transverse Range bends back into the North-South Coastal Range, it’s possible. Vineyard selection still requires extreme discretion - an eye like @JimClendenen’s, perhaps.
Jim began the Nebbiolo program at the legendary #BienNacido vineyard in 1994. Production is small, but if you track down his “The Pip” Nebbiolo, it will only run you about $30. You’ll believe anything is possible when you have real California Nebbiolo of this quality come wafting out of the glass at you! 🙌🙌
🏞.“The Pip” is named after Jim’s old cellar dog Pip, a border collie. So it only seemed right to include one of our own pips! 🐈 — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

Yeah. This was awesome, but I should point out that, compared to most vintages of Lorraine, this one seems to be on a somewhat faster evolutionary track. While it still has many years left, folks who have this in their cellar might want to be sure not to lose track of them. — 7 years ago

with Vanessa

Alexander Vadas

9.4

On track for awesomeness and still very young — 8 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.0

Is this number five? I’ve lost track already. “Gold Jerry, Gold.” Can taste a touch of the age on this bottle. #freundfest2018 — 8 years ago

with Rob and Mark

Marcio Morelli

9.3

2016 is back on track again. Deliciously delicate and fresh. Superb! — 8 years ago