GaryWEdwards

9.5

Beautiful tempranillo led wine with 10% graciano from one of the benchmark vintages in the past 25 years. This Gran Reserva has legs for the long run but perfectly approachable now! — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — 2 years ago

Eric Peterson

9.5

One the nose: vanilla, nutmeg, black cherry and tobacco.
Taste: red fruits, oak finish.
Good with or without food — 5 years ago

John W

8.9

Dark ruby coloration. On the nose, cherry and currant. On the palate, cherry, raspberry, anise, balsamic, with a medium- long finish. Medium body. Medium and nicely balanced tannins. — 6 years ago

R. David Liebers

9.0

Pleasant aroma, fruity on the tongue with a dry finish. — 6 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

The juice, the energy, the dammit I don’t want it to be so tasty but...Artemis got you. Because she’s a goddess and says so. I mean, there are other deities. Ones more powerful or whatevs but I’ll run through the woods with this for a night — 7 years ago

Jeff Clement

9.0

Nice summer wine with salmon and shrimp — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Produced from the "mosto flor" ("free-run juice") of sustainably grown and hand-harvested grapes. Ya means "yes!" in Spain. Straw yellow with good flow of tiny bubbles and light mousse. Stone fruit aromas with a vanilla nut fragrance. On the palate peach and citrus flavors, good balance, plenty of acidity and lingers nicely. — 10 months ago

Matt Keating

9.0

So good with a GF Ravioli dripping with mascarpone, served with spinach, and listening to Christmas music!! — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Located halfway up the hill dominating principal valley of Barolo, lined by vineyards, lies a precious 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Medium Ruby with complex aromas of berry fruits, oak and fresh floral scents. On the palate dried cherry, tobacco, licorice, espresso and fresh herbs give this full-body wine grace and elegance. Soft fine dusty tannins, with earthy notes, on a well balanced frame makes this hot vintage wine approachable today as well as have room to run over the next decade. Very Nice! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by children Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — 6 years ago

Harrison Watkins

9.0

First run with Pais. A touch of effervescence and delightful sour cherries. Great chilled. Good value. Delicious. Maybe lacks a bit of structure which would make it truly great. — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.3

The 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel from Tablas Creek was a tough act to follow, but this elegant Rhône blend from Sonoma just did that.

The nose was quite similar with aroma of blue fruits and earthy elements with hint of violet, it was the palate that set it apart: soft, complex and deep, with great texture and beautiful acidity that adds the tension. Elegant and seamless.

Kale Anderson was the long time wine maker at Pahlmeyer, and Kale wines are all vineyard-specific. Worth seeking out. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Served Friday night with my Veal Bolognese. This only worked with this dish because it had enough time in bottle to soften and not overpower the dish. If this was served young with this dish, you would have mostly tasted only dark and rugged Nebbiolo tannins.

This was vacuum sealed and re-stored to allow me to write notes today as we had friends for dinner on Friday.

The reveals; blackberries, dark sweet and sour cherries, soft floral blueberries, cherries, black plum and hints of back raspberries, notes of cooked rhubarb on the glass edge, soft, dark tarry notes, leather, anise, whiff of graphite, limestone minerals, dark rich earth, dry brush, some dark spice, cedar, light bay leaf and herbaceous notes with dark fresh & withering florals and violets.

The body is near full but, not quite. The tannins have rounded and softened but, still have teeth and slightly, sticky tarriness. The structure and tension are just approaching a really good phase. Tannins show some velvetiness. The length and balance show beauty and elegance. This wine has 10–15 of good drinking ahead. Ripe; blackberries, dark sweet and sour cherries, soft floral blueberries, cherries, black plum, plum and hints of back raspberries, notes of cooked rhubarb on the glass edge. Dark tarry notes, leather, anise, graphite, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dark rich earth, dry brush, dark chocolate, some bold dark spice with palate heat, clove, nutmeg, very light vanillin notes, cedar, light bay leaf and herbaceous notes with blue flowers, dark fresh & withering florals and violets. Beautiful wine. The acidity is like a gentle rain shower. The finish is elegant, well balanced, floral and persists for minutes.

Photos of; Bartolo Mascarello, Maria Teresa Mascarello who run the business since her father’s passing in 2005, my Veal Bolognese made in the lighter style that is indicative of true Italian cooking and one of their beautiful hillside vineyards. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2021 vintage. No 2020 made for obvious reasons and only 90 cases of the 2019 vintage made so realistically not in the marketplace. 2018 (9.6) yielded a whopping 152 cases. 2021 was slightly more prolific but not exactly easy to run into. Same eternal, quiescent pace and style as the 2018. The rare Napa Cab effort inviting conversation versus attempts to dominate/control/stifle it. You can keep all your assorted vintages and producers of Beckstoffer This and Thats. I'll take this, any vintage, over any interpretations/producers of that, any time. And, frankly, once you taste it, you likely will too. @me with your impressions. 01.29.25. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Terre di San Leonardo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (40%), and Carmenere (10%), run by the Gonzaga family since its inception in 1724. Wine is fermented with ambient yeasts in concrete tanks and 20% is aged in French oak barrels. Ruby with aromas ripe red fruits and floral notes. On the palate flavors of rich plum and blackberry with herb, light spice and slight earthy notes. Medium+ finish, fine soft tannins, ending with fruit, floral and earthy mineral character. Tremendous value! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Just opened another bottle! Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by children Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), 36 months in oak, palate shows elegant flavors of cherry and currant with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Great vintage! — 5 years ago

Steve Ambrusko

9.2

Well rounded balanced, long finish with fantastic nose and taste. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

20-year tawny a personal favorite. I’m always amazed how good this is whenever I have a glass. Taylor run today from Oporto by descendants of the Yeatman & Fladgate families, both of which have been partners in the firm since 1830s. Complex aromas rich with dried fruits & nutty spice. On the palate apricot and sweet berry flavors with honey and toasted nut notes, well balanced nice acidity. Lingering finish ending smooth with oaky nutty character. Very Nice. Price keeps going up each year. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I had this a number of times but, have never written notes. 🎶Tonight’s the Night!🎶

The nose reveals; lemon custard to candy, lime zest, grapefruit, pineapple, green apple, light stone fruits, green melon, lychees, cream, vanillin, light ginger, cream soda, mixed nuts, bread dough to baguette crust, light green herbs, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, sea shell fossils, volcanic minerals, yellow lilies, jasmine with mixed greens.

The body is; full, round, rich and slightly creamy. Lemon custard to candy, lime zest, grapefruit, pineapple, green apple, light stone fruits, green melon, lychees, cream, beeswax, vanillin, light ginger, white spice with some palate heat, cream soda, touch of caramel, toffee notes, nougat, marzipan, mixed nuts, bread dough to baguette crust, light green herbs, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, sea shell fossils, volcanic minerals, yellow lilies, jasmine with mixed greens. The acidity is crisp and sharp. The long finish is; rich, polished, elegant, nicely balanced, delicious and persists endlessly. Very good at its price point.

Photos of; the House of Piper Heidsieck, the train cave ride as Champange caves can run for miles and miles, artful cellar entrance and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 7 years ago