Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

8.9

Sepia filter courtesy of smoke filled skies here in Oakland. If the end of the world is coming we better get drinking. Let’s start with some regal Chasselas. Six years in the bottle this is starting to pick up some weight with hints of butterscotch on top of the lemongrass and citrus pith notes you’d expect from this stony little white. Quite delicious. — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2015 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is dark and imposing on the palate, yet not quite as forbidding as it can be. A Barolo of size and heft, the 2015 has a lot to say, but it won't be ready to drink anytime soon. Black cherry, smoke, leather, iron, licorice, menthol and graphite notes infuse the 2015 with layers of nuance to complement its brooding, sepia-toned personality nicely. The 2015 is a beguiling Barolo, but it needs cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2019) — 6 years ago

Stephanie Arend

9.3

Strong tanins, but not overwhelming. Berry and cherry flavors — 8 years ago

with Melissa

Joan De La Cruz

9.0

Amazing white wine! Semi dry, but smooth with a very good taste. This is my go to Sauvignon Blanc! — 8 years ago

Virginia Thomas

9.4

Sepia with Calder's, and Stuart Calder — 8 years ago

Kevin Pierce

9.3

This is a very good wine. It is very pleasing to the palette. It will be added to my favorites! — 9 years ago

with Joe, Raven and 2 others

Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen KC

9.5

This was something. Very stone fruit aromas, white flowers, nuts, beguiling. Palate showed all of that in sepia tone with power, concentration and freshness. — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.6

Topaz with heavenly streamers stretching for perfection. Creamy head of structured perfection in terms of density and longevity. Perfect sheet of fog lacing falls like a slo-mo curtain to reveal layer two of mountain snows reflecting moonlight. Nose of bananas foster in all its blazing brandy and it’s caramelized olfactory topography; a malt image in sensory sepia to match the mountainscape. Nutmeg, cola and pecan dessert vies with baklava. The palate is a revelation in balance. The expected Belgian malt emerges in contrast to a dappled vanilla and Connecticut tobacco, pecan shell dryness, and chicory coffee before returning to a root tonic sweetness, and cardamom. #kwak #belgianspecialbeers #belgianale #belgianbeer #pauwelkwak #pauwelkwakbrewery #beer #bier #birra #biere #ale #ceveza #cerveja #belgium #belgian — 5 years ago

with Courtney

Ron from VA

9.0

So 2015 presented above average growing conditions… So, this should be a pretty complete expression of this varietal. I am impressed with the taste of maturity from this terroir and old vines. Where I hold back in complete jubilation is this wind focus on savoriness. It had balance yet lacked that little pop of fruit “color”... sort of a sepia tint to the profile. I have more in the cellar and we will see how it develops. If I need a rustic wine, this is where I will go for Luca’s offering. — 7 years ago

Stephen Gniadecki

9.1

Reminded me of a barrel aged sour beer. Pervasive but enjoyable funkiness to cut through acidity.

Paired with 3rd and best course of the night (swordfish, peach tapenade, baby eggplant, and chicory) at Sepia Chicago on 11.03.2017 — 8 years ago

Richard Fairclough

9.3

Muito equilibrado com ótima finalização — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2006 vintage. At Sepia, in Sydney. Medium ruby cherry hue edging to garnet - bright and alluring. The nose is obviously Rayas: roasted strawberry pieces, red currants, savoury meaty spices, slight chocolately note. Very complex and concentrated. On the palate, its dry but has a slight residual sugar note from the bright fruit and medium plus alcohol. The body has some weight, and the acidity is a touch on the light side, leaving a gelatine feel to the mid palate. The strawberry herbal savoury notes to the fore. The finish is long, but shorter than I remember from the last bottle I had of this vintage. A typical example of Rayas, but not necessarily the best bottle I have had. Drink now for at least another decade. — 9 years ago

Jason Adams

8.9

Dime a dozen. Did improve with air though. Got to serve these bruisers cool — 9 years ago

Kelly

9.0

Well balanced! — 6 years ago

Jonas Johansson

9.0

Great with Sepia a la plancha — 6 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.3

Color: pale as can be for a rose, a light bronzing or pink, the color of expensive jewelry, light catches a sepia tone elixir

Bouquet: Almost non-existent bouquet, very subtle roses and lemon rind

Notes: clear disarming color & liquid, exploding into a charismatic, unexpecting sweetness balanced with a perfect level of tartness. Blossoms into your taste buds with every sip, light carbonation, not overwhelming, a welcome flurry on the lips, freshly squeezed limes, green chartreuse, almost the make up of The Last Word cocktail. As the wine opens up, it tastes more and more like Georgia peaches.

Overall: date night with yourself or person of interest, drips of sensual energy, but don’t feel bad disappearing this on your own, pure liquid magic.

$17 retail, Astor Wine — 7 years ago

Stephen Gniadecki

9.1

Enjoyed as pairing to first course of scallop crudo @ Sepia in Chicago on 11.03.2017 — 8 years ago

Jeremiah Allen

9.0

Drank with amazing meal at Sepia. Duck breast dish was a total food and wine wet dream. Also good with the octopus with nuts and veg course. It is really at peak, maybe not the most dense, but really pretty bouquet that is still slow to unveil the tertiary charm. Probably holds for a 5 years at this level, but should show nicely on its slow moving decline, as the fruit is still so pronounced. Leroy kills! — 8 years ago

DeAnn Guentzel

9.1

Full-bodied Cabernet with nice black cherry undertones. Great price! — 9 years ago

with Joe and Raven

Peter Wanning

9.5

1998 vintage. Beautiful nose, clean finish on the palate. One of the best wines I've had in a restaurant all year. Paired with grilled octopus and swordfish at Sepia in Chicago. — 9 years ago