Shay A

9.3

A few fun bottles from last Friday.

My thanks to @Mark Flesher for opening this as I have a visit lined up with Hayfork and Lewelling during my Napa trip in 3 weeks. I was surprised at how dense and chewy this was! So much to unpack here. I’d say this is fruit forward without being flabby or over the top. Aromatically there is baked mixed berry pie, dark plum, Mexican vanilla and baking spices. Large and in charge on the palate showing roasted dark fruits, dusty herbs, and chewy tannins at the finish. I think this is still evolving, but very enjoyable now. — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Bob McDonald

9.2

More berry/cassis than leafy herbal Margaret River style - touches of capsicum though. Very enjoyable but I don’t know whether I would pick this as Margaret River in a blind tasting. Medium bodied but M+ intensity. Nearby neighbors of some of the big name producers without the price tag. Tasted another bottle 43 weeks later on 7th February 2020 with similar notes but showing more Margaret River herbaceousness. Excellent QPR for a Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon. 92 points. Tasted another bottle on 19th March 2022 with consistent notes. Pretty much a typical Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon. 3 bottles left. Tasted another on 3rd February 2023 with consistent notes. Had this with pasta. I didn’t think that was a good food/wine match but it worked perfectly. Tasted my 2nd last bottle on 28th June 2023. Certainly not a typical herbaceous Margaret River Cabernet. More cassis and blackberry like a South Australian Cabernet. — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.3

Probably opened this too soon, which is so unlike me😬
Curious how this will stack up against the Carter Hossfeld which is almost the same blend of Merlot & Cabernet.
Find out in a couple weeks when Carter ships
Same price & almost exactly same ratings from WA,
95 for this & 94+ for Hossfeld — 7 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.3

The 2015s only arrived a few weeks ago and the 2013s are still unfolding so its a perfect time to rip the 2014s. @Benjamin Keator maybe it’s not quite a Carter BTK but it’s damn good. — 8 years ago

Jeff Loo

9.4

Another amazing showing for this vintage and Pavillon Rouge. Dare I say an even better showing than a couple weeks ago. A wine to drink today yet watch for another 10 years easily. — 8 years ago

jarred gild

Head Wine Buyer Western Market

9.6

picture from a few weeks ago, but still on my mind — 9 years ago

with Kyo, Kim and 2 others

Joe Willey

9.4

Delicious. Almost more Syrah like than Sangiovese. — 9 years ago

Marcus Lancaster

9.0

Surprising! A touch of butterscotch quickly followed by Meyer lemon and lime.with chalk. — 9 years ago

Zach Cherry

Account Manager Worldwide Wine & Spirits

9.2

I loved the 2009 I tasted a few weeks ago, this showed how well it will develop. Still young, but I was even more impressed after some maturation. — 10 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Mag of Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill. Drank beautifully. Seamless cab, still fairly primary. Medium long finish, moderate acidity. Not overly extracted. In Ligonier a few weeks ago. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Long day cleaning & painting getting our rental property getting it ready for our new tenant. We are burnt but, a glass of Ruinart Rosé always perks us up.

We’ll be doing this a lot over the next two weeks. Hope everyone has better weekend plans than we do! Cheers!🥂

All my previous notes apply.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, painting of Dom Thierry Ruinart, their caves & one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 6 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.0

100% Sauvignon from Totem Vineyard in Yountville plus two other vineyards in Coombsville. Barrel fermented, two to four weeks of French oak, 40% new
This is less grassy and gooseberry than a Marlborough but more assertive than many California sauvignons where the fruit gets so ripe it turns to peach and fig. This is a real Sauvignon lover’s wine with hallmarks of both New World and Old.
Pale lemon, creamy texture with crisp, well-balanced acidity. Plenty of herbal overtones without losing a fruity, mineral-driven core. Long finish - an exciting wine. — 6 years ago

Love You More

8.9

Silky, smooth and fruity. — 7 years ago

Mike Smith

9.2

I was very surprised with this Pinot. Darker in color than most and not much legs. Letting it set 1 hour was a good thing. A very nice wine with fruit on the front and back and finishes nicely. — 7 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

8.9

Juicy and delicious and very much ready to go. 4 bottles downed in the last 3 weeks pretty much says it all. — 8 years ago

Sara Murrill

9.0

Tastes great after a little aeration! Smooth and dry but not too dry. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Clear rich Crimson in colour. Whiff of wood varnish which blew off. Spicy - not as much pepper as usual. Cherries and supple savoury tannins. Medium bodied. One of my favourite Aussie Reds in the $20 to $30 category. 2nd ranked cuvée to their much vaunted "Langi" Shiraz. Tasted again 54 weeks later with totally consistent notes. Tasted beside Salo Syrah, from the much vaunted Hawkes Bay NZ District for Syrah. I preferred the Langhi. — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.6

This wine is a stand alone gem. Very difficult to read and closed and may be too light and disappointing right now but that is deceiving. I am collecting these wines and they are ridiculously good with age. Currently available only from Crush or Chambers or Winfield Flynn in New York. I also tasted the 2015 in barrel 3 weeks ago which in the barrel is a flat out 10. The 2014 is chalky and herbaceous very subdued. The power and elegance of this wine is hidden right now almost like a sleeping giant. — 9 years ago

with Lyle

Manu Rosier

9.2

Skin contact and "orange" wine. Perfectly matured in barrel for 2-3 weeks... Amazingly crafted — 10 years ago

Lane Shackleton

Co-Owner Bluebird and Miracle One Wines

9.4

Wasn't drinking for three weeks in January until Meg 'accidentally' opened this bottle... — 11 years ago

Sam Bilbro

Owner/Vineyardist Idlewild Wines

9.7

Acidity, texture, stones, umami, and lemon. Yum. — 13 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon in colour. Stone fruits on nose and palate. The big peaches and cream style. A typical delicious Leeuwin Art Series palate of profound intensity with Oak playing a supporting role to the abundant ripe fruits. Medium minus acid. A big generous Art Series Chardonnay which went well with fresh prawns. I think I would need to drink the remaining 3 in the next 18 months. Had another bottle with friends for lunch 9 weeks later on 16th November. All agreed this was the white wine of the day marginally from the 1998 Lovedale. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Last year Barb and I attended the annual Tasting at the Pinot Shop in Launceston. Of the 75 approx Tasmanian Pinot Noirs this one was in my Top 3. It has gone on to wow audiences at subsequent tastings around the country. Had a bottle a couple of nights ago with the following tasting note. Whole bunch stemmy notes. More floral savoury and earthy than fruity notes. Incredible depth to the palate - sumptuous and delicious. Oak perfectly judged giving a slight burnt flavour. Medium + bodied with silky ripe tannins. Low acid. Beautiful now - drink sooner rather than later. Will please “crowds” and experts alike. Opened a bottle 176 weeks later on 21st October 2022. Still very good - raspberry notes coming through. Not the absolute wow when it was young. — 6 years ago

Beth Hamilton

9.0

Super intense. Inky black/red color. on the nose, charcoal and molasses? Or burnt marshmallow? taste of ripe red cherries and black current jam and graphite. — 7 years ago

Liz O'Neal

9.2

Lovely orange wine from Umbria! 3 weeks of skin contact - acidic but round and balanced. Gorgeous amber color. Heaven! Amanda’s first orange wine on our double 30th bday celebration ✨👸🏼💕 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 8 years ago

Eric Egan

9.5

Another level... Still dense at the core, with steady, attractive bricking: Wonderfully dense nose of blackcurrents, pencil shavings, fine tanned leather, and a hint of woodland floor (fine moss, leaves, and fresh soil after an autumn shower). Velvety tannins and great acidity. Along with the '66 this is one of my all-time favourite Bordeaux vintages. Seems to be keeping up better than the '61s I've had over the last few years!

We drank half of it from the coravin before waxing the top in case the cork had lost too much elasticity to self-seal. I'll have the rest with my brother in a few weeks' time! — 9 years ago

Jose Moran

9.3

A few weeks of skin contact. Complex but still young — 10 years ago

Richard Young

Wine Specialist Christie's

9.6

Twice in two weeks....beautiful Sangiovese — 11 years ago

with Christy

Mark Lindzy

9.6

Open about 6 weeks. Fresh acidity, Brazil nuts, black tea tannins, salty caramel. I fucking love this wine. — 11 years ago