Chip Hughes

9.3

To my taste, the best year-in, year-out red of French Catalonia. The confit red fruits, pie spice, bramble and wood smoke on the nose make you think it’s going to be a sledgehammer...and then it’s all elegance, filigree and lift on the palate, as it’s only 12.5% alcohol. Simple, non-interventionist vinification, but none of that natural bullshit. Everything in perfect order. #rocdesanges #roussillon #grenache #syrah #carignane — 5 years ago

Rachel McLendon

9.6

Feels good, taste decadent. — 6 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.3

I'm conflicted here. I mean, this is the Platonic Grüner dialed up to 11. All the white pepper, pea shoot, stone fruit and phenolic bitterness you could want. Amazing richness, depth and complexity. But man, it was almost work to enjoy it after my initial taste. Maybe in time this mellows and loosens up, maybe it always stays a 20lb sledgehammer. Lord knows it's got the material to go either way. — 7 years ago

Ian Chmar

9.8

An amazingly peaty experience. Strong barley nose but the first sip just hits you like a sledgehammer due to the enormous amount of peat. The best octomore I've tried so far. — 8 years ago

Delectable Blue

9.3

A really competent, well composed Shiraz. In some ways it reminds me of the fruit forward Penfolds 389s from the mid 90’s, but without the oak sledgehammer I seem to recall, or regrettably the length of finish.

Pepper and spice on the nose with a hint of the french oak bleeding through. A soft and delicate mouthfeel, with an almost velvety texture. Layers of berry, earth and spice with beautifully integrated sweet tannins and oak. Nice complexity but it’s just missing a touch on the length, otherwise immaculate. A very enjoyable wine. — 9 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.4

2011. Complex nose. Deeply pitched ripe dark berry fruit, wood smoke and piercing rock dust notes. Sledgehammer powerful in the mouth. Almost overwhelming rich dry extract coats the mouth. Huge body. Finish is very long with pure dark berry notes and dark minerals competing to see who quits first. Great wine. But you have to pick your moments for this one. — 9 years ago

Quinn Canter

9.1

Sledged my hammer — 9 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.6

Oh god. Maybe my red wine of the year. Nose is cherry flower plum skin and lilacs. Simply fantastic. Palate is grand cru burgundy made from Nebbiolo. Terrific density. Perfect balance. Juicy cherry finish. Simple awesome. Bought from Fass selections. ... really expansive on the palate as it opens. But in a classy way not a sledgehammer way... this is so fresh and juicy I can’t believe it’s 12 years old. ... ok at 90 minutes this is god juice. Basically extra dimensional cherry licorice juice. Cherry flavored crack cocaine on the finish. — 5 years ago

with Lyle

Richard Lewis

9.3

So nice to find a Zinfandel that isn't a sledgehammer - although since "Bedrock" is on the label, the balance shouldn't be a surprise. Great pair with our Montreal smoked meat. — 7 years ago

with Lynne

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.1

Sledgehammer. Can't help but admire this for its boldness at almost 10. All the things, but I kinda wish there was a little more space in-between to appreciate each element more. Maybe just too young, but I wonder if it doesn't just get more muddy from here. Really enjoyable, but perplexing to try to figure out what the future holds. — 7 years ago

Meg

9.4

Friends don't let friends drink bad wine on Thanksgiving! There is nothing better than the afternoon drop-in and impromptu wine from loved ones. And as I cook, does anyone else have the Sledgehammer song or video on the brain today?! Just sayin. #friendsgiving #thankful — 9 years ago

with Nick and Rebecca

Alex Shaw

9.1

Good minerality. Dusty tannins, nice structure and length. Not a sledgehammer. A great example of the vintage. — 9 years ago

GHol

9.0

Sublime flavours that are a surprise given the inky purple/black colour. You'd expect a sledgehammer but you get a butterflies wings. Not the best grange but better for a few years in the cellar.
— 9 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

Sledgehammer Merlot from @Joe Lucca and my first exposure to this maker. Loved it. Big fruit, racy, deep blue and black fruit. — 6 years ago

Keith Smoly

9.0

Sampled a glass of this fruity Californian this evening. Definitely had notes of cherry. — 6 years ago

Andrew Willingham

9.1

Opened this a few nights ago and it was little more than a sledgehammer of acid straight to your face. Poured some to pair with some artichokes after two days in the fridge and it has totally changed- fantastic! Beautiful clear, pale straw color. Nose sees vibrant apricots, white peaches, sweet sugar and honey. Palette now is balanced with healthy acid, but countered with tasty minerality, a bit of fruit and honey. Amazing what a couple of days in the fridge can do! Be sure to give this some time as it can develop into an amazing value wine. — 7 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.2

A whiff of sulphur on the nose but nothing that decanting could not fix.
Citrus and pineapple hit your nose with a sledgehammer. In the mouth I was surprised by the amount of fat, something I have not experienced with other Keller GG's. The decanter played the role of a fitness trainer as it slowly started reducing some of the fat. I hope that time will slim this down. — 8 years ago

Edward Zimmerman

9.7

Is it Pure? Great stuff. 2012 is a more elegant year for Chateauneuf du Pape and while still big, this isn't the sledgehammer it could've been, and that's a good thing — 9 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.0

Yessir. QPR king, and getting better in the cellar. Not quite the fruit sledgehammer it once was, but still full of California sunshine. What it lacks in complexity it more than makes up in pure, well balanced drinkability. Tuesday steak dinner winner. — 9 years ago

Michael Corcoran

9.0

I mean really, can you get a better name for a big Aussie Shiraz ?!? — 9 years ago