Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

My homemade warm, Bourbon Pecan Pie with Marianne’s Old Tyme Vanilla...our favorite ice cream maker & second favorite ice cream from them.

Pie made with Redwood Empire “Pipe Dream” Bourbon.

Tawny Port would have been sweet over sweet over sweet...way too much & over powering. The Matthiasson Sweet Vermouth is the perfect pair. It captures the pie with a gentle hug without overwhelming it like Tawny would do.

As I was making my pie, I realized there are very valid heath reasons for only making this once a year. But, wow is it amazing!!!

Our group will likely never go out for another formal dinner if the choice is ours, it just wouldn’t be as good on multiple levels.

The Matthiasson Vermouth starts like summer sun tea with a touch of sugar, subtle brown sugar/molasses background, hints of toffee, butterscotch, marmalade fruit, dry stone fruit, dry pineapple, orange citrus, salted nuts, chalky soils, grainy volcanics, warm toast, slight honeycomb notes, vanilla with dry floral bed. The acidity is insane. The long finish is; unique, extremely well balanced, lush, elegant with persistent length. On the back end, you perceive the most subtle quality of Vermouth.

Brilliant beverage creation! — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Ben Madonna

9.4

Always great Patine. One of the best Pinot Noir. Sun chase is great. Very fruity with smooth elegant finish. — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

Everytime I have this, I'm just so satisfied. The name personifies the wine perfectly. I think of the beach, the summer picnics, working in the vineyard oddly. Easily an entire bottle to myself. — 9 years ago

Sabina Colombeau

9.2

What a trip. So many weird words came up: burnt caramel, raisins, bourbon, nutty, dried mangos, Sherry, bananas foster, plum liquor, orange blossom. Paired amazing with fleur du maquis cheese. — 10 years ago

Miriam De Lyon

9.8

One of@our favorites.... — 10 years ago

Craig Wallace

9.3

First class — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.0

The 2011 Palazzo della Torre is loaded with roasted figs (is this because I was just roasting figs? Maybe.) and sun baked plums. There is too, a beautiful earthy note, like dust in high summer, that echoes on the palate, lending complexity to high acidity and firm, ripe tannin along with an appealing touch of underbrush growing along a stony, arid hillside. Dried herbs on the finish and a touch of anise. Thyme, oregano. Definitely a food wine. Sample — 10 years ago

Alexander Niehenke

8.9

Lots of stems. Herby! Well done but there's flavored of green in here. — 11 years ago

with Shannon

Sybaritewino C.Lawrence

9.2

savoury key lime tart with buttery crust and hints of fresh rain on hot mountain rock and that comforting whiff of petrol. palate is clean crisp limey and bright as the sun on a fresh spring morning. Yum! — 12 years ago

Michael Wilson

9.1

Really lovely blend of 10 different grapes. Lots of purple flowers and pepper. — 12 years ago

with Scott

Scott Soren

9.3

93+pts. I love this producer. Especially the Rancia Chianti. This Super Tuscan may be one of the best values coming out of Italy. The nose exudes Italy. The palate is Tuscan sun burnt raspberries with the earthy ness that’s traditional to Sangiovese. Still a little tight, but so damn good. — 6 years ago

James Gourley

9.1

A bright chard with just a hint of buttered oak. Great stuff. — 7 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.2

Very young. Nice Ruby color. Opulent nose of red fruit, spice and some oak notes. Medium+ palate. Very forward, with the fruit and spice backed by a nice tannic structure. Long finish. — 9 years ago

with Frankie

Katherine Blatz

9.2

2011 vintage. Opened December 16, 2016. Howell Mountain Cab. Sav. Riva di Ponente apparently translates to "steep bank where the sun sets". The black volcanic rock soil on this 1.4 acre block comes through....fullness, smokey, a bit of pepper notes. Still soft enough to drink without food but it is A great steak wine! — 9 years ago

Matthew Beyers

9.3

Good nose. Slightly drier than the usual Australian Shiraz but very palatable. Fruity but not especially spicy. — 10 years ago

Paoli Guillouardi

10

A wine of sun and wind. That's the gem out of the dirt! A pretty nose of natural grapefruit with a bit of gaz on the attack, a lot of purity and a salty bitterness that stretches the wine. — 10 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Oh heck. I wish I had more. I don't know Aussie wine but don't think that would make a big diff in how to interpret this oner. It is an individual and a nice one at that.
It is smooth and merlot Berry then POW there are your Gewurtztraminer spices and whoa. Despite my hatred of the color of yellow I can dig it. Yowza. — 10 years ago

Ross Forbes

9.6

One of the most pleasant rose's I have had lots red berry fruits and soft acidity extremely drinkable perfect for lunch or relaxing in the sun — 11 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

2011. Blanc. No one drinks enough of this. That's because there are so few things to which its a good partner, but it would be an incredible cheese-and-charcuterie wine. Broad and oily, there's just enough acid to keep you coming back for more. Sun-baked yellow orchard fruits dominate, but there's more exotic fruits too (mango and dried pineapple) yellow flowers, tons of almond husk bitterness, green olives, bay leaf, oregano, tarragon, white cheddar. Oak is assertively present but not overwhelming. Place dominates over grapes here, as it's a mix of Clairette and Grenache Blanc and a hodge-podge of other things. — 11 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.2

Aromas of anise, leather and cedar. Loads of black fruit and firm tannins. Glad I have 4 more bottles of this. — 12 years ago

Mark Geylikman

9.3

Sublime and unexpected. This wine is elegant. Lots of flowers and red/blue fruit on the nose. Cherry, blueberry and blackberry all at ones. Excellent texture with just enough of that rustic feel to set aside into a category of its own. — 7 years ago

Jason Hayes

9.3

Unctuous and beautiful showing wine straight away. Burgundian in style and notes-reminiscent of a Cote De Nuits. Great balance and acidity with dark fruit, cassis and ripe plums. Really, really nice. — 7 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.2

Pear, stone, oak, more spring than autumn. A breezy spring day with a few dry leaves still blowing down the walkway. Buds on the branches. Glad I'm wearing a sweater. Here comes the sun. Another sip... take a deep clean breath. The grille comes out of the shed for that lovely white fleshed fish with lemon and olive oil. Crusty bread. Asparagus. Jazz or just the birds? Me humming? — 9 years ago

Shawn R

9.1

Had a different wine in mind yet pulled this one. Just a baby but o' so good! Black jam in the glass. Nose of cold smoked meat, minerals and spice. Light, yet full bodied mouthfeel leads to a sip that has bright red fruits, minerals and spice. That same spice, Chinese Five Spice rolls on the palate with smoke for a long finish that goes on... — 10 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.2

This is one of my favorite Pinots. So incredibly flavorful and a crazy dark color. Wish I had more of this wine. — 10 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.1

Strawberry lemonade with an extra hint of sun-kissed agave. Not as dry as I recall previous vintages, but plenty of acidity to leave my mouth salivating. — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

The 2009 Numanthia is inlaid with fabulous, complex notes of black cherry, Italian plum, bittersweet chocolate, maple, heliotrope, and dusty, sun-baked earth. On the palate, the tannins are structured and slightly grippy, and the alcohol is well integrated—given that it’s at 15%, Numanthia carries it well, showing a great deal of finesse despite innate power. Medium plus finish, accented with cigar box and dried herbs. — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.4

Deep, dense and concentrated with ample red fruit (cherry, red currant) smoky bacon oak coming through, lovely meaty leather notes. Broad, quite Gevrey 1er Cru smelling. Delicious! Medium to full, textured, meaty, good red fruit, light to medium tannic grip and balanced acid, a wine of 8+ years. — 11 years ago

George Leon

9.3

Great, great bouquet of minerality, jumps at you with a remarkable mouth feel with texture and energy. Acidity and structure burgundian yet without the sun deficiency seen in some french wines (survival of fruit) — 12 years ago

Scott T

VP/Senior Wine Specialist Christie's

9.4

Adventures in pulling corks: provenance check. A fantastic 61, still alive, sun sweet, smoky red fruits, modest maderization. One of the best non-1er Cru or Left Bank I have tried. Excellent storage is the reason. Level was top shoulder, excellent for age. — 13 years ago