Erik Nordman

9.4

Awww shit, my first Rougeard! So stoked on this. As a Loire Cab Franc nut, getting to taste this is amazing and it definitely lives up to expectations. Hope I can get my hands on a bottle of Les Bourg or Les Poyeux sometime, because even this appellation-level bottle is insane. This pours a ruby-garnet hue of medium (-) to medium concentration, fading to a burnished pink rim that is just starting to show signs of age. Moderately concentrated, elegant, ethereal nose of perfectly-ripe wild raspberry and blackberry, crushed rose petals, graphite and pencil shavings, lightly grilled green bell pepper, and a smidge of already really well integrated new oak that comes across in this particular wine as a subtle espresso undertone. On the palate, the fruit character is ever-so-slightly underripe (in a positive, refreshing manner) and there's an extra shot of cool graphite mineral intensity but otherwise is pretty congruent with the nose. Perfect amount of pyrazine character; enough to add complexity and freshness yet doesn't dominate at all. Medium (-) to medium body, medium (+) acid, and medium to medium (+) intensity of incredibly fine grained, supple tannins. Insane complexity and length. Honestly between the oak and incredibly skillful phenolic extraction, the texture is the most intriguing thing about this wine. Definitely worth the hype. I somehow managed to snag his for under $100 too so I'm pretty stoked on that too, haha. Definitely could keep going in the cellar for a while but honestly still delicious now especially if you give it some air. Some pretty incredible stuff. Also, RIP Charly Foucault. — 8 years ago

with Cassie

Benjamin Hickey

9.0

Awesomely fresh and green with out being astringent. 3 months in barrel without being oaky. — 9 years ago

Adam Lord

9.4

Awesome nose, well balanced and great tannins. Barossa at its best. — 10 years ago

with Benjamin

Ryan Sherman

8.9

Just over the hill, just a smidge. — 11 years ago

Nancy McCracken

9.5

Love it! Liked the '12 a smidge better though. This one may be a tiny sweet... — 11 years ago

Daniel Coplen

9.6

Lovely after being open a few hours...tons of body for a chinon...lots of olive and green pepper...and a smidge of Brett. — 12 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.5

Always and constantly astonishingly amazing and drinkable...Even enjoyably so. Showcasing a vast and complex array of deep, dark fruit and grandpa's cigar box characteristics. With a bass clef preceding notes of black cherries, leather and a smidge of vanilla, and purple flowers and red berries following the treble clef, this Howell Mountain cab packs a punch without hurting anyone. My stomach is jealous of my mouth for getting it first. — 8 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.0

Solid effort from Yann Chave! This is northern Rhone Syrah in spades. Blackberry, blueberry, delicious briny olives, cracked pepper, granite mineral character, a bit of drying lavender, and just a tiny smidge of beef blood (mostly on the nose) to add to that lovely umami character I love in northern Rhone Syrahs. Full bodied with medium (+) fine-grained tannin, with nice med/med.(+) acidity to still keep it lively and fresh enough. Real tasty juice; went great with the nice bistro pepper steak we ate for dinner.

Edit: on day three, that nice Northern Rhone smoked meat character started to emerge a bit; very pleasant. Make sure to decant at least an hour and a half if you're going to drink he whole bottle in one evening. — 9 years ago

Alex Alan

Wine Director Hotel Delmano

9.0

2013. By far the best vintage of this wine so far. Freshness, more body than usual, soft texture, and a tasty combination of flavors ranging from red berry fruit to the savory and spiced, and a smidge of earth tones. — 10 years ago

Matthew Beninati

9.2

This would be a 9.5 if the alcohol was a smidge less prominent. It does not kill the fruit... The fruit is definitely there, but a tad less alcohol sensation, and this would be dam near perfect. — 10 years ago

T. R. Byars

9.0

Salty air, a smidge of peat, a touch of smoke, and slighty sweet finish. Elegant. An Oat cake and Lockerbie Cheddar would be great, but the lemon Girl Scout cookies will have to do. Thanks Ailee! — 11 years ago

Doug Hemingway

9.1

Supurb! Batting way above its weight. (A smidge under $20 at dans) — 11 years ago

V M

9.1

Silky smooth but just lacked a smidge of structure and finish — 12 years ago

Doug Wade

9.1

A tiny bit of tannins, dry and earthy with a smidge of minerals — 8 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.4

Such a beauty!
The Adamo never lets me down. — 9 years ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.5

Smidge 'smitch' S Shiraz. Not over the top in body, really nice structure and great length. — 9 years ago

Adam Lord

9.1

Great. Balanced and length. — 10 years ago

with Benjamin

Stephen Halsey

9.1

Really nice example of a St Helena Napa cab. The 2008 was maybe a smidge past its prime but still very nice structure and enough funk to make it interesting.
— 10 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.3

This little guy is ageing gracefully, to bad it was our last one, with 8 years under its belt still fruity and supple acid. — 11 years ago

Barrett Fallentine

9.2

Nice summer sipper. Light and crisp, but a smidge too much residual sugar for me, but an ice cube or soda water solves that! — 11 years ago