Ian Hamel

9.2

2021/5/5-6 with mole chichilo and chicken, katsuo tataki, etc. I adore this wine; this year’s model is especially effusive and giving. Soaring raspberry, strawberry, cherry and flowers - it really is Burgundian, but with that twist of blood orange that says Chianti. Limpid like cool spring water but with a savory mineral depth. People sometimes talk about dangerously drinkable wines, but this is truly that - so delicious and moreish it’s hard to stop. — 4 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

A very unique Barolo that is almost Burgundian like that was light on its feet with an elegant, floral & silky texture showing soaring red fruits, whole cluster with red cherry, strawberry, baking spices, orange peel, rose petal & violet. — 6 years ago

Kristin Elliott

9.3

Smooth light red blend, flavorful — 7 years ago

Joe Davant

9.5

My WOTN at the Charlotte Hirsch dinner, showing what proper aging can do to bring out a wine's fine points and soften its rough edges. All the elements of this wine were working together in harmony. Soaring floral aromatics, deep, rich fruits and a wonderfully smooth, long finish made this wine a real pleasure to drink. The more Hirsch I drink, the more I realize that patience is rewarded with their wines. 2011 was widely panned as a tough vintage in CA, but this 2011 was absolutely singing. — 7 years ago

with brent

Ron Siegel

9.5

Amazing wine that never disappoints with soaring aromatics of dark red fruits, licorice, soy, smoke, tar, leather, cedar & cigar box. Both floral & elegant that should hold for another 10 years. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I’ve had at least two cases of the 97 over the last eight years or more. Our friends Jeff & Hedy brought this bottle of 97 to dinner tonight. It’s the best bottle of this wine I’ve had. We drank our last bottle roughly two years ago. The wine continues to improve. Tonight it’s so lush, ruby, elegant with blue & dark & mid red fruits. Great balance of fruit & earth. So beautiful & easy to drink. The 97 vintage was one no one wanted to buy as it was critically panned. I have said this many times, “in every difficult vintage, there are always producers that make good wine.” In the case of the Potensac, it took 15+ years to fully spread its wings and it continues to improve with another 10 years left ahead. No critic would have told you in 98 & 99 when the initial reviews came out to buy this wine. Potensac is made by the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases. Always follow good producers, even in difficult years. K&L bought 5,000 cases of this wine 10+ years after the fact. They are Masters in Bordeaux wines for this kind of value. Clyde took the shipments in two blocks of 2500 cases and sold through them in about a year or less at $24.99 a bottle. It remains the bargain of a lifetime! @Shay A This is the wine you want to buy to keep you from opening your 09’s & 10’s too early. So delicious tonight!!! Photos of; Potensac, concrete tanks, fruit near harvest and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

One of my favorite vintages for current drinking showing soaring aromatics with notes of black cherry, meat, bacon fat, iron, black olive, pepper, licorice & violets. — 4 years ago

ESF

9.2

Really impressive thru vintage but this bad boy was especially strutting it’s stuff showing plenty of polish & sophistication: soaring black & blue fruit, creamy vanilla, gentle spice & warmth, little cedar & tobacco - plush, finely grained tannins, med bodied, smooth & seamless. Hot diggitty this was nice! — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Soaring nose of wet earth, sour cherries, wild spices, sweet blackberries, mint, and just superbly aromatic. Palate is super precise, loaded with sweet/sour cherry fruit and loads of crunchy minerality. Stunningly pure and deep. Terrific length. Will age wonderfully. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Beautiful drinking vintage that has black cherry, soaring Vosne Romanee spices, game, orange peel & mineral. — 7 years ago

Billy L.

9.5

PNP
Tastes Great! All P/N should be this deep &
concentrated! No green stem or weak fruit profile here. Big time wine from Gary Pisoni’s
Santa Lucia Highlands Vineyard. If California had Grand Cru designations, the Pisoni Vineyard would be tagged! This 2011 Roar Pisoni is still a Baby 👶; with a long finish and great depth. Color “Cherry Cola” Nose intense!
If you haven’t had a Pisoni P/N, time to start!
“Bob Jr.” -Jeb Dunnuck Review here from his Wine Advocate stint: Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻
“The most sweetly fruited and approachable, the 2011 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard has sweet strawberry, kirsch, underbrush, spice box and licorice aromas and flavors all soaring from the glass.” (JD) (8/2013) — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.7

The flagship from Domaine Saint Préfert, and my first Charles Giraud. Préfert’s Charles Giraud has been a perennial high-scorer with multiple triple digit scores from Robert Parker. The 2015 is one of only four Chateauneufs to receive 99 points from Wine Spectator (none have received 100 points) and one of the other four is the 2010 Charles Giraud. This is epic juice. 60% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre. Soaring aromatics. Incense, kirsch, lavender, fig, stone, meat, plum, Provençal herbs and exotic spice. Plush and silky, with an all-consuming intensity. Pair with Jeff Buckley. — 7 years ago

Chris Leon

9.3

Soaring red fruit that is undeniably true Sonoma coast. East ridge shows a touch more energy then San Andreas fault Imo — 9 years ago

with Cristina

Ron Siegel

9.4

Amazing 07 thats nose is Leroy like showing lots of dark cherry, berry with soaring sweet Asian & Vosne spices, sous bois, earth, orange peel & violets round out some of the notes. — 5 years ago

Maggie J

8.9

Very good! Dark fruit- plum and cherry w/ smoke and tar(?) — 5 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Last bottle, fair to call this a white blend, maybe even an orange wine. Light pumpkin orange in color, excellent clarity. Floral and sulfite notes in nose initially. Stone fruit flavors - apricot, ripe peach - plus spice (wood? white pepper?) and a touch of vanilla with moderate skin astringency and lemon-orange flavor in finish. Love this winery and what they do — 6 years ago

Michele Weyland

9.0

Very good smooth light red. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

From Mag with bone-in NY prime. This is finally in an approachable drinking window. An hour decant gave this wings. As “Bordeaux” an Insignia I’ve had in a while. I know it’s a Bordeaux blend but it’s never really performed that way for me. Great strength here, silky lines and some legit nuance. — 7 years ago

Kenta Hayashi

9.2

Some reduction in the beginning. Starts off like a Puligny and closes like a Meursault. Very clean citrus nose with lots of minterality. Soaring aromatics of grapefruit, lemon, and perhaps flint? Hard to pinpoint a particular aroma. Certainly complex for a village level. Acidity is present but not piercing and is beautifully coupled with the fruit. — 7 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.5

Finally getting around to rating this. Honestly, this wine will last in my memory for multiple reasons - it's soaring aromatics and gobsmacking density and richness are second to none. And the company and conversation were even better. Thanks to @David E for being so kind to open this bottle after we'd already killed two other gems. It'll be my goal to track more of this stuff down as this bottle will live in infamy as the bottle that started my obsession with Syrah. — 8 years ago