Gavin Baum

9.4

Really extraordinary Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, drinking at its peak. Has started to take on wonderful secondary character, with lots of honeycomb, hazelnut, and toasty brioche showing on the nose and palate. That makes the wine sound a lot more decadent than it is, though. At its heart, like all of the Tyler Chardonnays, this wine is first and foremost a masterclass in focus and precision. Even at the ripe old age of 6, with its contours slightly softened and its flinty reduction tempered, this wine is still wonderfully, vividly alive, with copious lemony acidity and fruit that still leans more towards tangerine oil and grapefruit. That this is still so piquant and salty and mouthwatering and more-ish after 6 years in the bottle is a real testament to the quality and the substance of these wines. — 7 years ago

Kathleen Masters

9.4

Like it a lot — 7 years ago

TJ Maxwell

9.4

The cork appeared slightly dried out, but bottle was sound. Dusty and delicate aromas of dried rose petals and cedar. The tannins have softened and the black cherry, cracked pepper, gravel flavors give a very classic flavor profile. The alcohol seemed touch on “hot” side (13%). Good bottle, in good drinking spot — 8 years ago

Jason Jones

9.2

Still plenty of time left on this one. Opened two, one unfortunately corked but otherwise sound. — 8 years ago

with Erin, Casey and 1 other

Anthony Lombardi

9.0

Gifted from a neighbor who had no idea what it is. The good news is that it was in his fridge. The nose is understandably reticent, but the wine is sound. It shows an almost Chenin-like quality of quince paste & pears accented with classic hazelnut flavors. Shows plenty of acidity, very good Sherry. — 9 years ago

Chris Anton

9.3

You almost need a sixties sound track when sipping. Nice, earthy smell and taste, like Woodstock. — 9 years ago

Crazy Tanya

9.2

Love this one! — 10 years ago

romo

9.0

A touch of VA but sound. Bright. — 10 years ago

with Matthew and Max

Chris DeBarr

9.0

Really pretty, almost honeyed, aromatic pure quince cider from San Juan Islands. Would be great w pork or curries. Think Gewürz or Albariño as wine cognates... — 11 years ago

Jennifer McPherson

9.1

Sound. Chalky, muscle, fatty fruit. — 11 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.4

Ovum makes “quiet wines of place.” This is a wine that really sang for me and reminded me just how much I find inspiration from aromatic white wines. It’s old world and new world. It’s expressive but not heavy. It’s supremely unpretentious. Perfumed lychee and wasps of smokey tangerine. Full bodied. Neither oily nor fat. — 7 years ago

Drew Miller

9.4

So solid. A little dry and a little mineral. Some interesting slight sweet flavor. Damn. Drank like water. — 7 years ago

Mike R

9.5

When you pop one and decant and then taste you never really know what to expect but gratefully my family on Delectable has helped me so much - I know it is holidays speaking but we have so much as a group to thankful for - to you and yours - have a glorious holiday

This wine has been resting for a long time - I have decided to start drinking wines that I was storing as I cannot take them with me so Dilly Dilly

What a wine what a wine what a mighty good wine

Dark purplish red as is the season - when I taste I immediately smile and laugh with hohoho sound - the smell is amazing with all the kitchen sink ingredients but somehow I smell mistletoe and cinnamon - ''tis the season again" - and the finish is long like when you watch a big snowflake fall from the sky - it takes forever and ever

Starting my annual Christmas wine journey and again thank you folks for making the wine taste even better with your likes and comments - more wine to come tonight and tomorrow

Smiling for so many reasons and happy holiday — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

The Caymus of the Central Coast. Inky with massively extracted red and black fruit, and in a mode not unlike pie filling. Not to be denied, it's loaded with vanilla, baking spice, fig, and a few drops of root beer extract. The aura of charcoal and new leather weave throughout, all with an edge of tilled earth. Translating this from taste and smell to sight and sound, this is walking into a brand new casino. — 8 years ago

David MacDonald

9.1

Nicely balanced. Very grassy, not as bright and acidic as over sauv blancs. — 9 years ago

with Megan and Timothy

Scotti Wilson

8.9

A nice dry red — 10 years ago

Jeremy Giesbrecht

9.5

Um yeah... #BOOM status granted for this at the #yulwinethrowdown . 81 not the best of vintages and wines are reportedly past peak but this first growth was not. Very interesting flavour profile, certainly secondary characteristics but structurally still pretty sound. I was glad to find it still alive and in my opinion had many more years left before the big decline. Awesome privilege to have tasted. — 10 years ago

Max Kogod

Owner Kogod Wine Merchant

9.0

More sound than last bottle. A violet-bomb if there ever was one. — 11 years ago

Craiggy Weggs

9.1

Soft. Not sharp. Not too sweet. — 11 years ago

Sean Wallner - WSET II

9.0

Delicious! Actually has a lot of similarity to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc. I’m not an expert, yet... but if I blind tasted this I would have guessed a New Zealand Sauv Blanc. Notes of Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Green Apple, Lychee, Pear, Nectarine with hints of Slate and some Salinity. Low alcohol at 11% and good acidity with a medium finish. — 7 years ago

Lindsay Biggar

10

Jalapeno notes and so damn good — 7 years ago

David Brown

9.3

I’m going to need more of this to get through Fire & Fury... — 8 years ago

with Jessica

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

Founded in 1880 by Augustus Quitzow, Sonoma's Geyser Peak is California's 29th bonded winery. Their Russian River Valley Pluto's Fury is GP's top Pinot Noir. From the Middle Reach of RRV (immediately south of Healdsburg and where the river exits Alexander Valley and enters RRV). Produced from vineyard sites situated among the Westside Road wineries and vineyards, including Williams Selyem's Estate, J. Rochioli, Bacigalupi, Bucher, Allen, and Flax vineyards (to name just a few). While this won't be mistaken for Selyem or Rochioli, it's quite representative of the locale, with copious amounts of black cherry, clove, charred oak, with some secondary baking spice and barbecue smoke. The silky, yet structured mouthfeel works wonders, accentuating every curve. — 8 years ago

Beau Carufel

Winemaker/Owner Random Wine Company

9.0

I suspect this wine had the best night of it's life. Excellent balance and structurally sound. Well integrated tannins mixed with black fruit and only a touch of oak. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Williams Selyem is one of the most consistent producers of Pinot in Sonoma. They must be farmers at heart because the fruit they grow is always generally very good to excellent. The raspberry flavors in their Pinots always stand out to me when I have them. Not that I'm a points person by any stretch of the imagination, but I've always felt like their wines are under scored by critics. Maybe, because they only score them young and for the most part don't revisit them much later as when I enjoy them. That said, this Russian River is drinking beautifully tonight. Certainly, one of the better 02 Pinots I've had and 02 was a very good year for Pinots generally speaking. The fruits in this 02 are singing after 12years in the bottle. Dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberry preserves, dry cranberries, concentrated pomegranate juice, pronounced spices, sprinkle of light herbs, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, dark fresh & dry florals, gritty chalkiness, grey volcanic minerals & dry stems. The structure is still very sound as is the tension, length and balance. Acidity is near perfect and the round, lush, polished finish doesn't end. — 9 years ago

Brad Bulen

9.2

Sound of Music up front w wild flowers and honey; nice minerality — 10 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.0

My jam. Varietally sound with a little more depth of fruit. — 10 years ago

Lindsay Huntsman

General Manager/Wine Buyer Glen Ellen Star

9.2

Semi sweet is pretty dry. Nose screams applesauce but palate is super refreshing.
— 11 years ago

gregor sanobabich

9.7

Buono commo sangrijo divino — 11 years ago