Nate Wilson

9.1

Beginning to really appreciate this blend. A tad sweeter than most, but easy to drink as an aperitif and it goes well with anything off the grill. — 8 years ago

DAL 9000

9.1

Quick mild plums. Soft dark fruit middle with a long finish. A hint of cherries if you swirl it. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Light & mid red fruits, smoke, grilled meats & dry red roses on the nose. The fruits are; dark cherries, cherries, cooked strawberries, dry cranberries, black cherry cola, reductive pomegranate, grilled meats, smoke, baking spices (vanilla & nutmeg), brown crushed volcanic rocks, dry roses, light oak, nice acidity and an elegant swirl of all of the above on the long beautiful finish. Nice work Toby. For those reading, a Pinot to acquire and a winery to follow going forward. Great pair with pork loin w/ fruit. https://www.google.com/amp/s/johnonwine.com/2015/06/11/spotlight-winery-phillips-hill-winery/amp/
— 9 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.4

This is the '05 so-called "Blue Label" which isn't very blue, but I digress. I was a little rough on the last Lillian I opened, which I believe was the '06 regular bottling. It was a might underwhelming. This bottle has more highs than lows. Inky black color. Swirl the wine and you can't count the legs in the glass. Absolute knockout nose of licorice, spice and Dr Pepper. Best part of the experience for me. SO inviting. The downside is that the fruit is a little muted. Still some black fruit essence, however. And a bit hot on the finish. I guess I would still say it's best days are in the rear view mirror, but I'll hang on to a few to revisit somewhere down the road. Apologies to @Bill Bender for the absence of breasts in the photo. — 9 years ago

Lyle Coffield

Sommelier Kokkari, Evvia Estatorios

9.1

Out of the bottle into the glass. A suspiciously translucent and raisiny brown. This wine suffers from progeria... not a bad thing if your a 2011 Barolo sitting open on my counter but extremely unfortunate if your lying around in some cellar doing nothing. The clock is ticking on this one. A quick swirl and a whiff meh... Smells like Nebbiolo. Cheap Nebbiolo. First taste mere seconds in the glass.... Flat and watery... Watery, the key sign of an oxygen starved bottle... Some wines need to breathe... Some don't. This one does. Just a little... A baby's breath... Well actually, I dipped an aero latte in it and gave it a whirl until it developed a rich creamy head and Wow! This little wrinkly, raisinated tot matured into Barolo! With roses and tar and terra cotta earthiness and a palate to match. What a surprise! — 10 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.0

Pale yellow with green tint, tearstaining mouthwatering swirl; sweet delicious citric nose; rich and robust bone-dry taste with fairly high alcohol, and long finish dominated by acid and tart green apple and some 3iery aromas. Nice message in this bottle from Wittman. Want to try Morstein next. — 10 years ago

Erin Ferraro

9.5

Great inexpensive Rioja, bought from Swirl and Sip — 11 years ago

Derich

9.3

Goat barn notes, tweed, a swirl of classic BMW 750 brats, hardcover must, lingonberry. I love it. — 9 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.2

Maybe Baxter doesn't like this bc he's British (@Ron R) and this is French, but we love it. Pears and peach coming through as I swirl the glass. In the mouth it's delicate and sweet. No bite. So French. 🇫🇷 — 9 years ago

Ryan M

9.5

It has been a ☔️️☔️️🍂🍂 weekend here in Chicago and I couldn't let this gift from @David A Lentine stare at me anymore. Time to pop some good stuff. Plus we have to celebrate a 💪🏻💪🏻 showing by 🇺🇸 at the Ryder Cup, right @Mike Rowe ⛳️?

I'm excited to try some of @Celia Welch wines that all you post so much of and rave about. 2011 was a difficult harvest but the initial swirl indicates no impact of that!

Once again @David A Lentine thanks for the generous gift and feeding my #napacab addiction!! #100percentcab #napavalleyforever

Happy Sunday drinking: @Martin G Rivard @Ron R @David A Lentine @Mike Rowe @TheSkip @Rochelle @Paul T @Jim Trobaugh @Daryl Calhoun @Mike Smith @David Trumper @Bill Bender @Shawn G. Rose @Dustin Soiseth — 9 years ago

with Larissa

Ron R

9.0

A very good Rioja, which was a pleasant surprise. Notes of prunes, sweet berries and black olives swirl in the glass. The palette is glossy, with polished tannins and very bright acidity. Finishes sweet, with a long tail. Excellent value for a $15 wine. — 10 years ago

with Anne-marie

Rosie Macdonald

9.0

Dark dark fruit, cinnamon swirl, nutmeg and liquorice. Slightly briny with minuscule spritz. Well balanced mid length — 10 years ago

Jim Walsh

9.0

2010 Vintage. Pleasantly surprised. Clean, fruity and full bodied. Let this wine swirl around in your mouth. Smooth tannins, crisp finish. — 11 years ago

with Christopher

Matt Kiessling

9.2

Bananas!!!! (And not the fruit-crazy, yeasty, brilliant) We couldn't sniff, swirl, and sip enough it seemed. If you enjoy esoteric wines it needs to be on your list. — 11 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.0

Last night I had dinner at Harry & Izzys Steakhouse in Indianapolis, IN and had the 2014 Penner Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
I had this with the 20oz Bone in Ribeye, grilled asparagus, French Onion Soup, redskined potatoes and creme brulee. This wine went very well with the meal.

The wine had a very tight nose and I had to swirl a lot in order to get it to open up. Once I did there were black berries, black cherry, cranberry, strawberry, cherry cola, anise, spice, tobacco and some smoke.

On the palate there was strawberry, raspberry, red plum, spice, cherry, mushroom and some forest floor.

This wine is medium bodied, medium to medium + acidity, medium silky tannins with a clean long finish.

A nice wine with enjoyable company makes for a wonderful evening. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷. — 9 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.1

Pop and pour. Second wine of an epic Clos L'Eglise vintage. Cherries and vanilla fill your senses with a swift swirl of the glass. The wine is smooth but with enough tightness that shows the vintage and its length. The finish contains evident heat and its fruit lingers. This is a great wine for the money and for 100% merlot to boot. — 9 years ago

Tiffany Perry

9.0

Love this wine! This may sound weird, but it looks really great in the glass lol. It's a beautiful ruby color and has legs for days when you swirl it around the glass it take a sip. It has a great fruity smell with smell. You can get a feel for the dryness of the wine when you put your nose in the glass. And don't even get me started on the taste! The fruit comes through on the palette along with an amazing caramel flavor. Dry, but not too dry. And to top it off, it's only $12! This is a great buy! — 9 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.3

This brawny Rutherford SB is much like that kid that joined the marines just for fun. Bronzed pear color. Fat legs coat the glass upon initial swirl. Robust, rich and perhaps almost pine-tinged flavors of lime and kiwi. Bold, with a nice, weighty mouthfeel. Has body and bite. Was very lucky to find this wine indeed. Yellow flowers and a slight honeyed essence from the Semillion with a present minerality. I think zesty is a great adjective for this Rutherford SB — 9 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.2

Maroon to burgundy with a deeper burgundy rim, spin it around and dampened earth and last night's smoldering fire hits but mellows to spice interestingly accenting camomile and a way far-off Play-Doh fantasy then back to the smoldering ember blueberries and strawberries unctuously coating, clinging front to back, then the tannins squeeze the acid and fruit just enough to slow the flow for a lazy decent into a skinny-dipping swim, swirl and, hell yes, another swig, which at a mere 12% I want to dance all night! Don't know about you, but I plan to snag a couple of cases of this seductive stuff with the sunrise. For now, "a glass of red and the sunset..." — 10 years ago

Ariana Preece

9.7

"Our" wine from Oliver. From Swirl or Steamworks only. — 12 years ago

with Bart