Matthew Cohen

9.4

The first German Riesling we ever sold. Always has a spot in my heart.

1er cru from young gg grapes. The more muscular of the two most known vineyards. I’m not going to try and spell it here.

Had pork in cider for dinner. Was in no mood for subtlety.

Nose is a big-un. Dense as heck. Stone fruit. Herbaciois but not vegetal.

Palate has great minerals but they take a back seat to the concentrated stone fruits. Still has that mineral grip. Bracing acidity keeps it fresh. So damned well made. Mountain stream freshness.

Needs 30 minutes to strut its stuff. And strut it does. Ass whips grosses Gewachs from all but the tippy top producers.

Bought from fass selections. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Forgot to take a photo of the Half Bottle at No. 19 Restaurant at The Darling at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. This was the 2017 William Downie from Gippsland. Interested to try this as Gippsland is the home of Bass Phillip, one of the most accomplished makers of Pinot Noir in Australia as is William Downie. This was more beetroot and earthy root vegetables than red fruits with classic Burgundian sappiness. A classy effort although has some developing to do. — 6 years ago

Ellen Clifford

8.9

No makeup pretty wine. The beverage is purple as it’s label and also tastes purple-y if I may say so. There was surely some oak at play, something cocoa-y and a touch blackberry jammy. It’s a wine I’d take to a Cure concert. I don’t mean to drink. Just personality wise I feel like it would listen to the Cure. If only wine could dance. — 7 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Will take exception to Antonio’s suggestion that this is the shy middle child - this opened up beautifully on day two into the same cherry, pomegranate, rose petal, and mint nose that Antonio got from Ama, with zest and mouthwatering acidity but no sharpness. Tannins are soft and the palate adds a touch of barley sugar. This will definitely come out of its shell, if given time. — 7 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

Sass is always one of my favorites for the price but I hadn't tried this vintage yet. As always, the fruit is ultra bright and expressive. There's no doubt about it, this has that natural wine vibe to it. Slight VA makes the aroma explode out of the glass... raspberry, blackberry and sour cherry. It's very lifted and lively. Slightly hot and the fruit is maybe a touch astringent. Structurally, this wine lacks delineation but it's delicious anyways. It's a different take and a more honest wine than most in the price bracket. Last time I talked to Jerry Sass he told me he was using less and less so2. Very cool.

#OREGON #PINOTNOIR #SASSWINE #OREGONWINE #WILLAMETTEVALLEY #oregonpinot #naturalwine — 7 years ago

Eric Egan

9.2

Superb. No time to take notes but this is one to watch out for! — 8 years ago

Ellen Clifford

8.9

Continuing in my Napa cab education this showed up at the door for me. It is excellent winter wine. It would warm you even if chilled—at 15 % abv no doubt but the taste is coziness defined too: ripe cherries, blackberry preserves on some sort of cheese on an earthy whole whole wheat cracker. The tannins could use, say, one or two more years to fully integrate but they aren’t objectable. Holiday spices and a whiff of forest floor and a long plummy finish round it out. Take this wine to an ice skating party if such things exist in your life. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

On the nose; ice tea, citrus peel, roasted blood orange, touch of oxidation, decayed roses and medium intensity volcanic soils. The color is orange and you definitely pick up the clay pot influence. The body is lean to medium. ice tea, citrus peel, roasted blood orange, orange peel, a touch of oxidation, decayed roses, delicate minerality, chalkiness, high round acidity, soft warm spices, savory notes with a really nice round finish. Producer notes; the winery is high up in the hills of the Asureti Valle...4200 feet above sea level. Asureti is an ancient village in the foothills of Georgia, about 30 minutes away from Tbilisi. Some of their wines are made with no skin contact and others with skin and stem contact for as long as 7 months. They also farm organically. Photos of; their vineyards, Beka Gotsadze and the qvevri clay fermentation pots. Pairings; sautéed fish to chicken mole tamales and take out Chinese. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy Valentines Day!

If you have not looked for this wine on WineSearcher.com or other, you should. Dan Standish has no American Importer. However, you can mail order off his list. Good luck with the Australian/United States import costs. Very prohibited.

Most quality Barossa wines take 15 years in bottle to show their ultimate beauty. Dan’s wines are no different. His Estate vines are 100 years old and produce 500 pounds of fruit per acre...very concentrated. Contrast that to extremely expensive & high quality Napa fruit, those Napa producers are at 2,000-2,500 pounds per acre.

We visited Standish in April 2017. We found Dan to be extremely talented & definitely marches to his own drum. He is salt of the earth and has traveled & worked in many of the world wine regions honing his craft and landing as Torbreck’s Winemaker in Barossa before starting, “The Standish Wine Company.”

As good as the 04 is tonight, it has 15 years of good life ahead...properly stored of course.

The nose is very intoxicating. It is a nice blend of purple, black & blue fruits. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, medium dark spice, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender.

The body is full, rich, ripe, lush and creamy on the palate after a two-hour plus decant. The structure, tension, length and balance are a little short of its peak and will hold there for 5-8 years. It’s a glorious glide on the palate. The fruits are ripe & lightly baked. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, cherry kirsch, red & black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, the dark spices are heavier on the palate & bring just the right amount of heat, sweet, dark tarriness, black pepper, used, dark expresso roast grounds, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone, moist clay, with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round, flush & perfect. The long finish is a unique even balance of; lush fruits, spice, herbs and earth that persists on the palate for minutes.

Photo on the left of Sofia’s 2 dozen long stems. Love you so much!

@Oswald — 6 years ago

Doctor No

9.5

Wow. Amazing on day 2 (day 1 was dark red fruit and a lot of red bell pepper) with a nose that was like a raft of strawberry, raspberry and a bit of boysenberry with more subtle tones of bell pepper, tobacco and earth. No noticeable wood, ample acidity but not austere. Hits a sweet spot for Cab Franc. For history, quality, QPR - will take this over Rougeard any day. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Victoria from Bevan Cellars came to town and put on a wonderful tasting of some current releases.

No surprise here, but this was rich and powerful. It was served a bit too cold, but I was able to set it aside and come back to it after it warmed up. Very different (in a good way). The fruits became more honeyed, and there was an added smoked butter note. I enjoy Ritchie vineyard Chardonnays, and with Bevan’s take, I always get a very pronounced nutty type note...this vintage isn’t as pronounced at this stage. Not a bad or a good thing...just a thing. This vintages seems a bit more focused compared to previous vintages. — 7 years ago

with Eric

Jay Kline

9.4

My notes on this from May of 2017 still apply. Popped and poured. Drank well over two days. Immediately this wine impresses visually. Sure, the color is an expected deep garnet but what's most striking is the fact that it's never completely opaque at the core. You can just barely get the faintest amount of light to see through it. It's quite beautiful, really. The nose is initially a bit reticent but a few minutes of air in the glass does the trick and then it really begins to show off the most lovely perfume of mixed red and dark fruit; so fresh and pure with just a flash of garrigue. No perceptible heat on the nose. On the palate it's a veritable wonder of berries, Rainier cherries, black berry liqueur, and just a touch of fine white pepper. The body is perfectly proportioned and the finish lasts for over 30 seconds. In summary, this is an incredibly balanced 2010 CdP that is already hitting its prime. Personally, I felt it was really at its very best about two hours in which leaves me to believe it should be a great pop and pour for the next couple of years and potentially has the balance to be great for longer. That being said, there is no need to decant, just pull the cork, pour and enjoy the evolution in the glass. The hard part is allowing it to last for two hours and longer. It should be noted that this is dangerously quaffable wine and it wouldn't be hard to take the whole thing to the head. Might as well drink these sooner than later as I'm always a bit wary of CdP much beyond the 10 year mark, where I tend so find many of them fall apart on the palate. Perhaps others with more experience in the long-term ageing of CdP can chime in though. Absurd value at $30.

As a side note, this paired very nicely with pan fried pork savory bacon wrapped filet mignon. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Is there any meal better than steak (Ribeye) and well aged Claret? This is another 1991 Bordeaux experiment of mine. 1991 was a vintage with horrible frosts and a less than favorable growing season, right? A vintage critically panned. This is my 3rd recent 91 from a good producer. And again, it didn’t disappoint. Like 97 and 07, it’s better with the right bottle age than young. Magic evolution happened in the bottle way down the road. This 91 is in great form with a fair amount of life ahead of it. On the nose; a little ripe fruit funk, wonderful dark & lighter red cassis, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, plums, hues of blueberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries, vanilla, light cinnamon, rich, black turned earth, cedar, soft leather, dry stones, dry top soil, notes of dry herbs and fresh & dry red flowers. The body/palate is medium, round, ripe & still fresh. The tannins nearly completely resolved. Ripe, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, plums, hues of blueberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries & half cooked rhubarb. Vanilla, light cinnamon, touch of clove & nutmeg, rich, black turned earth, cedar, soft leather, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, notes of dry herbs, a little band-aid and fresh & dry red flowers. The acidity drips over the palate and the long, well balanced, still structured, nice tension, good length finish lasts over a minute. Again, love & appreciate the 12.5% alcohol. What a beauty with and without the steak. Next time you’re in your fine wine retail shop and see a quality producers 91 that’s been well stored, buy it and have it with a Ribeye. Photos of; their exotic Estate, Chateau interior, newer barrel room and their vines as viewed from the front of the Chateau that are across the road. Producer notes and history...Cos d’Estournel has a long distinguished history in the St. Estephe. Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, gave his name to the estate after founding in 1811. It did not take long before Cos d’Estournel became famous with wine lovers and royalty all over the world. In those early days, Cos d’Estournel did not sell through Negociants. The owner preferred selling his wine directly to his customers. In fact, Cos d’Estournel was exported to numerous countries across the globe, with a large portion of the production being sold to India. It was that connection to India that inspired much of the unique, east Indian design we see at Cos d’Estournel today. Cos d’Estournel was one of the first Bordeaux Chateaux’s to bottle, label and sell their own wine. This practice continued until the death of Louis Gaspard d’Estournel in 1852. If you’re at the property, the statue on the bench in the front courtyard is of the founder, Louis Gaspard d’Estournel. The Estate was then purchased by an owner that sold their wines on the Place de Bordeaux using the negociant system. If the Chateau was not selling their wines through the negociant system, it would never have been included in the 1855 Classification. Imagine that! So, it turned out to be a fortuitous decision. Cos d’Estournel was sold to the Charmolue family owners of the neighboring Estate of Chateau Montrose. They continued to own the estate until 1917, when it was bought by Fernand Ginestet. This purchase was the beginning of the next major step in the development of Cos d’Estournel. Decades later, the grandchildren of Fernand Ginestet, Jean-Marie Prats, Yves Prats and Bruno Prats took over ownership and management of Cos d’Estournel. In 1995, Bruno Prats sold the property to the Merlaut family, owners of the Taillan Group. The next era in the development of Cos d’Estournel took place in 2000, when Cos d’Estournel was bought by the industrious and wealthy Michel Reybier, who earned his fortune in the food industry. Michel Reybier hired the son of Bruno Prats, Jean-Guillaume Prats to manage Cos d’Estournel. Things further improved with the efforts of Jean-Guillaume Prats who helped design the most modern wine making at that time. A complete renovation of Cos d’Estournel took place in not only the wine making facilities and cellars, but in parts of the Chateau as well. While the wine making facilities are completely modern with their 100% gravity design, the outward appearance retained the original design and feeling that has always been a part of Cos d’Estournel. On October 15, 2012, Jean Guillaume Prats announced he was leaving Cos d’Estournel to join LVMH (Pichon Baron). Jean Guillaume Prats was replaced by Aymeric de Gironde. Following the departure of Aymeric de Gironde in 2017, the owner, Michel Reybier took over managing the Estate. What makes the remodel special is that the cellars of Cos d’Estournel are entirely operated by gravity. There are no pumps of any kind to force the wine. The purpose is to allow a gentleness to the wine and improve its purity and allow for the expression of their terroir. It set a new benchmark for cellars not only in the Left Bank, but in all of Bordeaux. Perhaps, the most inventive part of the cellars is the four 100 hectoliter lift tanks or wine elevators that replace the pumps used in the traditional pumping over and the racking off processes, which introduce air and often destabilize the marc. From the moment the grapes arrive, everything travels by the flow of gravity. Jean Guillaume Prats called this process a “pumpless pump over.” The 91 hectare vineyard of Cos d’Estournel is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The vineyard is located extremely close to the border between Pauillac and Saint Estephe at the southern tip of the Saint Estephe. The Estate has very old Merlot vines as well, which date back more than 100 years. Part of the terroir is situated on the hill of Cos, which is at a high elevation for the Medoc at 20 meters. They also make a second wine called Pagodes de Cos. This is a great wine to buy in very good vintages. Especially, if your budget prohibits you from purchasing their first wine. — 8 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The La Paciencia Vineyard was planted over the course of three years, with three acres each planted to Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo. The 2015 Grenache from this vineyard is one of the best red wines from Washington that I have sampled from this warm vintage. This incredible wine was aged in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is completely intoxicating with exotic aromatics of blood orange, wild strawberries, damp earth, guava purée, and peat moss tones with wild blackberry that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows an incredible range of flavors, which include blood orange zest, forest floor, white truffle, red currant jelly and umami. The wonderful combination of saline and savory characteristics makes your mouth water and completely captivates the senses. Despite coming from a warm vintage, the level of acidity that vigneronne, Elizabeth Bourcier, was able to capture is highly impressive. Thjs thrilling wine is beautiful to savor now but has another decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 97 — 6 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.0

Consistent quality year in and year out . The difference is how the fruit is presented. The 2015 version presents the same quality fruit and balance as previous vintages, the difference is the fruit is showcased in a fuller, rounder light in 2015. Lacks some of the focus that the ‘14 had that I prefer but in no way does this take away from the high quality of this wine. — 7 years ago

Ken Z

9.5

Drank 1/18/19 at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux event in Miami.  All wines from the 2016 Vintage.

Tasting pour, no formal notes taken.  Most of these wines are very tight, and will require 5-15 years to really come together.  Many will likely improve a few points with time.

The most closed wine of the night. More red fruit, with frim tannins. This one will likely take several years to unwind, but shows potential. Harder to taste at this stage. — 7 years ago

with JT

Ron R

9.3

Those of you that love domestic wines should take a look at this gem. Exhibits sweet notes, with density on the mid-palate. Nicely balanced oak treatment, coupled with upright acidity. Finishes with a long tail - really nice. No rush to consume these. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

Martin G Rivard

9.4

This will take a bunch of you by surprise but this is my absolute first bottle of 2012 edge Hill Bacigaluppi that did not literally blow my mind! I consider this one of the top five Chardonnays that I have ever had from Napa and I’ve had a lot of Chardonnays from Napa! It was not Corked but definitely fell 100% flat tonight. No depth, no structure simply fruit. I had friends at the house and was trying to impress them But literally threw this bottle down the drain and open to something else. Oh well, shit happens as they say! @David L @Shawn R @Joe Lucca @Mike R @Ron R @Howard Greenfield @Shay A — 8 years ago

Robert Agans

9.5

Awesome. Paired with take out sushi / sashimi ... no appetite for cooking after family in for 3 days. This Nebbiolo works after dinner too paired with board games with the kids and (8) Notre Dame vs (21) Stanford — 8 years ago

Naoki Kondo

9.1

Takenoi junmaiginjo. Sake from Yatsugatake. Cemedine! — 9 years ago