Jared O'Connell

9.2

Got me through the debate. — 5 years ago

Ming L

9.0

The debate was painful to watch, as expected. A good glass of wine would certainly help.
My last bottle of this magnificent 07’ Merlot. I don’t think I will able to find another $10 bottle that will age this beautifully. — 5 years ago

May Congdon

9.3

Loved it! Found this bottle hugely discounted at Berkeley Bowl, and greatly enjoyed drinking it while watching the Democratic Debate (a shit show - wine was necessary) and sharing a special HQ dinner with my roommates. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

M’s bday dinner (7/12). Tasted blind. Bright tawny color. Has good weight but suspect it’s older. Exotic powerful nose. Everyone smiles, this is special. Notes of red cherries, Asian spice, rose petals and dark earth. Flamboyant in the mouth. “Amazing” underlined 2x in my notes. Memorable. We started enjoying this after 4 hours of air was given to it and even 3 hours after that this was still singing. Guessed 69 La Tache. This ended up being my favorite wine of the evening. The emotional impact was more than the other 2 slightly older DRCs. There was a long, mixed debate on this though. — 6 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.0

Excited to taste modern Chenin from a top-tier South African producer. A little taken aback initially by the new oak character, but it mellowed after a couple of days and revealed a bit more varietal character. The wine retains freshness, acidity and nice core of apple and quince but is not clearly delineated as true Chenin Blanc. Lacking the delicacy, floral and subtle herbal notes that pure Chenin tends to express. Any debate about this wine is a matter of style, not quality. — 8 years ago

Mike Davila

9.5

My wine tonight great nose but not as big as the Ovids? Great nose and phenomenal fruit flavors. Debate on which is better Ovid or realm, tough choices tonight! — 8 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.6

Beckstoffer line-up. To kalon was tasting the best — 9 years ago

Chad Anderson

10

So nice it almost made the debate tolerable. — 5 years ago

Lindsay Corrigan

8.9

Enjoyable PN with unusual tasting notes. Nose was light maraschino cherry & brown sugar essence. Appearance is transparent electric red & legs are skinny. A debate on tastes between myself & my trusty intern...I had splash of raspberry with flavour of Kahlua throughout mouth & end of sweet chilli warmth. The intern had flavours of Lowney’s chocolate Cherry 🍒 Blossom nugget bar. Maraschino Cherry + syrup, milk chocolate, shredded coconut and roasted peanut pieces. #Grasshopper👏🏻 well played. Bargain @ $15 🍷! — 5 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.1

There was a debate on poop vs horse blanket around the table. Luckily I’m OK with a bit of brett 😍 — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Think my rating here is slightly below others, but the only reason that is is due to its current stage. I believe this will jump 2 points or so in the next few years. Right now though, it’s a bit disjointed. I don’t have much experience with this vineyard so I’m not sure of its normal profile. Very dark red and black fruit dominant. Pipe tobacco, charcoal and blackberries. A bit hot on both the nose and palate. Boysenberry, tar, licorice, cassis, black cherry with a tannic-grip finish. Needs a few years to strut what it can be. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 1 other

Sean Hughes

9.7

Peppery, great finish, hard to find but worth the search! — 8 years ago

Ted Corvey

9.5

Impossible for me to say this wasn't the wine of the night, then the Palari came along. That impossible debate aside, this is an incredible expression of Nebbiolo. Nuanced, elegant, beautifully integrated tannins, and silky smooth finish that seemed endless. Violets, cherry, leather, and tar harmoniously paired together. Special wine, thanks @Scott Petrus. — 8 years ago

with Scott and Kyle

Matt Forester

9.2

Decided to go with a non-partisan selection for Presidential Debate Night imbibing. Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel from Martinelli. Because one or both of these septuagenarians fits the description! Just delicious! — 5 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.0

What’s the latest on the debate about Pigato and Vermentino being genetically identical? In this wine, there’s plenty of Pigato on the nose, but the evergreen flavor is uniquely Vermentino to my palate. — 6 years ago

with Sarah

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Back to The Debate. Had to get to wines that were running low.

This is round, soft and elegant. Fruit is ruby ripe. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, cherries, dark & milk chocolate, coco powder, big layered baking spices, love the medium dark soft spice with subtle heat, dark red florals and great tension, length and balance. Round acidity and well polished finish that persists endlessly. — 6 years ago

Mike

9.2

#tasty Very tasty. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.4

Outstanding balance. medium + body. Best Debate wine I’ve had to date. — 8 years ago

Fred Langlois

9.2

Golden, intense aromas of mandarin/orange, honey, flower, and evergreen. Medium sweet, full bodied balanced with intense crisp acidity. Honeyed intense flavors of orange, apple, grape, some minerality. I didn't quite notice any gasoline flavor, which usually puts my girlfriend off of Rieslings. Overall excellent wine to drink chilled on its own, while relaxing or having a philosophical debate. Yum. — 8 years ago

Collin Moody

9.1

12oz glass of this for debate stress watching — 9 years ago