The Intern

Left Coast Cellars

The Orchards Estate Grown Pinot Gris 2016

Helped make this wine when I was a harvest intern at Left Coast Cellars in 2016! I swear my rating isn't biased. — 8 years ago

Trixie, Serge and 8 others liked this

Yohan Lardy

Les Michelons Moulin-à-Vent Gamay 2013

Reaffirming my love for biodynamic Cru Beaujolais. Brings back memories of the Swiss gamay I survived off of as a poor intern in Geneva — 9 years ago

The Intern

Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay 2010

Alex Lallos
9.1

This is the Chardonnay. Absolutely amazing 2010 — 10 years ago

Tenuta Caparzo

Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2009

Very good Brunello. Given to us as a gift from Marks intern — 10 years ago

Château Ducla

Entre-Deux-Mers Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2001

Great Bordeaux for the money. Just sat on this for over 10 years. Bought several red and white Ducla's on recommendation is the French intern at a local wine shop. Very fresh fruit aroma at open. Melon critus mineral and slight chalk. — 11 years ago

Wendy Fox
with Wendy

J. Hofstätter

Barthenau Vigna S Urbano Pinot Nero 2009

Jasmine Hirsch
9.6

My favorite wine last night: not only was this a killer bottle of pinot noir, but it was a gift from the winemaker, carried back by our wonderful Italian harvest intern David Weiss. The world of wine is a beautiful place. — 11 years ago

Roy, Eric and 19 others liked this
James Alford

James Alford Influencer Badge

One of my favorite producers in the world, bar none.

Weingut Keller

Morstein Riesling 2009

Our newest Sicilian intern had not just his first #Keller #GG but also his first #Riesling - and another Italian who is convinced about #German Riesling--BRAVO! — 11 years ago

Manuela BürgerPetra ThieriotJohannes Scheid
with Manuela, Petra and 2 others
Delectable, Cristiano and 7 others liked this

Tegernseerhof

Kellerberg Smaragd Riesling 2009

Abe Schoener
9.3

Scholium project 2012 intern harvest party, wine 21. What a site! — 13 years ago

Abe Schoener

Abe Schoener Influencer Badge

Kellerberg-- what a site!

Top Winery

Poise Top Roussanne 2015

Somm David T
9.3

This wine is called "Poise." On the nose, the fruits are combination of candied, tart and just a touch sour all at the same time. The fruit on the palate are ripe; Banana w/peel, pineapple, Meyer lemons, green & golden apple & lime candy. Soft/delicate minerality, spice that's subtle but builds as it sits on the palate, dry top soil and yellow florals/lilies. The body is medium. It's slightly waxy & oily. There's a honey beeswax quality. Banana w/peel, pineapple, Meyer lemons, green & golden apple, lime candy, grapefruit, soft/delicate, powdery minerality, dry top soil, brilliant round acidity, yellow florals/lilies and a long, rich, well polished finish. Most of the photos were sent to me by Elena from Top. One of their vineyards, Stanley Barrios (Owner/Winemaker), barrel storage & tasting area, some of their beautiful fruit and some rows of vines. Producer notes and history...Stanley Barrios was born in Los Angeles and raised in Inglewood California. Stanley got into wine after he met Nick Elliott of Nicora at a wine storage facility in North Hollywood where he was pouring his wines. At the time, Stanley was getting deeply involved in wine. He read all winemaking materials he could get his hands on. The day he met Nick he convinced him to let him intern in his cellar and worked his first harvest in 2013. Stanley still holds his investment firm job in Los Angeles. He and his wife started TOP in 2014. They both shared a passion for wine and had talked about starting a winery but with limited resources and living in Los Angeles the idea of starting their own winery seemed far-fetched. When opportunity knocked, they rushed to the opportunity. They chose a spinning top as their logo. For them, it's a metaphor for balance. Life is constantly in motion, but seldom in balance. Right now, they make wine in small quantities...only 200 cases their first vintage. In 2015, they produced about 500 cases and the 2016 vintage about 800 cases. They mainly focus on Rhone varietals; Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Roussanne. They are very minimalistic in cellar and try not to get in the way of what the grapes want to do. I have said this many times, if you have good fruit get out of it's way. If you don't, bring in lots of influences...like over oaking it etc.. Good to see a young producer know that earlier in their career. Nice job on the Poise. — 8 years ago

Sofia, Paul and 12 others liked this
Stanley Barrios

Stanley Barrios Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Exert Syrah releasing in two weeks!
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

My pleasure. Nice work on the Poise and look forward to trying the Exert Syrah as well. Will be ordering more Poise.

Wölffer Estate

No. 139 Dry Rosé Cider

Good riddance, intern. Hello Cider! — 10 years ago

Douglas, Mason and 3 others liked this
Caleb Pietrafesa

Caleb Pietrafesa

You know I can see your profile, right john?
Caleb Pietrafesa

Caleb Pietrafesa

Oh look, I'm there in the background.

Framingham Wines

Select Marlborough Riesling 2013

Oh my God! Spectacular. Shipped around the world specially by KSV Super-Intern Rachel Hadley (who worked vintage at Framingham), the wine was worth it's circuitous journey. Medium sweet, complex automatically and texturally fascinating. Opulent. One of those wines that makes my say "Damn, I wish I loved my own Riesling this much." Something to aspire to. — 11 years ago

Alishia liked this

Kayra

Kalecik Karası 2013

Tasty Turkish wine. Close to a Gamey or lighter Pinot Noir. Great fruit and structure. Brought to us from the UK by a Harvest 2013 intern who came to visit. Hard to get here but if you find it, it's worth the $17. — 11 years ago

Acronym

GR8RW Great California Pinot Noir Syrah 2011

Steak dinner long day. Intern day 3. — 12 years ago

F.X. Pichler

Dürnsteiner Kellerberg Smaragd Riesling 2007

Abe Schoener
9.6

2007. Scholium project 2012 intern harvest party, wine 20 — 13 years ago

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Somm David T
9.2

On the nose, stewed fruits of; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Mocha, chocolate, mixed berry cola, sweet spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, loamy mineral soils and dry dark florals. The mouthfeel is less concentrated than other vintages of Corison but that's indicative of the 10 Napa vintage generally. The tannins are nicely resolved with another 5-8 years before they are completely resolve. The fruits are; dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, blackberries with strawberries that dance around the rest of the fruit. There's nice barrel toast, vanilla, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, touch of wood shavings, liqueur notes, caramel, mocha chocolate, mix berry cola, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks, bramble, dry stems with nice soft round acidity. The finish is a little lean but tasty. Good balance of fruit and earth with long, rich elegance. Cathy slightly overachieved the 10 vintage as a whole. Photos of; her estate building, Cathy in her vineyard, grapes coming in at night (better to harvest when the fruit is cooler) and her estate vineyard in all it's glory. Producer notes and history...Cathy Corison grew up in Riverside, California. She studied biology at Pomona College and was on their men's diving team, because the school didn't have a women's team. In 1972, she had to take an extracurricular class. She signed up for a trampoline class, but changed her mind upon seeing a sign-up sheet for a wine tasting class. This class was the catalyst that sparked her interest in winemaking. After graduation in 1975, she moved to Napa Valley in California. She received her Master's degree in Enology from University of California, Davis. Upon moving to Napa, she started working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and at a wine shop. During this time, she was getting her Master's degree at the University of California, Davis. She was told by her professor that she would not get a job in Napa Valley because of being a woman. However, if she wasn't the first Napa Valley female Winemaker, she was certainly one of the first. She tried to get a job at Freemark Abbey and was denied because they believed she could not work in the cellar. She almost took a job at Christian Brothers in the enology lab. However, she decided not to take the job and in 1978 she became an intern at Freemark Abbey and eventually became their Winemaker. She joined Chappellet in 1983 and was their Winemaker for nearly ten years. She founded Corison Winery, in 1987. The winery is located in St. Helena, California in a barn built by her husband, William Martin. Corison makes Cabernet and Gewürztraminer. They produce about 3,500 cases a year depending on the vintage. The winery makes a Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos is an estate wine that is made from organic grapes. The vineyard is dry farmed. The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Cabernet comes from Rutherford. The Gewürztraminer is called Corazón and comes from the Anderson Valley. — 8 years ago

Eric, Trixie and 40 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Checking this out later this month
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Eric S Corison is a pleasant visit. They also do a nice harvest party on Sunday afternoon in September.
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T Nice write up again David. I'm intrigued to find her connection with one of my favorite producers, FAW. I'll drink vintages crafted under her care with a renewed perspective. Thank you.

Pascal Potaire

Les Capriades Piège à Filles Rosé Blend

Harvest lunch wine. Great bubbles. Slightly sweet, paired well with our spicy salsa on burros. The life of a harvest intern 😝 — 10 years ago

Velma, Paul and 1 other liked this

Domaine des Coteaux de Romarand

Beaujolais Villages Gamay 2010

Delicious delivery from our dear French intern. Complex, with lovely fruit and structure. #harvestlunch — 11 years ago

Orr

Columbia Valley Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013

Cathy Corison
9.0

Old vine Chenin Blanc, dear to my heart. From Erica Orr, my intern many years ago. Fresh off the bottling line, so not ready for prime time. — 11 years ago

Vinny, Jon and 3 others liked this

Donati Camillo

Il Mio Lambrusco 2010

Abe Schoener
9.3

Yay! Lambrusco! Scholium project 2012 intern harvest party, wine 24. The last thing that I tasted! — 13 years ago

F.X. Pichler

Unendlich Smaragd Wachau Riesling 2007

Abe Schoener
9.6

2007. The wine we toasted with. Scholium project 2012 intern harvest party, wine 19. — 13 years ago