Severn Goodwin

9.2

Doing some palate preparation for a Kobrand dinner tomorrow night, notes forthcoming...

Check my prior posts on this bottle/vintage for immediate commentary satisfaction.

Still collecting itself in the decanter, this one seems a little tight right now. Initial thoughts are Raspberry Spree® 🤩

Sweetness subsided some, smokey strawberry/raspberry makes a glorious nose appearance, heck yes! Palate conveys the feeling of eating a very ripe plum, tasty! — 7 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.0

Dare I say we went back to Seasons 52 for another round of $10/glass Caymus? Yes...we did, and it won't be the last round, I can tell you that. — 8 years ago

with Krystal

Ruud Verhagen

9.4

2006; yes still a little bit of that "bananacream" in the nose, but this is a real crowdpleaser. Fantastic dept of fruit and spices it ends with a great long finish. Terrific wine! — 9 years ago

Julia Weinberg

10

One of those "holy fuck yes!" wine & pairing moments. Stoney, saline, citrus perfection with squid ink/summer veg/persevered lemon pasta.

Officially on my list of world's greatest white wines. — 9 years ago

with Karina and Kelli

David Lieberman

9.2

A business lunch with Jonathan and Gillian at one of the great Italian restaurants of Los Angeles. Recent commentary implying that the 97 was a bit wobbly and on the downslope required I pull the cork on one of my small stash of Le Pergole Torte. Happy to say the reports of a deteriorating state seem exaggerated. Mature, yes - decrepit, no! A beautifully developed berry richness with a hint of tea rose in the nose. Supporting tannins are gentle, but firm. Not PC to buy this wine any longer, a pity, as I imagine later vintages will develop into something as inviting as this one in time. With Gino's fantastic array of pastas; lamb ragu, limonate, seafood. Loved the wine loved the food. — 9 years ago

John Gullett

9.5

New experience: Have been waiting for something to fill the void left by the old Silver Oak.
This bottle of 2012 was a gift from a dear friend who loves us better than we ever dared hope. Yes it is hot, maybe hotter than they admit; yes layered, yes flavors and tannins, yes let it open, if you can stand the wait, or just go for it and try to save a bit for tomorrow .... — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

From a very generous guest. Yes that's a cheese burger, and yes I think the paring worked! Awesome stuff but oh soooo young. Incredible texture of fruit and spice..very multidimensional wine. Took all of a few hours to get going to really see what's there. Would love to have another shot in 5yrs but this will last 3x that. Truly exceptional. — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

Thick and opaque in the glass. Dark and brooding. Still ruby. Nose of dark fruits, lead pencil, a little menthol and saddle leather. Great roundness in the mouth. Everything is integrated. Still young. Yes. Still young. — 10 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.5

Crunchy, stem-y, spicy with a kiss of California sunshine, as it should be. Yes, please! Really admire the bravery in making this wine. — 11 years ago

Scott Cunningham

Owner/Importer Bottleneck Wines

9.4

Expensive? Overly so. Too large of production to consider this a rare find? For sure. Delicious? Hell yes! — 11 years ago

Dan Michael

9.5

Yep all that and a bag of money. Rarely does it live up to the hype, but yes this lives up to all the hype. Intoxicating nose, Rich and full on the palate. Very long and satisfying. Worth the investment, well at least once. — 7 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

I very much dislike cabarnet franc but this wine is the exception. Yes there is a vegetal, grassy nose but this wine is complex, peppery and a true joy to drink. Plenty of good acidity, full in the mouth, long finish. Fresh — 7 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.4

When Cristal is on it is ON. Loved the purity of fruit and the minerality (yes, I know that's not a real thing) of this wine. Gorgeous. — 8 years ago

Mark Howard

9.5

Balance & elegance shine through the entire experience. Full Cabernet flavor spectrum- red & black berries, leather, tobacco with a spicy finish. Tannins in balance with fruit. Much more elegant than my memory of this wine as a youngster. Bravo! Yes, we miss the wine making skills of Chuck. — 9 years ago

with Elizabeth

Brian Thompson

Sales & Marketing Krupp Brothers Winery, Stagecoach Vineyard

9.4

Yes, you can get elegance and balance for $30. What a find! Gorgeous floral and mineral notes with a touch of cranberry. Delicate and lively on the palate. Will be seeking out more Cru Beaujolais! — 9 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.9

Wine of the year so far (yes, it's barely February). Coffee, chocolate, white and black pepper. The nose is incredible. The La Mouline may edge this out, but just barely. Worth every penny. — 9 years ago

with Will and Weston

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

10

Best Chardonnay of my life? Yes, I believe so. Astonishing purity and structured for the long haul, this has a tiny tannic grip, amazing acidity and waves of tart fruit, fluffy herbaceous additions and a nervy feeling. Layered and complex. — 10 years ago

Sasha Agapov

9.1

Nice Barbaresco for $35? Yes, please. Aromatic, intense rich dark fruit aromas — I get plum, cherry, meat, a bit of metallic and lots of earthy tones. Not decanting this one should be a crime. — 10 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.6

Tres Beautiful nose 👃👃👃
Caramel apple-banana brûlée top notes, pear and spice underneath, still-pert lemon zest and peach custard, too. Palate delivers that Cali-leonine body -ie big! - but with enough brisk acidity to keep things more than decent. Long, with flavors that echo the nose and all around beautiful balance. Drinking super well at moment, near its peak and rewarding this bit of bottle age with plenty of secondary characteristics. PLUS:: #winebling (yes, there are some tartrate crystals, folks - all just adding to the allure - game on!) — 10 years ago

Drew DiMatteo

9.3

Dark chocolate and a bit of cayenne pepper, definitely some backbone here. Long sassy plum finish. @BedrockWineCo YES! — 11 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Yes, Virginia, there is a reason Gaja is...well, Gaja. And I ain’t Santa Claus, but the kind somm who brought this by as a gift gets that moniker. Ethereal nose of dried, dirty mushrooms, light tar and asphalt. Meticulous layers of cherry tea, dried strawberry and old leather. Despite a few angles this was silky, sensual. Years to go. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Artesa (ahr TESS uh) means "craftsman" and connotes "handcrafted" in Catalan, language of Barcelona and their owner, Codorníu, one of the world's largest and oldest wineries. Ruby with sweet berry fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate cranberry and cherry flavors with spice. Fine savory tannins medium finish ending with mineral notes, nice value. — 8 years ago

Caleb Schiff

9.3

Yes. Lovely blend of Schioppettino and Refosco. Aging in used oak for 22 months. Freshness of Refosco remains and pepper notes of Schioppettino on the finish. — 9 years ago

Ryan Carey

Founder Wine Confidential

9.5

Drinking by myself tonight. This should do the trick. Yes, individual notes to follow, but wanted a pic of these two beauties next to each other first — 9 years ago

David Beck

9.0

Yes! More please. Really well balanced from start to finish. Just the right amount of dark cherry tart. Clean finish. Would definitely drink again...and again — 9 years ago

Neil Schlecht

9.3

We drank a 98 Pingus on election night when Obama was elected in 2008; so we're having its little sister, Flor de Pingus (02) on the occasion of his final State of the Union. yes, we mix wine and politics. — 9 years ago

with Sharon

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

World Class! Nose: Tart blackberries. rosemary, cardamom? black currant. I would spend at least 3 minutes to figure out the nose! Taste: Tart Black Forest wild morello cherries, leather belt, Black Forest tyme yes there is a thyme which grows in the meadows of the Black Forest. Color: light. Best Pinot made in Germany. If you have any ANY, ANY chance ever to get your hands on this wine get it. Usually highly allocated.
Imported by Lyle Fass or Stephen Bitterolf (vom Boden) often only one keg made. 300 bottles.
Can run with burgundies at 120$ any day tasted side by side with 2013 Mark Haisma Morey St. Denis.


.
— 10 years ago

Carly Streeter

9.9

YES. I love this. just the right amount of oak — 10 years ago

with Meeghan, Sean and 1 other

Jessica Garcia

10

Oh I love this! Balanced, subtle but there- aromatics of peach blossoms, banana, pineapple. I said "oh hell yes!" when I tasted this one. — 10 years ago

Adam Wills

9.1

Lime Stoned//
Yes. Thank you.
Perfectly elevating this salmon/corn/basil/vermouth/tomato scenario — 11 years ago