JT

9.0

Fresh and fruits. Very easy. Love it — 4 years ago

Connor Smith

9.2

Sanlúcar de Barrameda was the port that Christopher Columbus set off from in 1492. Just 1 year earlier, duties on wine exports from Sanlúcar had been abolished to take advantage of English merchants desperate for new supply after the loss of Bordeaux.

It began a centuries-long romance between Sherry and English wine lovers, as immortalized in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 2, when Falstaff glorifies sturdy Spanish 'sack' over thin Bordeaux 'claret' and Rhine 'hock'.

But the honeymoon, quite literally, was not to last. Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon drove a wedge between England and Catholic Europe, and left English wine lovers in need of a new source once again. But Sherry fanatics wouldn't have to go entirely without. When Sir Francis Drake sailed into Cádiz and burned the Spanish fleet in 1587, he carried away 2,900 butts of Sherry - enough to supply London for years - as his most famous prize.

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 5 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

It’s so hard to source these and it showed really well. I find these less bretty and earth driven than most other CDPs. So, not as thought provoking with secondary characteristics but a little more purity and more fruit expression. — 5 years ago

Anthony Hughes

9.2

Soft blueberry and leather notes with a dry body and gentle tannins — 6 years ago

with Nikkisa

Mark Flesher

9.2

RMV. Very nice wine with good weight. This one has a nice nose of youthful lemon and pear, and starts off the same way with very good acidity. The wine get much more dense in the middle with crescendo to a full bodied supple finish that had some pineapple crush, ripe pear, and spice. The wine is really equally good served chilled or unchilled. The first glass was a bit cold, where the last glass was probably a little too warm, and both of them were equally enjoyable. This wine was enjoyed with Mexican food, but it was also very enjoyable (and probably moreso) by itself. The wine starts off showing the Roussanne/Marsanne and finishes with classic, well-done Viognier! I'm rather certain this wine will hold 3-5 years without a single shred of doubt! Definitely one of the better production wines by Calais. — 7 years ago

Joel Barnes

9.2

Wonderful acidity, sour apricots — 8 years ago

Joshua Crisp

9.0

The 2012 SSV Pinot is now going through a bit of a muted stage much like its La Source counterpart, nevertheless, still picking up hints of mushrooms, dark cherries, brambles, and hints of sage. Ripe cherries and currants burst on the palate, with grapefruit and pomegranate on the mid-palate, and an acidic finish of medium-length. Let it rest for now. — 9 years ago

Jonathan K

9.0

Drank FEB 2015. Very good Syrah — 9 years ago

with Eleni

Jeremy Agnew

10

The owner has no internet connection, no phone, nada! Good luck buying from the source unless you make the journey! — 10 years ago

Delectable User

8.9

Aroma notável de abacaxi... E o vinho branco de Bordeaux também é uma delícia! — 11 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.3

Just a really enjoyable wine that is both hearty and even “ big” but still refreshing.
Clearly some Brett and some effervescent feel like may hint at VA, but I find both to be well integrated and enjoyable. A deep darker-side-of-red fruit profile: red and damson plum, dried red cherry, Black licorice, olive. Has a floral sense to it, and some exotic woody undertones as well earth - like a forest after the rain . A full bodied and almost lush wine that might recall the mouthfeel if a Napa cab, but with much more refreshing a acidity coming through - never the least bit cloying or overwrought. Simply a great wine with a broad food pairing potential. That said, I do wonder if it would taste dramatically different at the source. With zero sulphur amidst a long boat ride, life in distributor warehouses, a wine shop and ultimately my euro cave, whether the original intent is preserved in its entirety. Drinking fantastically but also wondering if peak drinking is 2-3 years ahead. Again, the sulphur thing... — 5 years ago

John B

9.5

Everyone’s WOTN. The fruit flavors, while still present, had given way to the tertiary flavors - earth, tobacco, leather, and still a hint of eucalyptus. Such a testament to the vineyard source and winemaking for this still to be going strong after 37 years. Fun way to ring in the New Year. — 5 years ago

with Bethany

Bryce Bannatyne

New Jersey Sales Representative Martin Scott Wines, Ltd

8.9

Part of a mini vertical. One of the tiniest AOPs in France. Lovely. — 6 years ago

with Dan

Ned Gray Creed

9.1

Up against some serious competition tonight. — 6 years ago

with Mark

Shay A

9.4

A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!

This pushed for WOTN. Alban has been a source for SQN among other big Napa Valley names. Best Syrah I've had to date HANDS DOWN. Goodness. This wine epitomized harmonious. Blue and blackberries, cedar, bacon, BBQ pit grease. Phenomenal. Thanks Joe! — 7 years ago

with Mark and Weston

Sindy Wise

9.2

Ripe blackberry in the nose. Bark, soil and soy with subtle berry on the tongue. #wine #syrah — 8 years ago

David Boileau

9.3

Fantastic Saumur champigny. Dark cherry with pleasant acidity. — 8 years ago

Fraser McKinley

9.5

2014 - 13/03/15 bottling.
A treat to enjoy this with my good friend and mentor Ehren Jordan. There's been no stronger source of inspiration than Lapierre, AG and EJ for me — 9 years ago

Larry Halff

10

Straight from the source. — 10 years ago

Tanya Jimenez

9.0

Triple date with Dan Tabita and baby Zeca — 5 years ago

with Jared

Conrad Green

9.3

A beautiful nose of soft red fruits, some spice, soulful plummy stuff. Very burgundinian but the plushness of US Pinot. On the palate this has great poise. Light but intense this has lovely fresh fruit and some gnarly wild herbs with underlying acidity and good length. Apparently the ‘j’ refers to Jayer cuttings being the source of the Pinot. If so, that would go some way toward explaining why this is so aromatic and balanced. Excellent — 5 years ago

with Naoko and Larry

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Tried the new NV batch, blend of 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chard. Established in northern Italy’s Trentino region over a century ago, & earned a worldwide rep as a source of luxury metodo classico sparkling wines from Italy. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay, nice light salmon color with aromas of fresh fruit and biscuit notes. On the palate flavors of strawberry, cherry and citrus, crisp with sweet undertones. Well balanced with lively acidity. Medium finish ending with a smoky mineral character. — 5 years ago

Mike Smith

Owner/Winemaker Myriad Cellars

9.3

Tasted at the source 10 year — 6 years ago

Oliver Seaman

9.6

Love this wine — 6 years ago

Brian Reedy

9.2

We went to the source. Lunch in the 600 year old family castle — 7 years ago

with Sarah

Meg McCall

8.9

Rosé and oysters. — 8 years ago

Tomas Hickey

9.0

Party wine for New Years Eve. Another excellent wine from Seven Hills. From my secret source in the PNW. — 8 years ago

Luca Bettazzi

8.9

Vintage 2013 — 9 years ago

with Gabrio, Marco and 1 other

Melinda Hoffman

8.9

Floral, bonne acidité, frais , texture grasse — 9 years ago

Todd Bostock

9.3

Back at you @kentcallaghan - thanks for the source material. #research @kellybostock — 10 years ago