Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.4

Yesterday’s CMS Certified exam blind tasting lineup. Have a lot to learn and practice! Btw this Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris was outstanding with its price point (19.99). Impressive performance. — 7 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

Beautiful. The lighter side of a 100% Syrah. Taste of liquid dark red roses. Finish is a bit short and clamps down... but may resolve in a a few years. Just a taste, but I bought a bottle to test that theory. Good value. — 7 years ago

Milissa Mosley

9.0

Milissa had this 8 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.4

Steak & claret Friday is back. This bottle was more evidence for my theory that wine always shows best once it sells out. Dark fruit, savory tertiary character and plenty of sweet life in this "for steak only" northern Medoc. Hats off to the butchers at Draeger's... I don't know what that "cowboy" steak was, but it sure was good! — 8 years ago

Jeff Smith/Vintner

9.4

Rumor has it that the cuttings of SH came from Inglenook, which ultimately came from DRC. Interesting theory. SH has always been an odd duck in Napa. Spring Mt Pinot, that is muscle and elegance in one package. So I'm going with it... Beautiful wine. Elegant and powerful at the same time. Loads of red currant, Asian 5 spice and rose oil. Pure aromas and fruit. Perfumed, exotic and texturally sleek. Minor alc on the finish, but I've tasted many hotter Burgs. What most new world Pinots wish to be! — 9 years ago

Christina Gibbs

9.2

In theory, the oldest vines in muscadet. Yeasty and musky, bright and full of minerals at the same time. I like it. — 9 years ago

Natalee Ridenhour

9.0

Light crisp, would definitely buy again. Suzanne loves it! — 9 years ago

Flyingfish55

9.6

I understand more and more why you react the way you do bcs lately I just wAnt to 💣on people not acting how I want them to act.....
But it's not my choice how they live their life's, and I have to practice non judgment and unconditional love -buddhist level mastery 10, the day spent at this winery was one of the best days of my life — 9 years ago

with Jamison

Fabrizio Gallanti

9.6

Interesting! 13 grapes, which are grown and harvested together. It is an old practice in Alsace called coplantation. Lemon, lavender, salted butter. Delicious. — 10 years ago

Henry Kahn

9.6

In a grand spot but perhaps not fully mature. Puts the lie to my theory of not buying riservae. Still some tannins to resolve, reddish fruit, spicey, tobacco and leather notes. Bright aromatics. Round full complete. Great wine for a snowy night — 10 years ago

Ryan Frank

9.0

2015 vintage — 7 years ago

Sean Agnew

9.0

Great pet nat to practice your drunk driving — 7 years ago

Mason Balistreri

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

9.5

Hands down the best Gamay I have ever tasted from outside Beaujolais. Reasonably priced, great packaging and is a 10/10 on the chug-ablility scale. It expresses the spicy side of Gamay which confirms Parr's theory on the decomposing granite and volcanic clay-loam soil that this and Brouilly both grow in. Good edge and extortion here, so don't worry about the carbonic maceration.  — 8 years ago

Paul Preibisch

10

Love this wine. I tried it at their winery, and ordered it today at a restaurant.
— 8 years ago

Mason Balistreri

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

9.6

There’s a lot of wine being made in California and abroad that is, in theory, similar to this wine… Extremely old vines of obscure varietals, natural production and so on. However, in this case, winemakers Pax Mahle and Loren Grossman have delivered something that shines brighter than the rest - including their other labels. 

Titular “Pax” wines have a similar sense of spice, animal and force, but often lack the subtly found here. His other label “Wind Gap” capitalizing on the trend of hardly ripened fruit to give the wine telling minerality and that mouth-puckering tart freshness at the expense of body.  All of which is also evident in this wine, but much more balanced and slowly revealed. 

This wine is sexy and nimble, but has depth and a sense of place. Reminiscent of  Northern Rhone but less narrowly focused. It’s all you can ask for from California. They only made about 100 cases, and it retails for under 40 dollars. We have 9 bottles left at Joy Wine & Spirits, come in and get it. — 8 years ago

Raymond C Wiley

9.2

This is a perfect example of what is possible when the Japanese passion for making whiskey is combined with patience, time, and the practice of "kaizen" (slow and gradual improvement).

Not only is this a special blend of whiskey from Japan, but it was a special gift from a friend!

Thanks for the introduction Dan! 8>} — 9 years ago

Matt O'Leary

9.0

Very good wine. My tastebuds may be a little off tonight but I think it's a bit sweet for a cab not in a bad way. I like it — 9 years ago

Martin Mills

8.9

Pronounced orange peel on the nose. More cranberry than lush fruit, a little young and austere but huge potential given their previous vintages and the raw materials at hand. Very good now, could be great if I can practice patience and set aside a few bottles. Not sure it's quite as good as the 2009 and 2010 though. — 10 years ago

Ridaa Murad

9.4

One of my all time favorite Blanc de Blancs! I love bubbly with anything and here's proving that theory with lasagna!!!! — 10 years ago

Scott Barber

Wine Educator Meadowood Napa Valley

9.3

Practice what you preach... — 11 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I meet with a lot of wineries that talk about being bio-dynamic. However, none of them are more passionate about this practice than Rippon. They love talking about it with great passion and truly walk the talk. In the photos are a huge pile of cow dung, stems, dropped fruits etc.. It all goes back into the vineyard to nourish the vines. The fruit to make "The Mature" comes from the Emma's and Tinker's vineyard. On the nose, light red fruits, beautiful fresh red florals and light spice. The palate is medium bodied with lean fruits of; dark cherries, plum, strawberries, raspberries, black berries, warm spices, bright red roses, gritty minerals, fine chalkiness, beautiful acidity and a well polished finish. Additional photo of their Cellar Door grounds. — 7 years ago

David Wanek

9.6

Really enjoying the 2014 vintage. One of my favorites from Doubleback. Love to have this in a vertical to test that theory. — 7 years ago

Grant Baldwin

8.9

Yummy. Drinkable for a cab. Beth likes it too. — 8 years ago

Julia Weinberg

9.6

In theory - it's completely silly having your heart flutter over a bottle of wine. But when you come across those special ones it's unavoidable and makes so much sense. That nose, so beautiful. That texture, I swoon. #lapaulee2016 — 8 years ago

Erin Pooley

Owner/Winemaker Good Luck Wines

9.2

My theory that everyone named Giuseppe is bound for greatness remains intact — 9 years ago

Mason Balistreri

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

9.5

A gigondas made in the traditional style which is becoming increasingly rare. The estate has been passed down through the women of the Bonfils family since 1900, and they practice non-intervention - meaning minimal sulpher and also no destemming, no filtering, and no fining. The wine itself is incredibly unique and shows more complexity than the more well know producers. I was getting tons of sour, wild cherries and earthy, spice notes with body and power - and an edge that can't really be described. You should try one because it's different and it's also delicious. — 9 years ago

Erik McLaughlin

Vice President Seven Hills Winery

9.0

String theory. — 9 years ago

Rachel Macalisang

Lead Sommelier - The Bazaar by José Andrés

8.9

Wine for this morning's theory group. We were all in good spirits despite the earthquake that rocked the bay today. — 10 years ago

Erin Pooley

Owner/Winemaker Good Luck Wines

10

Dandy in the Clos. All love. Love love love. — 10 years ago

Dirk Pettigrew (Pirate)

Sales Pirate Cru Wines

9.7

My favourite wine of all time. Thinking of you Sam. — 11 years ago