Bob McDonald

9.5

Found this bottle by accident in my cellar not thinking I had any left. Barrel ferment characters - nutty and mealy notes. Lemon cream on the palate, and, as my previous notes, reminiscent of a Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne. I have said it many times before but the best New Zealand Chardonnays are world class. Still fresh and tastes young - nothing like 8 years of age. The following day funky slightly smelly aromas like old tea towel. Decanter Magazine (UK) awarded this wine in 2014 I think, the best Chardonnay outside Burgundy. — 5 years ago

Boxer Briefs

10

Someone said natural. Think this is organic farming but I don’t think this is natural wine. Pierre Gauthier, almost 40 acres of Clay/Limestone Tufa in Benais outside of Bourgeuil. Probably just over $25-$30retail, $45-$60 on a wine list. Smoking good. The composite rating here is insanely low for the QPR. Everyone should be drinking these wines. This is a great wine in the grand scheme of things, it’s all about perspective. Entry level wine, the Jour de Soif has no oak, bright fruit, amazing green edge. There is a wet tobacco thing. Classic wine! Love it. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

I did not take notes as these wines were served over a casual lunch with the Tikal staff.

Photos of, their staff at work, outside office property and I think that’s a 1940’ish car they keep on their Bodega property. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Tonight we went to La Brigada. Think the Owner likes Fubtol? He sponsors two teams from Buenos Aires.

On the nose; bright perfume red & blue floral fruits of; dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, blue fruits and black raspberries. Sweetened vanilla, very light spice, soft dark minerals, dry soil & clay, just a touch of red & black licorice/cola, berry fruit candy and bright red dark florals with violets.

On the palate; the body is medium full. The tannins are dark and fine with just a touch of stickiness. After an hour in the decanter, the wine blossomed from dark and mineral driven into bright, ripe and floral. The fruits are bright & floral; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, cherries and strawberries. Loamy dry soil with clays, dark grainy minerals, vanilla, raspberry cola, dark fruit candy, notes of black licorice, hints of graphite, dark rich soils, beautiful, lovely bright red florals, red roses with candied violets, round acidity and a well polished, elegant, balanced finish. This wine needs another 7-10 years in bottle and will drink for another 5-8 years beyond that. Excellent QPR.

Photos of; the La Brigada’s outside window. The Futbol on top of the “Captain” decanter. My wife’s steak and the barstools all fitted with Fubtols. There isn’t a square inch of the restaurant that didn’t have Fubtol items or memorabilia, floor to ceiling.

The steaks more tender here than Don Julio. 50,000 bottle wine cellar. — 8 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.7

This wine is so cool! Took a break from my Cali Cab education tonight. For starters I didn't even know anyone was making Pinot Meunier outside of Champagne, much less as a single varietal. But then I found out it is technically a clone of Pinot Noir. It is somehow light and very ripe and full at the same time. The acidity is delightfully high, there is this backnote of cola that goes so beautifully with the cherry/red currant nature of this. Love it. @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher I think you sent this my way. Thank you! — 8 years ago

Meeter B

9.4

I've been alone with you inside my mind
And in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times
I sometimes see you pass outside my door
Hello, I think it's you I've always been looking for...
Deeply dry, slightly spicy and really tobacco-y on the finish. I wish I could quit you... — 8 years ago

Velma Cooper

9.1

Velma had this 9 years ago

with Justin

Bryan Hopkins

8.9

I have long been an admirer of Germain-Robin, and I like this product, but considered as an absinthe it is a very uncharacteristic example. Prominent scent of lemon with spearmint and fennel, slighter lemongrass. The taste gives more mint and anise at first that quickly develops into lemon and leaves lemon on the finish. Think of this as as what the label says, an “aromatic brandy distilled with herbs and natural flavors added,” and it’s quite pleasant. Think of it as an absinthe, and you are likely to be left thinking that it is not what an absinthe should be. But I often enjoy experimentation outside the boundaries of a genre. The fact that it is made with an apple-honey mead as the base adds to the novelty. — 6 years ago

Paul Gordon

9.0

Good with rare steak. Me like. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Bottle enjoyed last night. Notes are from memory today.

While 2010 is not my favorite Napa vintage, it was not bad. In many 2010’s I’ve had, the structure, texture and body are just not quite all there. However, Howell Mountain wines, for me, faired better.

There are a number of good Howell Mountain producers, Dunn being one of my favorites. I think Ladera Vineyards is one of the more underrated Howell Mountain producers. Especially, at a Costco price of around $45.

The blue fruits that shine in Howell Mountain wines are always unmistakable. Blueberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, raspberry cola, light spice, soft leather, saddle-wood, lavender and violets. Beautiful acidity. The structure is good. The body round and elegant. The length, tension and balance just now coming into its own. Still needs a few more years to hit its peak. The finish is soft, round, elegant and beautiful. Lasts full two minutes.

Photos of; the winery and beautiful grounds, outside terrace, special event tasting & dinning room and their Estate vines. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

On the nose; earthiness & a touch of funkiness. Blackberries, plum, blue fruits, dark cherries, raspberries touch of gummies, red roses and fresh violets.

The body is leaner to medium. The palate has ripe leaner fruits of; blackberries, plum, blue fruits, dark cherries & raspberries. Just hint of savoriness, nice dark rich turned earth, very little wood or baking spice as they do these 30% used oak and the rest in tank. Some black licorice, soft minerals, some dry top soil and fresh red flowers and violets.

Photos of; their Estate vines, branding signage outside the tasting room, the quartz that runs all though their property and Macarena our host behind the tasting rooms.

Interesting notes about their location in Casablanca, they are next to and protected by one of I think six UNESCO sites in all of Chile.

The Casablanca Valley also sees warm days and fog that rolls in later in the evening through the early mornings. It leaves so much moisture, you can shake the trees in the morning and it’s like taking 1/4 to 1/2 a shower. The daytime warmth drys out the vegetation & vines out along with the early afternoon winds. So, they have no issues with Powdery mildew or mold. — 8 years ago

David From The 504

9.3

Can’t complain, bought from Costco for a. Good price for that contained 4 other bottles of “Bordeaux” wines very consistent from the front of tongue to the throat. Nothing dominant , light spice and dark plum from the nose. Not too acidic. A wine that is easy to pop and pour. A fun wine to drink bottles Witt friends and see what the night turns into. I haven’t been drinking expensive wines recently and found That I very much enjoy a wine that is subtle, and nothin special. A good wine to me doesn’t have all the bells and whistles but has that character that you can taste which showcases the knowledge of the wine maker sticking to the fundamentals making a wine speak for it self from the vines to the earth. Really enjoyed this especially sipping it slowly outside as my 1 wedding anniversary is nov 5th. I am truly blessed and at this young age to be able to soak it all in and smile is priceless!
, cheers to all my delectable friend, a year ago I would not believe that I would go on a trip to meet a bunch of strangers and I have to say that was one of the best decisions I have made, for anyone thinking about meeting up I know it is intimidating but once you do you will never regret doing It.Everyone had that feeling at first but you will not believe just how accepting everyone is. It’s all about the wine even though we all think we are professional reviewers it’s all fun and to have a group with all like minded people it is incredible

Love you all Cheers and WNH for life !!
Dave from the 504$$$$ — 8 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.1

Delicious #centralcoastwine #pinotnoir #ednavalley #fieldrecording I was happily surprised by this wine, the label made me think it was going to be frivolous and more interesting on the outside than on the inside, boy was I wrong! It's a fantastic PN with a harmonious balance of youthful red fruits and refreshing acidity with a medium juicy body and perfectly ripe. — 8 years ago

Paul H

9.1

So I was lucky enough to go to Cuba recently. Such an amazing place with the most wonderful people you ever want to meet. With that being said wine was not abundant in most places. Our travels found us in an out of the way place well outside the the old town area. Out of the couple of bottles they offered we went with this one. It was a lucky guess. It had a very pleasant nose of light red fruit. If I had to pick cherry would be the most dominate. It drank very well with subtle red fruits, licorice and to me a bit of earth notes and leather. I will be honest that depending on the company and location sometimes my ratings are higher and this may be one of those times. But overall I really enjoyed this wine. I don’t think I am too far off on this one. Hope you try it and like it as well. — 6 years ago

Kim Stanbro

9.2

The best outside Halloween stoop wine 🍷 we could think of. Cheers! — 7 years ago

with Dave

Shay A

9.5

Monthly wine group met up and had an Italian wine night at one of the local Italian BYOB spots. Really fantastic Italian wines were brought, as well as some random bottles that were outside the theme (but worthy of opening regardless of theme).

What a pull by @Mark Flesher ! This got a little under two hours of bottle decanting before dinner. I was able to have a sip right after Mark opened it and I said “this will be my favorite of the night”...and I think it was. This has everything you’re looking for...great medley of red and black fruits, tar, vanilla tobacco, gorgeous structure. This will be at its peak in 3 or so years. Killer wine. — 7 years ago

with Mark, Colby and 3 others

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Loud bretty nose with loads of cracked stones, black peppercorns, and dark cherry skins. Very St. Joseph Syrah-like even though it’s pure Carignane from just outside Corbieres, I think. On the palate it’s lean and lively. Hard to put this down, and, at 12.5%, there’s little reason to. — 8 years ago

Robyn Balnaves

9.0

Very light and fruity a good wine for a picnic or with a delicate fish or chicken dish.
Easy to drink on its own but think it could get sickly if you are more used to fully body or dry whites.
Ideally I would drink this if I was meeting friends for a casual catch up with nibbles or chilling outside on a sunny day. — 8 years ago

Robert McCall

8.9

Shoulda let this breathe for a few hours but wasn't in the cards. Muted nose of blackberry and spice. Medium+ tannins circle around emerging dark red and blackberry fruit. Not much complexity but not one dimensional either. I think I kick the points up a level or two with 3 hours + in a decanter. But who's complaining!? Good stuff. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Wow. This comes from Chris's estate outside his house. It's all dry farmed. Extremely low yields. It's entire yield is only 8 barrels. The fruit is so concentrated. Featured in the photos is; Chris and my wife Sofia, grapes from the property and his olive trees on his estate. His olive trees only yield one 375ml bottle per tree. This 09 is easy to drink but it's a still a baby...easily a 30 year plus wine. Words cannot describe the nuances in this wine. The elegant beauty & beast. It's mouthfeel so big and still so inviting. Luring you in layer by layer. It's starts with baked blue fruits, dark cassis, blackberries, blueberries, black cherries, black plums, layers of asian spice, spice-box, tarry notes. The tannins big yet silky. Slightly bitty but beautiful minerals from the clay, schist, quartz, and loamy top soils. The finish so good but my thoughts drifted to think about how good it's going to be in 10 more years. Chris tells me he has to spray the vines 4-6 times a year with an organic seaweed spray to hold down the acidity. I can't wait to try this wine at 20 years of age. I'm sure it will be close to a religious experience. As many great tastings that I've done, it's hard not to say this one is in the top three. Thank you Chris for sharing your time, knowledge and these amazing wines. It was an honor! — 9 years ago