Think Outside The Circle
Penner-Ash
Rùbeo Oregon Pinot Noir Syrah 2013
I really like both of these varietals on their own and would have never thought of blending them. PA did a good job here, but I think Pinot Noir excels on its own. I give them a 9 because it was a well built wine and a good try. Really like how Oregon is moving outside of just the willamette. — 9 years ago
Cantina del Pino
Albesani Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2010
Think of a few concentric circles... In the middle are fruit flavors, immediately outside from the inner circle is more dominant tar and leather flavors, and then layers and layers of very strong tannins in the outer circles... The tannin has length, lasting for a long time in your mouth, leaving you amazed for 10 minutes, then the craving for more begins... I wonder about the winemaker's thoughts and perspectives on this wine after making this wine! — 9 years ago
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012
A nice dry SB. I am having a hard time picking out individual notes, but I am quite enjoying this while sitting outside on a beautiful spring day. I think this would pair nicely with a chicken Caesar salad or the chicken shawarma from Pita Jungle. Very good stuff! — 11 years ago
Rene Rostaing
Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2004
2004 Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie. It's an 04, no mistaking that. Large meniscus fading far outside of the rim. Kumquat, seared browned beef, volatile and pointed on the nose with a metallic character. Some sweetness and allusions to leather on the accumulated finish. There's just enough sweet leather aroma on the palate to offset the VA and occasional pyrazines that pop up to keep this doable. Metallic VA and pyrazine aroma grows with airtime--drink up I'd think! As judging from this bottle it's best in the first hour after opening and is on its last leg... — 11 years ago
Château Croix Mouton (Jean-Philippe Janoueix)
Bordeaux Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
Really delicious. Very rich in flavour but also elegant. With a lot of young fruit, blossom, vanilla and some spices. Has a nice story as well: the winemaker bought a small vineyard just outside Pomerol to make wines he loves without having to think about rules and regulations. — 13 years ago
Bodegas Consejo de la Alta
Alta Rio Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2006
Found this in my inlaws cabinet, they are not wine drinkers. I think they use this for cooking. I actually like this Classic Rioja flavors and the Alta dust. The back is a bit weak. Not bad when it's hot outside. — 9 years ago
Evening Land Vineyards
Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
Really solid Willamette wine that I think drinks a little better if not chilled. Lots of fruit- perfect for a warm summer night outside. Unless you live in Houston. (also coincidentally where the vineyard owners hail). — 9 years ago
Clos du Val Wine Co.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
I think Galioni was extravagant with lavishing 95 pts on this, but directionally, he's spot on.
On the nose, it has all the characteristics that I love; maple syrup, coffee and a hint of tobacco. On the palette, the wine is lithe and textured and sweet.
Very surprised with this. CdV made great wines in the mid nineties, then they hit a brick wall. Their wines were tannic and angular - I wonder what has happened, because this is well outside of their profile, in a good way.
No need for food with this. I was almost chewing it! It drinks like a $50 cab in my mind. — 10 years ago
🏃🏿💨
Louis-Antoine Luyt
Cuvee Mathilde Coelemu Cinsault 2013
This is wine to pour for those last remaining Francophile snobs who think they will never enjoy a bottle from --GASP --outside of France or surrounding vineyards. I know, there are thankfully not so many of these people left, but the point is, this tastes like a classic, pre-oakification, totally quaffable " let's have this with some rich, wintery food" sort of beverage. If you don't like this, we will have to find something else to talk about.
— 11 years ago
Valdespino
Tio Diego Macharnudo Vineyard Amontillado Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palomino Fino
Valdespino night at the compound. Yeah, they make a shit load of it, and it's far from natural, but man... Do you give a shit about whether the Tequila , scotch, or beer you're drinking is " natural?" I like to think of it outside of the realm of wine, as it's really not unlike drinking a brandy or something. It's a grape product. Not much else. And it's good. — 12 years ago
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Full Circle Haas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
Ok a lot of people who had this wine ditched it. Alas i think they are used to Chateaux Neuf de Pape like wines aka big reds from Tablas Creek. Well this one is not. Came as a gift from friends. Prunes on the nose. Light very low alcohol! 13.2%👍. Cherry 🍒 notes in the mouth. Good acidity. Guys this is very well made i can't believe it is from Paso. Very Burgundian very. — 9 years ago
Dúzsi Tamás
Szekszárd Kékfrankos Rozé
(Last week) Okay well just close your eyes and you'll think you have a cold perfectly ripe strawberry in your mouth -- not sweet but makes your mouth feel cold when it's sweltering outside. A must to try! — 9 years ago
Reinhold Haart
Ohligsberg Großes Gewächs Spätlese Riesling 2013
Watching this evolve; the wine has been open in gassed now for 5 days. The unctuous mouth is such a fine thing because it's not heavy at all, it's like a tartus, bigger on the inside than the outside: it's rightly contained in acid and can think is so many things it reminds me of and makes me want to eat/one of those wines. The best Vineyards are so Wise, They keep going and spur so many ideas. This could be medicine for a really sour day or total replacement for Bubbles in celebration. Intense. Somehow still light around the edges. — 10 years ago
Domaine Sorin
Rosé Terra Amata Côtes de Provence 2014
Winner winner, chicken dinner!! So far the best rosé for 2014...by far! I love strawberries, but this didn't make me think of it as a fruit. It made me think of the seeds on the outside. Fruity, yet acidic. Perfect! — 11 years ago
M. Chapoutier
Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages Red Rhone Blend 2013
After hearing the stories of a friends trip to France and drinking great roses, I decide to start trying some. Got this at Circle Liquors on 31. Loved it. What do y'all think? — 11 years ago
Schloss Gobelsburg
Gobelsburger Cistercien Rosé Blend 2013
#roséalldamnday in Vegas since it's still 95 degrees outside. Tastes like watermelon sweettarts and txakolina like acidity! Under $20 and diggin' it. I think I'm addicted to Austrian #wine lately. Salty, fruity, stony, and juicy. #delectableapp — 11 years ago
Pasqua
Amarone della Valpolicella Corvina Blend 2008
Famiglia Pasqua - delicious, smooth and just the right bit of oaky on the first pour. Nice hints of vanilla and what i think is a bit of dried cherries when it opens up (prob with decanting). Worth the $30 I spent at Trader Joe's wines. And perfect for special occasions or Monday night watching TV while it rains outside. — 13 years ago
Marla Frederick
A tried and true sparkling. I think everyone universally agrees that this is strawberries with minerality on the finish. Much as I feel boring writing this, the wine outshines my descriptive capabilities. This is an odd choice of wine for blizzard-like conditions outside, but yet it makes me inexplicably happy. It feels right, it just feels right. — 9 years ago