Norma Normington

9.6

I should have purchased a case! Full nose; black cherries, currants and a hint of tobacco round out this delicious wine. — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.2

An unusual incarnation of Pisoni’s flagship wine, the 2009 is a bit more austere than what one typically sees from this producer. Maybe 2009 was a cooler vintage - not sure - but both the nose and palate is almost like a cross between a Central Coast and Oregon pinot. Still has the tell-tale richness of a Santa Lucia Highlands pinot, but with higher levels of acidity and less opulance across the mid-palate. Definitely opened up and improved with time in the glass, all of which suggests that this might be one to let sit for a few more years. Still a terrific wine! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Erin Simpson

9.0

Pair with handmaid's tale and/or political apocalypse. — 7 years ago

Christy Delehanty

9.2

slightly is right — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.1

A classic from Napa, this 1999 Martha's Vineyard is definitely past its prime, but still a pleasure to drink. The tannins have largely disappeared (but made for a great match with a fantastic cut of filet mignon from the local butcher). Most of the primary aromas are gone, but some great secondary notes of leather and spice remain (the absence of the tell-tale eucalyptus from Martha's was a bit surprising). Color density is still pretty impressive after almost 17 years! Finishes a bit thin, but this wine has held up beautifully. Had an amazing tasting with David Heitz back in 2005 and this brings back all those memories. Cheers to one of the pioneering wine families of Napa Valley! — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Bob Gaby

9.2

Great Thanksgiving Wine. Pairs well with Turkey and all the fixings. — 8 years ago

C Urganci

9.3

One of very few bottles made apparently, awkward plummy to start with but converging into utter deliciousness over 1 hour. Lacking the tell tale red burgundy fruit but it has another story/terroir to tell. — 9 years ago

Melissa M. Sutherland

Importer Winebow Wines

9.4

Definitive Nascetta. Opened yesterday and continues delivering tell-tale herbal aromatics (rosemary) and petrol. Noble. Extraordinary character. More like how a Riesling ages. Or Timorasso. Beautiful depth. #theotherpiemonte #Italianwhite — 9 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

8.9

A tale of two Carignanes. This one bringing more savory and spice, but in a quiet sort of way. Needed food to show its best. — 9 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.2

Gorgeous aromas here; melting licorice, ripe cherries, Swiss dark chocolates and tell-tale herbacious twist. On the palate, truly sexy fruit, lush and round, with sweet tannins and lowish acidity. More approachable than usual at this stage, but in many one of their finest versions to date. — 10 years ago

Yohei Otomo

9.3

R13.5 testing delectable... — 11 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Restrained nose of sour cherry, spice and mineral. Some fresh rain. Floral as well. Very fragrant. Palate is super fresh with lovely purity and density. Lovely mouth coating tannins that are finely threaded and super present but never intrusive. Very elegant and fine. Like in a Margaux style. — 5 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

Surprinsgly good, fresh and elegant, with a good complexity, showing a mix of fresh and dried red fruit, the tell tale soubouis and mineral notes gives this wine its well deserved identity. A nice development in the glass. Good balance and structure. At five years of age the wine drinks very well and is not in need of any further aging — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

The flagship wine from Burn Cottage, a Central Otago, New Zealand producer focused on Pinot Noir. Husband and wife owners Dianne & Marquis Sauvage sought out Ted Lemon of Littorai, and SF Chronicle's winemaker of the year for 2010 (Jon Bonné: "The simple version of Ted Lemon's story: Young American goes to Burgundy. Becomes first American to run a Burgundian wine estate. Comes back and stays true to Pinot's motherland."). Lemon oversaw the planting of the vineyards, along with all aspects of vineyard management and winemaking, chief of which being Biodynamic from inception. The label is a derivative of a 1795 fairy tale called “The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily” which represents the ideal intersection of people and the land reflected in Biodynamics. Black cherry, citrus, and lavender pastille, with some secondary loam and herbs. — 7 years ago

Michael Knisley

8.9

Shake 'em. — 8 years ago

Stephen Becker

9.2

A fairy tale, in which Edward Norton visits the Hot Cherry Woods in search of the Gummy Wizard, scored to White Zombie. — 8 years ago

Eric Egan

9.1

Tasted again at the domaine. Very attractive colour - no sign of shedding any of the denseness yet; tell-tale blackcurrent and herbal nose (wild mint, fresh tea, a hint of tobacco); tannic but in a more structured way than the 2013. It may be that it's just more approachable but I gave it a higher mark nonetheless. Incidentally the first vintage I bought en primeur (€20 rather than the €33 a bottle) - still worth it but is the quantity of wine now produced affecting the quality somewhat? — 9 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

10

Tale of a Perfect 10: electric soy and black olive mashup, suggestive garrigue and sexpot violet, brown sugar swizzle stick and incomprehensible herbal-vanilla wafer-anise love child. Then it gets interesting: espresso and tobacco leaf, cocoa nib, cola and cool. Or is that sassafras?? Pink peppercorn, portobello and candied pomegranate. Handstands. Hell yes. Thank you. 🙏 — 9 years ago

with Will and Mary-Colleen

Stacy Woods

9.0

Deeply and widely concentrated blue-black core with a very slim garnet rim. Reflective surface. Complex, concentrated nose is fruit forward, very ripe, black berry, black currant, cigar box, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Full body, medium minus acid is well balanced with high alcohol (14.9%) but throws a throat warming burn. Slow to emerge but long lasting ripe tannin. Ripe aromas on the nose are confirmed on the palate with the addition is a tell tale black pepper on the lengthy finish. Amazing finesse and complexity - don't judge a wine by its Abv! — 9 years ago

with Luiz

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.1

A tale of two Francs. More grip and terroir expression here. Darker berries, longer finish. Comparable quality to the Ravines, just with different character. — 10 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

A great pomerol on a great vintage, Gazin is Merlot harvested at maturity but not over, great acidity and balance with the tell tale notes of Merlot now emerging. I would say better to wait another 3 to 5 years but this is a really excellent bottle. If you like distinct and not overdone Pomerols, go after this one ! — 6 years ago

with Adriana

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.0

I usually love this wine. 2002 vintage and me, generally speaking ain’t friends, as I think way too many wines’ evolution curve is... not what I hoped for. They evolve fast, and also here, served blind, I thought it was showing to much candied autumn apples and lacked the tell tale sincerity. When revealed I was disappointed. — 6 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Was not the best bottle we had, but really good indeed and with the tell tale spices from Vosne. Medium length, polished and balanced wine in a delicate register. — 7 years ago

with Adriana

Matt Trader

8.9

Very nice vintage of Cote Rotie. Still a baby, but showing some nice potential. The nose was full of caramel coffee, almost masking other tell tale signs of Syrah that were still present - aged meat, black pepper, black licorice, and nutmeg. The pallet was very richly textured with racy tannins, exhibiting notes of dark cherries, blackberry cobbler, burnt espresso bean, and a smooth cocoa finish. I'd love to have paired this with a coffee cake or tirimasu, but BBQ would do. — 7 years ago

with Tais

Darin Kendrick

9.3

tell tale meursault on the nose beautiful minerality with pear and apple. Lovely on the palate especially on the entry and finish, the mid palate is just a bit acidic and lean. Lengthy finish. Very nice wine from a stellar producer. — 8 years ago

Perry Riddle

8.9

Thanksgiving wine #2: Horrible reduction on opening but it blew off after an hour mostly. Tell-tale cherry cola and boysenberry with some mocha and intense earth. Luscious but toes the line. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Med gold in the glass. Viscous and heavy. Rich stone fruits in the nose. Tell tale mint that says Ramonet. In the mouth the fruit is powerful. Let it under your tongue and your face goes flush. Lemon, honeysuckle, crushed stone, mint in the mouth. Great finish. This is in a great window. — 9 years ago

Greg Martellotto

President One Wine Wines, Martellotto Wines

9.1

Wow 1982 still drinking. Yummy kirsch pepper short finish and end of its tale but a joy to share anyway — 9 years ago

Susan Lin

Business Development Belmont Wine Exchange, WSET Diploma candidate

9.0

The evolution of this fresh and zesty, yet full bodied Soave over an hour was like reading a riveting tale full of twists! Starting with green apples, pears, grapefruit rind and what seemed like toast evolved into sour apples, orange marmalade, biscuit and even a touch of caramel. Smooth texture and nice balance of acid to voluptuous body. — 9 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Tale of two wines-1rst day, 2nd day- oh so better w/ air, all the treble notes get fuller, earthy daresay burgandy-esque — 10 years ago