Ron R

9.1

This a very sold sparkler that comes in way below my financial pain-threshold. Birthday Boy @Shawn R had one going today. Kudos to you dad, husband 🎈
Back to the wine... crisp and energetic, with a limestone/chalky overtone. This oozes quality, and presents just like champagne. Why spend Whiskey Tango Foxtrot type loot when you get this at a fraction of the price of the real thang? — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie

Matt

9.0

Unique expression. Considerable brett, right up to my threshold, meaty and animal, savory, tar and leather about. Its got time still, but the powerful Serralunga tannins hold strong despite their grace. Love this vintage and the spine of acid it carries, really lively and nervous wines. Solid by all means — 5 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.3

Compared to last night's Frogs Leap... No contest. This is much better.

Silky mouth feel, perfect medium + body, green bell pepper, just delightful.

Observers may have discovered my nonlinearity at 9.2 in my scale. For whatever reason, I have made a mental threshold. 9.3 and above represents the best of what I've yet to experience. Now, I'm quite certain, that one day I will discern 1 or more other higher natural breaks. But my wallet cannot yet allow that.

93 points — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Hands down, one of my new favorite sour session beers. Made in Brattleboro,VT. Hermit Thrush makes one mash and then uses that base (parti-gyle) for a few different beers, adding different ingredients or aging methods to get a few different finished brews. This is the base beer, the other versions are even cooler.

I'd love to be drinking this on a very hot, sunny day, alas it's mid-30°F here and rainy. It's very refreshing, light molasses in color, a touch over the sour threshold for many folks, perfect for me. 3.0% ABV — 6 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

Screaming value here, folks. Those with a low Brett threshold need not apply, but the funk does recede into the background with some air eventually revealing some very sweet, pretty fruit. Some lovely violet and lavender nuances come through on the nose. Wonderful acidity, subtle minerality. There’s great structure throughout, yet a remarkable palate-coating softness in texture. I would buy a case of this in a heartbeat. Some for casual dining, some for pure enjoyment, some for mid-term aging. Total winner. — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Exotic, fruit-driven perfume wafts from the glass. Kiwi and passion fruits are supported by rocks and stones.
Palette is consistent, with citrus fruits, bright acidity and persistence. Finishes vibrant. This is our fave SB below the $20 pain threshold. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

Fredrik Finn

8.9

Listan Prieto, aka Mission aka Criolla chica aka Pais. The Benje Tinto from Envinante sourced from the DO Ycoden Daute Isora on Tenerife. Opens up very reductive, so be patient with it. Tart red fruit, very savoury and salty, like licking a stone, peppery. Like a northern Rhône but in the lack of flesh. Now call me conservative, but this above my threshold. However, very playful and fun, complex as well with a decent lenght and playful. — 5 years ago

Scott Cowan

9.0

Just over the 8.9 threshold to stand firmly at 9.0. It has a decent QPR, but not enormous such. Jammy, bit of smoke, round cherry plum pudding mouthfeel with my favorite part: a lingering finish. Excellent with strong meats and cheeses, especially truffle cheese! We’re it ten bucks cheaper I’d buy a case; at 30 bucks a bottle it’s good value but not a bargain — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

The whole fruit spectrum is here...raspberries, underripe blueberries and juicy blackberries. Aromatically, it leans more red and black fruit dominant with cedar and graphite. Not quite dusty. The palate brings in a touch more darker fruits (blue), with overripe/mixed berry pie notes. Dense core. Shocked to see it’s 15.4ABV! Doesn’t seem that hot. Finish has some baking spices (cinnamon, cardamom) and an herbal twang I’m struggling to identify. Not overly complex. Classic, “fruit forward” Napa cab without hitting the jammy/fruit bomb threshold. Not declining but not sure it’s getting much better.

Update 2hrs in: nose has evolved and is showing charcoal and smoked meat. Nice improvement. — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.7

So intense it borders on the pain pleasure threshold. Wow. Nose is gorgeous out of the gates. Earth. Olives. Mid season cherries. Psychotic. Stinging acidity. Just blasts the palate with freshness. Some gaminess. Wow. Bought from fass selections. ... drink from a Bordeaux glass. ... some godly grapy sweetness on the finish. — 6 years ago

Douglas Braun

8.9

I enjoy this producer - if a threshold amount of R.S. Doesn’t bother you it’s a really nice wine a little more like NZ than Loire however — 7 years ago

Eric

9.4

Thick to stick. This is about as big and rich as it gets. Knocks on cloying’s door but doesn’t cross the threshold. Great nose. Big fruit and menthol. Subtle peppery meat on the palate. Saving my other 2 for awhile. — 7 years ago

Douglas Braun

8.9

2014 vintage Brett and fruit here wild fruit the character of Gamay hanging on like this but so close to my threshold - great with duck — 7 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.1

Mature, and with the fruit starting to dry out in a really attractive, savory way. Yeah, there's a little Brett, but it simmers just below the obvious and annoying threshold for me. Missing that extra gear - delicious and complete but not extraordinary. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.6

A friend had a “reduction party” as he was needing to thin out his cellar. Definitely a party I’m happy to attend!

In my opinion, I feel like it’s tough to judge a producer from this vintage. There is no doubt though that talented winemakers were still able to achieve gorgeous wines, and this meets the threshold. Compared to other ‘11s, this was a bit more dense than expected with nice ripe notes. I have to admit, this reminded me of ripe Bordeaux...it has aromatics of saddle leather, baked red and black fruits, fig, cassis and even some graphite. On the palate, the fruit is slightly muddled and soft, with pipe tobacco, mulberries, dates, and chocolate. Softened tannins at the finish. I’m thinking this may be in its peak drinking window. — 5 years ago

with Mark and Weston

David Shaw

9.1

800 cases made. Pale yellow white, very good clarity. Intense floral nose. Crisp, floral citrus flavors, fruity but dry finish with lemon peel and grapefruit pith flavors. Mild fine grained skin astringency. Possibly some lees contact character in finish but it’s at threshold level for me. — 6 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

It's crazy the number of wines sub 20 bucks down here. Cooked at home tonight in the AirBnB... 3 solid bottles. And hey, the dinner ...? Not too shabby for an 1/8th Italian dude.

So, I think 92 points seems to be my threshold down here in Puglia. Above that will be a standout.

92 points — 6 years ago

Tiago Correia Machado

9.2

Though widely known in Portugal, I was still quite surprised to find it at a major supermarket in Brussels... for €5.50, which is pretty much the lowest threshold here.That said, this is a wine that has enough strength to withstand deep red meats (including heavier game), but also fares well with lighter cheeses. In a sense, it’s rather gourmand, too, so you’ll easily drink half a bottle on its own (and all by yourself) before you even realise it. At three years of age, it’s pretty much ready to drink out of the bottle (though some aeration won’t hurt, either), making it the ideal bring-along wine when going to a dinner party or hosting a larger group. A definite keeper! — 6 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.0

Cherry compote, cola,
cigar box, vanilla and buttered toast. Not the most complex example of Goldridge I’ve seen, but the fruit intensity and depth on mid palate are admirable. More structure and acidity would be my preference, but lush and ripe red fruits are the hallmark of this cuvée and I suppose some things should remain as they are. Oak and ripeness are generally above my threshold. But this does remain a RRV classic. — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Eyes right for just a mo... pasta and sage with butternut squash. Prep’d for my wife by yours truly 🙂
Now onto the wine... Visited Eminent and it was closed, but they threw me a bone. Looks like a cab in the glass, but the nose gives the game away. This is tightly wound and requires aging. Beautiful fruit support the tannins perfectly. Oak profile is neutral. A strong effort which is below my price pain threshold. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie