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

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

Greg Poorman

9.5

Great rose and berry flavor. Just at the threshold of not too bitter and not too sweet — 7 years ago

Matt

9.2

I dig these wines. I feel like they capture the power and ripeness one expects from a valley floor site but without feeling heavy or over extracted. There’s a sense of place, a finesse that runs through it. Fresh, perfectly ripe black fruit, almost hinting at red, shines. Spice driven, in the savory sense. Somewhat exotic. There’s a very pleasant “green” note that operates at just enough threshold to keep you guessing without being overt or obvious, it comes across as, again, savory. For the vintage the tannins seem rather subdued, persistent but very fine, textural. Been fortunate to try a couple wines from this estate with age and they are always beautiful. — 8 years ago

Eric

9.7

Good lord is this good. Muddled blackberries and dark baking chocolate. Both the nose and mouthfeel are absolutely perfect. Tannins are already in an ideal spot after some air. Knocks on the door of decadence but doesn't cross the threshold (which is in my view kind of hard to do). @Shawn R thanks so much for sharing. This is bad ass! — 8 years ago

TheSkip

9.2

So, I bought this at the rack rate of $50. But then @Ron R had me on the hunt for more wines. I stumbled across this wine now at $39. For me, that's a psychological threshold. Consequently, I thought this was worth a third look as I might now reconsider purchasing. As an added bonus, I thought this would go well with the pork chop and salad I was having for dinner.

There is a delicious intensity here. It's almost indescribable. Again, as I posted the last time, it feels and smells manufactured. This is the diametric opposite of a wine's terroir. Further, it retains all the things I liked when I very first had Caymus. There isn't a ton of complexity here, but that's ok.

Yes, I could be drinking better intellectual wines for the price, but, sometimes, it's ok to watch wresting or football and just enjoy the ride. — 9 years ago

Marshal White

9.0

Cassoulet wine. Couldn't imagine a better choice. Drinkable, but too much substance to be gulpable. Plenty of acid to cut the fat, and just on the threshold of tertiary development, so it's simultaneously developed and youthful. Cabernet/merlot-based wines, much like people, really shouldn't be drunk at less than ten years of age. — 10 years ago

web bond

9.0

Savory, rich, concentrated and still pushing brett threshold for some. — 10 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

Scott Rowe

8.9

Mouth slaughtering tannin!
Holy moly.
Leather, tobacco and spice.
I detect a touch of brett, this will vary with everyone's threshold. — 7 years ago

with Chris, Robert and 2 others

Matt Trader

9.0

For an inexpensive wine, it has a lot to offer. It needs a serious decant, but after rewards a chewy dense pallet, full of black plum, black raspberry, mocha, black pepper, and smokey dark chocolate. It feels like a baby version of Helen Turley Zins.. the Jam factor is at the tip of the threshold that I prefer, with decent balance.

Did I mention it is a $12 bottle of Zin? It is at the very least over performing. — 8 years ago

Jason Heller

Master Sommelier

9.2

Quite tasty even if the Brett is at my upper threshold. — 8 years ago

Brandon Thiessen

9.0

Yeasty and lots of funk. Threshold funk. But I can dig. — 9 years ago

with Corey

Jessika Zachary

9.2

Almost at the end of my dry wine threshold but very delicious. — 9 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

This bottle put me over the top on Catena Alta Malbec. In any decent year, as this one, beautifully extracted fruit under a dusty/earthy nose that screams its origin. Liquorice, blackberry, tobacco and neat acidity. An orchestra of cocoa to coffee. I'd serve this food-friendly beauty - they seem to hit a threshold at 4-5 years, longer for the single vineyard efforts - to my most wine-snobby guests. There may not be a better value in New World wine, which causes an issue only for Catena Zapata, who may have a hard time selling >$100 offerings when this can be had for <$40! — 10 years ago

Nils Paulson

Sales Martine's Wines

9.0

High Brett threshold necessary, of course! — 11 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

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

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

.:;2):’kicndnebxhjd

8.9

While the color on this is beautiful I still don't find Gamay to be as extravagant as the hype behind it when it comes down to finding these at the $30 drink study threshold. Black cherry, black raspberry, some smoke, faint and rounded tannin aspect, lean body average acid. Not a wine that stresses/works the palate. 12.5% alc is perfect for me tonight. Not heavy enough in minerality or herbs to say something's there but it has some pink peppercorn, maybe licorice. Above average for the price — 8 years ago

Jonathan Bennett

9.0

Had to crack this out seeing as average sunlight intensity over the last week has crossed my tried and true kW per square metre threshold.....:-) — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.7

The wine is a lovely and rich greenish gold, much the same as the LCB “normale,” but maybe a little more vibrant. Aromas are predictably savory - beeswax, lanolin, minerals, citrus - and flavors walk that same path. The tropical fruit hits hard, with that Roussanne nuttiness right behind. The earthy, almost soapy, note stays long after the sip while acidity holds a high threshold. You could spend $45 on a Chardonnay very easily, but this wine gives you something much more interesting for your investment. — 9 years ago

Michael Malpiedi

9.0

Right on the threshold. Bold and enough to enjoy but nothing exceptional. Solid buy — 9 years ago

web bond

9.2

Gorgeous bottle. 2009 vintage bottle tasted last was far more volatile and past the threshold of unconditional enjoyment for me. This particular vintage, bottle, is a pleasure and undoubtedly the benchmark for the style. — 9 years ago

Jimmy Hayes

Estate Director Mayacamas Vineyard

9.4

2000 vintage, loved this. Supple and generous. Sweet red currant, black cherry. Plenty of bret adding spice layers but well within my threshold. Starting to show evolved earth flavors. All in all, delicious. — 10 years ago

Melissa M. Sutherland

Importer Winebow Wines

9.9

Along with Moric, Paul Achs is the grower to watch (and drink) from Burgenland for Blaufränkisch. He produces five, three of which are single vineyards. He's the most thoughtful, sensitive grower that I know who constantly shares his vast collection of back vintage Burgundy with friends. BioD too, if that's your threshold. — 12 years ago