Greg Poorman

9.5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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