Muralee Murugesu

9.6

For a 20 year old St Estephe this Cos d’Estournel is sublime. Perfectly aged but shows a lot of youth throughout the hour opening with red fruit mixed in with leather and chalk. A good 35 sec finish. A classic Bordeaux that rocks! Kept from my Phd days ( Rodolphe this is the last one buddy) is surprisingly vibrant. happy birthday 🥳 Philippa. — 7 years ago

Justin Hart

9.4

Ah, the Rocks at Milton-Freewater produce such remarkable and distinctive fruit. Morgan Lee’s take on the Stoney Vine Syrah is outstanding. Earthy, gamey, succulent, dark and full stone fruit (plum) that just keeps going. This is good for another 5 years I think. — 8 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2009, when Caymus still made wine in their traditional style. Starting with their 12 vintage, they started to let their fruit hang on the vine much longer...just before the grapes begin a shriveled phase. This raises the sugar levels(Brixs) and produces a much sweeter grape/wine. Too sweet for me. This 09 is beginning to see nice evolution but has many years ahead of it before it hits it's peak. The tannins are still very present but beginning to lose their teeth. It's classic in their old style. Dark cassis; of dry and juicy blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, olallieberries, Asian spices, touch of herbs, lots of baking spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel, vanilla, black tea, black licorice, dry dark florals, dry crushed volcanic rocks, dark turned soil, stems, leathery, tobacco, nice acidity, strong structure & length, good balance & length. The finish is dry & juicy fruit with loads of spice and baking spices, it sticks on your palate, is round, full bodied and lasts over a minute. Two hours in the decanter and it's still improving. — 9 years ago

Marshal White

9.0

Pure, intense, long. Tastes like rocks and a cool summer breeze, tense with the threat of lightning. — 10 years ago

Paul Gordon

9.3

Very good GSM blend — 10 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Lemon curd, sweet & ripe, honey, wet rocks, chalk, very fresh with good length and acid. — 11 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

Chardonnay, Viognier and Muscat Canelli. Rocks! white has a pale yellow tint in the glass, with a brilliant nose featuring a spray of floral notes with melon and a spicy, herbal twist. The palate offers very bright acidity in a wine that is sweet, but not syrupy. There is a cantaloupe note in the middle and a citrus finish. This is a natural with Japanese noodles, Pad Thai or penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes. — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

A top example of its kind, this is benchmark Beaujolais wine. It has it all: rocks and minerals, fruit and subtle spice with a nice structure and acidity. A gorgeous perfume aroma of fruit and terroir rise from the glass. Serious stuff that is also enjoyable if you want to switch the brain off. — 12 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

8.9

Always a pleasure rocks, flowers, peaches 😋 — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Côtes de Bourg is a Bordeaux region that many don’t know that delivers incredible wines for a fraction of the price of other regions. This higher priced bottle at £40+ sure delivers an amazing wine that would be triple in St Emilion & made by the folks from Tertre Rôteboeuf & called “the junior Tertre Rôteboeuf“ 👍 Drinking great young but will improve 😉

📍 Roc de Cambes 2014

🏵 93 points

🍇 80% Merlot, 5% Malbec & 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Blackened opaque ruby

👃 Soggy soil pot & thick farmyard through muted dark plum, blackberry, crushed rocks & gravel galore w/ mulberry, blueberry, broken twigs, pencil lead, violet, fresh mint & parsley herbs

👄 Med body of rich ripe blackcurrant & damson bathed in minerals w/ earthy soil stone tones, raspberry liquorice & a touch dry bitter mocha

🎯 Med+ touch dry mineral earthy black, purple & red fruit liquorice smack — 7 years ago

ES

9.0

This wine rocks, balanced, well made, bright fruit, fantastic acidity, wonderful QPR — 9 years ago

Katherine R

8.9

Delicious on a hot summer evening. If wine was water rushing and flowing over rocks in a stream with fruit trees and bushes on the banks, this would be that wine. — 9 years ago

Bonnie Bruenderman

9.0

Light without being thin. Complex without being overloaded — 9 years ago

with Adam

Matt

8.9

This bottle was so different from the the last. Salty, cured ham, parm, wet rocks, yeasty, white strawberry, funky. Edgy acid, laser-like on the palate. Showed a lot of development with air which makes me think this wine just needs some time to become truly enjoyable. Points for expressiveness and character, just not finding the right wavelength to get on with this wine. Perhaps a revisit with a proper decant is in order. — 9 years ago

Sean K McNeely

Viticulture and Viniculture Assistant at Viña Vik Vineyard, Winery and Hotel

9.2

Like you just tripped and spilled your sour cherry icee on a bunch of lava rocks and started licking it up. Unbelievably delicious and incredibly versatile when it comes to food pairings. Bottle went way too fast...definitely need to try those single vineyard wines ASAP. — 10 years ago

Ross Fulton

9.0

A real cotton-lickin' kiss of sultry temptresses — 10 years ago

Ian Blessing

9.5

Spectacular as always. Started off with typical Cayuse funk that integrated pretty quickly into a kaleidoscope of rich, sweet fruit while never being cloying. Framboise, fresh raspberry, blueberry, tons of violet, and a finish that's carried by crushed black rocks. Cayuse amazes me with its intense flavors that somehow never seem overextracted or heavy. It's the domestic version of an iron fist in a velvet glove. — 10 years ago

Corey Zamora, CSW

9.1

Bright beautiful acidity, wet rocks, intense fruit. #texsom — 11 years ago

Cat Gomes

8.9

A nice and simple dry wine! — 11 years ago

Ryan Schmied

9.3

Crushed rocks, world class value — 12 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.3

Clear lemon color. Opened beautifully after a little bit of air. Lemon, rocks and ocean spray nose. Great balance between the acidity and the softness of the wine. Very long finish. — 7 years ago

with Frankie

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Deep and concentrated, lots of minerals, lime zest, citrus, spices, crushed rocks. Loire Sauvignon Blanc at its finest. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.8

In 775 the Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, bequeathed his ownership of the Hill of Corton to the Abbey of Saint-Andoche de Saulieu. Corton-Charlemagne is the only grand cru in Cote d'Or that faces west. Since 2008, when Romanée-Conti’s cuvée Duvault-Blochet changed to include 1er crus, Bonneau du Martray has been the only domaine in Burgundy to produce only grand cru.
Opening with a perfumed and mouthwatering toasted sesame oil note that when you prompt yourself to think about what crushed rocks smell like, it instantly changes to it. Mindblown... Next up, imagine the combination of lime oil, juicy peach, and tangerine peel, and then imagine the ‘cream of’ that blend. Lastly, juxtapose that against the racy, minerality-filled finish, that’s really long on energy and focus. It could make a case for the most complex wine I’ve ever tasted, but certainly, Bonneau du Martray’s 2006 Corton-Charlemagne is the best white wine I’ve ever tasted. — 8 years ago

Annika van Leynseele

9.0

Chateauneuf-du-Pape-esque. Low acidity and tannins. Berries, spices. Yum! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

From either the 3rd largest co-op in the world or in Europe. I think it's in Europe. Produttori is located in the heart of the tiny town of Barbaresco just to the right of the tower shown in the photo and up the street from Gaja. Also, one of the best Michelin stared restaurants for lunch we've ever had. As well, the best restaurant service we have experienced and it wasn't that pricey. For such large a co-op, they produce some outstanding value wines and some straight up excellent wines. This 09 is quite nice and one of their entry level value wines. A nice pair with my skillet lasagna. The wine shows more sour than sweet dark cherries, black raspberries, dry dark plums, touch of pouched strawberries, black cherry cola, dry dark florals bouquet, a light delicate herbaceous quality, dark soils with dry powdery crushed rocks with nice acidity. The balance of fruit & earth is improving as is the finish. It still needs at least 3-5 more years in bottle. Very nice wine under $30. A 9.0 on it's own with the skillet lasagna, 9.1-9.2. — 9 years ago

Y Kwon

9.1

Citrus, lemon zest, crushed rocks and no oak. Nice acidity. Should be able to cut through fat if paired an oily fish. — 10 years ago

Ron R

9.4

Smoke, rocks, stones, graphite and dark fruits on the nose. As with all of Barton's wine, the mouthfeel is impeccable. Not heavy, nor sweet, just right. Ethereal texture. Supple tannins, finishing with sage, leather, spice and a hint of road tar. I know it reads like muck, but this is the stuff of kings and queens.

12.5% abv and a predominantly cab blend. — 10 years ago

Ben de Vin

9.5

Extreme drinkability: wet rocks, slate, minerals, sweetness balanced with cutting acid. Long finish. Love. — 11 years ago

with Freddy

Dave Loretta

9.5

Broiled chicken and mashers paired brilliantly with this "Rocks" vineyard Syrah — 11 years ago