JKT

9.1

Excellent new world dry Riesling as noted in ‘17. Perhaps even better three years on. Opened for Bob Marie family’s visit to send Anna on to college. Only had three bottles so hopefully one more. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2015 Bodegas San Roman Toro is another sensational release from this storied property in the Toro region. Toro saw very high heat spikes in 2015 so it is not surprising to see this massive wine weighing in at 14.5% alcohol. Needing a one hour hour decant, after some air this beautiful wine slowly unveils gorgeous aromatic range from black tea and Asian spices that mingle with notes of milk chocolate covered red cherry and tobacco leaf that are all marvelously woven together in the glass. The texture is soft and sumptuous, giving this wine a hedonistic edge. Suggestions of black forest cake and sweet pipe tobacco fill the palate, deftly mingling with minerals and peat moss tones. This finishes exceedingly long with dark fruits and minerals. While this is a delight to savor in its youth, the 2015 San Roman has both the acidity and stuffing to cellar well for the next twenty years. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 6 years ago

mallory brooks

9.6

second riesling pet-nat — loved this one. high acid. super bubbly. — 7 years ago

Martin Mills

9.3

The top wine from the now defunct producer of what I’d rank as the best wines yet made in Canada, making this perhaps the pinnnacle of Canadian winemaking. This one is mellowing in its dotage, but delivering superbly complex layers of Meursault-like popcorn/toast/smoke on top of a seam of minerality that traces from salinity through to lime citrus fruit. Lovely golden hue in the glass, I expect this to continue to evolve ever more finesse for at least five more years. Seemingly unavailable any more in Ontario, I found this at The Port NSLC in Halifax for $87 and a special occasion. — 7 years ago

Dana Wagner

9.5

Phenomenal. Drinking perfectly after twenty-one years. Worth the wait. — 8 years ago

Michelle Baily

9.2

Fairly expensive. Not too sweet. — 9 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.3

Got Pinot? You will love this one. The winemaker's say only love and you can feel it. Thank you Towes. — 9 years ago

Andrew Formi

9.1

The Genie in bottle came out in each glass... nice local surprise ... thanks Jack — 6 years ago

Lauren Ruvolo

8.9

I’m not usually one to be a Chardonnay advocate but this one was a solid choice to pair with an overconsumption of pork dumplings. Not too buttery, teak wood, silky suede. — 6 years ago

with John

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

Shared with me by one of Washington’s great winemakers, Chris Peterson, the 1999 Quilceda Creek Cabernet is absolutely singing at twenty years of age. The palate still shows wonderful freshness with lighter wild blackberry tones and a beautiful range of non-fruit flavors from wild mushroom and dried herbs to pipe tobacco and even creosote. This beautiful wine will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2028- 95 — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Tawse is one of Canada’s best wineries, bringing a Burgundian ethos to their site-specific wines. This Chardonnay is lean and mean - tart lime zest meets wet stones. A fascinating juxtaposition with the richness of the creamy Laliberté cheese. #i4c18 — 7 years ago

Eric Vrtis

9.5

I have never tasted a better Cabernet Franc. So cab franc-y in it's pepper and Earth, yet so dense and fruity. More perfectly ripe blueberries and fragrant violets than one could dream up. — 8 years ago

TheSkip

10

So, I came home yesterday and there was a package at the door. I wasn't expecting anything and looked at the sender. @Martin G Rivard ! Well then! I knew santa was over, but perhaps Easter Bunny Rivard had struck?

I opened the box with haste. Surely anything from @Martin G Rivard would be of high quality. I saw a flash of orange and though, oh my! But there was only one bottle and it was oddly shaped. This must be the limited edition, double magnum of @Jason Chang's Nine Suns cuvée! I ripped open as if it were Christmas and out came Carlo Rossi.

I'd never heard of this producer but I trusted Martin. This bottle came with a very handy pour handle at the top. I was excited. Although it was only 4pm, I remembered what @Bill Bender said about 3pm so, I thought to myself, why not?

Hurriedly, I came into the kitchen and got my favorite Zalto glass, as inspired first by @Roman Sukley. I retrieved my corkscrew and opened the knife only to discover that this was a convenient screw cap! How thoughtful of Martin!

Open it went and the room filled with a lovely sweet grape must. I knew this would be special. I grabbed my winestop given to me by @Ron R and inserted to to insure there would be not a drop wasted.

Into the glass and my excitement prevented any thought of a decant.

What a wine! Those Concord grapes - what has Welch's been thinking? They've missed out on one of the finest varietals I've ever encountered. I knew I was truly lucky to try this rare wine.

But something felt...off. And I realized, I had nothing to pair with this! Thankfully there was a full 4L in this bad boy. And the screw cap allowed for prompt resealing.

Away I went in the car. What oh what to have? Aih! Exactly! @Paul T told me about the heaven of pairing McNuggets. Off to Ol' McDonalds I went.

Twenty McNuggets and sweet and sour sauce please!

I scurried to the back, and carefully withdrew my Zalto from my backpack. Opening the McNuggets, I knew this would be special. And indeed, I am with words to describe the experience. Yet, again, I knew something just wasn't right. The wine wasn't presenting itself. So I thought, how can I classy this up? And then I remembered all of @David L's posts with the classy silver wine coaster.

I had to have one. I asked the chap at the counter of McDonalds, but the response I received was less than satisfactory. I had to solve this issue myself. Thankfully , while returning to my table, I spotted a HomeGoods store immediately next door. I ran across and found a lovely silver charger.

And finally, returning to my table, I was now all smiles! More smiles than @Mike R !

What a special evening. I really wanted to end this off right. I grabbed a dozen roses and rushed home to the wife. Half a bottle Rossi still intact!

I showed her the bottle and wow! You should have see her eyes. I then suggested we retire to the bedroom and this was met with prompt approval.

And with such a great night, I wanted a lovely memento. I gently placed the bottle against her and snapped a lovely shot that is sure to be on the cover of the next issue of BBB with @Bill Bender !

Thanks for thinking of me @Martin G Rivard ! — 9 years ago

Matt Schicker

10

2010 vintage with plum, black currants, green olive, eucalyptus mint black cherry. Delicious!! — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

One of 4 brought out to Folly Beach SC to do a little early 15rh Anniversary celebrating.... One of the best domestic CFs out there IMO. Very consistently good but needs time. And I dare say at 10 years old, this one probably needs another one or two years before it is at the top. Nose of pink and white wildflowers. Entry with young fig & tobacco. Also black cherry, herbs, and fig. Rather brambly and then a touch acidic on the finish which was a bit of a surprise. I'd probably hold these another year or two, but if you are going to drink them at least give it a couple of hours to decant. I think the entire bottle lasted about twenty minutes for us....... — 6 years ago

Alishia Odom

9.0

Alishia had this 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

NatDiego - 2018. Such a wild color on this one. Fun wine. — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

Luminous pale straw-yellow. Slightly reticent aromas of honey, banana, and sweet spices. Big, rich and dense with lively but harmonious acidity providing clarity and cut to the ripe stone fruit and honeyed flavors. Finishes long and pure. A very good wine, but the hot year makes this less typical of the Tocai Friulano variety than in past vintages; readers should note that the Ronco della Chiesa is usually one of Italy’s best twenty or so whites in practically every vintage. (Ian D'Agata, Vinous, May 2018) — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

First of the two blind Zinfandel blends paired with our turkey burgers and black bean veggie burgers. Deep garnet red. A bit herbal on the nose with dark fruits that became stronger with air. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and light plus to medium bodied. Rich and plush attack, drinking its best between hour one and two. Notes of strawberry jam, boysenberries, blackcurrants, bramble berries, blue fruits, asian spices and a touch of cocoa. Finish lingers for quite a bit. Drink till 2019.

This Prisoner was the first vintage under their new ownership (no longer with Orin Swift). This vintage is made up of 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Malbec and 1% Grenache. Needed twenty minutes or so to open up but beautiful fruits after that. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Evelyn Ignatow

Owner, Hyde Park Gourmet Food & Wine

9.2

Beautiful and graceful. Hard to believe this wine is twenty one years old. Tasted with Larry O'Brien MS — 9 years ago