Dock Hooks

8.9

It's Holiday Season here in Morehead City, NC , and I'm at one of my favorite hangs (Promise' Land Market where the vibe is tres local, coastal, grooviness + Christmas) digging some amazing cheeses, olives, almonds and wine.
Firstly, I posted this wine previously, so this is a double tap with some space in between. Remembering my last experience, I decided to aerate pour into a decanter and on-and-off turbo-twirl for a half hour before jumping jumping in for the swim. That was proper, for sure, as doing so moves this wine up a bit, in my mind, mellowing this front-end tannin bomb , eliminating the raspberry and showing its better blue side, plus adding a little finish. My guess is that the cab franc vintage was less than ideal blurring the merlot and unfortunately squelching what could have maybe been St Emi GC elegance. The rest is my previous post: This GC is maybe a little past it's better time (odd). That written, its Merlot centric main grape charged by a cab franc splash and tempered by what seems to me to be plenty of time luxuriating in classic French oak expressing blueberry & vanilla on the nose contrasted by rabbit tobacco (earth connection complimenting country elegance) seems classic St Emi GC.
After that initial nose-hit of earth, spice, blue fruit and vanilla, it starts to slip, as the tannins grab somewhat roughly (perhaps a death grip) in one's front mouth cutting things short and masking the expectation of a rather brilliant nose turning what starts as blueberry and spice to a tannic squeezing raspberry mouth with zero finish - a shame. On t — 11 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.0

Just popped the top and within a few minutes of me playing, swirling, sipping, observing, it is beginning to show its true color and related characteristics. Good spice on the nose peppering and prepping for the rush of tight cherries coupled with black and blue berries begging to let lounge a bit longer finding its place in the decanter before a turbo twirl or two and a slow pour into a pinotesque bowl and related smokestack begging for twisting, turning and jitterbug spinning until dizzy enough to lie down and slow dance across one's palate clinging front back and center with tannins still pulling a cheek biting pucker then drifting home but not before leaving its memory layer languishing linear and long. A Gamay gift from Beaujolais...🍷💙🌀 — 11 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.7

My first Vranec. Wow! A berry explosion in first blush that opens up nicely with peppery, earth stuff, followed by a long silky finish. I had this wine at Promise Land Market (great price points!!) with an oily manchego and wild boar!! Hope to see/taste more of this, soon. Check it out! Decant & turbo twirl, then, if course, consume:) — 13 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.0

Strange molasses nose on first whiff, which made me want to jitterbug twirl the thing expecting a transition based upon my light-footed dexterity; however, the molasses nose hung around until post decanting, pouring through an aerator, and continued floor play when it finally settled down to more of a well-kept distant barnyard affect. In the glass it visually manifests as leaf lined stream running through a starless night under the cover of a thick forest. All that darkness lights up when it makes its inky entrance and reveals a bright blast of blueberry gradually layering into a red fruit coating as it leisurely lingers hanging on to every bit of surface it can find before tumbling its way into its ultimate physiological act where it's interesting blend of analgesic magic and endorphinic (my word) benefits. Here's to this bad-ass Zin and its crazy spin, skål🍷😎🌀 — 11 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.2

Pop that screw top, drop it in a decanter, turbo twirl, let set x10 minutes, then go for it - classic Gamay from Beaujolais with fertile earth showing smokey red and black fruit with light effervescence lightly coating all the taste receptors then twisting, turning, clinging before it slips down one's throat thereafter hanging front, sides, and back begging for another swig and associated mind quest to more finely define its groovy self😎 Loving this juice with some olives, almonds Ossau Iratty and Pico..🍷 Do this wine (great with Thanksgiving turkey) and only 12% alcohol; so do it at least x2😎 — 11 years ago

Jerae Knutson

DuMOL Member Services

9.4

O'Brien Estate "Romance of the Heart". "Extend to me the hand of conversation. Twirl me with laughter. Embrace me with kindness. Will you be mine for a moment, or for a lifetime?" — 13 years ago

Rochelle

9.0

100% Cabernet .This is very robust in flavor and tannins , blackberry on nose full bodied mouth feel with a combination of mild spices , cherry and cola on back end cedar and mulberry in front with a lingering finish . Very leggy on the twirl! — 11 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.6

Classic Cali cab likely capable of at least an additional ten-year rest in its cave, but stunningly brilliant now immediately apparent from a post-twirl nosehit to its first blush front-mouth chocolate-cherry coating then silklike side-slip down the inner face showing the real hang-time of its vintage history whispering - "have another hit...😎" This wine is complimenting Mindy's amazing makings at her cordial local ocean-to- farm-to-table kitchen and fresh bake shop dressed for Christmas as locals pick their Holiday trees, wreaths, etc. to classic Christmas tunage in the crisp clear air☀️ Don't miss this special spot!🍷🌀 PS I am, mostly a Euro sort always on the hunt for sub14% juice with more subtle notes. This wine temporarily takes me back to the 70s, in Cali - very groovy😎 — 11 years ago

Beatrice DeBrosse-Serra

9.0

Dry, but not too dry. Like it! — 12 years ago