Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First, if you haven’t had this producers wines at 15-20 years of age, you’re missing some spectacular juice. I bought this at auction for $38-$40 a bottle and because I was unaware of its storage, I was prepared to short decant it. Well…until I pulled the cork, smelled it and saw the color. This nearly 20 year old bottling is still big but with nice integration & evolution. I would say it has another 5-8 years of good life in it.

The palate fruit is ruby, ripe and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum. Mid berry cola, dark chocolate to pudding, mocha powder, wet clay, light, black pepper, Asian spice, dry-ish tobacco, black licorice, some dry herbs-sage dominate, limestone, dry top soil, dry brush, used leather, sandlewood, fresh to slightly withering, dark, purple, red florals set/framed in violets and lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The well balanced, structured, knitted finish is excellent and lingers minutes. Steal for the price. Another excellent gourmet burger wine. Beef Patties from El Salchichero. — 3 years ago

Jason Keefer

8.9

A nicely balanced and mellow Cali GSM with plums and tea. Very enjoyable! — 5 years ago

with Natasha

John Mckeown

8.9

Nice everyday Pinot. — 6 years ago

J Chechik

9.3

Delicious. Huge cherry fruit & long finish. Wonderful treat. . — 7 years ago

Amy Yan

9.1

Hit the wine jackpot on a work trip! One of two leftovers from the table next to me! Excellent Pinot. Lots of fruit and doesn't taste like a classic Pinot. Smokey wine indeed! — 8 years ago

Liz Gresham

9.0

Drank after decanting for few hours. Lot of alcohol taste but good with the pork roast we had. This one has lost some of it's fruit. Still solid. — 8 years ago

Mitchell Mulder

9.3

Big hype about this beer, as is "Hop Slam" this one much easy to get, in fact, in CA you can get in many places all the time, price is reasonable too, just check the bottled or canned on dates since it travels far, solid IPA, really nothing new or different, just done very well in the style, if you like your IPA's balanced between malt and hops, like Dogfish then this is perfect fit you, not for me, I prefer the hops be the "Show" but I am not knocking the Beer for that, just I think it is a little over rated — 10 years ago

Andy Hall

9.2

My last '07 😢. The entire case drank nicely all the way until the end! — 10 years ago

Parrie James

9.1

Goes well with a nice pasta or salad in the afternoon with a mild taste and slight bite afterwards. — 10 years ago

Monica Halloran

9.2

Always love this wine. This vintage seems more fruit forward than other vintages with a lot of apple flavor. — 11 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.5

Outstanding - menthol & chocolate with juniper berries in there somewhere - oak remains a silent partner — 12 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

@Delectable Wine oddly enough this is a Blanc de Cinsault, one of the silver linings of 2020.

When the fires hit early in harvest 2020, Will and Karen hedged their bets by pressing some of the 100+ year old vine Cinsault from the legendary Bechtold Vineyard immediately, and the result is a joy: pear, pomello, white grapefruit, some pith and white pepper on the finish. Fragrant and light.

In good news, the regular Cinsault from the vintage also turned out beautifully and isn’t showing a trace of smoke taint—or at least when I tried it a few months back. — 4 years ago

Randy Fillingim

9.5

As good a Pinot - 2009. - that I have had. Seamless. Tannins and fruits in near perfect harmony. Initial taste - amazing. AND it finishes just as good. — 5 years ago

Will Shuttleworth

9.1

Clone from Loire valley. Very tasty. Supply and demand has brought this from $45 to $85 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The White Burgundy was excellent but, still have to have my BSR 375ml. It’s been awhile for us.

It is a little better tonight following the Burgundy & soft white cheese.

The nose on this bottle really flows out of the glass tonight. Beautiful lean fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon near the rind, blood orange, orange & tangerine & some pomegranate. Crisp volcanic minerals, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, vanillin, whiff of caramel, soft white spice, pink flowers and rose pedals.

Everything on the palate sings just a little louder tonight as well. Fruits are even a little richer than normal. Ripe & slightly gummy not as normal leaner fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon near the rind, blood orange, orange & tangerine & some pomegranate. Crisp and grippy, volcanic minerals, beautiful softer, powdery chalkiness w/o quite the sharper edge it normally has, soft, hints of Provence herbs, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, vanillin, whiff of caramel, soft white spice, pink flowers and rose pedals. The acidity is crisp, lively and dead on as alway. The long, rich, well balanced finish is deliciously refreshing and persists minutes.

Photos of; one of their Grand Cru Vineyards at sunset & inside and the Estate grounds of the House of Billecart, — 6 years ago

Jim Stehli

9.0

Nice fruit — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

William Hughes

9.3

PB- "Drink me!"
WH- "Oh, alright." — 11 years ago

with William

Ric Spargo

9.2

Yes...again. Second bottle of this in 3 days. — 11 years ago

Erica Gamble

9.0

Very dark color. Very dark fruity nose but substantial flavor. A little bit of earthiness. — 5 years ago

S T

9.2

Heavy, thick, bold pinot noir! Atypical, yet tasty. — 5 years ago

William Feinstein

9.3

Every time I drink a Two Shepherds wine I wish I had more in my cellar. A true “Rhône ranger” producing some of the best rhône-style wines in California. We all need to drink more Two Shepherds and support innovative winemakers who think about product quality before profit and ratings. Thanks to my dear friend Bruce for introducing me to Two Shepherds and supplying me! — 6 years ago

with Maryalice

Nik Weinberg-Lynn

9.1

Not much left on the nose - a little whiff of pomegranate. Super savory and saline notes on the palate. Interesting. — 6 years ago

William Hughes

9.3

The color is a mix of salmon and amber. The nose exudes crushed rock and a basket of fresh fruit. Rich, textured, and savory flavors. — 7 years ago

Jon Ruyle

9.1

Nice. Big fruit, but not as ripe as what I expected from a barossa Shiraz. Evolved with air. Finish only slightly herby. — 8 years ago

with Eugene

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

Michael Piaker

9.2

13 July 2016. Eastside Cellars, New York, NY. — 10 years ago

David L

9.0

12' Sea Smoke Streamside Chardonnay. Last time I tried this particular bottle...made a note saying WAIT. It hasn't quite been a year.

Light golden in color(slightly darker then a year ago )Medium-ish body. This acidity has settled down since I had this last year(it needed to) quite nicely. Tropical flavors are still pronounced in the wine. Yellow apple, pear, pineapple, nutmeg & vanilla. Secondary flavors are starting to open up. Would enjoy trying this again in 2/3 years. — 10 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

10

The best pinot noir ever. Shared with family tastes even better — 11 years ago

with Paul

Patti Robison

Sommelier Balena

9.1

Juicy...like Notorious B.I.G. Rose, hibiscus, pastiles #DigIt — 11 years ago

with Ryan, Leslie and 2 others