James Forsyth

9.7

Back in February I went along to a Madeira tasting hosted by The Food & Wine Society, New York. Entitled Two Centuries of Boal, the wines were from the cellar of Andrew Jones, who is quite the authority when it comes to Madeira.

We kicked off with the 1861 Boal from Shortridge Lawton & Co (which became part of the Madeira Wine Association). With Madeira, the key thing is how long it aged in barrel. Once it is in the bottle, the aging stops. So had the 1861 been bottled in 1871, it would still be a 10 year old Madiera. This wasn't the case here. Instead Jones tracked its bottling to sometime after 1965.

Such long aging did well for this wine. While 1861 was considered a poor vintage at the time, this Madeira was stunning:

Brown with yellow rims. Rich on the nose with caramel and raisins. Incredible richness on the palate, with an intense burst that sustains. Faded sweetness with dried fruits and sandalwood, and especially dry on the finish, that seems to go on forever with evolving complexity. Gorgeous. A beyond rare treat. — 7 years ago

Soshi Takao

9.3

I happened to meet two young brewers from Banjo Jono at the bar!! — 8 years ago

Tom Riley

9.1

I'm only one glass in, okay, about to be two, but my wife better hurry home or she's gonna have to find out about it second-hand. — 8 years ago

Keith Murphy

8.9

Wrapping my head around this one. Co-fermented Sangiovese and Syrah. Had this two years ago while visiting the winery and honestly had forgotten what it was all about. It's surely intriguing. Soaked fruit, gamey, and chewy. — 9 years ago

Deborah Heath

9.0

2004 #sonomacoast #cabernetsauvignon + #syrah grown above the fog line = warm days, cool nights. Vines grown together, co-fermented. Both bright & tannic, savory and dark fruit. Day 2 better yet. Thanks, Darek! — 9 years ago

Aaron Ehrlich

9.0

Hold for another year or two but shows great potential. — 10 years ago

Nathan S

9.1

In honor of paba — 10 years ago

Jon Bonné

Wine Editor San Francisco Chronicle

9.2

Radiant Chardonnay from between two worlds (or at least two counties). — 11 years ago

David Grega

10

Two bad ass wines ;) — 11 years ago

Daoud Sangwa

Sommelier Whole Foods Market

9.0

One of the best out of all the 16 anniversary beers. — 12 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

First winery on day two in Sonoma was Donelan Family Wines in Santa Rosa with Meredith. The next Rhone varietal red was the Kobler Family Vineyard Syrah. Made up of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier from the Kobler Family Vineyard in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley. The Syrah and Viognier are co-fermented with around 40-60% whole cluster for 21 months in neutral French oak. Only 508 cases produced.

Deep purplish ruby red. Layered nose with dark berries on the attack followed up by smoked meats, chutney and some floral elements. Medium plus tannins (7/10) with a medium plus body and a dry long finish. Dark minerality on the palate with some purple flowers, savory herbs, leather, salami and raspberries. Drink till 2028. (93+)

$$ - Tasted at the winery. Retail price is $60.00. — 7 years ago

with India

Carl Fischer

9.5

After two days recovering from WNH (not sure I’m really recovered), I’m ready to drink again. This just recently arrived so decided to give it a go. Glad I did - this is beautiful. Perfectly aged and drinking phenomenally well right out of the bottle. The nose offers loads of cassis and red fruit which mirrors the palate. Super soft tannins and medium bodied. Parker gave it a 90 which is ludicrous. This wine is GREAT. — 8 years ago

Cary Kochman

9.5

Off the charts. Two bottles- both aged to perfection! — 9 years ago

with Tara

David Kline

9.3

A wall of cedar coated in turbinado crystals, sweet tea, vanilla mist, wintergreen and wildflower honey up the two-hole. Really a gorgeous array. Orange blossom honey, pine nut, rock candy, lemongrass, cocoanut, cocoa powder, soft vanilla, sweet tobacco, coffee candy, brickle notes, squash blossom, poppy flower, and the worlds most perfect raisin. As delightfully indulgent as drifting carelessly down a clean river in spring and being enveloped in an endless array of budding flora! — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.0

Pot roast wine number two. Young, juicy, exuberant. On the second day the structure and non-fruit components peek out shyly from around the corner, hinting at what's to come with a little patience. QPR steal. — 10 years ago

Brian Gunn

9.0

Good! Doesn't have as many bitter notes as other whit beers that I don't like as much. — 10 years ago

Terra Chandler

9.1

Adore it. Very smooth. I'm glad I got two bottles! — 10 years ago

Matthew Horbund

9.0

Because... France met California and made baby grapes! Excellent. Bouchaine Pinot Noir 2007. Sitting in my cellar a year or two, excellent fruit mixed with great earthy notes. A great mix of old and new worlds. — 11 years ago

Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

9.3

Oh man! Was this good!! Hoppy and super dark. Toffee and intense roasted malts. $10 / 90pts — 12 years ago

Trent Fletcher

9.3

One of two bottles I have; a beauty! Deep, lush, floral, bacon, iron, currant; huge tannic structure but approachable and delicious now. Popped in anticipation of our upcoming visit and tasting at Bedrock Vineyard. — 7 years ago

Martin Grisolle

9.1

Two in one picture, favorites from Dallas — 7 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.9

@Paul Treadway again thank you for being so generous. — 8 years ago

with Paul

Wan Jo Chung

9.4

Very elegant, complex aroma, light umaminess(savoryness) with clean body.
Imagine to intaking the pleasant natural water from deep clean place of rainforest.

The pioneer of fragrant Sake, Kubota is highly recognized in Japan and USA for the top premium Artisanal Craft Sake Brewery from Niigata, Japan.

Two different sake rice called "Yamada Nishiki" and "Gohakumangoku" are being used to make this sake. That creates unique pleasant complex taste. — 8 years ago

Doctor No

9.4

I wrote and deleted two tasting notes for failure to capture the essence. Honestly, if you don't love this wine, you are a bad person, and you and I should not hang out. Ever. — 9 years ago

Ryan Frank

9.0

Collaboration between Stone (LoCal) and Sierra (NoCal). 8.2%. Two different IPAs married together. — 9 years ago

M J

9.2

Nice acidity and finish, a bit two note but lovely, enjoyable wine. It would probably be enhanced with food. — 10 years ago

Brian Matuk

9.4

2013 Sauvignon Blanc from a hot Rogue Valley vineyard. Possibly Oregon's first Fume Blanc. Round and rich. Barrel aged for two weeks. Delicious and clean. — 10 years ago

Tom Donegan

Sommelier Stokehouse

9.1

Worlds first pale ale? Pretty good all round beer , dark and refreshing, good post bball after wiping the courts, — 11 years ago

Melissa Swamidass

9.2

Great Pinot noir. First time we had it was backpacking outside Golden, CO. It was delicious in the woods and also cleaned up nicely for a special dinner for two in Boulder. — 11 years ago

Daoud Sangwa

Sommelier Whole Foods Market

9.5

2012 Two Brothers Hop Juice Black. This black ipa is now tasting amazing, almost like a stout. I'm hunting for more now. — 12 years ago