Scott Stewart

9.1

A textured vision of Sauvignon — 6 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.2

2015 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. I think we all know Jamie's story, stock trader turned winemaker, so I'll not repeat it here. Suffice it to say that I lived vicariously through him for years as he apprenticed with Michael Browne and then graduated to his own label. A nicer man you will never meet ( and he knows a thing or two about Porsche as well). Expressive nose of cherries, plums, menthol and forest floor. The palate is slightly sweet with cherries, black raspberry, clove and a touch of oak and brambles. In recent years, Jamie has progressed away from the big, over-the-top, high alcohol Pinots currently dominating the California market. This wine has an earthy, Burgundian character with mouth-watering acidity and smooth tannins. 12.9% alcohol. I see your vision Jamie @kutchwines and I'm still interested in that 912.) — 7 years ago

Laura Sundh

9.0

Juicy, almost chewy on the front end, with velvet tannins, great acidity and a spice bomb on the end that took my breath away. — 7 years ago

Barb Anderson

8.9

Red blend of equal parts Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of herbs, fragrant coffee and cherries. Blackberries and cherry flavors are self- indulgent and linger on the finish. Benefits from aeration. — 8 years ago

James Gourley

9.5

Excellent pinot. Just starting to show hints of age with dried fruits on the nose. Palate is silky smooth with racy acidity. Good stuff. — 8 years ago

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

9.6

Really complicated on these so suspect days, expose themselves with concepts such as: tradition, terroir, identity without falling into the most sinister rhetoric if not sounds just trite and hypocritical as the counterfeit currency with which even large-scale industries - supported by marketing - pays back its inattentive mass audience riding the wave of the country of origin or protected typicality. A diabolical mechanism this one for which even the most noble ideas probably the right practices and good experiences completed in the scale of centuries to human measure and not on massive industrial scale, are trivialized by sleazy slogan, emptied of meaning to be more or less surreptitious thanks to barbaric persuasion techniques and brain-washing propaganda.
Yet with the Valentini's Trebbiano you may not groped to summarize in words if not by drawing on terms so appropriate to express it. Now concerning this iconic label we've got behind it a local grape variety, a real family and a great wine that collect in a bottle the past and present story of a side of Abruzzo who claims to defeats victories and sacrifices to dominate the abuses (on and of) nature, miseries and splendours of agricultural seasons. Places, people, vision, wines such as Valentini are here to remind us how each bottle stay so proudly standing as non-reproducible beauty and fermented goodness expressing all its artisanal uniqueness and authenticity which are just that suspect to industrial wine production in manufacturing chains on standardized quantities; wines that are all equal to themselves even though wine itself is not much left at the end of the day/cycle. Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Valentini 1998 is what we have to rate right now: rusticity with class; style, purity and glory of a local grape recognized by many admirers from all over the world: act local think global this is another slogan-cliché which in this specific Valentini's wine exemple could sounds a little less false and more effective. — 8 years ago

with Alberto and Giovanni

Nestor Gonzalez

9.2

This wine proves the Pisoni's vision — 9 years ago

Jimmy Angelidis

9.0

2002. Leather aromas, black fruits. Well balanced tanines and very vivid for its age. — 9 years ago

Christine Tyrrell

9.1

Royal Caribbean Cruise line, Vision. Then again in Palm Coast Florida with Liz. — 10 years ago

J Gwen Berry

Wine Writer Palm Beach Post

9.2

Lagrezette white - 100% Viognier from Cahors. Super juicy peach, lychee, floral notes. Fresh, ripe fruit. Delicious! — 10 years ago

Daoud Sangwa

Sommelier Whole Foods Market

8.9

Very good with smokey jack burger and chipotle aioli mayonnaise. — 11 years ago

Kuan Lim

9.6

The revolution of Champagne wine making. Anselme Selosse turns his vision, belief and work in to this masterpiece.
A solera of Avize Chardonnay created in 1986.
Disgorgement date 10/13/2014 #champagne #chardonnay #selosse #substance #solera #shreveport #bossiercity #winemaking — 6 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.4

Wow this is superlative stuff. Beautifully expressive old world nose. Abundant raisin, acid more prominent on the palate, plum, flowers, call me nuts but kind of reminds me of young nebbiolo​? Petroleum, cola finish. Quite a marriage of opposing flavor profiles. Great fluidity and vision. — 7 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.0

Mouth watering stuff. Spicy, rocky, green pepper, vegetal on a way. Very round and to the point. Nuanced, together, and expressing singular vision. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.4

Melka's beautiful Cabernet Franc (53%) blend from Knights Valley. Only other varietal added is Merlot (47%) to give it the velvet touch on a firmly structured Cab Franc base. Got to enjoy it at Melka's new wonderfully designed simple tasting room. Much like his wines, it's all in the details and having the vision to know how you want it to be at the end. — 7 years ago

with Katherine

B Williams

8.9

Very nice Pinot. Winemaker's Dad made moonshine in Tennessee. Only makes small lots of his wine. — 8 years ago

Tom Johnson

9.7

This is my first exposure to this wine, but definitely won't be the last.....ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!! Rich dark fruit, very lush and complex. From back label, "Along the western slopes of Napa Valley in Calistoga, lie 125 acres of premium vineyard. Dr. Kenefick, retired neurosurgeon has farmed these red rock filled soils for over three decades. Kenefick Ranch wines speak of the place, the man, and his vision. 100% estate grown and sustainably farmed. Aged 18 months in French barrique."

The nose was so wonderful, I had to taste before letting it breathe....it was marvelous. It continued to improve in complexity for three hours before it made the best compliment to braised lamb chops. — 8 years ago

Marc On

Writer Originalverkorkt, Lobenbergs Gute Weine

9.1

As I said before. This guy has a vision and does what he thinks is best for the wines. — 8 years ago

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

10

What is happening over here is an odd experiment that put together two fairly different elements, two opposit vision of life: the out-of-date Marsala "fortified Mistella" wine, aged in old cask which outcome of a pre-industrial and artisan era; therefore a plastic coffee cup synthesized from petroleum process, sad expression of our too-chemical contemporary age we're be subjected to in nowadays world.. I'm certainly on the Marsala De Bartoli side of the road weaving together my hands in the shape of a bowl to drink it like I was a cave man, till the end of time! http://www.marcodebartoli.com/en/ — 9 years ago

Amanda Rehn

9.3

"I had a vision" And in my dream I lay in the sand, sun warm on my face and .... What?- it's empty.....? — 9 years ago

Matt Garrard

9.2

Mmm berries — 10 years ago

Spencer Vultaggio

9.3

Light red and enjoyable with red and white meat. — 11 years ago

Peter Park

9.4

Lovely smell — 11 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A wine I’ve enjoyed mostly upon release or near it. I vowed to wait six years and nearly made it. At least it is 2018...just! It’s worth waiting this/that long for it to develop. On the nose; sweetly, baked fruits of; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, and notes of blue fruits. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium, beautiful spice, black fruit tea, limestone minerals, loamy, dry, brown top soil, fresh dark florals and violets. The mouthfeel is full, rich & lush. The tannins are round, still have some teeth and possess velvety round edges. It’s fruit driven but not a bomb and showing elegance & grace. Fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, strawberries, black plum, plums, blackberries, notes of blue fruits and dry cranberries dip in and out. Cinnamon, vanilla, very light clove & nutmeg, caramel, soft, medium beautiful spice that is more pronounced on the palate, black fruit tea, touch of melted brown sugar/molasses, limestone minerals, touch of rich dark sweet turned soil, loamy dry brown top soil, soft understated eucalyptus/mint, dry fresh florals and violets. The round acidity is just right, just a slight very small alcohol burn, the length, structure, tension and beautifully balanced finish are in a very good place. Even better in 2-3 more years in bottle; which is when I’ll have my next one. Photos of; the winemaking duo of Gary Franscioni (left) and Gary Pisoni, Rosella’s Vineyard on the right. As well as, Garys’ Vineyard at the bottom. Producer notes and history...The Santa Lucia Highlands appellation is known for its rich, vibrant Pinot Noirs. However, that wasn’t always the case. The first Pinot was planted in 1973, but results weren’t all that great. Chardonnay was the appellation’s early star. Much of the area’s current fame for Pinot Noir arguably can be traced to Gary Pisoni, a free-spirited wine enthusiast who grew up in a Salinas Valley vegetable farming family. Pisoni decided to plant a few acres of Pinot Noir in 1982 on his family’s horse ranch, at the southern end of what was to become the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation but his horses started eating the grapes. So, they had to go. His initial planting were limited by a lack of water until he dug a well on the property. Pisoni started planting even more Pinot Noir. The vineyard is now around 45 acres and nearly all of it Pinot. By the late 1990s, word had spread about the success of his vineyard, and a number of Pinot specialists from around California had started lining up to buy his grapes. He started producing his own wine in 1998. Pisoni isn’t the only Gary who has become a force in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Gary Franscioni, a childhood friend, followed Pisoni’s lead by planting grapes and started Roar Wines in 2001. The two of them now have five vineyards between them...all farmed meticulously with the same crew. They are best of friends...sort of a Mutt & Jeff. They have become a formidable presence in the Highlands, attracting interest from top winemakers and Pinot Noir lovers from all over. Franscioni is also from a vegetable farming family; Pisoni figures they’ve known each other since they were 3 or 4. Franscioni saw his friend’s success and once he got some money together, decided to plant grapes of his own. Franscioni’s property is farther north and cooler as it’s closer to the Monterey Bay. He was going to plant Chardonnay. He woke up and Franscioni recalls imitating Pisoni, and shouted, “plant Pinot!” Franscioni planted what became Rosella’s Vineyard, named for his wife, in 1996. He took Pisoni’s advice and planted four acres of Pinot Noir, although he still planted 12 acres of Chardonnay. It’s now a total of around 50 acres with three-quarters of it Pinot Noir. The next year, they decided to become partners and planted Garys’ Vineyard, a 50 acre parcel where they grow Pinot and a little Syrah. Since then, Franscioni has developed Sierra Mar, 38 acres of Pinot, Chardonnay, Syrah and a tiny amount of Viognier. The two teamed up again to establish Soberanes Vineyard, 35 acres of mostly Pinot Noir, with a little bit of Chardonnay and Syrah. That last vineyard was developed by Pisoni’s son Mark. The Garys might seem an unlikely pair. Pisoni is colorful character to say the least and has an outspoken manner. Franscioni comes across as more serious- minded. However, the collaboration between the two, who often address each other as “partner,” clearly works well. The two are good on their own, but better together. Pisoni being more gregarious acts as the frontman. He is the Ambassador. He’s a check on the rest to keep the quality high. Franscioni and Mark Pisoni run the farming on their own vineyards and work together on the joint ventures. The family involvement doesn’t stop there. Jeff Pisoni makes his family’s wines, which are under the Pisoni and Lucia brands. Franscioni’s son, Adam, joined the family business in time for the 2011 harvest. He handles sales for Roar and helps his father manage the vineyards. The grapes from all five vineyards are in huge demand, because the two families are such careful farmers, constantly tweaking and improving. Prominent customers include; Testarossa, Siduri, Kosta Browne, Copain and Bernardus. When a new vintner approaches them about buying grapes, the partners examine the winery’s track record and the Winemaker. If they like what they see, the winery is put on a waiting list. There’s not very much movement in their vineyards. When Franscioni planted Sierra Mar, he and Pisoni had 62 wineries waiting to buy fruit. Soberanes was developed with the idea of working with some new winemakers. There was some concern, even among the two families, that quality might suffer as the vineyard operations grew. However, there’s no indication that’s the case. In fact, with each new venture, they build on what they’ve learned in their older vineyards. Eventually, there will be even more vineyards. The Pisonis and Franscionis have purchased a 100 acre cactus farm in the Santa Lucia Highlands. There’s still a lease on the property. So, prickly pear cactus will continue to be grown for five more years. But at some point, the land will be planted with vines. Both families understand the importance of continuing to build for the future. The Garys looking back tell a story of being in the same spot some years ago and looking at a field of broccoli out back. He told Franscioni that the field would look a lot better with Pinot Noir vines. Now that parcel is part of Rosella’s Vineyard, and it’s planted with Pinot. Everybody thought he was crazy...most people usually think that when someone makes a bold decision. He’s a person who has always had vision and creativeness. He also has tremendous passion. Good things only happen when a person possesses all three of these qualities. Their wines are primarily available by mailing list. However, Nepenthe in Big Sur, CA acts as a quasi tasting room for some of their wines. — 6 years ago

Conrad Kenley

9.2

Pair with slow cooked pork shoulder — 8 years ago

Chiara Mondavi

10

Beautiful unraveling. Blooms after air. And stoically holds her head high the second day in the bottle with a vision of the future. Jeanne d'Arc style. She wore armor made of iron protecting a heart that roared like a lion deep inside. Minerality that leaves you nostalgic. This will age beautifully. — 8 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.5

Wow! Hard to believe this is a California wine. Major win for terroir here. Juice obviously coming from old vines that are respected completely in farming practice and transparent winemaking hands. Minerals are beautiful in this with a nice complexity and very well balanced fruit. Reminds me of cru Beaujolais and light terroir driven CdR blended. I feel privileged to have a few bottles and privileged to have this vision happening here in California! 👍🏼 — 9 years ago

laura brewer

9.3

Lovin' Alegria Vineyards and their vision-driven blends. This cab franc is delish -- super approachable, drinkable, and lush. — 10 years ago

Perry Riddle

8.9

Fascinating blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. Sharp acidity and nice citrus and floral notes. Good summer wine or a great match with shellfish. — 10 years ago

Caitlin Jakubowski

9.7

Want to try — 11 years ago