Barry Grossman

9.1

Rich, smoky, meaty, but well balanced. — 4 years ago

Ira Schwartz

10

Flashback 20+ years ago to the Wine Library in New Jersey. Walking with my 14-year-old niece she was drawn to a double magnum sitting in the corner of the cold room. She exclaimed, “ Uncle Ira , that is the biggest bottle of wine I have ever seen.” Excited by her enthusiasm I told her I would buy it and we would drink it at her wedding. That opportunity presented itself this weekend. I decided this was best consumed at the rehearsal dinner. As one would expect the bottle drew its share of oohs & aahs. The cork was pristine. I should have decanted as the bottle had a ton of sediment. On the nose; earth, hints of leather, and tobacco. In the mouth a textbook example of an aged California Bordeaux blend. Concentrated flavors of red and dark fruit, herbs, vanilla, and graphite flow into a stunning finish that still has a tannic structure. An elegant and seamless wine that has years of life remaining . I have been fortunate to taste wines that could bring you to tears. This bottle brought me to tears before a drop of wine touched my lips — 6 years ago

with Randy, Monica and 1 other

K S

9.4

Big Top Tues Dash w/Rebate....super deal of $5.99. Deep Dark Cherry w/low tannin ending. — 7 years ago

Shawn Thompson

8.9

Imagine walking through a blueberry patch, munching on the freshly picked, sun-warmed blue beauties. This wine is blueberries for days, on the nose and on the palate with a mildly spicy undercurrent. Well rounded, soft tannins with a finish reminiscent of grape jelly. Paired with a strip loin and grilled veg. Enjoyed. — 7 years ago

Jake Rubash

9.7

Had an amazing tasting at the MACDONALD estate. Alex treated us to this after walking the vineyard. Fantastic wine and a truly memorable experience. Lifetime supporter. — 8 years ago

Alberto Soriano

10

Simply beautiful Beaujolais the aromas bursts out of the glass. Floral and delicate like walking through a garden on a sweet spring day. Tons of red perfectly ripe fruits such as strawberries and red cherries. Just as delicate on the pallet as the nose with mouth filling flavors of cherry and red current. Surprisingly long finish that lingers throughout your pallet. Perfect BBQ wine on a cool summer night simply fresh and enjoyable. — 9 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.2

I love this wine. So much ground pepper and chimney smoke on the nose. It’s like walking around on a rainy or snowy winter day and smelling the sweet perfume of your neighbors chimney. I almost totally dislike the white Listan Blanco Benje. I find that tired and lacking acidity and just tired. I prefer this wine to the more expensive Migan. Migan had more reduction and ethyl acetate on the nose and okay okay it’s more Pinot Noiresque but I don’t need a wine from the Canary Islands to be like a Pinot Noir. #listan #listannegro #canaryislands #spain — 5 years ago

Matt

9.7

Smashing! So harmonious and relatively pure/clean. VA adds the perfect lift, balanced components throughout. Keen acid, so youthful in its vibrancy and life. Almost Scotch-esqe with its peaty/earthy tones. It’s spiced, like walking through an exotic spice market. The length and finish incredible, wrapping everything up with roasted walnuts, honey, and succulent dried fruit. Drinks like a great aged Cognac or Armagnac. — 6 years ago

Valerie Bollen

9.1

Smelling this wine is like walking into a candy store, complemented with red fruits. Very full taste with quite some tannins, high acidity and the taste of warm, jammy fruit. — 7 years ago

Will Hullinger

9.1

Notes of Plum, tart cherries and medium tannin. Damp earth, walking through the woods at a downpour is the nose when you take a deep inhale. Enjoyed in 2018, takes a bit to open up. — 7 years ago

Rob Ritchie

9.0

The Wife and I have just started our wine journey. Picked this up for fun. We enjoyed it. — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.2

Wicked 15. Like walking through a field of flowers after the rain, snacking on some peaches and cream 😍 — 8 years ago

Jessica Chan Ws

9.5

Very light and easy on the palette. Sweet, breezy and easy. — 9 years ago

Kimberly Scruggs

9.2

Very fruity. Sweet but not overpowering. I like this chilled. — 9 years ago

Julia Geisler

8.9

Thank you so much to Holly at The Whitby for sharing this pick! Very pleasant to talk with and a wonderfully versatile palate.
I received for Xmas one of those nice sunlight alarm clocks that goes off with chirping birds in the morning and weirdly that’s what I thought of when I took the first sip of this. Acidic but not in a way that makes you want to throw it out the window. A nice little wake up call (but for the evening! not the morning) with just a nice lil fruity kick to make it pleasant for sipping.
A reminder that I’d really like to try more orange wines for the sake of simply Understanding. — 6 years ago

with Chantelle

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a young wine that I opened last weekend and enjoyed but, had to seal it up and put back into storage until tonight. It’s a touch faded (10%) but, like all young wine, resilient.

The nose reveals, ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spices, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, hints of dry crushed rocks, limestone, dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender.

The body is full with a fair amount of tannin presence. Nicely knitted structure, tension, length and balance for such a young Pinot. Ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of cooked rhubarb, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spice with shades of palate heat, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, saline notes, dry herbs, menthol, eucalyptus, hints of dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, dry & moist clay, limestone, leathery, wood staves, amazing dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The ripe, elegant, balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists nicely for minutes.

Paul makes beautiful expressions of Pinot, Rhône styles & Chardonnay. If you have not had them, well worth your time & investment to seek out.

Photos of; his Sierra Madre Vineyard...netted to keep the birds from eating his fruit, fruit near harvest time, my picture meeting Paul for the first time last week weekend at a “Matter of Taste” in Napa last weekend and their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.8

Absolutely brilliant. This is one of the best grenaches I’ve had in a long time. Incredible aromas of plumbs, blackberries, candied blueberries, along with hints of cinnamon and clove. The palate is absolutely stunning: seamless evolution of fruit coupled with perfectly intergrated sweet tannins leading to a finish that goes on for over a minute. I have no idea if this will improve with more time in the cellar, but I have no idea why you would wait: this is unreal. Manfred Krankle is a GOD!!! 👍 — 7 years ago

with Vanessa

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Grabbed another bottle! Wine bears the vineyard named to honor the Red-shouldered Hawks and other birds of prey that play a vital role in sustainable farming practices. Bright yellow with aromas of tropical fruits and sweet floral scents. Aged for 14 months, 75% in new French oak and 25% in stainless. On the palate melon, pineapple and peach flavors and hints of citrus, subtle yet complex and well balanced. Lingering finish, savory, ending with mineral tones and toasty oak. Outstanding! — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

The Caymus of the Central Coast. Inky with massively extracted red and black fruit, and in a mode not unlike pie filling. Not to be denied, it's loaded with vanilla, baking spice, fig, and a few drops of root beer extract. The aura of charcoal and new leather weave throughout, all with an edge of tilled earth. Translating this from taste and smell to sight and sound, this is walking into a brand new casino. — 8 years ago

Scott Barber

Wine Educator Meadowood Napa Valley

9.1

Savoie is the next 'thing'. Almost no fruit but great acidity and minerality. Like walking through an alpine meadow with fresh spring water flowing over rocks. — 9 years ago