Ryan Vento

9.3

Tonight’s nightcap 🥃

During our stay at the hospital for the birth of our son some dear friends of ours brought my wife & I a care package. In it were all manner of goodies and treats, as well as a bottle of champagne and this scotch. They know us all too well 🤫🤷🏻‍♂️
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Caramel, creme brûlée, charred orange peels, and Christmas spice cake on the nose. Mild notes of moss on the palate with a pronounced but welcome warmth on the way down. Smooth and perfectly suitable for ending the day with. — 7 years ago

Kirk F

9.4

Mag. The cork blew up and we had to Macgyver our way out of the dust but the contents were superb. — 8 years ago

Cody Short

9.0

Quite good for 2011. Decanted 5 hrs and checked along the way. Really mellowed out and improved over that time. Very nice QPR — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I can’t pour enough praise on Dan and his talents. I don’t give many wines near perfect scores, but this merits one. The nose is a beautifully balanced mix of floral fruits, earth and spice. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, lilacs, violets and lavender. The balance is incredible...one of the most balanced wines I’ve had. The structure, tension and length are so close to perfect. It’s in the OMG realm. The tannins are nicely resolved but still have teeth. It’s gorgeously lush and rich. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, hues of blue fruits haunt the palate, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, black licorice, touch herbaceous, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, black & white pepper, dry crushed rocks, stones, lilacs, violets and lavender. The finish is heaven all the way around. To borrow Bordeaux terminology, this is First Growth Shiraz. If you don’t seek out Dan’s wines on the secondary market, you are missing something special. Not at all meant to be enjoyed young. This wine is in a very good spot and has another 10 years of life going forward. — 9 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.4

Wonderful Crianza Rioja; Lopez de Heredia overachieving as always. Pours a medium (+) ruby with some noticeable bricking around the rim. Concentrated nose of dried red cherry, ripe redcurrant, star anise, cigar box, potpourri, fresh dill, and damp, freshly turned gravel. Palate is perfectly congruent with the nose and equally as concentrated and expressive. Medium body, with wonderful texture as tannins have perfectly settled in and smoothed out, the tannins are velvety soft and of moderate intensity. Medium (+) acid, still fresh and kickin'. Dry. Slightly volatile but in a way that I think adds more than it detracts, keeps things fresh and lifted. Great length. This wine still could maybe get another year on it before it's completely at the apex of its peak but it's pretty dang close now. I desperately want this with some pork BBQ and in fact, the wine itself almost has a sweet hickory barbecue vibe. Absolutely delicious. At under $25 dollars/bottle retail, I think this is maybe the best red wine value I've ever come across. — 9 years ago

with Cassie

Ryan Knoth

9.5

Great way to close out harvest! — 10 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

Don't forget about Pinotage. A good way to mix up the repertoire. Dark charred blue berries and that distinctive dried banana in a red wine actually does exist. Who knew. The no brainier graphic on the back of the bottle notes this is way too young calling it "bottle shock" time ( why release it so young then?). But I found this interesting over three nights, most put together the 3rd... I was shaking the last drop out. Way to go South Africa. — 10 years ago

Erin Jones

9.6

No better way to start out my birthday morning. — 11 years ago

with Jason

Paul Giovenco

10

This is the best Chardy going in fact managed to get a couple of pre release bottles....it's from Margaret River in Western Australia and made by an American wine maker.....get into this when it comes out but for special occasions at +$200 per bottle — 12 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

So balanced no descriptors stand out - just damn good claret. Herbal silky with fading plum - medium weight. The Cullen girls Diana and Vanya are long time adopters of organic and biodynamic principles and this is considered as one of Australia’s leading Cabernet blends. Cullen say this will live 20 years so it is only halfway there. Have the next one later this year. — 7 years ago

Alan Viader

9.0

Fresh mushroom, savory spices. On its way out but pleasant tonight. Nice wine, holding up well. Drink up! — 8 years ago

Josh Raynolds

10

Rich, creamy and chocolatey as all get out. Some spicy notes come up on the back and give it a weird, in a good way sort of Mexican chocolate effect. This is an American beer icon and for good reason. Bottle number two of a four-pack. — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Excited to try this well-aged Bojo, from a producer reputed to make wines that benefit from age. It’s still got surprisingly youthful color. Nose has very slightly stewed (in a good way) red fruit, an interesting sous-bois note, and the characteristic granitic minerality still there. Soft in the mouth, with that cooling tertiary flavor profile I associate with aged Bordeaux, although with friendlier fruit still there. Very interesting and enjoyable! Shout out to my bro, @Angelo Casagrande for giving this to me. — 8 years ago

with Angelo

Jeff Miller

9.4

Was really surprised when I tasted this yesterday and ended up buying a couple of bottles. Very prominent nose of red currant, rolled tobacco leaf and mint with a slight whiff of cedar. Very Bordeaux-esque; like a cross between a right bank Merlot and a young St Julien. On the palate is a combination of red fruit, plum skin, and a pleasant peppery savoriness. Very good QPR at $30 a bottle. Heard this is the last batch from this vineyard as the old vines are being ripped out and replanted. Get as much as you can. It's worth it. — 9 years ago

with Ted

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This wine needs to be aired out. Right after decanting, nose is all funky cheese rinds, but over time this transforms to a scent that seems like what potpourri would smell like after a week in a composter. In a good way. Really unique. There's some rich dark, sweet macerated plum fruit too. Earthy, rich, slightly Amarone-like fruit in the mouth. Dark toasted spices and deep minerally earthiness notes. Long rich finish. Air. Needs air. Give it air. — 9 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.7

When scoring a wine, I think it's important to bear in mind the style/varietal as well as the expression. With that out of the way, is like to say this perhaps the best chianti we've ever had. So elegant and structured. Powerful and soft at once. Fragrant nose grabs you right off the bat. Complex and powerful, with a tannic reach and delicious acid tickling the back of the tongue. I suspect this could grow for another 15 years and I only wish we had more in our cellar. — 10 years ago

with Alsu

Joshua Crisp

8.9

Dark cherries, blueberries, and plums give way to basil, brambles, sun-dried tomatoes, and soft leather on the nose. Plums and dark chocolate coat the palate, leaning out to sweet leather, black olives, fresh dark currants, and finishing oily. Intriguing salinity throughout - though lacking a lot of tannic structure, probably better with some red meat. — 10 years ago

William Douglas

9.3

Good structure still left here. Does take time opening up - raising the rating here
3/6/9.5 = 18.5
Out of 100 = 93 — 11 years ago

Kent Sands

9.4

Amazing wine from @Robert Mackie's cellar, looking forward to sharing the bottle we brought back with my old man... Rivals any of the best Cali cabs out there! — 11 years ago

Sims Witherspoon

9.2

Drink now. Super soft tannin (on its way out). — 7 years ago

Jusden Aumand

9.4

Fabulous and funky expression of Margaret River. Leaning on the lighter side a touch; just the way I like them. — 8 years ago

Matt Trader

9.2

Starting to see more beautiful wines from the Margaret River and this is a stellar example of Australian Chardonnay. (This one is an appellation blend of 65% Margaret River and 35% Pemberton) but they are based out of the Margaret River.

13% Alcohol - medium malo, bright acidity

👃flint/crushed rocks, honeydew, green apple skin, vanilla creme

👅pineapple, golden apple, lemon zest and oil, white pepper, mineral, mousse

Excellent balance between the fruit and the acidity, could have some age potential, with minimal development due to it being a screw cap, but it could still use a few years to become a tad softer.

Australia is probably my favorite wine making region this year for sure. A must try. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale Lemon in colour. Leesy Struck Match Citrus Aromas. Citric notes on palate but also a creaminess with a little nectarine. A profound intensity which makes this Chardonnay stand out from the crowd. One of the most consistently good Chardonnays in Margaret River and Australia. Will keep for a few more years but hard to see it better than it is now. — 8 years ago

Kaito Kikuchi

9.0

Quite a pack of ethanol on the vapor, mouthful of spice and sweetness with loads of tannin, which smoothes the acid out to a surprisingly gentle end. A wine like a boisterous guy at the bar who's unexpectedly soft spoken and mellow in person. — 9 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.8

Soft and elegant multilayered perfection. Red velvety berries giving way to melted chocolate. Surrounds your mouth and just keeps going. Always expecting a lot out of eagle and have never been disappointed! — 9 years ago

with Kevin

Nathan Wegener

9.0

Superb blend flavours of cherry balanced with oak and leather. Love @cullenwines. Enjoyed with Spedini carried out from @garozzos — 9 years ago

B

10

2001 Clos de Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone blend. Post D fam quiet dinner w A&S. K wasn't sure how this would be and opened it out of curiosity. It had a little of that funkiness that A loves- not super big and overt in any way. We enjoyed this. — 10 years ago

Andrew Notarfrancesco

8.9

Almost on its way out but not bad — 10 years ago

KDouglas

9.3

Chocolate cover strawberries... Smooth and deep w/flavor. Way over Anthony's head w/out a cigar to add tobacco and smokiness. Allow to open for 30min and the flavors will burst out of the bottle, into your glass w/delite... — 11 years ago

with Grace

Susan Lin

Business Development Belmont Wine Exchange, WSET Diploma candidate

9.5

Showing excellently, enjoyed over a couple of hours after opening for about half an hour. Sharp, perfumed mineral notes give way to violet, blackberry, cassis, and baking spices and a bit of vanilla. Telltale earthiness and a bit of rusticity at the bottom, but exceptionally smooth with great structure. This went wonderfully with everything from beef tenderloin to grilled scallops and vegetables. The mandarin chutney in the scallop dish brought out plums and griotte cherry in the wine. — 11 years ago